Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 113, 30 August 1902, Page 23

Association Football.

By Centre Forward.

Roveas cieated some suipuse on Satin day by defeating St. John's in the first 'round of the Chanty Cup competition. Determined to win from the onset, every man of the Rovers put in good work, and the \ictory was honestly earned. By winning the toss, Roveis had e\eiy opportunity in the first spell of badly handling St. John's defence, and, although the piessure was great, the yellow and black backs, responded to the occasion with commendable skill. Na^le was to the fore whenever requned. The St. John's adopted the pionei tactics in keeping the ball on then opponents' left wing as much as possible in the first spell, which, of course, lessened the dangers of attack considerably. Frank Williams "was up and doing," and played one of his best games. With Moore, the combination was of a high order. The inclusion of several iunions did no harm to the team, and the goalkeeping of Russell was creditably discharged. * # * The Swifts fairly romped over °ueen's Park. Five goals to one indicated their superiority over the blue and whites, and they were in very pooi condition on Saturday to be so easily beaten. It was expected, judging from past performances, that St. John's would be certain to get into the final for the Chanty Cup, but it is now an open question as to who will win it. Diamonds were the previous winners, and intend to try hard to retain the cup this season again. Rovers have met St. John's on two occasions now, and defeated them on both occasions. The next game to decide their inclusion in the Charity Cup final is with Diamonds, and the game may be expected to produce some good football. My strong advice to the Rovers is to retain the excellent and indispensable services of some of their juniors. It is most singular that Marist Old Boys should be found with only seven players on Saturday. For the sixth time this season they have mustered a faithful seven, and in the Charity Cup competition, against the lowest team in the senior competition, it might have been expeced that they would endeavour to defeat Petone, and obtain a legin for the Cup. The substantial win of six goals to one was effected by Petone, which constitues the biggest win the suburban team has yet obtained. But, it cannot be called a game of football, as the Manst Boys, aware of their unfavourable conditions, simply allowed their opponents complete control of the game. The notching of goals might have acted as a serious check had Fitzgerald been between the uprights. Porter, who acted as custodian for the afternoon, did fairly well, but lack of experience told upon many of his saves, which, in general, were not very sure. A feature of the Petone team was the excellent standard of play indulged in by the juniors included in it. They were responsible for a considerable amount of dribbling rushes, and shots at goal. Humphries played his best

game and is fast acq uning a thorough knowledge of the game. * * * It is moie than possible that Fitzgeiald will be unable to accompany the representative team to Dunedin, owing to business ties. It is a matter foi general regret if it should be so, as the goalkeepei w ill ha\ e plenty to do, and a player of the Fitzgerald sort is wanted. The Post's" Association scribe, in Saturday's issue, mentioned that li a New Zealand team went Home, K. L. Renai would be sine to be secured by a Home team on account of his style of play. Agreed. Another player who would also command a considerable amount of attention would be "Tots" Karle at full-back. ' Tots" ofttimes indulges m by-play of a humoious kind on the football field, and consequently does not devote the attention he should to the game, but, when in real earnest, the man who passes 'Tots" must be a plavei that has still to be born. * » * A sub-committee, consisting 'of Messrs Lawrence, Hamilton, and Salmon, have challenged the representative team with the following players to-dav at Miramar — Kober Renai, Roberts, Duff, McDonald, Reynolds, Fraser, Williams, Gibbs, Mowatt, and Hale. The above selection is a very meaere one and does not do credit to the selectors. A better combination could have easilv been selected which would very nearly equal the representative team, and mate the game against them an interesting one, but the individualism which is prominent in the above selection gives the representative team every chance over them. What appears to be an act of injustice has been committed in the exclusion of G-odbeir from the team. Godber was selected as a reserve for the representative team, and his inclusion might have been considered before any other candidate. The trio of selectors were given instructions 1 , when picking the team to include reserves, and their disregard of instructions calls for comment. * * * The New Zealand Association leceived severe castigation at the hands of the W.F.A. at one- of their recent meetings. No definite action was taken by them, but the talk was prettv straight, and may have some salutar^ ecect. The chief point of argument hinged on the indifference displayed by delegates from other centres, and it opened am avenue for considerable discussion. Many personalities 1 were dragged into the discussion, but, considering the subject, nothing else could be expected, as ie affected the constitution of the narent body. * * * At a meeting of the representative team, held on Saturday evening. Mr. R. Nagle (St. John's) was elected captain. Mr J. J. Roberts, selector of the representative team, will accompany it to Dunedin as manager. The team will travel bv boat to Lyttelton on Wednesday evening next, at o p.m , and thence to Dunedin bv rail.