Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 114, 6 September 1902, Page 24

Association Football.

By Centre Forward.

The game between the nonde&cnpt team selected by Messis,. Lawience, Hamilton, and Salmon, and the lepiesentative team selected by Mr. J. J. Roberts, was played at Miramai on Saturday. It aroused a large amount of interest, as selectors' teams are always cavilled at, either by disappointed parties or those who believe that the team of their o\\ n fancy is the team that would beat anything existing It was expected that the game would be an exciting one, and, favoured with excellent weather, those who journeyed to witness the game were well rewarded for their trouble The exhibition m the first half, especially bv the whites, was of a very high order, and of a class seldom seen m Wellington. The yellow and blacks had the advantage of kicking off with the wand, but the whites stood their ground, and played a pretty game. Their headwork was probably the best exhibition seen up to date on Miramar fields. lne play of the representatives was of a very disappointing nature, and the palm for good all round play must be given to the whites. Their tactics seemed to disorganise the yellow and black division. Although the renresentatives eventually won by thiee goals to two it is not at'aJJ certain that they w-ie the bettoi team Placing against the \.ind, the whites scored their two goals and favouied with the wind yellows scoiod only one goal Assuming the ageric^sive in the second spell the condition of the representatives told on the sta-\-ing powers, of the whites, and they thus won bv enduiaaice. The individual and combined play of the nondescripts out-classed the representatives on the whole. The latter, as a team, weie decidedly off -colour, and their exhibition generally was a poor one. The determined attacks of the whites necessitated yellows looking to their defence, a-id the result was a general indulgence in long and gallery kicking. Kohei saved somt very difficult and stiff shots hut, at a later stage of the game, in the first spell, he had to retire owine to a sprained leg His place was filled by Salmon, who did very well, and saved a "beauty" on one occasion. Of the two full-backs, "Len" White easily out-classed his assistant Amies, but Roberts, for white®, out-classed any back player on the ground "Len" did some solid hard work, but Amies was not too reliable, and has not the ha^ -v knack of knowing where his shot is ~oing to fall. Captain Nagle was decidedly off. His defence was poor, and he judged his opposing forwards' capabilities badly. It was surprising to see "Dick" being beaten, and must have beeai a novelty to himself. Renai was also off-coloui . Taylor showed some prowess as a halfback, but was not in his best form. He had not so much to do as usual, but when work came his way he did his share creditably. Brodie, in the centre of the forw ard vanguard, showed a bad fault in kicking the ball forward instead of along the line. His experience should teach him that his opponents' backs are able to get possession before he or his wing mates can reach it. Wells was working hard, but the lack of combination was most noticeable amongst the forwards. Hard work by any individual in the front rank is practically useless unless some attempt at combination is made. Wells's futile attempts to make headway were undoubtedly due to this fact. "Archie" Smellie, who always plays in an unostentatious manner, put in some pretty and effective work, and was re^ sponsible for many of the rushes the yellows were prominent in. Two of the goals registered for his side were placed to his credit — one of them being a "plum." Hathaway was another numbered amongst the "off -colours." "Wag" is seldom taken that way, and it is to be earnestly hoped he will not repeat his performance at Dnnedin to-day. Morrison also showed very little of the vivacity he is wont to. The dodgy runs he is noted for were not indulged in, and his wing was totally devoid of any conspicuous or brilliant play. All the whites, without exception, played very creditably, and justified their inclusion intihe team. Although they made a brilliant stand, and should have won against those selected to do battle for Wellington to-day ( September 6th), as a team they are not as eood as the eleven in Dunedin at present. Mowatt, who was the shining lipht on the ground, is unable to obtain

leave, and the opinions of some who consider Williams should be included in the represent at n c team weic conhimed beyond doubt attor last Saturday's expo&ition. Kaiwaira won the thud-class Hendeison Mcmoual Cup on Satuiday. H<umg won the third-class championship cup also, the youthful suburbanites deserve congratulation Their success was not attained without the essential ingredient —training It is worthy of emulation by the older clubs, and I would advise Kaiwaria toi continue their past habits, and undoubted success must attend their efforts on the football field. A proposal is on foot by the residents of Kaiw arra to present a medal to each boy who played in the successful team during the season.