Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 149, 9 May 1903, Page 25

Association Football.

By Centre Forward.

Last Saturday was an ideal day foi football, and, as a result, the exhibrtions were excellent, and give promise of an interesting season. Both senior and junior matches were very evenly contested, and only in one case' did a team win by a decisive majority—Hovers junior over V.M C A , by five goals to ml. The splendid foim shown on Satuidav augurs well for some interesting matches Ail the clubs without exception have new- blood, end the absence of some of the. old stagers has done the game no haim. All the senioi results came as surprises. It was expected that Petone would have given Diamond very lit to trouble, but the game— not the result pioved the contraiy St. John's (last year's champions), with a strong team, fell a victim to the Sw lfts at New-tow n Park, and Queen s Paik, who gave good promise in the practice games, were defeated by Hovers. Rovers have secured an excellent player in Maohin. Ke kept goal for Diamond last year. The Rovers can thank Machin's excellent defence between, the uprights for their win. Repeatedly he had to grapple with difficult shots but cieditably discharged his onerous duties. Good goalkeepers— the last line of defence — once so scarce, are now found m every senior team. "Fitz" has now many ovals to the proud position, or premier goal-keep. The Petone man though corpulent, bids fair to be ot grant service to the suburban eleven. Harry Godber did extra, good service for Rovers, and it is to be hoped he will mot put aside the gold and black for this, season at, any rate. Downes was the most prominent player of the Queen's Pork eleven. In his" position of left-half he did a considerable amount of work, and his labours deserved better results. ■ Bert," Clark has seen his best day, T am afraid. He was disappointing on Saturday, and repeatedly failed to rise to the occasion. • • • In the Swift-St. John's encounter, players of both teams did sterling work, and it is hard to give individual credit where the collective merit was so conspicuous. One name I must not forget to mention, however. "Len" White undoubtedly played one of the best games he has yet indulged in. His defence was capital, and mainly instrumental in keeping off the determined Saints

The suggestion of one oi the junior delegates, at a lecent meeting of the YV F A., to arrange for a match between junio>i lepicsentatives of Wellington and Otago, to be played at C hi isfcehurch at the end of the season, is one which deserves encouragement. Tine matter can be arranged without expense to the W.F.A., and it only now remains for the co-operation of the Otago Association to carry the proposal into effect. In yeais gone by a junior representntn c tieam has found a field for -ts piowcss at Feilding, wheie a combined team from the suirc-unding districts met to carry out an aniniual arrangement. Tlie country tiea.m is now no moip the organiser evidently being absent from the district. To shoW the interest in thei annual fixture., it may be mentioned that at the last match nlayed dunng the 1901 season, players came from far and neai One was present from Wanganui, and one' from Pahiatua,. That match was played in a blinding lainstorm, and the referee's position was no' sinecure. Some of his decisions met with, loud disapproval. One offender in particular — a big. builv fifteen stonier — contended that the player throwing m from touch shoul 1 keep his feet together on the touchline' The referee's reDeiated disregard of has appeals began to incense the pi otestor. He could no loneer sustain his anger, and with threats and I'anguage of a sulphurous nature he gave chase to the referee, and but for the intervention of some of his own team the referee might have fared badly. With the match over, the referee made himself scarce, and, after purchasing socks and singlets, the dremehed players made tracks for the tram On tho train, homeward bound, the offending pkyer still looked for the referee. Knowing the object of the search, the lefereei was ready prepared, and unmediateily produced his referee's chart, and there the enraged enthusiast read, vi black and white, "the player shall keep any part of both feet on the line." Apoloigies were profuse, and the incident ended by a "shout" for all hands at the Palmerston refreshment room. * * • It will surprise many to know that the J. J. O'Connor, who was "out" foi a seat at the recent Karon Borough Council election, was no less a person than "Jack" of the Diamond F.C. "Bob" Davenport was defeated once again at the city municipal election. But "Bob" has, British pluck, and will have a shot for "goal" on the next occasion. Local teams can, no longer rely on having a "soft thing on" with Petone a- their material and combination is probably the best yet put in the field