Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 150, 16 May 1903, Page 23

Association Football.

By Centre Forward.

The Swifts-Diamond heat, played at New town Park, on Saturday, was of a >cry fast nature. The ground is in grand order, and should contribute very largely to fine expositions or the "soccer" game during the season. The result, of the gam© was a foregone conclusion to those who watched ft from the start. The forward dlvxsion of the Diamond team were poor thus giving the rearguard of Swifts plenty ot opportunities to feed their forwards. The Swifts' team as a whole played i pretty and well-organised game, They undoubtedly had the best of the dea , and made creditable efforts to attack and defend. Had the Diamond forwards possessed any shooting abilities at all they could have won the match. During the last fifteen, minutes of the game they were simply bombarding the Swifts' goalmouth. Stevenson, excelled himself, and if he repeats his performance each succeeding Saturday, he will have to be reckoned with in the representative team selection. Diamond forwards had no less than eight shots at goal, and it might have been expected that they would have been successful sometimes, but the shotfe were poor, falling very wide of the goal mouth. The defence of Diamonds was creditable, although some bungling between one of the halves and a full-back helped Swifts to their second goal. The splendid back display of the Swifts was a source of constant annoyance to the opposing forwards. Doherty, White, and Courtney did yeoman service, and "Len" White especially saved his side repeatedly. The composition of Swifts although several of its best players were away, wasl of a kind that take a lot of beating. Every man did solid hard graft, and the combination* was of a very high order. The same cannot be said of Diamonds. The w ea,k display of the forwards makes doubly hard the work of the backs'. Some alterations m the front rank lam sure would materially strengthen the team's chances. However, they may improve in form yet, amid give other teams something play for, but the sooner they realise that improvements are absolutely necessary, and more life is infused into the play, the better will be their chances of securing the championship. • * « Owing to the Petone ground not being available, the Rovers-Petone heat was adjourned lam not. aware of the exact conditions prevailing relative to this ground, but there appears to be some, hindrance that demands removal. • * • The St. Johns-Queens Park game was of an exciting and interesting nature. The shield holders fell a victim to the blue and whites after a hard struggle to notch a wan. The absence of Morrison from the vanguard of St. John's is felt severely by the team. The dash which once characterised the five forwards is now conspicuous by its absence. The combination of Queen's Park exceeded that of St. John's, by far, and although' both teams had hard luck on several occasions the win of Queen's Park was well merited and hard earned . • * * The re-appointment of Mr. J. J. Roberts as sole selector of the repiesentative team is a sufficient guarantee of the general approval of his selections during the past two years. The motion to a/ppoint three selectors met with little or no support- There is much to be said on both sides, but a conscientious sole selector will select as good an eleven as three would do. Even if the motioni to appoint three was carried, a difficulty would be experienced in obtaining suitable men. The suggestion made at the tame of the election was a good one. In effect, that the selector announce two teams— a possible and a probable — at. the end of the first round, in order to put the "tnlobables" m training and urging the "possibles" to replace the probables bv playing a better game. « * * The resignation of Mr M. Fraser as the Wellington delegate to the New Zealand Association is a matter for genuine regret. Since accepting a seat on the Board he> has carefully watched the interests of the W.F.A. and of Association football in New Zealand generally It was he who propounded a scheme for interprovincial games under improv-

Ed conditions. This scheme was adopted at a conference in Auckland, in 1901. In deference to his repeated wishes, liis resignation was finally accepted at the last, meeting of thei W.F.A. Mr. J. J. Roberts was unanimously elected to fill Mr. Frasers place, and, whilst regretting the loss! of Mr. Fraser, we are glad to have such a w r orthy successor, and one whom the 1 W.F.A. can well trust to watch and safeguard its interest®. He is a man of many ideas, and doubtless the other delegates on the New Zealand Board will find plenty to do m digesting the suggestions which he, no doubt, will bring forward. • » • The insurance accident fund operates from to-da,y (Saturday). The rules make it compulsory for senior and junior players to contribute towards the fund, whilst third and fourth olass players have it at their option,. St. John's w r as severely dealt with at last meeting of the W.F.A. Two transfers 1 were refused. The desire of senior eleivems to obtain Neiwtown Park each Saturday is very noticeable, but they should bear m mind tihat the order of ground® will be reversed in the second round. The Bros. School team are to receive their medals, won last season, on Wednesday evening next, ati ai "bun ruslh. ' The masters and a pupil from each school are also to be invited.