Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 157, 4 July 1903, Page 25

Association Football.

The senior trial game, r'"~ed at Newtown Park, on Saturday, in order to enable the selector to make a final choice as to who shall represent Wellington this year, ca,nnot be regarded as a first-class game. The play was disappointing to the spectators, who were present in large numbers. Very Little combination was shown by the forwards of either team. The game was a series of kicks, and resolved itself into backs versus backs. In this department, Selector Roberts was given a pood opportunity to single out has back team. Fitzgerald was absent from the A team, and his place was taken by Irons, of St. John's, who played a capital game. In my opinion, he is a better goalkeeper than Gordon. Although Fitz was not present, through no fault of his own, I feel sure ]iis place in the representative team is perfectly safe. Amies, at full-back, was undoubtedly the best back on the ground. He made one or two mistakes, but his placekicking on the whole was distinctly above the average. Hie partner, White, did not seem to "get going." Len made a few "bloomeirs," and one proved to be fatal to his side. His chance for the repre-

sentatives after Saturday's play sank in my estimation. M. Renaa did not show up as prominently as was expected. He did a few smart tilings, but is not so brilliant a half as he was last year. "Joe" Taylor played a hard game. He passes well along the ground, and is fairly accurate in his -judgment. He is inclined to wander, though, and should keep his place. Downes was useless to his side, and his inclusion in the trials was not warranted by his play on Saturday. Duffy, on the right wing for A's, played a good game. He centred well and placed corner kicks right m the mouth of the goal. He should do more passing. SmeJhe made a bad partner for Duffy. They did not appear to be happy together. Smelhe was off-colour, and missed one beautiful chance to score. Brodie was of a wandering disposition. He appeared to be too anxious, but in his desires he interfered with the win" 1 men. His form cannot be considered up to cup match quality. The Mowaib brothers worked well. And-? by his tricky manoeuvres, invaded the B territory repeatedly. He played a good game, but was wholly unsupported by bos assistant forwards. Although the B team was supposed by the selector to be slightly inferior in material, their display on Saturday must have disabused his mind on that score, and as a result, several of the B team will no doubt, be found amon? the final selection. Gordon in goal, did not have much to do. Roberts. — of whom I always held a high opinion — spoilt the day's play by his lepeated kicks into touch. He i^ a powerful kick, but lacks judgment. Hector Renai olayed a sterling; ~i,me, and it will be difficult to keep him out of the reps. In rep. matches, too, he displays considerable ability in his capacity at full back. The Clark brothers had plenty to do in the half line, but "Yah" Clark proved the better of the two. Although small, he can bustle to advantage, and played a prettier game than his brother "Bert." McWhannel, who was put in the team m place of Docherty, iustified his inclusion. His style of play is very good, and he was of material service to the whites. Fraser and Smith did not get as much work as they would have liked, and both played good games, and put in some good shots. The nicest player on the field was Hill. lam afraid Brodie must give place to him as centre. He played a hard game, is tricky, and passes very accurately. Anker and Hathaway were prominent at times 1 . Hathaway set himself down to the game proper on Saturday, and gave a quiet yet scientific tone to his movements. It would be presumption on the part of any individual to select a team against the selector's choice. Here is my presumption, however — Goal, Fitzgerald ; full-backs, Renai and Amies ; half-backs, McWhannel. Taylor, and "Yah" Clark ; centre-forward, Hill ; forwards, Hathaway, A. Mow r at, Smith, and Duffy.