Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 158, 11 July 1903, Page 25

Association Football.

Great interest was centied in the two senior league matches, St. Jolm'sRovers, at Miramar, and DiamondQueen's Park, at Newt own Park on Saturday. The winners of the lespective matches were given a leg-in for the shield. I expected St. John's to win its heat, but the chances on the other fixture were very even. Had Rovers defeated the Saints, they would be well on the way to becoming this year's chamoions, but their defeat, and Diamonds' win, make the senior competition interesting. The position of the teams, up to date, is as follows — St. John's and Diamonds, 11 points each, Roveis, 9 points. Swifts, 8 points Quoen'«Paik 7 points, and Petone. nil. Ro-seis have yet an additional match to play

with Petone, which, no doubt, will inciease tlien figures two points. Rovers made a gallant stand against St. John's, and fought stubbornly to the end. They had the advantage of the wind in the firs* half, but failed to make good use of the opportunity. The defence of the Saints proved too much for Williams and FraseT, and they had to retreat repeatedly. Although St. John's had to ficrht against the Mind, the play was by no means confined to their twenty-five. They were successful in breaking aw ay, and heading rushes well up the field. Godber and Paton stood out prominently ia checking the attacks of the yellows. Maohia's services were called into requisition on Saturday for Rovers. Despite his recent accident, he played a very fair game. No score was made during the first half, but in the second half, St. John's, through the agency of W. Mowat, quickly drew first blood. Brodie and Mowat brothers worked well together, and did some pretty work. Geo. Williams was to the fore on Saturday, and put in some very useful work. He is inclined to be reckless, due, no doubt, to over-anxiety. McNair -md McWhannel w orked like Trojans, and materially assisted their side to victoiy. Wilson, who played centre forward far Rovers, headed some excellent rushes for his side, and on one occasion he was within an ace of scoring. O'Shea, inside right, is a good little player. Observing his play, one sees he possesses a fair know ledge of the foiward game. Although Diamond were credited with two points last Saturday, they must admit that, on the day's play, they did not deserve them. They were lucky enough to register a goal in advance of Queen's Park score, and thus won the day. The Diamond team, als a whole, was very patchy, whilst their opponents' play was worthy of a better ending. The cornbinataon of the Queen's Park forwards was well worth journeying to the Park to see. They simply waltzed round the half-backs and full-back alike. They had Diamond at their mercy soon after the kick-off, and were not long in registering tw r o goals. They should have notched more goals in the first half, as the organisation of the team forced the play into dangerous territory for their opponents. During the gi eater part of the game the ball was kept on the Parks' right-wing, and had Perkins and Mawson been given more chances I feel sure the result would have been reversed. The continual attacks on the left side of the Diamond goal mouth naturally drew their defence to that quarter, leaving the right-wing almost wholly unprotected. Had Parks been alert enough to notice this, and thus dispose of the ball to either Ferkins or Mawson, the openings thus afforded them might have had a material result. Through the ground not being marked out, the referee and players were at a decided disadvantage. A lot of touch play occurred in consequence. Strange to say, no less than, three penalty kicks were awarded during the progress of the game, and each time the referee had to ''step out" the twelve yards. Queen's Park were fortunate enough to secure two of the penalty kicks, and Diamond the other. Diamond converted theirs into a goal, and the Paiks missed one, and got the other. Gordon, the Queen's Park keep, availed himself of the six j T ards privilege, and so did Fitzgerald for his first penalty, and missed it. On the second occasion, Fitzgerald remained in goal, and saved beautifully. The shot was a stiff low one, and Fitz had to bend his knees to prevent its ingress. Fitzgerald, who is undoubtedly the best goal-keeper in New Zealand expresses the opinion that remaining in goal is the safest for the goal-keeper. I beg to differ, however, from ham. A goal-keeper, coming out six yards, makes an angle which renders it difficult for the ball to pass between him and either upright.