BRITISH ASSOCIATION.
GARDINER CUP TIES.
The Gardiner Cup matches are now begin- ning to be brought forward to interest supporters of the dribbling code. Four of the first round ties are set down for decision on Saturday next - two at Wentworth Park Oval.The Corrimal team, which has qualified for the second round by defeating Y.M.C.A, in- cluded Oldfield, who played last year for Helensburgh, and also represented New South Wales against Tasmania. The brothers Jones are still to the fore with their clever footwork, and the veteran player. Drain, who is well versed in most of the tricks of defence, has again been requisitioned to guard the goal. All things considered Corrimal appear to have a chance of carrying off the Gardiner Cup this year - a feat that has, strangely enough, never yet been achieved by a South Coast team, although a high standard of play has been maintained for many years in that district. It is, in fact, asserted that a combined South Coast eleven has yet to be beaten on the home ground at Wollongong. Against the Western Australians in 1903, South Coast played a draw. On June 22 they will have an opportunity of displaying their capabilities against the Queensland team.
The Cup ties to be played at Wentworth Park Oval on Saturday are Sydney v Portland, and Granville v The Navy (Garden Island). A peculiar interest invariably attaches to matches in which one of the participating teams comprises unknown players. As Port- land is in the Western District and will con- sequently supply a team of which little is probably known, followers of the game will be eager to ascertain their merits, and the Sydney team will take the field anxious to sum up the possibilities of their opponents.
The Garden Island team should make the pace warm for Granville. The "Magpies" will indeed need to be at their best to play an even game against the naval men, whose form at present is excellent. Granville won the Cup In 1904, and on only one other occas- ion did they reach the final, viz., in 1890, when they were defeated by Pyrmont Rangers.
PLAY AND PLAYERS.
Good attendances were recorded at all the Rawson Cup matches on Saturday. At Easton Park the Balmain supporters were in force, necessitating a rather over-zealous guarding of the gate leading into the playing area. Hughes, the goalkeeper, was unable, through illness, to occupy his usual post for Bal- main, his place being taken by Rushton, who showed fair form. Ferguson at full-back, relieved splendidly on occasions; at others he appeared over-anxious in kicking, and al- lowed the Canterbury forwards opportunities which, had they infused more dash into their work, would probably have led to more goals. Richards replaced Rose (who is suffering from an injury to the knee) at left-half, and tackled with great determination. He will be remembered as the Helensburgh player who last year was included in the New South Wales team which visited Tasmania. Kelly was placed as outside right, and A. Robertson, a burly brother of W. Robertson, filled the centre-forward position with credit.Canterbury's forwards were somewhat slow in moving when in possession of the ball, McThuish being also inclined to dally too long in passing. The defence was not consistent. Boyd frequently miss-kicked; though Geering, in goal, was often conspicuous by his saves, many times helping his forwards by long throws down the field.
Sydney's display against H.M.S. Drake was hardly a brilliant one, though many clever movements were brought off in attacks on the right wing, where Grogan and Gallagher operated. Grogan's swift long-range shoot- ing Is always a feature of his play, and on present form he stands alone in the metropolitan competitions as an outside right. Herron also maintains his reputation as a scoring forward, having notched two goals In each of tho last two matches. Meehan was easily the best of the halves. Kirkpatrick and Hughes rendered good service as full-backs. The former Is probably the more solid of the two, whilst Hughes is quicker to recover lost ground.
Newtown continue to show dash in the for- ward line, Milton and Blake being speedy, if not altogether accurate. In shooting. Milner is a great help to the team as centre half.
The greater scoring probabilities of the Granville forwards were exemplified In the match against Newtown. M'Grath, J. Fairweather, and Willisford made an excellent showing on a ground that was scarcely in a fit state through the rain for a display of combination. Small sheets of water lay in parts of tho field where play is, as a rule, most keenly contested.
The draw between West Sydney and Bal- main in the Association Cup still leaves both teams to divide the honour of first place in the competition table. West Sydney played Che more scientific, all-round football. The lengthy kicking by the Balmain backs and halves, however, enabled their forwards to attack more frequently than West Sydney's front rank. Jackson and Newman worked consistently, but there was little of combined effort by the Balmain forward line, and Pryde seemed less aggressive than usual. Latta does not appear as sound at full-back as he was a couple of seasons ago.
Fleming, the outside left for West Sydney, contrived several times to evade Latta, and centred very precisely. The right wing for- wards were, however, not smart enough In diverting the ball into goal, if we except the single instance in which Pinkerton headed into the net.
Half-backs Law (Balmain) and Lambert (West Sydney) were prominent in feeding the forwards, whilst O'Brien's tackling and S. Warrior's stanch kicking assisted a good deal in restricting Balmain's seore.
FIXTURES
GARDINER CUP
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
Sydney v Portland, Wentworth Oval, 2;
Granville v (Garden Island, Wentworth Oval, 3.30;
Sydney "B" v Northern Suburbs, Naremburn Park, 3.15;
South Sydney Methodist v Canterbury, Campsie, 3.15.
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