FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3532, 21 July 1920, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. (Notes by “Onlooker. 77 },- The match between the Raugitikei and Taihape Sub-Unions to be played on tbe local grounds on Saturday afternoon is in a way a unique event. This match is the first challenge for the Pownall Shield, and the winning team will have the distinction of being the first to win the trophy, and have its name engraved thereon. From i a purely spectators’ point of view 7 the contest will be a very interesting one,, a s the visitors are a fast lot behind th'e serum, while the pack is a heavy one, and probably will scale a stone per man more than the home team. It will be remembered that RangTtikei beat the Wanganui team some little time ago. and the personnel of the team to play on Saturday is practieallv the same.

The selectors of the local team have had au admittedly hard task in choosing a team. Faced with the difficulty of choosing players on form and'reputation, there ig no doubt the selectors have acted wisely, in their selection. This accounts for the inclusion of some of the player® in the team, and others equally as good being relegated to the waiting list. Given a fine day, with a dry ground, the game will he well worth watching. Whichever side wins, it win certainly not he a repetition of last Saturday’s runaway match.

There is one weakness in the® local team which should he pointed out, and that is lack of condition to fight out a bitter game to the end. True, some of the players have been putting in some training work, but every member of the team should be hard at it to get as fit as possible. To-morrow afternoon every player in the team, those on the reserve list, and as many other senior players as possible should put in an appearance on the Recreation Ground, when a practice match will be played. If any member in the selected team is unable to don the jersey bn Saturday afternoon, he should acquaint the secretary, Mr Kelsall. with the fact without delay. ARRIVAL OF 'ENGLISH LEAGUE TEAM.

The English Northern Union party of footballers arrive* in Auckland on Tuesday afternoon, and the of the tour will be played in the-:

northern city on Saturday afternoon. The team was met by some of New Zealand and Auckland League officials. Mr Foster (manager) Is satisfied that this party is the fastest ever brought to Australasia, and although six of the men had been out here before, th*>.most of them were young. In factf\peed and youth were the team’s characteristics.

The manager remarked that he did not think the team had as yet struck its true form,- and fie hoped that would come in New Zealand. In Australia the Englishmen were handicapped more cr less by misinterpretations by the referees. I n England the interpretations' of play-the-ball and scrummage rules were quite different from the rulings in Australia. For instance, in the Homeland “wheeling” the

scrum was an established practice, but in Australia this was penalised. The success of the Australians was chiefly due to good hooking, but England should have won the Brisbane , game if they had played anywhere up to form. ’ The second test at Sydney had won there, while the third test ' had wone there, while the third test was quiet the cleanest, most brilliant, and best game of the series. On behalf of the people of Auckland Mr Gunson extended a very cordial welcome to the visitors; first, because they came here as Britishers, and that stood for everything in New Zealand, and, second, because they were a great combination of athletes. In reminiscent mood the Mayor went back to the '’Bo’s and early ’9o’s, when the famous Maori Rugby team blazed a trail for New Zealand football in the Motherland, and he spoke of the team that visited Australia in 1893, and P u t the Kangaroo continent on its mettle, so to speak, 4 fostering the football relations between them and the New Zealanders. Then there were the mighty “All Blacks” of 1905 who made New Zealand’s name on the fields, of the Motherland. The Mayor said any difference hetewen Rugby and . League had nothing to do with him. It was enough for him to know that here was a great football team that was deserving of a civic reception, and he was honoured to accord it.to such visitors. A game won out by s its .virility, its good .athletes and their characters off the field, and by the united support of the public. On behalf of the teSin Mr.S. Foster (manager) thanked the Mayor and the) people very heartily for the reception, j New Zealand was- the land, nearest to ‘ , Home in its customs and atmosphere, j and he knew the party would enjoy their tour here most of all. He referred to the famous Maori footballers of the nineties, and told how his club (Halifax) gave them “the father of a licking” when they met. The Maoris, he said, asked for a return match, “but unfortunately we were going for the Yorkshire cbampion- , ship, and could only pit a second team against them.” (Cries of “Oh-h-h-h,” and laughter). Mr Harold Wagstaffe, the captain, also replied, saying how New Zealand was nearest to the Home Country in atmosphere and environment of all the lands they had visited. He knew the people, and he knew the team would have .a wonderful trip in this glorious" 4 country. Mr J. Wit sop (secretary-manager) spoke in the same strain. The visitors were a fine football combination. Personally he was sure the famous “All Blacks” were the finest footballers he had ever seen on tour. Mr D. W. McLean (president of the New Zealand League) thanked the Mayor for the reception given to the English party. *