TUKAPA FOOTBALL TEAM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 193, 17 June 1903, Page 4

TUKAPA FOOTBALL TEAM.

TO THE ESITOB. Slb, —As a lover of fair p'ay I wish to protest; publicly against the exclusion of T. Smith from the Tukapa football team, as published. As an impartial lover of the glorious game, I, with many otheis, am of the opinion that the treatment accorded this sterling player is detestable, anjl by what method of reasoning the selection committee ari ived at to pass over h : s claim is difficult to conceive. Taking "a line through bis play list year, I assart that he should have b%an the first man selected in the three-quarter division. Any senior team ia the Taranaki Rugby Union would be g'ad of *his services. To sacrifice such a good man as Smith owing to petty jealousies is just the kind of thing to make us what we are rapidly coming to, a third rate Provincial Rugby team. Smith possesses, more so than many others, all the qualities of a good allroand Rugby player, being fast, dashy, and difficult to collar, and absolutely fearless; strong in attack, and perfest in defence. I was in hopes of seeing Taranaki place a good " Rep " team in the field this year, but if our goad club men are not given a show in cup matches, what chance have the best players to be,picked absolutely none, I am, etc., Haery Phillips,