FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 93, 23 April 1904, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY CENTRE HALF, In the senior match, Slur v. Tukapu, on Thursday, the Tukapas played the two livo-ei'ghths name, hut the state of the ground mid of the hall wore not favourable to iliis style of play. No doubt the more men there are behind the serum the prettier the play is to watch, but on a wet, heavy duy it is a fatol mistake to leave a wing-forward un- I marked. In nine cases out of ten, a wing forward playing- "on his own" will completely stop any attempts at puling by his opponents, and I'ulford made the most of his chances in Thursday's match. Hill ul full-buck for Star played his first gume for seniors, and although his handling of the wet ball was not so good as it might have been yet he is a youngi pluyer of great, pr'tmise. In the Blacks' threeq,iiartoi' lii.e, Roithere-y bad a lotto do, but he gel through it fairly well. He wants to make a certainty of taking the ball from high kicks, and, as he is a strong, sturdy follow, he ougjht to make a really good throo-(|,uarter. Cullender, Who played centre for the Ktnrs, has played betti.T games than he played on Thursday, but his defence was, if anything, better than he usually displays.

On the other win;:, Pycroft had not a groat deal to di . lie made a very brilliant run, nird very nearly scored a try. He is a speedy customer.

Allen, at five-eighths, was not the Allen of old. He played a good, hard game, though, and on several occasions showed (lashes of that brilliance which has gained for him his well-earned reputation. Humphreys, at centre-half, played a sterling game. He had a lot lo do, and ho did it well. It Is to be hoped he will see his way clear to continue phvying through the season.

Kivoll |)lnycd woll nt wing-forward Re has weight and pace, and should make a line player. Pulford, on the other wing, was unmarked, and consequently It is liard to judge how he would shape ajjfailnsti an oppjmonti. However, lie knows the |rame, and did great, damage to the passing of the Blues. Of tlie forwards, a good even )bt, perhaps Ilyuti, Smith, and Stroud were the best. Smith exhibits a deckled tendency to pluy olf-side, and he may not always lie so lucky ns he was on Thursday. Ityan shone on the line-out, and Allen seemed very much at home in the front rank of the scrum, where he -did good work. Stokes played well in the line-out, and Weir also did his little bit. I was almost forgetting Murphy, who was a tower of strength in the scrum,

On the Tukapa side, Barrettat full was out of his place. However, he got his side out of dillicultics a time or two, and generally recovered himself when the ball proved too slippery. Of the three-ojuavtcrs. Dr. Fookes was the best. He stopped rushes and kicked well, and when he has worn oIT the rust of his two years' spell, should he right up to his old brilliant form.

Woods was not too happy in the wet, but "Jimmy" can always be depended on to play a solid game. On one occasion ho should have passed to Fookes much sooner than he did. His aim was apparently 1o draw the other lmcks round him,tait he waited a bit too long,. Smith exhibited flashes of good play, alternated by .somewhat poor stuff. His left foot kicking was good and towards the end of the giamehis taking of the ball was equal to anything on the ground. Mynott, at five-eighths, played one of his best games. He showed giood judgment, and on several occasions boat his opponents splendidly. But hie played one of the best games on the ground. He is a remarkably cool player, and should prove an acquisition to Talraiiaki football.

At centre half, Frewhi got through a heavy afternoon's work very well indeed. Hampered ns he was bjy (he opposing wing, he managed to get the ball away very well. His stopping of rushes was very line. Tanscy, at wingt-forward, played a very line game, and quite justified his inclusion in the team. He. was particularly good in the loose. Of the forwards the best were : Flatt, Loveridge, Seamark and fryer. Loveridge played a particularly brilliant loose game, while Seamark and I'ryer were good in the ■ line-out. Jenkins was perhaps the fittest forward on the ground. He played with much dash. Balfe and Flatt were doing some splendid work lin the tussles. Dyne is a player who will, I think, with a few games, be one of the best forwards in the team. ■He wants a bit mora dash, and he should not be afraid to use his strength, of which he appears to have plenty. Mr Spurdle, the referee, was in a particularly happy mood, and although he had his whistle under control, yet he had the players in the same boat. If lanytliing, he was not quite severe enough on the wing forwards. If these players were in the, pack the game would be much more scientific.