FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 94, 25 April 1904, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

NORTHERN DIVISION FIXTURES. SENIORS : April 28.—Star v. Inglewood at Inglewood ; Clifton v. Tukapa at Waitara ; Stratford a bye. May s.—Star v. Stratford at New Plymouth ; Tukapa v. Inglewood at Inglewood ; Clifton a bye. May' 12.—Star v. Clifton at Waitara Stratford y. Inglewood at Stratford ; Tukapa a liye. May ID.—Clifton v. Inglewood at Inglewood ; Tukapa v. Stratford at New Plymouth ; Star a live. FIRST JUNIORS : April 28.—Star v. Tukapa at New Plymouth (Tukapa ground), Inglewood v. StraUord at Stratford ; Clifton a bye. May !>.—Clifton v. Tukapa at New Plymouth ; Star v. Inglewood at Inglewood ; Stratford it bye. May 12.—Star v. Stratford at New Plymouth ; Clifton v. Ingf.owood At Inglewood ; Tukapa a ''J'o- - 10.—Clifton v. Star at Waitara ; Tukapa v. Stratford at Stratford ; Inglewood a bye. SECOND JI. MORS. April 2S—Star It v. Star A at New Plymouth ; Inglewood v. Tukapa at New Plymouth ; Stratford a bye. May s.—Stratford v. Tukapa at Stratford ; Star 13 v. Inglewood at Inglewood ; Star A a bye. May 12.—Star B. v. Stratford at New Plymouth ; Star A v. Inglewood at Inglewood ; Tukapa a bye. May 19.—Star A v. Stratford at Stratford ; Star B v. Tukapa at Tukapa ground ; Inglewood a bye. Repeat for second round, reversing! grounds.

Mr T. Buchanan lias presented the Clifton Football Club with a handsome line umpire's flag. 11. Matthews has been elected Captain of the Clifton Football Club and F. Kmickey, Peputy Captain. Mr W. Proctor, who acted as referee in the Strutford-CTiftoii junior match, rightly insisted upon every man playing in the proper coloured jersev, and the visitors were deprived of the services of two of their number for inability to comply with this condition, For a like reasm, Clifton started with eleven men, but before the half-time whistle sounded three more took their places in the held.—Wifitara Mall.

THE ENGLISH TEAM. C. Strange-Leathes, not Strange and Luat'hes as stated in the cables, plays for the Northern Club of Northumberland. On li>th December of last year he played for the "Kcst of England" v. the champion county, Durham, in place of 11. T. Gamlin, of lHackheath ami Somersetshire, wlio was indisposed. The "Kest of England" romped home by 1 goals and 1 try (23 points) to Durham 5 points (one goal). Strangv-Leathes gave a very good exhibition, and but for the tantalising way he has of waiting for the ball to bounce would have been chosen to pi-ay for Northumberland against Cumberland on February 6th iast.

In this team there arc three of the best three-quarters known. The right wing is W. Llewellyn, of Newport ; left centre, li. T. Cabe, of Cardiff ; and left wing, E. T. Morgan, London Welsh. Doubtless we shall see a great exposition of the four three-qjirarter system, as these three (with IJwyn Nicholls, said to be the best in all England) mode up the quartette playing for Wales against Scotland, iu which the former won by 27 points to 5. The Athletic News said the Scottish selectors were quite confident that the pack chosen was strong enough to push any other pack oil the face oi the earth,'' and it was by the instrumentality of these three-quarters that Scotland was so completely routed.

A correspondent of the Wuimute Witness writes the following interesting Holes Off-side.—The first point I would mention is that a player cannot be oIT-side when an opponent lias lite ball. The fact of an opponent having the bull, no matter where the player is or what part of the field he <m ut the time, places him on side. A player is oft-side when he is in front of thts ball, the last player to play the ball being one,of his own Bide. When he is in this position he must not approach within ten yards of an opponent waiting to receive the ball, ll he is, he must' try to get that distance away immediately ; if he does not make an effort to get away the distance, a free kick should be given the other side, even though the player waiting for the ball has not touched it. Murks.—in making a mark the l»all must be caught cleanly at the first'attempt, if otherwise it is not a fair catch as deliiud by live rule. The player making the catch is the only one who can claim a mark. The he-'l mark is the only way in whh:h a mark can be claimed according to law, but it is advisable for the player to call, as it draws (he attention of the referee, wild puts a stop to the opposing side rushing on the catcher.

riaying the Hull on the Ground.— A piuyer on the ground is practically out of the game. Therefore, until he gets up on his feet, lie cannot handle or play title ball, Jloivo\er, if a player on the ground does not immediately g t .( up, OV ,, M if the bull be in Hie next paddock and lie does not play it, he may be penalised.

i'lacc Kicks.—A good many players do not seem to get, tile hang of the ruling on place kicks. It is the duty of the referee to see that the kick is taken in a line parallel to the touch lines, from whence the mark or try was obtained or free kick given. Tile placer lies on the ground behind the ball, to place it, Ihe kicker may take it und gel into the position he requires, und hand it to the placer, who is ready to place it. The kicker cannot handle the ball after this ; if he does, or it falls out of the hands of the placer on to the ground, the kick is forlulled.

Charging Kicks.—[Mayers us a rule disregard this, and I hold ihal the majority 01 reierees are not slrict enough ou this point. Place kicks kicks, and they should he made so, as near us possible. Ji' a pia\ei si ami wiiii only one foot over the mark ot gxntl line il jy roalh a charge. .Many players consider t hat ail kirks, U' il from a murk or a live krk. musl l>e kicked o\er t!i«- mark. Thai is not so. 'I Ik-law suys : "All murks and lire kicks must he iu 1 h<* direction of opponents' goal, hut. not necessaril v " over mark."

'I n- nr 'l,'i m■! 1 I >,iw j,.—t-i-s generally an; under ! Ik- impression that a try is gained !•> tlw pi, aver wlm falls on the hail on i' llie Jin... ,\ ou -. that, is a!ogvther wrong, as 1 here must '.'i.' n roniioction between ground. I.all ami Jiiuk!. The ].,. v says : '-'.V try is jjtiimil Ia tint plain- who first [iu(s -his liaml nn 111" llitll on tin: wound in his ~,,. IMHU-llls." 'in goal.' •' ('as,.- lawtavs: "So as to [iross the hull on ih,. ground. ihe same applies fo a touch down.

in conclusion, I might, sav ilia! the principal reason I have for

\vnting 1 his is Ijivanso I think fliaf. ii \ t-ry would lonrimic and sfridv tflt.'Si-. (I)L' UK.ist rflrcl j\«. ntli'S. I || t -IV ucidd a wood d<-al moiv tout hall "li'lkss Whistle during the game, am. would give the spectators more •sal isiaction and the referee less tiouL-le and Ire a far smaller tvrant lo the players. I hope I liave these points clear to those concerned.