FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 127, 2 June 1904, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Juno 1. A meeting of the New Zealand Huffily Union wns held to-night for the purpose of finally determining certain matters in Connection with the tour of the English Ufttn through l the colony. In view of fcprcsontations made by Otago the qiwMlon of where the New Zealand match sfiotlld be played occupied some time in set* tlemimt. Eventually tho following programme was drawn up. August (sth, v. Canterbury, Westland and South Canterbury, at Christchureh : August 10th, v. Otago and Southland, at Punedin ;| August liith, v. New Zealand, at Wellinglon ; August 17th, v. Taranaki, Wanganui null Manawatu, at New Plymouth ; Aupist 20tli, v. Auckland and Poverty Day, at Auckland. The foregoing arrangements preclude any game being played against tho Wellington provincial team. MATCHES FOR TO-MORROW. STAR I. v. INGLEWOOD I. Star team—Full, Ladher; threequarters, Rothery, Hill, Pycroft; live-eighth, Callender ; half, Humphries ; forwards, Ivivell, George, Stroud, Smith, Weir, Buttock, Ryan, Stokes, Murphy. Ground—Racecourse, 3.15 p.m. TPKAPA I. v. CLIFTON I. Tukapa team—Full, Rfdland ; threequarters. Smith, Fookes, Woods; live-eighth, Mynott; half, Frewin ; Tansey, Puthie; forwards,': lialfc, 'Jenkins, I'riar, DjUe, Lovfridge, Seahiark, SUuulish. Clifton team—Full, C. Foreman ; lhre«Miuarters, F. Knuckey, F. Rasiiiussen, 11. Matthews ; live-eighth, 11. M. Paltridge ; half, H. Andrews ; w ings, I'. Page, L. Wells ; forward!), ' Mabin, Du Rlois, L. Tate, Baker, P, Sampson, S. Loveridge and J. D. Watson. Ground—Recreation Ground, 3 p.m. STAR 11. v. TUKAPA 11. Star team—Full, H. Richards; three-quarters, Elder, Thomas, ltock; • live-eighth, McLean ; half, Uabb; forwards, H. Ford, McAllum, Haby, Rowan, Eva, llrown, Skelton, Arou, 1 Parkins. Tukapa team—Full, L. Iloneyfleld ; three-quarters, McTsuacs, Jenkinson, ' Jrvin ; five-eighth, Jirown ; half, McLean ; wings, Glynes, Smith; forwards, Howell, Davidson, Wnite, ! Dawson, Elms, Tippins, Malcolm, Ground—Racecourse, 1.30 p.m. [ STAR 111. Av. STAR Ijll. B. i A team—Full, Allan ; three-quar-ters, W. Humphries, Weller, Julian ; [ live-eighth, L. Humphries; half, , Whitaker ; forwards, Coker, Pearce, . McKoy, Avery, Black, Harding, Coombes, Coleman, Gray. Ground—Racecourse, 10 a.m.

Again the Opunake juniors are charged with being tho chief offenders in playing rough against the Eltham team, and the referee was not up to the mark. These "pinpricks" did not emanate from the Eltham team, but from a scribe who, doubtless, never saw the match and never yet got a sweat up iu tho inside of a jersey in a fourth fifteen match There is always an element of danger from knocks received in a football contest, but to state that the light forward team on Saturday roughly handled the Kltham well-knit and heavy forwards is, on the face of it, ridiculous. To think that the 14-year-old half-back knocked Charlie Button about, or that feather-weight Callender heaved Hobinson, l'rico, or Campbell over his head is equal to the story of the man who took (lie Chinese navy in an open boat. Now that, tho Opunake uicn have had a reputation created for them it would be as well if they would warn tho parents and aunts of players who intend playing against Opunake junl- - that the latter are practising kicking out tho eyes of mosquitoes, and' have placed a fair size order with an undertaker and a grave-dig-ger, but not to despair as they will be decently buried, and most likely gut a flattering obituary notice as to their good qualities. Wtrat more can be expected ?—Opunake Times. Still another point that the Heferees' Association should insist on being strictly enforced, and that (remarks tho Opunake football scribe) is the ruling with regard to "knockon." Some referees are condemned for being too "deadly" on the point, whilst others are too lenient. It is a rule that referees can be very elastic on. If the referee allows a little for a knock-on, where does he draw the line between a little knock-on and a big knock-on, a soft one and a hard one, or does the referee take into consideration the advantage to (ho side that infringed ? He must draw the line, and this is very dilficult. In the case of backs knocking the ball on it should be strictly enforced. Where a rule falls hard on both sides, it is better to stick strictly to law.