FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 132, 8 June 1904, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

taranaki rugby union. A inii'tirtg of the Taranaki Rugby Union was held j A> Stratford on Monday night, Sir F, T. Hi'llringvr j>i-e----siding. There wele nlwo present : Messrs Spurdlo (Ingluwoixl), Clarke (Opnnakc), Sluttery (Manairt), Jury ,(Okuiawa), and Arndt (secretary). The protest litglewood v. Tukapa, for playing Barrett, who was alleged to 1)0 Olit of the Tukapa district, was dismissed/ the protest fee being I returned.

The Tukapa protest against Inglewood for playing Poller having been upheld at last meeting, tho match was awarded to Tukaprt.

Tho secretary reported the result of his interview with tho New Zealand Union concerning the match ngninr.t the British team.

Tho luv.' Zealand Union wrote setting out the terms on which a match would bo played at New Plymouth, the principal bring a guarantee of tliOO net.

Tho secretary was instructed to write agreeing to the terms suggested. It was decided that the Union bd registered under the Unclassified Societies Act,

It was decided to play the Wanganui match at llawera on July 20th.

The Chairman stated that he had asked the New Plymouth Recreation (Irounds Board for tho use of the ground for the English match for •CIO, but that it rdqjuired £ls.

It was deckled to ofTer the Board JUliO for the two' mutches to be playetl in New Plymouth.

The Tukapa senior team 10 play Inglewood to-morrow on the Hecreation Grounds will be Futl/ liidland ; three-quarters, Fookes, Smith, Woods ; five-eighth, Mynott ; half, Frewin ; wings, Tansey, lluthie; forwards, Jenkins, llalt'e, Flatt, Dyne Priar, Standlsh, Lemark.

The following will represent Tukapa 11. agaiust Clifton 11. to-mor-row Full, L. Houeylleld; threequarters, h. Mclsaacs, E. Jenkinson, J. Irvine ; live-eighth, W. Morey ; half, W. McLean ; wing forwards, S, Smith, S. Glynes ; forwards, W. Davidson, J. Hottcll, 11. White, A. Elms, R. A. Malcolm, It. Tippins, J. Dawson. The secretaries of the Tukapa Foothill Club have received word that a team of teachers from tho Wanganui district will pluy a match with the Tukapa senlorß on June UOty next. The secretaries have replied arranging for a match on the date mentioned.

Jlr ,*i. Stocker, fire ret ary of the Star Club, has received a letter 1 that a team of Wanganui school teachers are desirous of trying conclusions with the Stars on Juno 30th. Arrangements are being made. The town of Elttiam has guaranteed £6O for the match against the British team. The other guarantee lists are being filled, an/1 the management of the Union have every reason to believe that the guarantee will be amply covered. New Plymouth and Stratford bunks are arranging a match to eventuate shortly. The game will probably bo played in Stratford, uud should prove interesting, as these institutions possess some good players. "Snip" Allen, who was injured in the Star-Tukapa match, is improving fast.

Tho rough play in Wanganui on Saturday has resulted in tho following scathing condemnation from the Wanganui Ilernld Tho football (?) match played last Saturday afternoon betwpen the Pirate and Kaicrau Clubs was a splendid exposition of how the game should not. bo played, and partook more of the character of a prize-light than anything else. Tho mere fact that not less than seven players, i.e., a quarter of the total number engaged, were "knocked out," four having to retire altogether from tho field, is surttcient evidence of tho roughness displayed. In justice to the players, we must stato that one or two owed their injuries more to their own vigorous play than to uny fault of their opponents, still the fact remains that the" exhibition of bad feeling and "dirty" play was a disgrace to Wanganui football. It is very clever, no doubt, while an opponent is lying on his back for a player to try and bore his (Ist into his mouth, or to kneel on his ribs, both of which tricks wore actually seen to occur on Saturday, and that more than once ; but this sort of thing is more in tho way of slumbred roughs than presumably respectable young men. On Saturday last there were two players in particular, one on each side, who were very conspicuous for repeated acts of rough and contemptible play. We huvo been given to understand that these players lmvo been repeatedly warned in the pnst. for sl.nilur conduct with apparently little effect. We should advise them it they cannot mend their ways to retire from football altogether, as men who cannot piny a gamo requiring self-control have no right to come on the field at all. The Rugby l'nion some time ago determined to put down rough play with a firm hand, and we hope for the credit of the game they will punish all offenders in this respect as heavily as I hey know how. No matter how good a player a man may be, If lie cannot play the game in a gentlemanly spirit he has no right to put on a jersey at all, and wo had rather see the Wanganui representatives romposed of sportsmanlike players, though they were only second-raters and lost all their matches, than to see it composed of good players whose wins were disgraced by rough play. The only way to stop this sort of thing is to bar the offenders from representing their clubs or tile I'nion, mid to show' appivciution of those who play the game as it should ho played by including them in 'he teams instead.