FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 184, 9 August 1904, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Humphries has decided not to play in the match against Wellington toUIOITOW. The butchers will play tho bakers bn Thursday, the proceeds going toI ward the Hospital funds. 'Jho Wellington team were driven !'to Waltara yesterday afternoon as the guests of tihe Taranaki liugby I'nlon 'i'he secretaries oi' the Tukapa Club desire to acknowledge, with thanks, :lonations'l'rom the following gentlemen :—Mr John Avery 10s, Mr James West 7» (id. A Press Association telegram from Christchurch. last evuningi stated that J. Duncan, who will coach the New Healand team for Saturday's match, and E. Harper, I'. Harvey, and 11. Fonnimg, tho Canterbury men selected, had left for Wellington. The regulations regarding theHnnfurly Shield require that notico to play for it mutt (be sunt in |l»y August 81st in each year, not August lßt, as stated in yesterday's issue. The follow: 'l team hasl own picked to play for i aranaki against Wellington at Haweia to-morrow : Illythe, Humphries, Fookes, Abbott, Mynott, Fivwin, Guy, Hamblyn, Wil<on, Glasgow, O'Sullhan, Douglas, Thomas, Burke, and McKay. Arrangements havo been mode for delaying the northern stoamer on the night of the 17th Inst., tiho date of the Taranaki-iiritish match, and of the Star Club's social, which will he held that evening, the English team being present. Those who have seen a good ileal of interpiovincial football, and are well acquainted with tije play of the present Canterbury team, are of o]iinion that if the Britishers were successful in "hookiii{(" the ball against the representatives of the i'lains, they will be equally successful against' any other combination. It is not thought that the New Zealand team will suffer very considerably in the event of l'orteous being unable to play. Gallagher is as good a man, owl McMinn, of the Munawatu team (who will be included in the team in l'orteous' aillsnice) is about tho best "Hooker" obtainable. The actual tak'lngs at Saturday's footliall match in Christchurch were £8. r >o lis 4d, mode up as follows : Gates, £627 14s 7d ; stands, £lB4 14s 9d ; reserved seats, £BB 2s. The gate money represents an attendance of over 12,500 at a shilling each. To this must bo added 500 reserved stats, and a largo percentage of children in the crowd, bringing the total attendance up to about 16,000.

Mr Powdrell, who acted as referee in the WairaraporWanganui match, made a few remarks at the dinner which would find favour with most players. Speaking as a referee he stated that ho believed in anyone who officiated in that capacity explaining tine why and wherefore of any decisions given by Mm when asked'by any player, as he said this .■nabled the person penalised to know better than offend in the same way again. Some referees hold different views l to Mr Powdrell on this matter, but certainly the letter's plan seems tho most sensible. Mr Gibson, of Christchurch, who is well acquainted with English Rugby and mainy of the Britishi team now .n the colony, remarked, inter alia, '.o a Christchurch reporter : " They will remind you of tho value of the •ontral attack and of dribbling. New Zealand .backs crowd too much on the touch-line, whereas the visiting backs centre from the touchiinc, and develop on attack in front of goal, ami in a moment the ball is out to the wing." That is, the visitors play what is known as "the good old game," instead of the wing-for-ward, full - of - scrum-and-touchline stuff that is called football nowadays. New Zealnndcrs have lost the art of place-kicking, centring ploy, and dribbling. In these the Britishers excel. It will be interesting to sec how the brilliant old tactics fare against our so-called up-to-date play.