FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8110, 15 May 1906, Page 3

FOOTBALL

Okaiawa first juniors defeated Eltliam on Siturday by 8 points to 3. Tlic win was somewhat " flukey," the Eltliam players waiting for the hall to be brought bark for a line-out, allowing an Okaiawa plnyOr to score a try without attempting to stop him, a goal being kicked. Each side kicked a goal from a mark.

The game between the Hawera ami Waimatc senior teams, played on Saturday, was ono of the finest games of Rugby ever played in the southern division. A quarter of an hour before the finish Waimate had a lead of (1 points, but the whole aspect of the game was suddenly changed by Jimmy Hunter adopting his corkscrew running and feinting tactics. Waimate possess a splendid forward team, but their backs wero inferior to Hawera.

The senior game between Eltliam and Okaiawa was a slruggle from end to end between the. Eltliam backs and the Okaiawa forwards.

The Patea-Opunake senior game, despite Patea's win by 11 to 0, was a a very even contest. Only one try was scored which was converted by C. Burke, who was also responsible for two other fine goals, converting marks by drop-kicking, one from beyond halfway.

Tukapa will be rcprescmcd by the following teams on Thursday:— Seniors v. Clifton on Recreation Ground at 3 p.m.: Crowley, Frewin, Honeyfield, Howell, George, Hardgreaves, Johnson, Mynott, McLean, Perry, Smith, Seamark, Slnnnermg, Steele, liidlund. Referee, Mr Petty. First juniors v. Clifton IT., at Waitara : S. Fin.iham. Julian, M. J. Finn, X. McLean, P. Di u?las, L. Bullot, IS. Glynes, C. Muthieson, F. •Tn 11, J, Tickuer, G. Tickncr, P. Allen, G. Trecby, T. Mahonuy, H, Houdrickson. Brake leaves at 1 p.m. sharp. -Referee, Mr Hopkins. Sccdhd juuioL's v. Str.ilford, at Stratford, lc:iiri to leave by 7,40 n.m. train ; R. Siinwoads, M. Ward, J. Bullolt, McGiven, 11. Bullotl, Loveridgo, Nisbet, Alton, Patterson, Walsh, McDonald, Jm'.t, Dockrill, Gilbert, Sturmey. Referee, Mr Roeli.

SCHOOL CLUBS. A correspondent writes" Hugby football is New Zetland's best game, and the reason of New Zealand's wonderful success in this game is the interest takci} in it by teachers and pupils of the public schools. It struck mo very forcibly while watching the game last Saturday played at Fituroy between the footbil! clubs of that school and Hell Block, that the game between primary schools docs not receive the attention

it deserves. In the first place the teams were not school teams at all, inasmuch as big fellows, who have at one time been at the schools and are now attending the Higli School, were allowed to play, thus making the teams •eally • past and present' instead of idiool teams proper. In this way the iromising young lads at prescit in the :lubs get no chance of a match, and he. little fellows who do play are run vcr by the big importations from the ligh School, The result of such a ame is certain to bo in favour of the sam that is composed of roost ancient ilayers. Next, I hold it of the utaost importance that the rules of the ;ame should be enforced mo?t strictly rhen boys of the primary schools are lie performers, for if the youug geir - - ation of footballers tire allowed to nake all sorts of mistakes, and arc not uicklv and stcruly brought to book, hey will continue in those errors when bey arc members of adult clubs, and e a nuisance !o the clubs they play or. To avoid this a regular referee, ay some disinterested school teacher, nd the very best available, should be ppointed for each match." We arc glad our correspondent lias fought up the matter of football latches between the various schools in he district. The school boys of to,ay arc the football players of tor lorrow. The best footballers that Ins colony has .turned out learned thcii> ootball in the first instance in the iublic schools and colleges. In Wei, iugton the value of school football jus been recognised for years. There competition is held, and the :-enPOF ootball clubs do evcrylhing in their ower to foster juvenile football. As a onscquence of the keen interest aken 111 them, the boys learn he game thoroughly. From 'the chool the bovs go into the lifth-class ompctitiou under the ltugby Union, nd are able to pass through the arious grades until they reach the euior class.

Taranaki c«mld, witli advantage, take an interest in the school boys, and provide competitions for them, as well as "continuation" grades, i.e., hfth and fourth classes under I lie l T nion, worked on similar lines to (lie present lirsl, second and 'third grades.

We notice that 111 the Waimate district (Southern division) the loeal club is instituting t his year a school competition, which is certain to he a success. There is no reason why Xorthern Taranaki should not follow siit, and

start competitions. We commend the suggestion to the leaders ol liugby in tile province, ai|il (rust that, a move will he made in the direction indicated before tho neason has muoli further advanced. We will bo glad to receivo ideas and suggestions on the subject.