FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 108, 25 April 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

A DISQUALIFICATION REMOVED. NEW ZEALAND SELECTORS. I'er Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. I The management committee ol till . New Zealand Uugby Union decided toI night to remove the disc|iialiliealion ol live years imposed on J. llartiielt, ol the Kpuni Club, three years ago. I Selectors were appointed as follows: j North Island team—Messrs. Gallaher (Auckland), Kelly (Wellington), and Hutnphrise (Taranaki). South Island team—Messrs. Evans (Canterbury), Harris (Otago), and Galbraith (Southland). New Zealand team—Messrs. Gallaher, Kelly, and Evans. GROUNDS FOR WELLINGTON PLAYERS. Per Tress Association. Wellington, April 21. The Wellington Rugby Union has leased the Miramar Racecourse for three years at C.'l.jO a year. All Senior matches will he played there. It is probable that only the interprovincial matches and those against the Englishmen will be played in the Athletic Park this year.

i Mr. G. Bishop has intimated to tin - Star Club's secretary, -Mr. J. Clarke • that he intends to present a gold meda' • to the club, to be awarded to the best senior forward player. The cup fixtures in South Taranaki commence to-day. Seniors: Okaiawa v. Waimatc, at Manaia; llawera v. Patea, at Hawera. Juniors: Okaiawa v. Waimatc, at OKaiawa; Hawera v. Patea, at Alton. Thirds: Okaiawa v. Waimatc, at .Manaia; Hawera v. Patea, at Patea; liapouga v. Patea B, at Eltham. Hawera I. v. Patea I—The llawera team: Wllittington, Baker, Robertson, Douglas, Johnston. Crowley, McXiven, Glenn, Colnian, Beamish, Hunter, Goodwin (2), Spillane, Bernard. i'atea: Palmer, Tiimey, Sheahan (2), Lupton, Burke, Beamish, Thurston, Davidson (2), Prouse. Hamertoii, Bourke, Lister. Elmslic, Martin (emergenev). | Okaiawa v. Waimatc—The following (have been selected to represent Waimatc .seniors: Full back, D. Ryan; three quarters, Prince, Pine, Franklin; liveeighths, Meuli; half, Christie; wing forwards, Birchall, E. Bourke; forwards, Wilson, Moffitt, M. Ryan, Young, C. Davies, D. Bourke, C. Jones. Okaiawa: James Johnstone, Capcl, Roberts, Luxton, Daisley, Cave, Patterson, Radford, White, Bilker. Crowley, O'Sullivau (2), Hellernan.

Kaponga a bye. The following will represent Waiinate Juniors v. Okaiawa: Lowe, Ryan (2), Weir (2), Wallace, Kateue, Crowley, Blair, Taylor, Murphy, Hird, Espiner, McCarty, Hickman, Allison. The following will represent llawera 11. v. Patea II.: Morrison, Garry, Hammond, Oakes Hunter, Cowpcr, Winks, D. Murphy, Saxton, P. Murphy, Xyuies, Connor, Anderson, L. Hunt, ti. Hurley, J. J. Campbell, Barker.

[ Patea A HI. v. Hawera, at Patea, will be selected from the following:— D. Thompson, Shield, Hamcrton. Bourke, Brown, Stemp, McComisky, Ryan, Oldham, Spearman, Fitzwatcr," Mercer. Armstrong (2), Mangos, Willis (2), Tong. Hawera lII.—C. Young, Trott, Monro, Itaueh, Squire, Powell, ]•;.. Yearbury, 0. Castle, 11. Petersen, Phair, C Baker, A. Bernard, Raid, Thompson, Oliver. Burr, H. Young.

I ASSOCIATION. (By "Goal.") Ihe opening of the Stratford Club'-; season by a visit from an Eltham team proved that there are several able exponents of the game in the district, also tliat there arc tsome very promising recruits. Collins, for instance, placed a dashing game in the back division, and hut for the fine defensive wort of Collins and Ciapham, Eltham would have had several scores to their credit. Owing to liewdmnis lieing included iu both teams, 111,, match was not very attractive from a spectator's jwiiit of view. Eltham team opened the season with plenty of dash, but although the playwas largely iu their favor, they could only manage to make a draw, the forwards were particularly weak in front of their opjmnents' goal. Carncross. Scholield, and Olliver were prominent in the forward division, but they lacked scoring-power. Present indicatons are that Eltham will place a strong team in the field this Reason.

-Miserable weather conditions prevailed for the Kaponga-Diamonds match, which was to be regretted, as attractive football Tvas out of the question. The locals are to be congratulated on their enterprise in securing a visit from Wellington's champion club team. There was not a large margin of goals in favor of the visitors, but there can be no doubt that a lietter game would have resulted under favorable conditions. Association clul>s have beeu formed recently at Hawke's Bay and Wanganui. The Inglewood club has not yet wakened from its summer sleep. Shake it up, Soccer players! Surely someone can lie found to take the lead.

Some dissatisfaction i.ppoars to have been given vent to at the annual meeting of Hie Taranaki Union re the expenses of players who travelled to Auckland last winter in connection with the Brown Shield ooinpetilion. And the murmuring-; are justified, according to the conditions attached to the competition last year, which have lieeu forwarded to the Otago Cnion recently, and are as follows: —The New Zealand Football Association to take 5 per cent, of the g,ross and the Auckland Association 5 per cent, of the net receipts, the balance of profits to be divided between visiting associations pro rata to expenses." Surely the Taranaki players were entitled to some portion of the receipts. But no share has been allotted them (at any rate, none has been heard of), hence tin- munu.urings. Surely the N.Z.F.A. can supply an explanation. The Otago Football Association considers it inadvisable to send a representative team Home at the present time, but fa von a proposal to bring out a team of Horn© players. With reference to the proposal to send a team Home, Mr. .1. Richardson, of the Auckland Association, has been writing to the "Athletic News" giving full particulars of the proposed trip. The following comment is appended by the editor:—"Wo feel sure that our colonial cousins will receive a most cordial welcome if they make the long journey to the Homeland in the interests of sport-especially a- the Football Association several vcars ago were; unable to accede to the'-appeal to send a party out to Chose happy islands where the nnlv sign of turmoil appears to be the hot" springs. If the New Zealand •Soccer' men approach in skill their brethren of the oval Kill they will be thrice welcome."