FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 150, 16 June 1908, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

REFEREES ASSOCIATION. i, The Taranaki Referees' Association \ met at Xew Plymouth last evening. a Tiicre were pre- ent: Messrs. K. T. ringer, W. Roch, T. Way. T. Petty. .1. j Clarke. K. Spurdle, ami (i. (Iritliths. .Mi', ji F. T. IMlringer presided. t! It was resolved that Mr. Kivell be a a-ked lo give an explanation regarding ;. the pre»j comments concerning his t fereeing ill the Eltham-Clifton match on li Thursday last. a Mr. 0. Itoldt, of inglewood, attend d i at the request of the Association, with reference to correspondence in tile pie ;s, a stating that rough play had lii'en allow- f ed by the referee in tiie Inglewood-C'lif-ton senior match ou June 4th. Mr. f Bolt explained that the letters were his own private opinions, and were not in t any way authorised by the Inglewood I Club. His statements were not aim-'d at Sir. Spurdle or at referee* in ;_'ener>]. ' 'The matter was discussed and llr. ; Itoldt was assured that the policy of 1 the Association was to suppress ail rough play. A motion, stating tint the Association had every confidence in Mr. Spurdle as referee was passed. Mr. Proctor was suspended until an enquiry had been held regarding certain conduct on his part. Tli« enquire will be held at a special meeting on Tuesday, June 30th. THURSDAY'S MATCHES. SENIORS. Star v. Clifton, at New Plymouth, 3 pjn.; Mr. Griffiths. Htnam v. Inglewood, at Eltham, 3 p.m.; Mr Koch. Stratford v. Tukapa, at Stratford, :i pjn.; Mr. Spurdle. FIRST JUMOKS. Clifton v. Star, at Waitara, 3 p.m.; Mr. J. Way. Tukapa v. Stratford, at New Plymouth, 1.45; Mr. T. Petty. KECO.NI> J UNfOUs. Star v. Clifton, at New Plymouth, I. lu pjn.; Mr. Uritfiths. Stratford r. Tukapa, at Stratford, 1.30 p.m.; Mr. Spurdle. THURSDAY'S TEAMS The following will represent the Tukapa seniors against Stratford at Stratford on Thursday: —lloneylield, Stohr, Hooker, Hardgraves, Mynott, Frewin. Courtney, McLean, Johnston, llalfe, . Ward, Jones, Uoveridge, Seamark, and I Walsh. Team will leave by the 12.50 1 p.m. train. ' The Clifton Club will I • represented > by the following teams on Thursday next Seniors v. Star at New Plymouth: W. Lash, H. Seholetield, J. Eggteston, V. Tate, D. (jeorge, S. l,eorge. tj. l'ulford, E. Sampson, M. Cain, li. McAlpme, S.. Loveridge, Pukere. J. Hodley. M. Partridge, C. Sampson. Team leaves by brake at 1 pJ»First juniors v. Star at Waitara: (. tioldsmith, I'. Skeltun, Neill, Excell. H. Bond, L. l'eties, 11. Andrews, F. Letts, L. Thomas, W. Dernhill, P. Jones. E. Andrews, Creed, Eustace, and 'late. Thirds v. Star at New Plymouth: Wlraka, C. Tate, W. Chapman, W. Fuller, Kopu, Julian, Fitzsimmons, Drake, Birdling, Thomas, Reed, Is. MeKoy. E. Sangster, Francis. Kawa; emergencies, Copestake and Preston. Urake leaveo at li noon sharp. NOTES.

The secretary of the Tnkapa Club has received a telegram from the T.1t.1". s.>c-1 retary that Hardgraves, Hooker, .Mvnott, Frewin and Johnston are required to attend a committee meeting at Stratford on Thursday after the finish of t le Tukapa-.Stratford match to explain tiieir defection from the trial game at Hawvra on Saturday. It was stated sever ll days U'fore the match that these players would lie unable to go unless their out-of-pocket expenses were to be refunded by the Union. This management committee meeting will probably be held early so that the men concerned can return by the express train, as usual. The Stratford Football Club is distributing amongst the various club secretaries the tickets for the Tukapa-Mrat-ford senior fixture on Thursday, the proceeds to be devoted to the Koberts' benefit fund. Several players have lately complained of the want of agreement among't the referees as to what is football and what is not. No player can go ou the field feeling that he knows tile game, and knows what he is allowed tu do, for he is bound by the referee's interpretation of the rules, and different referees have different ideas. For instance, one referee believes that a player who is tackled and thrown may play the ball from the ground so long as the ball has not touched the ground. Others give a free kick under these circumstances. Another ruling is that a player receiving the ball from the throw-in may throw it as far forward as he pleases so long as he throws into touch. This opinion also is not shared bv :.ll members of the Referee*' Association. Then there is a delightful difference of opinion as to what constitutes a mark. One referee blows hi 3 whistle for a fair catch whether the man appeals or not. Another will not allow a fair catch, even on appeal, unless the man actually makes a mark on the field with his heel. There is a need for some unanimity 011 these and other points. "Spectator," the football scribe on the Eltham Argus, writing on last week's game between Eltham and Clifton, savs the match was entirely spoiled by the referee, who penalised frequently for legitimate play. His decisions were hard to understand. The weather conditio is were favorable for a fast game, and both sides had strong teams, but as soon as play looked interesting the boatswain would pipe and all hands would must,-t round the forecastle—the referee-In find out where the breach occurred ;md who was responsible for it, nobod,'. players or spectators, seeing any infringements. With play in progress tlie home backs would set 'out on a voyage Of discovery and their navigation would Ih> classified faulty by the referee. The continuous stoppage of play disheartened both teams and exasperated the sp»,-. tators The Kltham captain and his •lacks tried all points of the compass, but were always driven back bv a hostile gale of whistling and the play de"cn'rated.

Turlill. .uini plavcl full-bark for tinNViv Zealand proti-s-i.ma 1 ti'um. ex. |>ri""i*s tlw <>['ii]ioii (hut tin', pick of Ni-w Zi'alan.l player, would win nil tln-ir ni.itclics against XnrtliiTn t iiinn chilis ainl ri'pri'-i'iitativi' trains. Tin- ilt-afb of A. 11. lia-kivilli-. the organiser ami secretary of the "All Hlaek " professional team. fat* no doubt np-et, to a great evtenf the arrangements f.,r introducing the Northern I nion game into the Dominion, hut others wii! K' found to carry on tliH work which lu- mi successfully in - aiiguriit«'d. From what the Wellington can gather. •.Mounds have been M-mrwl in lli** principal bv the returned and i-\hjhilioiiw ut the game will In- given. One does jjo( need to Ik- much of a prophet to predict that, should th" Northern Union game get a standing at all. many llughy players of the present day will throw in their lot wiMi the of the new code. It iiierel>ehove> th« New Zealand I'nion to )m' up and doim..'. and eheekmate a> far a* possible those who are at the head of< the Northern Cnioit movement a- far as this Dominion if"»rerned. Mr. -I. M. Ceddi>. who is fripi.iu" numd the world, writes from I'm—elthat the Kllgby «;niic seem* fo be I 1 finjf a hold on t Im* Continent. " \* L'lii-anne f mw footballers returning from their match attired in the short rant*, and jersey- obtaining in New Zealand. In Hanover I '•aw poster* up announcing a niatrli f»r Kaster Monday lietwcn tin* Aachen Club (champion of the UMne-lan.N) and the llallover Club fehampion of Hanover)."