FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 220, 10 September 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME, MOWN SHIELD MATCiIiiS. By Telegraph.—.n ess Assuuai.ou. Duuedin, Last Night. , The first round oi the competitive matches between representative teams irom the live provinces—laranalu, Wellington, Canterbury, and Southland—for the challenge shield presented in 'the interests of New Zealand Association football by ilr. Robert Brown, of Glasgow, in IS9I, opened iu favorable' .circumstances at the Cairsbrook ground this afternoon. The weather was fine and the ground in splendid order. The attendance was about 600.

TARANAKI v. SOUTHLAND. The first match, Taranaki v. Southland, resulted in a win for the iurmer by 3 goals to nil. Some good football marked the opening stages. Taranaki .were first to be really dangerous, Eggleston, with a nice shot, missing the goal by a foot. Taranaki forwards hung about, and but for the smart work of Stevenson would have scored,

•win ui .ri.eve.ioou wuuw nave scoreu. After quiet play in mid-field, an easy chance to score was missed by D. Bullot. After the Southland backs repelled a strong attack, Gillan agara led the way to Oarncross. A long kick by Collingwood relieved the pressure, and Taranaki forwards attacked. A pretty centre from Bullot was badly missed ■by Preece. Exceptionally good work I>V Eggleston was tile only urignc Mature of a spell of even play in midfield. Twice he dribbled neatly forward aTlrl slinf iitif <i liifL. .« j. I

and sliot just a little too wide. At half-time there was no score. Tara- , naki opened the second spell with vigor, , and after five minutes' play Orabtrec worked neatly to the Southland backs and scored with an oblique shot. Taranaki 1; Southland 0. Southland forced two corners, which were rcsußless. Taranaki made liberal use of the rule as to blocking on two occasions. Chiefly as a result of good work bv Mc-

Gregor, the Southland forwards went very near scoring. Crabtree broke away on the Taranaki right wing and centred fast across the goal mouth to Eggleston, who easily beat Doeherty. Taranaki 2; Southland 0. Three minutes later Doeherty was cleanly beaten by a fast shot from Preese. Taranaki 3; Southland 0. The last ten minutes' play was uneventful, both teams showing signs of fatigue. There was no further score.

OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. The match, Otago v. Canterbury, resulted in a win for Otago by i goals to nil, after an interesting game, in which the visitors showed up to good advantage. At the opening Otago at,tacked strongly, but off-side play spoiled their chance, and a clever attack by Canterbury was nullified by a wild pass.' After another attack by the home team had been repulsed, McClelland had two shots at goal in quick succession, but without success. A little later McClelland centred to Bailie, who scored the first goal. Otago 1; Canterbury nil. After each side had attacked in turn, a sharp battle enj sued In front of the Otago goal, but I the defence was equal to the strain. Eventually McChdland put tlie visitors on the defensive, but the Canterbury backs removed the danger. Another attack by Otago was met by a solid) defence. Then the visitors suddenly phanged the scene, playing their opponents oh the defence. Harvey sent i in a hard shot which was well cleaved, i ' little later the ball glanced off a Canterbury player, and McClelland < drove it through the net, but was rul- • orl nfF.eiAt, it. . _

Ed off-side. Soon after the opening of the second spell, Usher and McClelland took the ball right to the Canterbury line. Bailie sending it into the not. Otago 2; Canterbury 0. After the •home team had had two more shots Norman and Harvey dribbled neatly up .the centre and a hot rally ensued in front of the Otago goal, until Greenfell removed the play. Soon afterwards Canterbury attacked vigorously, the effort concluding with a dangerous but unsuccessful shot by Keith. After a period of dull play Canterbury attacked once more, but the defence was impregnable, and Otago removed the play to centra, when Bailie scored again. Otago 3; Canterbury 0. A shot by Anderson was smartly cleared by lvnowles, but Noakes obtained possession and banged over the bar. The next incident was a shot over the bar by Richie, followed almost immediately by a Canterbury attack with a hut shot from Noakes, which was unsuccessfully dealt with by Knowles. The Canterbury attack strongly tested Knowles again. The kill went out to Anderson whose shot struck the side of the net. McClelland beat several players and got before the goal at his leisure, tapping past the goal-keeper into the net. Time was called shortly afterwards, with the scores—Otago 4 goals; Canterbury 0.

THE OTAGO REPS. Auckland, Last Night. The Otago rep. footballers who wfll meet Auckland on Saturday and endeavor to obtain the Ranfurly Shield arrived via the Main Trunk line this evening. They were met and wvlcomed by the local Rugby Union officials. Ri.-FOR.ULXG THE RUGBY GAME. Wellington, Last Night. The discussions that have been going on for some time on the question of reforming the rules of Rugby football, are now in a fair way to assume practical shape. A special meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union is to be held on Ootober Ist, when it will be proposed that' the following amendments be made:—Law 2 (tackle)— I That a player brought to the ground be allowed to pass tha ball even though it has touched the ground, provided it be done immedijately. \

Law 2 (scrummage), add—'ln every case when the referee orders a serummage he shall himself put the ball into the said scrummage." Law 2 (ball in scrummage)—A player cannot lift his leg until the ball touches the ground,, and unless the ball is put past the first man in the scrummage that has the shorter front, it shall not be considered to have been fairly put into the scrummage. Law 2 (knoeking-on and throwing forward)) —That it should not be considered a knock-on if the player so doing recovers possession before the ball touches the ground. Law 2 (fair catch),—Add after "catch'' in last line "definition," or by immediately calling out "mark." Law 3 (section E)—That the referee be allowed discretionary power as to whether the gam.- shall be stopped. Law 3 (section F) —Delete the words "held or—." Law 4—Scoring goal from mark or penalty kick to count two points. law 0 (section C) to be deleted. Add after goal-line in last line of notes: "lint when the ball is on the rrrou-nd

ajut nucii mm io uu im< j^iuu.iu after a player has been tackled it maylie picked up liy any player other llian 111-.' man so tackled." Law B—Add new section C: "When he ha- run behind one of his own side Mho has last played the ball." Law 12 (section A) to read—"Throwin!; 't on ' so as '° Jil'gl't a minimum distance of five yards from and at right angles to the touch line." WELLINGTON v. TARANAIU.

ANOTHER HATCH ARRANGED. At the invitation of the Wellington Rugby Union, the Taranaki Rugby. Union has decided to play a match against the Wellington reps, at Wellington oil Saturday. r Jhe Taranaki team, which leaves for Wellington on Friday morning, will be the same as n-'hieh played Auckland for the Ranfurly Shield, with the exception of Mynott. who cannot get away, liuckland will probably take Cameron's place in the three-quarter line, the latter plavina five-eights with Hunter, .rack 6tohr 'has been chosen emergency back.

THE NORTHERN UNION GAME. (.!. Jones, manager ni the Auckland Northern Union team to i)l,iv Wellington at the latter place on Niturday. was in New Plymouth acsterilny. and proceeds io Wellington bv to-d.iv's train. The team will follow to-morrow. The match arranged bcIweea the Auckland and Taranaki teams will tak-.i place next Thursday afternoon. The 'iiikapa ground lias been -ecurcd for the match. The Auckland team is a» follow*!—Fnll-Wk: S. Ililey: Slii-eff-iiuartC'i'-: Tl. I'.owe. (I. Pillamore, C. llcdwooil; fivo-eisjhlhs: \A .

Ivl.T. A. Aslier; half. w. uyn.vani: forwards: C. Dunning, W. Macllwll. S. Trevartlien. C. llnoper. J. Barclay, S. \rcllonalA: emergency. C. Cholly. The Taranaki team has not yet been TIWLKWOOD CTJ T B. (From Our Own Cr>rrpspo'.i(lenU. The annual social of the Tnglmvorul ITnitrd Football Club was held on Tuesday night in Parish Hall; Despite

I the inclement weather there was a. good (attendance. During the supper interval his Worship the Mayor, Air. 11. B. Curtis, presented the district shield to tlie Egniont Village Football l''lub, who are the winners for the year. The following trophic; were also presented:—Mr. Sullivan's trophy for trie best forward in the Inglewood team lo L Olson, and Mr. 11. Thompson's trophy for the most improved player to R. Cleave.

The hall was very tastefully decorated with flags and banners, conspicuous among these being the Star and Tukapa banners. Messrs. A. F. Thomp- - 6on and L. De Launay acted as M.'sC., and great credit is due to them, and also to tile lion, secretary (Mr. (). M. Boldt.) for Hie very enjoyable manner in which the dance passed off.