The Daily News TUESDAY, JULY 20. FOOTBALL MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 149, 20 July 1909, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, JULY 20. FOOTBALL MATTERS.

Football tiivlcs are at present interested in Liu. attitude adopted by the Wainiate Club with respect to the final for th,. senior championship. The position, briefly, is that Wainiate (winners in the southern division) defeated Opnnake (winners of the western division) at Opunako, and accordingly had to meet Stratford to decide trie provincial championship. Hie venue of the match was decided .by toss, and the game eventuated at Manaia on Thursday last, ending in a draw. The management committee of the Union thereupon decreed that the I deciding match should take place at Stratford, and suggested Thursday next as a suitable date, W'aimate, however, having the privilege of playing on a Saturday if they wished. The Wnimatc Club lias now notilied the L'nion that they will forfeit the match unless the ground is tossed for or the Union derides in favor of a neutral ground. The decision of file Union is held, by the Wainiate Club to be unjust and unfair, and not in accordance witli the customary method of tossing to decide the playing ground. Irrespective of the fairness or otherwise of the Union's decision, the Wainiate Club lias apparently overlooked the fact that the match is not an ordinary club ii.vture. but a game directly controlled by the Union. In threatening to forfeit' the mab-li. therefore, the club is not only forfeiting its chance of winning the championship, hut defying the authority of the Union! and exposing .its players to the possibility of being penalised in accordance with the rules. That the Union regard* tile action of the Wainiate Club as a serious ofl'ence is evidenced by the fact that a special meeting of the Union has been summoned to consider the case. Regarding the alleged unfairness of the Union's decision, and apart alivgi-iher from their right to fix the match for wherever they choose, we fail entirely to see wherein the unfairness lies. Stratford has already travelled to Jlanaia. Would it be fair to Stratford that they should again have to play at Manaia? Moreover, and contrary to .the contention of the Wainiate Club it has not been a recognised custom to fix the ground, in the case of a second game to decide the championship, ny tossing. It is perfectly obvious that the venue of a second match in such a ease as the present should operate automatically. The Plains men have hitherto enjoyed the reputation of being good sports, and it would be a pity if tney were so .badly advised as to adhere, to their attitude, which is both unreasonable and untenable. |