FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 389, 14 May 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TO-DAY'S FIXTURES. Rovers v. Warehouse, an Racecourse; Civil Service v. Pirates, on Recreation Grounds. SOUTHERN DIVISION MATCHES. Waimate I. v. Haw'era. 1., at Ma nam; Patea I. v. Opunake 1., at 'Patea; Okaiawa I. v. Iva.ponga I. at Okaiawa; and second and third-grade matches. NEXT THURSDAY'S FIXTURES. Inglenvood I. v. Clifton 1., at Waitara; Star I. v. Tukapa 1., on Recreation Grounds, Xew Plymouth; Elthaia v. Stratford, at Stratford; and-second and third grade matches. CUP POINTS.

■NOTES ON THURSDAY'S GAMES. (By "Spectator.")

The match between Eltliam and Tukapa on Thursday was. for the opening of the season, a good one, and showed that these two teams at least are in 'better condition than is usually the case at this season. Of individual players, Mynott is still "on his own," coo], calculating and clever. .Jack Stoiir's kicking is a bonanza, while his play all round shows up prominently. C. Webster played a good sound game, his kicking especially being good. The play did not go B. Stohu's iway, but he was always there -when wanted, until his enforced retirement, which is a serious blow to his team.

Jones shaped well at wing forward, and played a very useful wing-three-quarter game in the second spell. Loveridge and Clarke shaped well. Amongst the forwards Ward was probably most prominent of a light but dashing lot. Fairbrothcr showed his inclusion to be justified. McAllum worked hard, as did Matheson. The latter remark applies, however, to every man in the forwards, who did iwell to hold their own.

Amongst the Magpies. Potior was always prominent, but probably was not of more service to his side than was Moir, who is> almost too vigorous, and Dive. Glentiworth is a greatly improved player, and Cooper shapes promisingly behind' the serum. Amongst the forwards, Osborne, Levick and Salter were the most noticeable, but the headiest

forward the team possesses, on the day's

play, was McLean, who was always in iho van.

hi the Sli'aii(i;i!-t'lif|: m innu-h on Thursday thiov ws evidence, on more tli.lll one occasion, of savage horse-play . between two well-known players, one in tlic visiting team and one in the home team. While admiring- a bit of "stou«;h" i:; a man in the right place, everyone must admit that a football groumi i- >.. i place to settle a 'feud. Such matters .should be cleared up in a quiet bushclearing or country paddock. The names of the offenders will not be published on this occasion, but a recurrence of "open hostilities" in future matches by these players will be dealt with plainly in tiiis column. The veteran Dan who has for some seasons past been a tower of strength to tile Clifton Club, is absent from the ranks of the team this year. "Danny" has decided to keep oil' the field of play owing to a strained cartilage in the knee. However, should occasion arise, the "old horse" will not see his team stuck for a man. In the closing stages of the Star-In-glewood match there occurred, quite fittingly, it seemed, something that might 'be called a "clothes-ing" incident. Tiherc was a cry .of "trousers!" and the players of iboth sides joined a solid phalanx round one of their comrades while a new pair of the necessary appendages to tin; costume were hurriedly procured and donned. Then there was a flutter of rags towards the touchline, the spectators grinning suggestively, and the game was resumed! The Star backs are a light, fast crowd. On their play on Thursday they should develop into a tough nut to crack before tlhe season is over. Jvaturally, with such a weak opposition, many chances were taken which would lead to trouble under other circumstances, but for this they could hardly be blamed. The ball once .out of t'he pack was handled smartly and cleanly in most instances. Their line kicking might have been better, but then the ball was greasy and developed elusive ways. Supporters of the Star were anything but satisfied with the manner in which the scrummers dealt with the ball. The hookers did their work well, but t/he back row seemed loth to part with it, \ and it hung tantalisingly in the danger zone in front .of the half. It would be well for the future to remedy this trouble and "feed the backs," as my opinion is that therein lies the strength of the team. The fault on Thursday, with the forwards especially, was mat they were too keen on the ball. Inglewood /played a plucky game. They are just as good sports as ever, it seems, and the trend of public opinion was that they might have better luck later in the! season. ' But t'here will have to be more systematic training if this is to be the case. After all, luck is very much one's own making. The forwards worked I hard, but the backs had little chance of doing any good in the open. It was a great, aeal their own fault, too, if the truth must 'he told.

The quidnuncs say that Brown (Star) will have to improve on Thursday's play if he is to attain rep. 'honors this season.

Referee Rock had a sinecure in the Star-Ingle wood game. The infringements were glaring enough in all cases to catch even the veriest tyro's eye, and, besides, he had ?. set of players under him who refrained from that objectionable habit of "magging."

By some mischance a page of "copy" failed to find its way into the linotype operator's hands on Thursday night, as it should have done, and Tommy Jones was not credited witih the rather clever try he scored for Tukapa against Eltham. He made a nice, feinting run, and (bothered the Eltham backs, his try being well deserved. Jack Stohr converted.

The mention of an Australian tour seems to have the effect of imparting new life to the veteran footballers who, in the stiffness born of a summer's rest from the national game, have already threatened to view the -"ramble from the touch-line. Thus v. =oe that Freddy Roberts, the "All 13i.:.' " liarfbaok, is again crouching behind the

Oriental scrum in Wellington. He's said to be as fit as ever, too. F. Mitchinson is- also going to do his little bit, and even Hardiham is mentioned as a probable starter. George Tyler has re-ap-peared in Auckland, and-the erstwhile Taranaki and New Zealand forward, Frank Glasgow, is at the old game in Timn.ru. "Steve Casey" is playing again in Dunedin, but in the second grade. Says the Observer:—"The awfully sudden ending of Mr. 'Ernie' Ifwersen at Xew Plymouth last 'week caused a wave of regret in athletic circles. Our oldtime footballers -will remember him as captain of the old Athletic team. Mr. Ifwersen was a great favorite and a real sport. At present one of his sons is playing under the Auckland Rugby Union games."

The- Maori team to tour Australia should give a good account of itself. Taranaki sends some good men in Tamil, Pini and Martin. Tamu'e a weighty forward, wjlling, and good-tempered, and is said to be in. the "pink of condition," if the term is permissible. Pini is another Maori well known in Taranaki football as a lightning three-quar-ter and a capital kick. He strips well, and is rather heavier than he looks. Bo,tli of these are prominent in the Warn ato .Club's ranks, and the Manaia seniors will be much the poorer by their absence. Martin has been amongst the best of the Opunake forwards for some time. From a Rahotu correspondent is gleaned the information that he has been a keen enthusiast for a number of years, and plays a .hard, clean game. He has narrowly missed rep. honors on two or three occasions. The team includes AY. Cunningham, of Auckland, and W. Stead, of Southland, member; of the original ''All Black" team. Ourold friend T-ikarangi, of Wangamii. is another notable member of the team, and Winiata (ITorowhenua) H a. capable exponent of the game. The forwards average labout 14 stone. Great care 'was taken in the selection of the team, the character of each player being fully considered before he was included. The management of the team will be in the hands of Mr. W. T. Parata, with Mr. Poaiiionga .as secretary anil treasurer. A committee, consisting of Messrs Parata, Poananga, Prince, Takaningi, and a player to be chosen, will assist in the management. The captain and selection committee will be chosen when the team assembles at Rotorua. The tour is being financed by a number of gentlemen, which includes the committee previously mentioned and Messrs Tai Mitchell and G. Dansey and Dr. Wirepa. The team 'will assemble at Rotorua next week, and will play a match at Rotorua on the 21st inst., and against Auckland representatives at Auckland on the 24th inst. Tliey ar# booked to sail for Australia by the steamer Victoria on the 30th inst.

A Maori football match was to have been played at Rahotu on Wednesday, but was postponed on account of the King's death.

! The following 'will re,present Rovers | to-day against Warehouses: —Pott, Saij way. Loveridge. Monk, Crant. Osborne. Presliaw, West, .Mulloy, IVk.-r, Moby, Bollinger, QuiMiam, Woodhev. Grey. The following will represent Warehouse to-morrow:-Ward, Crockett, McAl lum, Briscoe, Staimering, Dines, Hawkins, Shain, Richards. lligge;is<in, Boucher. Jones, Arthur, Jackson. Simmers; emergency, Howell. SOCCER. The Xew Plymouth team journeyed to Stratford 011 Thursday last to meet the local evelen. The New Plymouth team consisted ot Thomas (goal), Hedley and Holmes (backs), Elliott (capt.), Goddard and MuCormish (halves), Gwillim. Legg, Arthur, Vale and Olmreh (forwards). The game opened with New Plymouth facing a strong wind arid drizzling rain. Stratford were very aggressive in the iirst half, and scored two goals to New Plymouth's one. In the second half New Plymouth fairly outclassed the local team, and notched two goals to Stratford's one, bringing the game to an even finish oi three goals eaeh. New Plymouth Showed good combination throughout the game, the backs kicking accurately, considering the strong wind, and the half-backs feeding the forwards well. They in their turn gave .the finishing touches by scoring the goals. Every player showed fair form. It was pleasing to note the way New Plymouth "new chums" .played. Vale was the pick of i'lie new men, with Church, Goddard, Legg and McCormish. Our veterans in Elliott, Hedley, Holmes. Gwillim, Arthur and Thomas, showed by their play that they are as good as ever. One may look forward with confidence to the team's future playing. E. Elliott is a good captain, and the feeling that prevails amongst the members will help them to come somewhere near the top in Taranaki soccer football. ' The next match will be versus Eltham at Eltham.

Gwillim scored New Plymouth's first goal. Vale the second, and Tledley the third.

i i 6 j! 3 ; & i o £.'> o J Drawn Points for Points .against 5" & ts'i AR I 1 1 0 o 42 | » 2 Tukap 1 1 o " 1 11) 1 1 % 2 STiUTFOM). i 1 0 0 :■» 1 ■I Clifton ... i 1 u 1 0 0 3 (l Kltham 1 •' 1 " 13 | Lit ;l lNr:i,E\vooi> i i 1 0 * | 42 0