FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 396, 23 May 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SATUIIDAY COMPETITIONS. The Saturday Football Association's fixtures were continued on Saturday in splendid weather and on dry grounds. The Pirates and Warehouses occupied the Recreation Sports Ground, and the Rovers met United Service on Racecourse Ground. In each case there was a difficulty in finding the full complement of players. Pirates had only eight men when the time arrived for starting play. Service 'played thirteen men in one spell, and twelve in the other. Rovers requisitioned the services of Roebuck as full-back, and even then they ■ were a man short The inclusion of Roebuck caused animated debate prior to the commencement of play. Nearly all i the captains—thirteen on each side - ' joined in the discussion as to whether a team could play a man who was not '"on the list." i ROVERS (!)) v. SERVICE (0). \ This was not a very interesting or ■ scientific exhibition, a majority ol the ( players showing a newness that was at • times amusing. With an indulgent referee the fun at times waxed hilarious. The Hovers were much the heavier side, but Service had a set of nippy backs, [ who made things lively when ulie game J opened out. Rovers kicked off, and soon drove the lighter team into a troublesome corner, a force relieving. From the kick-off the Blacks set ujp a nice passing rush, Bollinger returning a long kick to Addison, who, with a smart run and kick, placed the Rovers in trouble. The referee, however, did not notice that the kicker had put his men all on side, and gave a free-kick for offside play. Another dodgy rush was checked by .Q.uiliiam, who was waiting off-side. Service had a shot at goa'l, but Loveridge's kick went wide. A lot of tussling play at centre was evenly balanced until Quilliam got possession and made for the line. When about to be tackled he got rid of the ball by throwing it back aimlessly over his shoulder, when there were several ready to take the ipass. Gray booted over the line, and Blues were lucky in forcing. Rovers forced a few minutes later. Addison, Loveridge, Copestake and Tressider were all responsible for some good runs that tested Rovers' defence, but Addison made the mistake of diving into the ruck and the others hung on selfishly until grassed. Halftime was called without a score having been registered. Soon after resuming, Quilliam was again penalised for waiting off-side, and Loveridge made an unsuccessful shoi at goal. The first score was the result of ', an opening made by Pfankuch, Tressider easily passing the opposing backs and [ grounding the ball under the posts. Oope- '. stake hissed the goal. The talking, 1 which had been a feature of the game ] so far, now increased in volume, and >• players frantically exhorted each other ' to greater effort. Bollinger returning ', his hands smartly to his side from a ' hand ball exhibition on the line-out, ', caught an opposing player on the i "(point," and he was oblivious to a ( U, >' things earthly for a while. Play was ' willing for a stage, Service having , rather the best .of things. Pfankuch se- ► cured from a line-out, and after beating a [ couple of men passed to Copestake, who » scored. Pfankuch's kick at goal failed. ' A rough-and-tumble took place in the > corner and when things were sorted up ' Kilgonr found that he had the ball over J the line, scoring the third try for Ser- ■ vice. Again the kick failed. Service won by ( J point (3 tries) to ', nil. ; WAREHOUSES- (3(i) v. PIRATES (0). | This- fixture provided a runaway game ', for the Warehouses, who rattled up 36 ■ 'points to nil. The game was uninteresting. SCHOOL FIXTURES. At a committee meeting on Saturday the following drawings took place:— May v. Waitara (at Waitara); Inglewood, a bye. June 11.—Inglewood v. Waitara (at Inglewood); Stratford, a-bye. June 25.—Inglewood v. Waitara (at I Inglewood); Stratford, a bye. May 28.—Central v. West End (Western Park); Fitzroy, a bye. June 11.—Central v. Fitzroy (Racecourse) ; West End a bye. June 25.—Fitzroy v. West End Race--course); Central, a bye. The teams have been divided into two sections to lessen the travelling. By the above arrangement no team travels more than once. The winning teams of both sections are to play-off at Inglewood. The New South. Wales Union's programme has now been approved. The secretary says "the Sydney programme wilt] be a prodigious one, and for the first time in the (history of Rugby in this State—extending over 37 years—will four visiting teams be in our .midst. The programme bears a most 'Striking international aspect, the inclusion of the American Universities side opening up anew the possibilities of the development of the game all round the globe. In cricket, South Africa. Great Britain iand Australia are 'the chief contending forces; but in Rugby -football, added to •these three are the giant New Zealandi ers—Maoris included—America, and JI some of the European countries. Slowly the game is taking on a world-wide significiance. It is travelling faster than the Peace Society's propaganda work. , and gives (promise of yet following the miss.iona.ry into the •wilds of countries now 'being pioneered- by these useful workers in the cause of civilisation. Now, ta'ke tflie programme of June 18, if you would gilean some idea of the great bill-of-fa-re the union is offering. On 'this date the American and New South Wales Universities will meet as an early -match, to be followed by a contest .between the Maoris and New South Wales .representative team. Then on Saturday, June 25, the representative New Zealand team wnl engage Australia as a star fixture, the curtain-raiser being a match -between the Maoris and the Americans. It will be remembered that on the occasion of the last meeting of New Zealand and Australia, 52,000 spectators crowded .themselves into the Sydney Cricket Ground, being rewarded if or their nwtronage by -seeing the Australians put up a grand fight. In thcountry, the people will be given full opportunity of witnessing the visitors v.: action, the larger towns on the Nor; nera. Western and Southern lines being visited on convenient'diates. In addition i to this, the New South Wales team_ to visit Brisbane, instead of playing a Wednesday match in the northern capital, .will be sent on a tour of the northern .rivers districts. Brisbane will have the ™.p created made up for by a visit from the Maoris, and will also s.ec the New Zealanders after they have recovered their sea legs, and may 'dp considered _ at their heat."

For some time past in certain sporting circles in America tnere hn,s been an agitation in favor of the adoption of a code of football which, while maintaining the best features of the Kugby game, slid I not -be merely a game for heavy men, and one in which various forms of brutality quite contrary to sport are allowed, or at all events "winked at" (■writes a London correspondent on March 24). Mr. Craigie, a friend of Sir Thomas Lipton, and a leading member of the English community in New York, has endeavored to, arouse public interest in the British code by establishing a cup competition for clubs in the vicinity of New York. He nas organised teams to give exhibition matches, land to play fifteens oa-giainisetl! by American universities such as y.ate, ; where many track athletes and lawn, tennis players wished to 'try the British game of Rugby football. Several well-known college coaches arc in favor o* trying the British code, which, has won popularity in California, in spite of enormous opposition at first, In New York there are several clubs playing under Rugby Union rules, notably the Harlequins, Yonkers, and Staten Island Several well-known American football players have been witnessing the .principal matches in London of late, and have reported very favorably concerning them. One, iwho was formerly a prominent player of a Western University, .remarked that he thought the English game was quite as spectacular as the American, and a. giood deal faster, while It gave the individual more scope. American teams have to he drilled in their tactics, and -weight was all-import-ant. The visitors commented on the perfect -sportsman-like display of the men on the English Rugby fields.