FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 65, 25 June 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

NORTHERN DIVISION.POSITION OF THE TRAILS,

(Notes by " Spectator.") By defeating Stratford on Thursday afternoon Clifton put Tukapa in the lead for the northern championship. The river-port team wasn't generally reckoned giood enough for Stratford, but the absence of Cameron, Bur'gham, and one or two of the best forwards weakened the Stratford team greatly. Tukapa have five wins to their credit, and they drew with Stratford. Stratford met their first defeat at Wartara oil Thursday. Clifton is level with Stratford.

The Tukapa-Eltham match on Thursday wasn't a good exhibition of the game.- The back play, particularly on the part of the visiting team, was wretched. Dive has played some good games this season, but Thursday's wasn't one of them, although he shaped now and •again as though he meant business. But he couldn't catch a ball for the most part, and if he did make an exception now and again he appeared to have no more idea than a schoolboy what to do with it.

Fitzgerald, on the contrary, rarely missed. But somehow he didn't seem to be in sympathy with the rest of the baek division and he wasn't fed. Bat wnen a ball was kicked in his direction there was never any doubt as. to who would field it, or how it would toe done. Dave Moir 'has played better games. For some few seasons he has mana'ged to overcome to a degree that selfishness which . characterised his early efforts. But it's breaking out again. Added to it, he has developed a habit of punting into touch at every opportunity. Lineplay isn't of so much use to heavy lorwards as it used to be, so kicking into touch is no longer part of the big man's programme. With a compulsory tiveyards' throw-in the ball is generally thrown more like ten or fifteen, and play opens out. That explains why the town teams are getting a decent "hearing." If the old style of play obtained —benching the beef as close as possible to the touch-line, and kicking, pushing, and bursting through the little chaps on the other side, Stratford and Clifton would doubtless make very short work of the town teams. Eltham would doubtless have done the same thing on Thursday.

But in the loose, the compact and wellknit forward counts, even if he isn't as big as a horse. Ward, Jiill, and Steele are examples. There isn't a more active forward in the division than Ward. He wasn't as prominent as McAllum on Thursday, but "Mac" wasn't putting in his bit in the close play. Off from the back of a scrum like lightning, he usually made a big showing. But if he'd been heaving Ms best he wouldn't have Bhot clear so quickly. An old dog for a hard road!

Lovell, the Star junior injured last week, wasn't hurt so severely after all. His leg was not broken, only badly bruised.

In this connection the writer heard a goiod tiling the other day. Seated in the barber's chair, lathered to the eyes, he heard a voice asking how Lovell was getting on. (Lovell is a budding toilet specialist, and it was his "boss" who answered the question). The reply was to the effect that the lad's leg wasn't broken. "Oh," said the other, "only a fracture, Was it?'*.. I thought so." He didn't seem to realise that he was the butt of the big laugh which followed him out.

To revert to the Tukapa-Eltham match. On Monday, May 30th., in reporting the match between the Civil Service and Rovers in the Saturday competition, the following appeared: The referee, Mr. Mulvey, warned the players at the start that lie would penalise talkative players "and appeals. On two occasions he had to execute his threat, and twice only. That was Mr. Mulvey, the referee. Mr. Mulvey, the Tukapa fiveeighths, thou'gh the same in name, weight, seize and appearance, is a different man altogether. He is continually appealing. On Thursday one got tired of the sound of his voice. And lie incurred the displeasure of the referee at Inglewood on the previous Thursday for the same reason. Referees should set a better example. In the match on Western Park Mulvey claimed a mark, and it was disallowed, from which Moir scored. The chances are that by this time the referee had heard the cry of "wolf" so often that when the wolf really came he disregarded it. There's too much talking in senior football. ' By the way. Referee Woods might easily have bc"n more severe on obstructive tactics in this match. Loveridrrn, the Tukapa wing-forward, should k "ow that shoving a man who hasn't the ball is obstruction. Charteris, the Eltham forward, ought to have known better than to interfere as lie did with G Loveridge. And another Eltham torward might for the future collar low. when he wants Fairbrothcr, instead of seizing him by the hair. _ There was some fearfully iiard booting in this match, and one or two of the town forwards are limping yet. Some of the local men might do worse than by putting in one or two of these moonlight nights in practising pJacekfcking. It's a- weak feature in our lootThe Star team onsfht to give a good account of itself in the second round of fixtures. W ;i !> solid practice there's no reason whv they shouldn't shake one or two of the other teams up a bit. Jack stohr had hard luck with his '■roal-kickinc in Brisbane on Wednesday. But he must have been doing fairly well, or the skipper wouldnt have entrusted him with so many lacks. Vo doubt he could have done better hadj Mvnott, been placing the ball * or him! The scores suggest that the New Zealanders played against the ?n the first spell, so that goal-lacking would and at Stratford on Thursday severe injuries caused an inspection for spikes in players foot* It was found that the diamonds had won., and the nails which held the leather were protruding During the coming week players should inspect their footgear. and, if it is defective in this way, have it attended to. The Inglewood team on Thursday I showed marked improvement ! The forwards save an excellent account of themselves, and although fairly heavy

men, kept tlie pace very merry throughout. The hollaring, too, was excellent, much of the smart, nippy work of Star's rearguard being foiled by the efficient eackling. The Star seniors should give a better account of themselves in the second round of the fixtures than was the case in the opening round. They are learning (the backs especially) the value of concerted work. This is the most essential of all qualities in a team. Their match with Tukapa next Thursday should provide a good game for the spec-: tators. 1

The Star backs played well together on Thursday. Malone on the wim* three-quarter line was not a success, in the second spell Malone was sent to full, changing places with A. Grant. The change made a decided improvement. Pearce, wing forward for Star, did not do .sufficient work to justify his inclusion in the senior ranks. His opposing wingforward had the say almost undisputed. With his weight, Pearce should make an excellent man in the pack'. "Jim" (Grafton) Maguire, one of the Auckland members now touring with the New Zealand representative team in Australia, has composed a new Maori war cry, which the team learnt en route ; to Australia. The first public rendering of the war-cry was at the great Rugby reception in Sydney, and it was so successful that "Jim" is now called "the big chief." At the last meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union management committee, it was decided to fine the Christchurch Club the sum of £2 for a breach of the permit ruiles in playing a man not on the list in fourth grade match, this being the club's fourth offence. It was also decided that the Christchurch club should be called upon to forfeit one point in the fourth grade competition for playing a third grade player in the fourth grade, and to inform the club that any repetition of the offence 'would entail more drastic punishment. The position of the teams in the Wellington senior competition is as fallows: —Oriental 13 points, St. James 12, Poneke 12, Petone 10, Athletic 8, and six teams below that.

According to the Auckland Herald, "the senior grade Rugby competition, as the result of last Saturday's play, has taken on a new aspect. The ipatrons who attended: at Alexandra Park did not anticipate that they were about to witness the fall of the champion Ponsonby team, who lvads not previously suffered defeat for three seasons. It was a day of surprises which commenced with the drawn match between the crack secondary school team; King's College, and Sacred Heart, and was followed by the defeat of the Ponsonby and City teams. It is only fair to add that neither of the defeated* teams were represented by their full strength, Ponsonby, as a matter of fact, tfking the field with a team of forward* which comprised several oldtimers.

The Gr"fton team, by beating Ponsonby bv 12 points to 5, have the honor o,f accomplishing a feat which no other team has been capable of for three seasons.

Okaiawa and Waimate are level for first place in the Southern Division. It is a melancholy fact, but true, that only a small percentage of Rugby players are well versed in the rules. The present system of playing matches regularly, week after week, and holding iDut few club practices, prevents the imen becoming proficient in this regard. May not some scheme to encourage a study of the rules be devised? The Referees' Association might hold an examination for prizes in the junior teams, or even amoftgst the schoolboys. The Stratford Club has very high goal posts. Some people say they are too long. But Clifton seconds ought to be glad of it. On any other ground Waka's fine potted goal on Thursday might easily have been disallowed, but the tall goal posts shewed the ball to be just inside.

THE " ALL BLACKS?" TOUR. In his interesting notes in the Referee on the first match between New South Wale= and the New Zealand team, "The Cvnic" savs:

In the first spell the New South Wales forwards practically held the New Zealanders, but were badly =erved bv the backs, the halves not only not making headway, but losing ground through th» •bustling wing forward and 'back rankers, wiving them "neither room nor peace. in the second half the Black forward? displayed form far superior to that of the Blues in the 'loose, their footwork being

verv fine indeed, and their backing rtp both in the ,iril>l)]in<r aud passing movement (betiny quite in keep with New Zealand representative football. While the local forwards appeared to be glued to 1 the spot, the big black-jerseved men 1 were moving swiftly with the* ball, or after it, in .support of their backs. These forwards are superior t* tliwn of 1!)05 and 1007, though it has to be remembered that they are not opposed by such a combination of dashing, daredevil, and seasoned forwards as those of the two years mentioned were. They remind one of the forwards of 1903, being tall, powerful, heavy men, very quick on their feet, good dribblers, as neat in "hand-passing as backs, and tireless in backing up. They are the best set of ! forwards one lias seen this year in any kind of football, and their qualities are of the all-round order. They were, on the whole,, beaten for possession of the ball in the scrummage, but this was turned to advantage by the quickness with which they broke up,, and, together with winger MeKellar, dribbled awav from the back of the IBlue pack, giving the local backs no end of practice iu ground-fielding and'rush-stopping. The three second-row forwards, Francis, Paton (lock) and Patterson, are very big men, and the others are solid specimens of the genus. Hence they make a pack of considerable power, and in the ruck are a hard lot to stop, particularly as they work in a bunch. Most of the other New Zealand backs were cast into the shade by the bril'liance of F. Roberts, who is not only a champion behind the pack, whipping the ball out sharply and accurately from all sorts of positions, but a brilliant mover in the open. Ido not remember having ever seen a ibetter scrum-half than Roberts; among Australians there lias been no one quite so good. You rarely see a scrum-half straight-running with the guile of a centre three-quarter. I suppose P. Keogh is the only man seen in these parts who compared with Roberts. Mynott, as five-eighth, seemed to be a* reiiaible as he was in 1907. And Mit- ; chinson, as centre three-quarter, was as! smart as ever. The other backs were' sound enough, but as a division they did: not attack with the combination expect-, ed from them.

JUNIOR GRADES The result of some of Thursday*! junior matches were quite the revers I of what had been expected. For- in stance, an easy win for Clifton was pre-i dieted in their first junior match with Stratford, which team has not yet had a win, but the red and blacks played a 1 much better game than they 'had yet done this season, playing with much more combination, and putting a lot of vigor into their work. Noticeable in their 'back division was Kivell, who played a very sa/fe game, his handling of the ball being good. ' The Clifton backs did not play up to usual form, and combination in both back and forward divisions was missing. At full, Waka p'.ayed a very safe game, and his potted goal, which won the match, was a splendid kick from just inside the half-way. In these columns last week, reference was made to the objectionable practice of appealing, and it was stated that in many instances, the appeal was the result of the players being ignorant of the rules. This was amply demonstrated in the Clifton-Stratford first junior match on Thursday. Players on both sides persistently appealed for the ball being passed "off the ground." Finally, the referee, who had informed the players that he would not have any appealing, seeing that most of them were in ignorance, stopped the game and made it clear that a player lying on the ground may pass the ball, provided the ball itself has not touched the ground. A number of the players admitted after the .match that this was "news" to them. Players, think before you "squeak," or better still, don't squeak. The Tukapa-Eltham match at Elthaim on Thursray was concluded, to use the expression of some of. the players, in the "pale moonlight." A great deal of time was lost through the having ta stop the game to clear t_..■ from the line. The crowd were the line again directly the game was resumed. Were the ground roped off in some way about ten yards from the line, there would' be a 'better chance of controlling the crowd, as they wou'ld then be able to see when they nad reached the limit.

The Star juniors ought to practice more. The week before last three turn-1 ed up. Last week there was a decent j muster, and'they beat the seniors. The, first grade chaps didn't like it much. Certainly, they don't give the juniors much help or encouragement. i

THE SATURDAY COMPETITION The following will represent the Rovers Club in their match with Warehouses on the Racecourse: Monk, Ryder, Grant, Webster, Osborne, E. Grey, TJoby, Coker, West, Bollinger, Rea, Forrest, Loveridge, Baker.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. • (By "Half-Back.") I On Thursday last New Plymouth hadl a field day at the expense of Elthamj as opponents. It is very difficult to get. a visiting team to New Plymouth at j full strength, men havirig to leave down, the line stations by the early morning trains. Eltham brought six men up, three substitutes they picked up on the ground bringing their number to ten, while the New Plymouth team played only ten men to even the sides up. The first spell was rather devoid of interest. Too much individual play and ( wild shooting spoiled the locals' play. The| onf-back game seemed to puzzle som of their men also. Eltham played very pluckilv. considering the odds against Tlie.'.r r'cht back, especially playing in excoHont fovm saving many an ugly rush. Ins kicking being very clean :vid accurate. Camcross tried to keep his forwards together as best he could, but the New j Plymouth defence was too solid. Half--1 ti m e : New Plymouth, 3; Eltham, 0.

| In the second spell the game improved somewhat. The visitors on several occasions came within nil nee of scoring, their combination being better, but they '\\ v '<fre lacking in half-backs to back their forwards up. The locals' combination improved also, their passes and shooting being nearer the mark. If the forwards would only play the same game when they meet their next opponents, who I I expect will be the winners of the southern division Cniampionship Cup, one can almost predict a win. With good com-1 bination and' accurate shooting amongst the forwards, it takes a very solid de-| fence to break it up.

The final score was 7 goals to nil in favor of the locals. Gwillim (4), Arthur (1), Elliott (1) and Bill lot (1) were the scorers.

For the visitors, Caldwell, at (back, was easily the best man. If it had not been for him the score might have been bigger. C. Carncross, inside rigiht, played a hard game, and Hazeltine, at lefthalf, gave the locals' right-wing trouble at times.

For the locals, Arthur, in his new position, inside-left, played his best gsimle, isliowing good shooting powers and a fair turn of speed. Church, oiutside right, was seen to better advantage in the second spell, playing neat combination with his partner Smart, and good long crosses to the centre of the field. Two of his crosses were the means of scoring two goals. The backs, Holmes and Bullock, playing up to form, came to light whenever they were called upon. Mr. Bowlls acted as referee very capably.

-8 a 'S UJ j1 s Won. Lost. Draw For. 3 so <1 JS 3 5 Tukapa . 4 2 0 71 34 10 Stratford . 4 1 1 54 21 9 Clifton . , ... 4 1 1 58 9 9 Eltlmni ,2 0 4 41 l!0 4 Star 2 0 4 54 52 4 Inglewood . ... 0 0 a 25 125 0