FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 18, 15 July 1911, Page 7

FOOTBALL

NEWS AND NOTES. By defeating Waimate last Saturday the Okaiawa seniors take pride of place in the southern division, and have virtually annexed the southern premiership. Waimate suffered by the absencu of D. Ryan, and in the second spell Paterson had to retire. "Jimmy" O'Sullivan turned out for Okaiawa, but had to leave the field in the first spell, being replaced by another old-time rep. wing-forward, Arthur Guy. The Okaiawa men had much the better of the first spell, which ended five points in their favor. Each side scored an unconverted try in the second half. The game was a very hard one, and one that warmed the hearts of the big crowd •f ex-Taranaki representatives who watched it from the touch-lines. The T.R.U. executive had all the clubs at sixes, and sevens this week. If the chairman, or someone else in authority, would only announce at the beginning of the season that engagements would not be ratified till a couple of days before the date fixed for the matches, players • would know what to expect. As it is, however, the mix-up of the past two weeks has been a bit annoying. Club secretaries, however, seem to take it lying down. Tukapa barrackers expected a big "go" at Waitara on Thursday, but were hardly prepared for defeat.' Hie result bears out the contention of the Clifton men that Tukapa had great luck in winning the match at New Plymouth in the first round.

The play was strenuous from start to finish, and it says something for the condition of the men that they were able to last it out.

Clifton's policy, dictated before the kick-off, was for the backs to use the touch-line as far as possible, and rest the forwards. These tactics were very well carried out, and the forwards felt the benefit of it.

The Waitaia forwards were heavier than Tukapa's, and had evidently done more combined practice than the visitors. They were fortunate in having Cain as a "hooker." He got' the ball in practically every scrum. Had Colman been half as smart as he sliould be in getting the ball away the score must have been much bigger. ' ' '■ But Colman never forgets that the spectators are there, so he puts in something for the "gallery." Cuddling the ball under his arm, he falls over and yells lustily. Rep. .'■electors don't like that sort of thing, and it isn't much use to anyone. He's a good defensive half, but has no idea of conducting the attack.

Kyle was "out on his own" as a wingforward, and played one of his best games. He got his try by following up well. Crowley was also too good for Wbitaker/who played too far out.

Clifton has a jiromlijlng young forward in Fa'irley, but he's a terror to get offside, and he hasn't learned' to keep his foot down in the serum. Thomas is another good boy in tight work','biit in the loose he doesn't seem to kndw the game, and fails to mark a man on the line-out. His team will need him at his best to beat Stratford.

Goodwin, who is a fast three-quarter, and a verv hard man to hold, is improving. He can now get away sometimes without dancing a little haka, but still dances too much. The few seconds wasted in that little fandango gives the opposing forwards a chance to interfere with him. Many look on him as certain to go with the reps, on tour. If he goes, he'll score. , A few games in the provincial team, with Mynott and a few old hands to drill him, would dp' him a lot of good, and it would be'well to give him a chance.

Mr. Hopkins didn't see all the dirty play that went on, but, as he put it to this scribe, "If thirty chaps are otjt to beat you, where are you?" That's the question, and it suggests the need for a. specially appointed man to look for this sort of thing, which is, however, not se prevalent in North Taranaki as it used to be.

A man who attempts to trip an opponent in sici field should receive no lenient treatment; tripping and.'kicking at men are mean, cowardly, and dangerous. Couldn't a man be prosecuted for such offences?

Either tlie Taranaki backs are getting smarter, er else Mynott ie not quite so j snappy as lie used to be. Certain it is that lie was pretty well marked on Thursday at Waitara. He wasn't as certain as usual in the first spell, but was right up to form in the second. S. George, the Clifton full-hack, is the best full-buck playing; in that position' in the northern division. He had plenty to do on Thursday, but made not n single mistake. The ball seemed to b« impelled to lodge in his arms, and his smart runs and line-kicks were welltimed and effective. Clifton's defensive tactics in the second spell—kicking the ball over ihe trees, on the one side, or into the npiglihorimr field on (he other —were effective. It was "the game." of course, and if thn Tukapa supporters didn't like it—and it may be safely said that they didn't—they could console themselves with the thoitorht that Mynott, Stohr and Co. would hnve adopted similiar tactics. Then Waitara would have growled!

"John" Ward was well to the fore on Thursday. There isn't a more willing or consistent worker In the division, and his absence from the Tukapa ranks would cause a terrible gap. Jnll was also in splendid form, and Chartcris played well until a collision injured his ribs and affected his work.

Brown, at half, was good. His forwards couldn't 'give him the ball from the serum, and the Clifton men generally rushed lilm solidly, but his rushstopping was a treat. Stohr had few chances. Once he cut ria-ht through the team to the Clifton full-back, and with ordinarv luck would have gathered in the hall from a bounce find scored without opposition. It was a grand piece of chasing, but lie just failed to hold the ball. C. Webster played soundly, and so did Geo. Lovcridge. The latter is verv safe. He catches well and kicks well,

but is not gifted with sufficient pace for a rep. wing three-quarter. He will probably follow Mynott as five-eightks, and'in that position should make a, aame for himself. Whitaker and F. Loveridge met more solid and successful wing-forwards. Patterson, at full, caused the other backs great uneasiness. When the ball was sent to him the other backs had to get back to support him. Thus they were often out of their places, when the attack came. On the whole, the better team won.