FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 294, 8 June 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. June 3—r. Wanganui, won by 16 points to I. MATCHES ARRANGED. June 12—r. Wellington (special mateh), at Hawera. June 15—r. Wanganui, at Hawera. July 27—t. South Island country team. August 17—v. Auckland, at Auckland. August 22—v. Southland. August 29—v. Wellington. September 4—v. Otago. Sept.* 12—v. Canterbury.

TO-DAY'S MATCHES.

Star v. Fitzroy. Rovers v. Okato, Recreation Ground. < Rovers will play Okato on the Recreation Ground this afternoon with the followin fifteen: New'ell, Grant (2), Webster, Thompson (2), Reid, Ellis, Falvey, Mulloy, Bocock, Quilliam, Ryder, Brown, and Martin. Star will meet Fitzroy on the Western Park at 3 p.m.:—The following will represent Star: Okey, Charters, Mulloy, Richards, Dewar, Hawkins, Penwarden, Pilcher, McAllum, Packard, Gleeson, Greatbatch, Goudie, Byron, and Burns. FIXTURES FOR NEXT WEEK. As our representatives are engaged on two occasions next week, viz., v. Wellington on Wednesday, and on Saturday against Wanganui, both at Hawera, there will be no senior matches in either division -on Thursday or Saturday. The junior matches, however, will be proceeded with.

THE CUP COMPETITIONS.

Now that the second round is approaching conclusion, it should be possible to venture a hazard as to the probable division winners, but in both competitions the winning team is an unknown quantity. Stratford has completed its two rounds, and at present has a lead of a point, but the match between Clifton and Tukapa will deeide whether Clifton or Stratford will enter the third round in the premier position. Tukapa, with one solitary point to their name, appear to be in the cold, but a win against Clifton will see them close up, and all three teams will enter on the third round with reasonable prospects of sucoess. If Tukapa are beaten by Clifton they may be counted out, and the issue will be between Stratford and Clifton. A feature of the play so far is the low scoring in the five matches played, only a total of 21 points being compiled—just a decent afternoon's kicking for Stolir when in form. ' In the Saturday competition matters are equally vague. Okato and Stars are running level, though last year's winners defeated the country team on the one occasion on which they met, but the loss by protest to Rovers neutralises this. Hovers, tod, are also in the running. The position would probably have been easier to pick now but for the fact that Stars have yet to meet Rovers and Okato a second time, as these matches, for various reasons, did not eventuate on the due dates. Last week was too wet for the town match to eventuate, but was not considered too wet for the Fitzroy team to journey to Okato, nor for the country team to gather for miles around to meet them, and incidentally to inflict the severest defeat of the season on them. [Comment on Thursday's match, North Taranaki v. Waimate, is held over till Monday.]

THE NORTHERN UNION GAME.

(Notes by "Leaguer"). The Wanganui v. Taranaki Imatch took place- at Wanganui last Saturday. The report made it appear as if the match was. played on the same day as the Rugby Union match. Saturday was a wretched day for football, and it speaks volumes for the popularity of the new code when it drew a £l2 gate. If it had been a fine day the takings, it is estimated, would have produced over £l2O. The comparison of the Northern League and Rugby Union gates was unfair, as one game was played on a day that was awful, and the other was played on a fine afternoon, with the King's Birthday thrown 'in. The handling of the greasy ball by the Taranaki team, both by backs &h - forwards, aroused great enthusiasjn amongst the spectators. * « Stockman, full-back, never milfcea taking or picking up the ball during J,he afternoon, whilst his consistent giia£ kicking won him a lot of kudos. C. Moir's, display at half-back will just about land him in the team for Australia. Considering the day, his display was wonderful. The three-quarter line played well. M, Julian made his debut at centre, and his low, hard tackling stopped Wanganui oil many occasions. G. Salway, at wing three-quarter, took the ball well, and showed that he is an improved man. Owing to the non-appearance of Twohill, Smith was played at left wing-three-quarter, opposite Buckland, where they discussed old times. H. Tocker, at five-eighth, showed that he is coming back to his old form. The fine display of the Taranaki forwards was a great treat. They played one of the best forward games the writer has ever seen . Their handling of the wet ball and the open dribbling and foot passing was an object lesson, besides adding variety. Each forward played his very best. A New Zealand selector watching is as good medicine as you can give any team, judging by Saturday's mateh. Kyle, P. Allen and Walshe were slightly the best of the forwards, whilst J. Hogan, Robinson and O'Donnell were not far behind. Twohill, Maclean and Cooper failed to turn up, which is an unpardonable offence for a representative match. Dan Twohill is reported to have stayed behind to sing at a concert, and the Stratford page of the "Daily News" saya that lie sang in a duet, entitled "Absent," which was ''the gem of the evening." But when Dan discovers that he is "absent" from the New Zealand team to tour Australia he will be sorry he was not present last Saturday. A North v. South match is to be played in South Taranaki at an early date. The Northern Union team to tour Australia will be known in the course of a day or two.