FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 71, 10 August 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

As in the ease of Napoleon at Waterloo, Clifton's def-at at the hands of Waimate last week might perhaps be attributable to wet weather. As it was, they had somewhat the better of the game, but could not score. Play was mostly confined to'the forwards, and bad the turf and the, leather been dry their backs must have assuredly scored. The southern backs were at their best but a poor crew. The much-heralded Daly failed signally to come up to expectations, while the half (Wells) was a weak link both in the attack and defence. Meuli was the most dangerous of the sextette, but the greasy ball hampered him considerably. Colman played a solid game, and grnfted hard, but his linekicking was at times scarcely brilliant. Both wing forwards, Taylor and Burgess, especially the former, we-c in fine fettle, and were repeatedly on the attack. Nevertheless, the writer opines that the selectors would have done better if they j had included McAllum as wing-forward in the fifteen which is to do battle with I Auckland next week, in preference to the ] same Taylor. Of the'forwards, McKay, (captain) and Young, and then Ta'mu, stood out prominently. Pini, and, in fact, the whole pack, worked pretty well, but the first-mentioned has played better Rugby in other games this season. Coming to the visitors, a fact which was commented on all along the line was j the sterling performance of Whaka. who, as an emergency, early replaced Fuller at full-back. Fuller retired hurt, and, althought it is small consolation for his injuries, it is but the painful truth that his services were not missed|. During his brief sojourn on the field' that day he made about as many mistakes as the rest of the team put together. Under the circumstances, it is difficult to realise why Whaka has been kept so long in the back-ground in the matter of the fullbackship. Goodwin perhaps played the game of hi* life. In former matches his weak point has been his defensive work, but on Saturday he took his gruelling with the best, and repeatedly saved the situation. Kupr, who, by a strange paradox, iavariably fails miserably in representatives matches, was the mainstay of the backs. His line-kicking was easily the best on the Held, and he saved his forwards heaps of work. Bertrand likewise gave a good account of himself when the ball came his way, and in extricating his side from a tight corner ho more than once showed the rest of the fields clean pair of heels. Like the rest of the Clifton team, however, lie has yet to learn how to make use of good scoring openings. Eggleston, who is never brilliant, but whose play has the saving grace of being entirely devoid of any suggestion of "gallery," was always- to be relied upon. C. Crowley, at half, played his usual nuggety and plucky game. The forwards were a pleasing lot, and would take a lot of beating. It would be interesting to see them matched against a Star pack. Certain .it is that they would by no means have the soft proposition that they found in Okato. The 'redoubtable Cain, and Berndsten, De Blois and .J. Crowley perhaps caught the eye most. Summed up, on the 'day's chances Clifton should have won. The Wanganui Chronicle is in high dungeon over the proposal to send down a Taranaki B senior team to meet Wanagnui A's. Our contemporary concludes a caustic par. as follows: —"The local union has rightly treated the impudent proposal with the scorn it deserves. If Taranaki desires a senior rep. match with Wanganui, let it send down its . best team to be beaten."

THE LEAGUE GAME. The public are reminded of the game between Wellington and Taranaki on the Recreation Grounds. New Plymouth, which will be played on Thursday. The Wellington team includes several of the New Zealand team that recently visited Australia, viz., Barber, Kelly, flrvine, Bradley and other*, who have made a name for themselves in the football world. The Taranaki team is composed of a few young colts combined with tlje old hands, who have been "playing the Nortlrern Union game for several seasons, and the public can rely on seeing a good open and interesting game. Mr. W. J. Perrett will referee.'

A combined team from New Plymouth, Waitarn. and Stratford visited Kltham on Thursday and played a game against a South Taranaki team. Both teams were one man short, due to the North team arriving with three mvn short, they having missed the train, and the North team had to borrow two men. A very interesting game eventuated. The spectators were very liberal in it'heir applause. The passing at times was brilliant. The South team won by 211 points to 15. Each team scored live tries, but the Southerners -proved better goal kickers. For the South Sloir, Fitzgerald, and Potier amongst the backs, and Gernhofcr and Henry in the forwards were the pick. For North T. Jones, at threequarter, played a fine game, thra game evidently suiting him. Julian, Kyle and "Shaver - ' (full-back) played well, whilst amongst the forwards Hancock and '•Stranger" were the best.