FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 275, 12 April 1913, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

Inglewood and Kaponga have now held their annual meetings, completing the list for Taranaki. As was mentioned in last week's notes, Inglewood have decided to only enter two junior teams in the cup competition. For the second season in succession the maroons will have no seniors competing. This is to be regretted. It was expected that last year's juniors, leavened perhaps by some old seniors i and one or two new players, would have entered the senior rank. Surely with its big scope of country Inglewood should be able to produce fifteen senior players. Under the circumstances, it is questionable if it would not be better policy for Inglewood to drop right out of the cup competitions this year and institute a local districts competition in its own territory. In this way some new material would be unearthed, and the club would know where to look for players next season. As far as can be seen at present, the Saturday competition is likely to be confined to three teams, viz., Star, Hovers and Okato, each of which is said to be much stronger than was the ease last year. The contest should prove interesting, but it is a pity that a fourth team could not be formed to obviate the necessity for a bye each Saturday, which undoubtedly detracts imn> the Interest both of players and spectators. An effort has been made, it is understood, to secure teams from either Waitara or Inglewood, but so far without result. A prominent Saturday player from New Plymouth is shortly removing to Inglewood, and should be a great acquisition to the inland team should one he available.

The Opunake- Club report good prospects for the season. This club has produced some giants of the game in the past, who thought nothing of travelling 25 miles to play a home match or to start with the team for a thirty-mile journey. One player travelled nearly 000 miles in one. season to complete his cup match engagements. The travelling was not done by motor-car either, but on horseback, gig or brake, in all weathers.

Opunake has not been so prominent in the football world lately, but last year at the end of the season proved a hard nut to crack. They do not start practising early enough. This year, however, they are more enthusiastic and have already had several practices. They will be strong in the forwards, who include the .Sullivan; brothers. A. Lusk, a promising centre three-quarter, has gone to New Plymouth, and his loss will he serious. The club will be captained by MeLeod, the Taranaki rep. skipper, whose generalship should be of great assistance.

Okato opened the Reason with a prac- i tice match against Koni last Saturday, ] winning by 14 points to 5. Larsen, a ] new acquisition for Okato. shaped well in 1 the backs. -Tago, the Wanganui player, j who is throwing in his lot with Rovers, '. was playing for Koru, and did a lot of | work. ]

Rovers should have a strong team. Their backs will include Dawson Webster,. Eric Grant and Thompson, whilst Jago, Stewart (of Southland) and Lush (of Opunake) all good performers, will be found places, lan Grant will be absent after the first game or two, as he has been promoted to Inglewood, where he is by no means unknown, having been born and spent his early school days there. He is a good sport, and Rovers' loss will be Ingle»">od's gain

Star had an opening practice last Saturday. Tt was intended to play a fifteen-a-side match, hut not sufficient players turned up. Those tliat did indulged in useful practice.

There is a likelihood of a New Zealand team visiting England shortly. At the next meeting of the International Board (says the Athletic News), a communication from New Zealand regarding a proposal for a second tour of a team from New Zealand will he considered.

A movement is on foot in the South to tender the well-known representative player. A. Downes, a benefit. As Downes has also taken a prominent part in 'football as referee, the Otago Rugby Union Executive were recommended hv the delegates at the annual meeting to join with the Cricket Association in endeavouring to make the benefit a success:

Although the official figures ,i>-e not vet available, it is understood that the Auckland Rna-bv Union will 'how » profit of between £3OO and £4OO on last scion's working. The Otasro Rusbv Union's haNi""she»t shows tlmt- the Southern hn-lv made a loss of £OOO b-st s»>!>«o". Ti,<> NVflif'-n tour «-,.,« responsible for the most of the outlay.