FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 21, 13 June 1914, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

TO-DAY'S FIXTURES. Okato v. Stratford, at New Plymouth(referee, Mr Siiell) ;• Clifton v. Star, at Wai.ta.ra (Mr W. Roch); Tukapa v. Inglewood, at Inglewood (Mr Spurale). NEXT WEEK'S FIXTURES. THURSDAY, JUNE 18. Juniors: Stratford v. Clifton, at Stratford; Tukapa v. High School (Tukapa ground); Inglewood v. Star, at Inglewood. Second Juniors: Star v. Stratford, at New Plymouth; Stratford D.H.S. v. Clifton, at Waitara. SATURDAY, JUNE 20. Seniors: Clifton v. Tukapa, at Waitara; Star v. Okato, at New Plymouth; Stratford v. Inglewood, at Stratford. POSITIONS OP THE TEAMS.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. \ RESULTS. Taranaki v. Wanganui—won by 9to 8. Taranaki B v. Wairoa sub-Union, v/tm by 8 to nil. FIXTURES ARRANGED. June 11—v. Wairoa sub-Union, at New Plymouth (B team). June 24—v. Wefilijigton, at liawcra. June 27—v. Wanganui, at Hawera. .luly 23—v. Manawatu, at Taranaki. Aug. 1— v. Auckland, at Auckland (B team). Aug. 13—v. Wairarapa, at Taranaki. . Aug. 20—v. Canterbury, at Taranaki. Aug. 2i —v. Auckland, at Auckland. Aug. 27 —v. Southland, at Taranaki. .Sept. 10—v. Wellington, at Taranaki. Sept. 17 —v. Auckland, at Taranaki. The last named match will probably depend on whether Taranaki still retains the Ranfurly Shield.

IfEWS AND NOTES. The only match to be played in Now Plymouth to-day is that between Stratford and Okato, in the senior competition. As this match is considered Okato's home match, and the coastal team have to travel to Stratford in the second round, it is to be hoped that football enthusiasts will show their appreciation of the coastal club's sportsmanlike qualities by attending in fair numbers to view the match, which should prove very interesting. Okato put up a good fight against Tukapa last week, and the inclusion of Narbey and E. Julian in the forwards should considerably strengthen tliem.

The Taranaki 15. - YV:iirua sub-Uni'om match on Thursday quite justified itself from, every point of view save from that of finance. The Taranaki Rugby Union will lose considerably over the venture. Still, after all, as long as the Union can manage its finances so as to fulfil its engagements that is all Hint is wanted. I It is out to encourage football by every means in its power. This match not only fostered football :bv giving our own local players an opportunity of appearing before the selectors that they otherwise would not obtain, and so getting a chance of working their way into the reps., but it also helped football in tile Wairoa Sub-Union, commenced operations last year by making it possible for that sub-union to offer its players a trip and so give them some incentive to go on and play the game. The match proved very interesting. The members of each team were out to be seen to the best advantage, and so some good open play was seen on both sides. On the day's play Taranaki were the better team and deserved their win, but the Wairoa team need not br discouraged, as the team that beat them this year was of much higher calibre than the'one that played at Patea last year, so that football in the Wairoa district lias evidently improved, and it will continue to improve if fostered in the right way. The Wairoa team looked spick and span in their black jerseys (neatly numbered) and their white knickers. They put lip a good fight; indeed, their forwards played with (much greater dash than did the locals, whose work was spoilt by off-side play J in the loose rushes and by lifting the feet in the serum work. ' Both teams executed soir.e nice passing rushes, but the Wairoa men did not run straight enough and as a result, after the ball had passed through four or five hands play was 110 further advanced than when the rush started. Of the visiting backs, Tinncy, at fiveeighths, and Palmer, were, the pick. Both put in some great work, the latter kicking in fine style. Hi rati, at winm-three-quarter, did not get much chance to show his speed, the slippery ground militating against him. Taylor, on the other wing, defended well. McKay, at

five-eighths, did a tremendous lot of sprinting, but was apt to get out of Uis place. Mercer, at half, got the. ball away well. Among the forwards, Prouse, Penticost, Campbell, Burke and Ashby were the pick. The two former were in nearly every rush. Among the local forwards, Robertson, Patterson, Carey and Reid were the best. Ward was good at times. Rowland showed great dash, but was inclined to get too much off-side. il.cAduni at wing forward was in great form and made some fine openings. The Taranaki attack was handicapped by the lack of a half, J> Cilmeroit playing in that position for the fifst time. He. played a good game, but is not a half, Knpe was the best of the, five-i'ights, he handled the ball well, and played a very useful game. He had liiird luck on on-,' aveasiou in not ■■•■reriiig. The three-quarters all played well, l!ertrand, perhaps catching the eye most. Whitaker, at centre, took the ball well, and used his head, and Smith played with dash, but was rather .patchy. George, at full-back, found the line consistently. Several of those selected for the Taranaki B team failed to put in an appearance. Some' did not even trouble to notify the selector that they were not coming, causing considerable inconvenience at the last moment. They will probably be written to asking for an explanation. Every man chosen for the B reps, should look on that as a stepping stone to the A team. Players guilty of such discourtesy certainly jeopardise their chances of promotion. The selection of the North Island team was eagerly looked for in Taranaki, and, as anticipated last week, Cain, Taylor, Roberts and Stohr found places therein, as did also Smith, who was mentioned by this paper as one of the likely ones. Hawkins and Dewar, who could not make the trip, were, therefore, not considered. Stohr gets in as wing threequarter, and he will have to play at his best to retain his position in'the New Zealand team. All the others mentioned Bhould go to Australia. Brown also has a good chance of going across the sea with the team, as second half, even though he is not chosen in the A or B team. His skill is known to the selectors, who are now giving Nun<n a chance to show his form. Some Wellington enthusiasts hold that the latter is superior to Roberts.

The idea of playing a B team is a good one. No less than fifty-four players were nominated for the North Island team, and of course tlie selectors found it almost impossible to sort out the best fifteen, especially as they have seen very little play outside the big centres so far this year. The northern selectors (Messrs. Gallagher, Malone and Lynskey) considered the country unions and other likely players when they suggested the idea of the B team to the New Zealand Union, which favorably considered it, and the match will take place in Wellington on Wednesday next. It contains seven players from six of the smaller unions, and also eight players from the three larger unions, all of whom have an equal cliance.of inclusion in the New Zealand team, as have members of tlie A team. Indeed the idea was to pick two team=i of an near equal merit vis pebble and not make fhm A ami B tennis us is ' generally understood. Two Wanganui members are included, so that wie ia at a loss to account for the resolution which the Wanganui Union has passed, drawing attention to the fact that the selectors of the North Island team had not carried out their duties to the best advantage, having selected men from the three provinces, thus ignoring the claims of a number of other qualified players. The Taranaki representative teams to play Wellington and Wanganui at Hawera will be picked early in the week. Two or three of those who played for the B's. on Thursday mav be included.

The following will represent Tukapa against liiglewood: Tliomp?|o!a, Tocker, Stanmering, Wolwter, foveridge, Brown, McAllum, Cargo, Davidson,' Ward, Morshead, Kaye, Wvlie, Sullivan, arid Gilchrist. Emergency, "Belcher.. The following will represent Okato to play Stratford, at Xew Plymouth, today:—Andrews, Aylyiard, Andrews, Holmes, Eustace, Corbett, Burrows, Hill, O'Sullivan (2), Carey, Hawkins, Ryan, Xarby, R. Julian. ■Congratulations to Dick ißolwrts 011 being appointed captain of the North bland team to meet the South Island at Wellington next week. Dick is the best centre threc-qiKirter in -New Zealand at present. He knows every move of the game, is withal baetful and popular and shoiuld make a good geiiio'ral. On his return from Australia, he will be invaluable to Taranakl in defending the Ranfurly .Sniehl. There i>i some doubt a-s to whether Auckland will be able to send a team to Tar.iriaki after the tShield till is- year. Auckland consider the date fixed at the conference at Wellington, viz., .Sept. 17, too late, and they are anxious to .play on August 6, prior to the Waira.rupa match oil the 13th. This, however, is too early for Ta.ranaki, who will 'have difficulty in eonrJud-ing their Cup matches ibv then. The matter was by the Taranaki Un'on, who regretted the impossibility of altering the date, According to the .Auckland papers, the Northern Union discussed the position and decided to ask Tn-anaki to reconsider the date. Thev also decided to offer Taranaki either A.iigu.-t 1 or August 8 for the Tarana'-i H match, whichever date Thames il""lined. The Auckland met on Wednesday. June ,1, but up to'Thursdav. .Tune ]], the Ta.ranaki l T nion hud mp<av«*| nn notification from the northerners. The Auckland Union on Wednesday, June. 10 .decided to offer August 1 for the Tavanaki B match.

SENIORS. Clifton Stratford Tukapa Okato Iiiglcwood Star *■ Played. 0 ■« 1 5 3 — 3 1 2 1 2 2 1 3 0 4 q * oi « 1 1 o £ 64 40 33 21: 15 8 .5 i? <J 12 9 11 56 54 3D •3 .9 0 0. 1 7 6 5 4 2 Juniors. Tukapa 4 Stratford 4 Cliftoil 3 High School 4 Star 4 Inglewood 3 4 0 3 1 2 1 2 2 0 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 GO 4-2 28 21 15 0 3 21 23' 29 44 52 8 fi 4 4 Oi 0