FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 43, 11 July 1914, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

TO-JJAV'S .MATCHES, Clifton v. Stratford, at Waitara; Star v. Tukapa (Star match); Okato v. Inglewood, at Okato. ALL JJLACKS IN AUSTRALIA. FIXTURES. •July ll I'lay New South Wales at Sydney. July lo—Western Districts, at Orange. July 18. Australia, at Sydney. July 22—Northern Districts, at Anniilale. July ■>:> and 29—Queensland. August I—Australia, at Brisbane. August .")—Olympia I'nnd niateli, at Sydney. August S -New South Wales, at Sydney. August 13—Australia, at Sydney, REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. RESULTS TO .DATE. v. Wanganui, won by D to 8. v. Wellington, won by H to 10. v. Wairoa Sub-Union, won by $ to nil (B team). v. Wanganui (Shield match) won bv 17 to 3. FIXTURES ARRANGED, July 23—v. Manawatu, at Tarauaki. Aug. 1 — v. Auckland, at Auckland (1? team). Aug. 13—v. Wnirarapa, at Taranaki. Aug. Canterbury, at Taranaki. Aug. 22—v. Auckland, at Auckland. Aug. 27—v. Southland, at Taranaki. Sept. 10—v. Wellington, at Taranaki Sept. 17—v. Auckland, at Taranaki. NEWS AND NOTES.

Considerable! interest is being' taken n all three cup fixtures to-day. At Vaiiara, tlie northern champions and he runners-iip will meet. Although the csult cannot afl'eet the issue, it will bo en- interesting to note whether Stratord's defeat by Tukapa really did have i direct bearing. Should Stratford deeat the riversiders it will have iiad. Hie, game should be a good one. Wlivr. die two teams met at Stratford in the irst round, the mountaineers were beat•n 'by a narrow majority in wet weather. Jlifton to-dayt will be without Cain. A rreat game should result. The meeting of the old rivals, Star \nd Tukapa, is sure to produce a keen game. Tlhougli Star have -so far not won a match they always play a game "out of the box" against Tufaipa, tmd is the Dan O'Brien Shield, which Star :it present hold, is at stake, the match will be strenuously contested. Star, who forfeited the match last week against Inglewood, arc said to be in training for tbis fixture. At Okato to-day the match will also be full of interest, as the ultimate, destination of the Role Cup for the season will probably be decided. Okato so far have not been beaten by tlie teams interested in this, whereas Inglewood lias only one defeat against it, viz., by Okato in the first round, by 3 points to nil. Both, teams will be represented by their strongest fifteen' and the coastal team is sure to leave no stone, unturned to regain the cup from Inglewood, who annexed it from them last season. The Kaspar Cup competition down the coast is proving very interesting. Witb the. third round half-way through, Piliama and Kahotu are running- neck and ne<k. Kaeh have so far defeated the other teams, Puniho and Pariiiaka, and in the three matches between them' each has a win, a loss «nd a no-store draw to its credit. A play-off will probably lie necessary. Kaponga to-day have a strong team, and are sanguine of lowering the colors of the redoubtable plainsmen. Should they beat Waimate. another match will lie necessary to decide the southern championship. Waimate, however, -ire a very tough proposition at any time, particularly on their own ground, and look like once again annexing the championship. From the fixtures published above, it will be seen that the All-Blacks opon their Australian tour with a match against Xcw South Wales at Sydney to-day. In the first match Tarunaki's three representatives are to do battle for the Dominion, and will easily hold up Taranaki's end. Much interest is being taken in the tour over the other side, and there should be great nx- , tendances, particularly as the> public's

appetite has been whetted hy the great struggles in the international League games. New South Wales is leaving 'nothing to chance, but is determined i<i put the best trained side possible into the held. Some innovations will be introduced by the New South Wales Rugby Union in connection with the New' Zealand matches in Sydney. The ollicials for the lirst time in Australia are reserving scats'. At seme of the American intercollegiate matches something like -10,00!) seats are reserved, and at the big Rugby Union matches in Knglaud similar crow Is are accommodated in this way. The Sports firound particularlv lends its ■■" to reservations, as the '•Federal" stiin.l .. (about niid-lield) contains about . r l)'! : seats, and also provides an excellent view of the game. Another matter new to Riurhv Union football is the season ticket.' " The Rugby Union has determined in issuing a number of these tickets, admitting a lady and gentleman to each match, for 10s lid. The Union also intends to arrange for the schools to have special positions arranged so that the bovs can watch and talk over the [day. 'Despite the line showing of tin; New South Wales team against I Queensland, the Union is leaving, no stone unturned to see that its representatives go on the field thoroughly coached. The players are being housed together, a factor of no little importance in working up combination.

■Says the Sydney Bulletin: —Maoriland's symbol of county or provincial district football greatness—the Hanfurlv Shield—was played for at Wellington last week, when Taranaki, the home of the. great goddess Cow, trampled on th;> more civilised Wellington by 14 points to 10, and thereby retained' the goblet. A few days previously South Island spread-eagled North Island by eight points to nil, and on the strength of this upheaval the Northerners are making frantic preparations for an invasion of hefty Southerners in search of the Ranfurly stoup. The New Zealand Union is inviting the South Africans to visit New Zealand next year. The Springboks would get a great welcome here, and the matches would attract a world-wide interest, as the respective merits and demerits of the Springbok* and All-Blacks was the subject of much discussion at Home. The Weekly Press says that W. Cunningham, the veteran Auckland AllBlack, is still playing the game, assisting Ponsonby t)he other day to play a draw with City in the match between those two teams. Although carrying a lot of superfluous avoirdupois, the genial William can still play a good game. The only other member of the famous All-Blacks still playing are Alex. McDonald and Steve Casey (in Dnnedin), and Ernie Booth (in Sydney). No mention is made of H. L. Abbott, who is utill going strong as captain of the Clifton team. The. same writer says:—A'private hitter which a southern writer received from Wellington states that it is said in football circles there that a long debate, took place when the New Zealand selection committee came to decide between Uoveridge and Cockcvoft for inclusion in the New Zealand team, the two North Island selceioi- —Messrs Clallagh-i and Lynskey—sticking out for Loveridge, and the South Island selectors—Messrs Wilson and Harris—for Cockcroft. The correspondent also stated that if the two • latter 'had stood firmly to tbeiv guns, Cockroft must have been selected, but that the Canterbuliy selector weakened. Mr. Harris, on being asked ii the facts contained in the letter were correct, refused to say "Yes" or "No.'* From all that can be. gathered from the writings of the football scribes in Wellington, it appears that Cockroft, has not received fair treatment in being passed over.

BRITISH FOOTBALLERS. L THE LEAffUE TEAM. ''lf you usk me if or the outstanding ' feature of the team 1 would say it-is ' the wonderful versatility of every player.'' Tims said Mr. Houghton, manager of the British team of League foot- ' bailers, who start their Xew Zealand season to-day, when interviewed hy a Times reporter. "In one of the test ,matches at Sydney one of the forwards was ehosen to play full-back, because of the two regular full-backs being on the injured list. On another occasion a forward was sent to replace a wing player who had been disabled. These' are instances of changes of position that wc do not expect every day in Bugby football, but they serve to illustrate my point that they will be found to be a line lot of bids, capable of taking whatever place they are asked to go." Mr. Houghton'is not prepared to say what the team can or cannot do. "The team," lie savs "must act for itself, and the result will be seen." All that he is prepared to sav is that every lime the players go on to the. football field they go there to iry and win. Speaking of the recent tour in Australia. Mr."Houghton says that the most pleasing feature of the visit was the splendid spirit displayed by the crowd on last, Saturday when the team moved off the field to'catch the boat for Nee,' Zealand. Thousands of spectators waited until the players came from their dressim.'l'oom and lustily cheered tlicm as they drove oil'. ' Tlie whole of the men regard this as the finest incident of the whole tour. "The Australian," Mr. Houghton says, "is an Australian to the backbone. Though keenly disappointed at the defeat of their own men they showed a splendid spirit towards llie departing victorious team." , Asked as to Australian and New Zealauders in the Home Country. Mr. Houghton stated that they were doing very well. The best action that had been taken in League management was the decision to prevent the transfer of star players from one country to another. "If we did not do that," said Mr. Houghton, "we would probably he in the position of selecting an All-Colonial visiting team from England against a vesiting team from either Australia or New Zealand. What with Seeling, Wriglcy. Francis, Curran. the two Faniswortfc. and others from this side of the globe playing in club matches in j England, it would lie dilliciilt to pass i them over. But with a rule preventing the men from playing until they have n -dded in a place two years that element has been eliminated to a large extent. The Northern League management in England is very anxious to enfoura"c tlie international aspect of League football, and that cannot be dene if we do not do away with transferring of members at the end of cadli 'Viie'full team lias not >cl arrived in New Zealand, no fewer than nine members being on the casualty list. They are spelling for a few days in Sydney, but will reach Auckland by the next. boat. The team was prepared to visit Canterbury on Wednesday next, but as there is no mid-weekly holiday in ChrUtchurch now it is probabh' thai the match will have to be abandoned. Were it, not for the "Wellington ra<-s on that day another match would have probably been held at Xewtown Pa''!;. The committee is now considering (be ouestion of a Thursday match.. Tlis Fxeellencv the Covornor and Lady Liverpool will witness the match a I Xewtown l'nvk this afternoon. ~ .