FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 52, 22 July 1914, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

NOTES. Saturday will see the resumption of the cup tixtures in tin; northern division, but as the championship has now 'been decided very little interest will attach to any of the matches. Clifton will take a strong team to Inglewood. in -order to gain as uukh practice as possib.'e for their big match with Wailriate on Thursday week. The Clifton men are going in for solid training and coaching under their general, Abbott, and have every hope of bringing the championship to the north end this year.

The Clifton men -are playing with grrat daslii anil with considerable combination at present, and their performance in beating a fairly strong team from the rest of the northern division was 110 mean one. The Clifton forwards were in great condition, and lasted well to the finish. Both in attack and defence they were sound, -as was evidenced in the closing stages when the opposing backs were attacking hotly. The ground was very greasy and, of coursemilitated against scientific back play considerably. Nevertheless) both sides brought off some pretty bouts of passing, the one which ended in the "colors'' only try beilig cfever. Early in the game the opposing team lacked comVnation, but, even when they did get to know each other about half-way through the game, they found the defence too good. All the Clifton forwards played wel'. bar Fisher, who was in 110 condition to take the field, and was wry soon and very -rightly compelled to leave. Hicks. Thomas, and Bcrnsten were tho pick -of tlu> pack, anil should easily find their way into the B team. As a matter of fact, the two former are unlueki not to have caught the selector's ey<* sooner. Still, after the Waimate play off their chance may come. BurkvU played! with great dash. The veteran well deserved his try, and had hard liit-I; in not securing another.

Taylor played a great game 011 the wing, and was well supported by his colleague. Tate, who should be another candidate for B rep. honors. Crowley, at half..gave a fine performance. both on attack and defence. He should be easily Taranaki's second half. Kupe, at five-eighths, played one of his best games, Abbott, too, was in good form. His generalship proved invaluable to his side, as also did his goal kicking. Bertram! pl'ayed a good game.; and used his head. He made some fine openings. and fully justified his inclusion in the team.

floodwin did not get many chances, but still did a lot of pood work. Tate. at fullback, did all tliat- wai risked of him, and on ono occasion nearly scored. Of tlie northern forwards Twain*. Reid, WaTd and Sullivan were the pic!:. Carev got a kick «arly in the game and did not show nn to top form. Dcwar and M'Allum. on tlio whig", worked effectively. Brown, at half, was in {food form. TTe opened up the game well, whilst liis defence was sound. Stewart at fiveeifrlit.liß. pot tlie. ball away we'). Of tlie t!iree-(piarters. Whitlinfrhm.:>!. centre, was very convincing. Tfc nlw shows a surprising; iuni of speed. ITi* trv wa.s a heautv. Young. on tlie v/iiur, did a lot o' work, and also had hard luck in scoring. His pace enabled him to eonif across and save his side on more than one occasion.

Smith made a creditable showing at full-back, handling .the greasy ball well. Tliev take their football seriously in Bangitikei, says an exchange. The bona iides of a local player who liad previously lived in Auckland were questioned" hut lie stoutly protest-, ed against the allegation that' he had forfeited his amateur status by playing Northern- Union footbalUn Auckland. Inquiries were made, and he was confronted with what appeared to be incontestable evidence. He denied this, and played in an important match under protest. In order to settle the matter definitely, an official of Rangitikei sub-union came to-Auck-land this week, and spent some time, searching records, and in making inquiries from persons in authority. He returned home, and the sequel is now awaited with, interest. The matclh ended in a draw. '

We regret, says the London Daily Chronicle of May 22, to announce tjlie death at sea, near Gibraltar, on Jxwir:l the s.s. Oostello. of Mr. Ha.jnish Stuart, the famous writer on Rugby footbaJl. Mr. Stuart was on his way home from a sea voyage for the benefit of his health. He was buried at Gibraltar. H'ow many internationals he- witnessed altogether cannot he known, unless he has left a record of the number; hut lie attended, as a schoolboy, the first ever played between England and Scotland at- Edinb";'h, and, except during absences abroad, never missed one through any cause except ill ! npss. Tu his early days he won a considerable reputation as a plaver in, Scotland, and ho was almost a life-lon .■ cricketer, on which game he was* a valued writer.