FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 55, 25 July 1914, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

FIXTURES FOR TO-DAY. Okato v. Tukapa, at Western Park (Mr. Humphries). Clifton v. Inglewood. at Inglewood (Mr Spurdle.) Star v. Stratford, at Stratford (Mr Hill). NEXT WEEK'S FIXTURES. THURSDAY. Clifton T. Waimate, at Stratford, 3 p.m Play-off for Taranaki championship, Kaponga 111. v. Clifton 111., at Stratford, 1.30 p.m. Play-off for Taranaki third-grade championship. Juniors. Clifton v. Stratford, at Waitara Tukapa v. High School (High School match), SATURDAY, AUGUST 1. Okato v. Stratford, at Stratford. Tukapa v. Inglewood, at New Plymouth. Star v. Clifton, at New Plymouth.

ALL BLACKS IN AUSTRALIA. RESULTS TO DATE. v. XJS.Tr., won by tj to «. v. Western Districts, won by $9 te 10. v. Australia, won by 5 to nil. v. Northern Districts, won by 35 to 6. FIXTURES. July IS aad 28—Queensland. August 1-Australia, at Brisbane. Augnst s—Olympia Fund match, at Sydney. August B—New South Wales, at Sydney. ' August IS—Australia, at Sydney. RBPRESENTATrVE MATCHBS. RESULTS TO DATE. v. Wanganui, won by 8 to 8. v. Wellington, won by 14 to I#. t. Wairoa 6ub-Union, won by 8 to nil (B team). ' v. Wanganui (Shield»m*t«h) won bv If to 3. v. Manawatu, won by 11 to 3. * iUTOHJB ARRANGED. August I—v. Auckland B, at Auckland August 6—v. Horowhenua, at NewPlymouth. August l*-». Wairarapa, at Stratford August t»--T. Canterbury, at New Plrmonth. August 22—v. Auckland, at Auckland. August «— Southland, at New Plymouth. J September 3—v. Bay of Plenty. I September 17th—v. Auckland, at New Plymouth. Bepteosber I#.—t. Wellington, at Stratford.

NEWS AXD NOTES. Xeit Thursday's match for the ehamp'enship of Taranaki, between Clifton »Uu Waimatc, at Stratford, is exciting considerable interest amongst football enthusiasts in all parts of Taranaki, and, it is fairly certain, that there will be a large attendance. It is some time since the championship honors in the senior division came up north, Waiinato during the past few years having annexed it very consistently, save for a year or two, when Okaiawa were premiers. In 1911, Clifton played o(T with Okaiawa. at Stratford, and were beaten bv 8 points to 3, and the following at Hawera, they were beaten by VVaimate by a points to nil. Both matches .were played under wet weather conditions. The match on Thursday should prove a great battle. Clifton is, if anything, stronger than it has been during the past few years, and there seems good prospects of Thursday being a joyful night in the River Port. In order to give the public an opportunity of viewing the game, the Rugby Union, is endeiu ouring to arrange for excursion I tares, and also for the mid-day Xew Plymouth train to stop at the ground. ; The second junior play-off between iCliftim and Kaponga will probably be played as a curtain-raiser.

Taranaki had one of its oil' days mi Thursday, when it met Manawatii, and as the visiting team played a surprisingly good game, it looked, until fifteen minutes from the final bell, as thoii'di Taranaki were going to be luckv to stave off defeat. Up till then the'hovs from Manawatu'had been giving quite as much a« they were getting. Their forwards beat Taranaki on the line out and in serum work and the loose were just as good, whilst their backs tackled with deadly precision, and also fielded tlie ball beautifully. Taranaki forwards on the other hand, appeared to hold their opponents too eheaplv and their work lacked ginger. Thev did not sweep down the field in a solid phalan.v. in those irresistible rushes that are mi hard to stop, but occasionally one or two would head a rush, and when cheeked bv their opponents, there was no one to carry on the good work. The local backs did not handle the ball as eleanlv as one would have liked. Brown Mas slow at getting his passes awav. and the other backs did not run straight enon-h ao that at times, after three or four men had handled the ball, verv little ground was gained-plav had ' „,„,.,,. s . ciossed the field. Taranaki sadlv l:iis-ed Column who could have placed second hve-eighths, and would have'materially strengthened the back attackin- maohme.

The visitors obtained their chare „f flic hall From the scrum, and.'had their !«<-ks b,.en able to make ni.,r« „>,. , f <t, Taranaki might not l, ilV( . „,,„. ~, ! ine last, tew moments, the local pi-! liv.-nctl up a,,,) shook things considerably. e i. loown af half was hindered in pa.— i"'« l>.v mi iKJui-v to his arm but ■■•- defence mi, sound. ! J'ameron at Jive-eighths ban, ! the •all nicely and passed earlier than usual . W hittington. at eentre-threc-qiiarlo.-. takes the ball well, and quickly tnu-ters .»|> speed. 1 Bertram! rli.l a lot of work. 11,. ,1,,,,'J take the ball on the full and not smother it as he is inclined to do The '■Ntra moment saved makes all the difference, llisi try was a pood one. on the'other wing, plaved with Kro.it dash and was unlucky not to score. He also saved his .side' on various occasions.

•Stohr. at full-hack, did not handle | tie- ball too cleanly. n; s !;i ( kin-< -t,,, ■! '"'i' in Rood stead. He should n>,- Ins puce anil come up before kifkin". Taylor played a heady mine on i-hc »»'-. McAllum al-o did well m Ihat !«"-ltlo„ am l ,],,„„, rcpciUerllv. liobinson, MTiillinptoii ami Ki-ir-k were, the best of the pack that, however, "nl not plav with much dash. Of the \i-dtiiiy forwards. Carroll lirn-.. M'-DouMrl .md Harkiics- plavd wit', ;-r-.'.l d.i,h ami were al«ay.- mi ih.. :l),lll: lb-own sletie on the line ~nt. Dust in. at winji-forwaril. pro\eri a ibor'i in the- ride of the local rear-puanl. Xieholls, at half, defended wel! and

got down gamely to the local rushes. He j however, could not feed his backs. | Phillips was the bust of the liveeigtats. He was very found in defence and also handled the ball well. Ford and Jacobson were the pick of the three-quarters. The former at centre kicked and passed well, whilst tlie latter showed the possession of pace. Tin: star back of tin- team was Th(ii!i|ison at full-back, lie ll.sid quite a busy day and got through his work like a tradesman. He lidded the .ball cleveriy, and got his side out of mane difficulties. Though his kicking was weak, he only made one msitake when he failed to find the lino anil Bertram! scored. 'Wife banner presented by a New Plymouth lady supporter to'ill- Taiau.ik: llugby Union was on view al the ilanawatu dinner on Thursday night and waii generally admired. It will probably be given to the schoo.s for competition. The Tarinaki B. team plav AucKiand B on Saturday next at Auckland. The team will leave New Plymouth by Friday night's boat. This, will mean a rush trip, but it cannot be avoided, ft is expected that Hie B team, which will be picked to-night will be a strong team. As it is probable that Horowheuua will be unab.e to play on Wednesday, but desire to play on Thursday, the venue of the Horowheuua -jim-lil 'match will be changed. The match between New Zealand and Australia at Sydney on Saturday last i must have been a Homeric struggle., the Australian forwards playing a great game and keeping the visitors defending for nearly half the time. The game must have been fairly rough and list cuffs were Hying on one occasion, as the Herald, commenting on the wingforward, says: '■Graham doubtless played blue game he is accustomed' to playin his own country, but .-.ccording to the strict reading of the offside rule, he was an ilegal obstructionist from first to last. Wing-forwards of his stamp are nothing more than aimless jcstlers who do more harm to their own side than to anyone else. On two occasions, his glaringly unfair methods led to Jiiis opponents retaliating witii their fists."

Referring to the gnat display given by E. Roberts in the New South Wains match at .Sydney, the Svdnev Daily Telegraph s;.ys: "The feature* of the game was the splendid exhibition of half-back play given by E. Roberts. It was left to tic New South Wales public and critics to discover the brilliant Cuthill, and though they cannot claim to have discovered Roberts, there was not a few who wanted to -.know what the New Zealand selectors were dreaming of,, that it was only bc.-ause Green dropped out, that lie was included. Roberts did some remarkable things. Playing behind a pack frequently beaten for the ball in the first half, he was j n agniticent in defence, but when liis forwards were serving him with the ball in tlhe second term ''all hot," ne did things t'l at left the opposition and tlie crowd literally agape. As a finder and maker of openings, as an exponent of the corkscrew, now-you've-got-me-now-you-ha vcn't hand of running, he was wonderful, and Green may be better than Roberts, but Rvbert's will do us."

I Southland are taking their football seriously, and are leaving no stone un- | turned to wrest the ltanfurly Shield from Taranaki, the holders. Already, thirty odd players have been chosen to go into training. Says Observer in Hie Southland Daily Times: "This has ken an eventful year—the most eventful in SoutMand's history. The progress and the outside recognition of our prowess in sport are circumstances! but in keeping with the awakening wave of realised* power that has sfliaken Sofithlanders from their drowsy torp/n- where the welfare of t'licir district is concerned. Tin- establishment of the .Southland League, (lie admission of .Southland as a liist-class cricketing province,, our footballers' first rid for possession of the lianfurly Shield, all stand out boldly as pioneering point* in the march of development and as establishing stages in tilt broad road of advancement and self-assertion. As this has to do with Southland football further preamble may be discontinued. But the seed of advancement has been wel sown on nutritious soil, and Southland will ultimately prevail New Zealand has been acclaimed m? the greatest football nation in the world. It is in the power of Southhuiders to lave their province recognised as a leading football province of that nation. And the way to bring that about is to obtain possession of the lianfurly Shield. In a month's time our Southland representatives will be despatched on the most responsible mission ever eiitru-ted to southern footballers. To uphold the honor ami to maintain the prestige of 'Southland football is a charge given by the people to these players. They are Leing sent to win the Kanfiirly Shield and to this end must players and selectors give their whole and undivided attention, It is absolutely imperative that the very best team go north. No impediment, whatever should be placed in the way <)'.' the player by any employer and no outside influence should lie brought to liear that would interfere with Southland's, prospects of success. The 'Rani'urly Shield is within our grasp and it U the duty of every Southlancler lo do Lis level best to secure it."

The South Auckland Union Ims written to the Taranaki Uugby Union asking for a date this year for a liant'urly Sliield match. As, however, every Thursday is tilled light up to the middie of September, it is questionable if tile match will eventuate.

THE LEACCE CAME. iliigbyites, like most other people, look tin any departure, from the old 0.di'r with a certain amount. of preliminary suspicion, and tlie. Northern League game, being only about nineteuii yea's "Id in England, is an infant compared wif.'h the game which is almo.-t as old a, the famous school from which it took its name. Any unbiassed spectator of Thursday's game at Elthaiii. however, could not but admit that the J,cagHe game ha.., several points in its favor, several departure, from which even the ulder game might learn something. Of eom>e. ma Iches under League ru.'es cannot be compared to the (,'ri'at JJritainTaranaki game. The Jlritisher, wore o]i|>o.-e(l to a team which made an cv cellenl f.MI for their own spectacular work, and were able to make tin' home team look foolish in a peculiarly dazzling way. The professed main'object of the League game is to keep the plav open and the ball constantly in play, and this was certainly done'in Thursday's game. Apart from this and hut for the triliing difference in countingpoints there is little between the I wo games riii general line., but this iilt'e i-'. or at any rale was on Tliiiiscla v. IV-.spoti-iblc i' ( ,r much. Tl ,ost striking i'".-itiire of tin' gam,, was. of course, the hnllaiil handling of the ball in fast open work of the Ihilish thrcc-ipiarte.-, M.Cara, Wagstall". Hal! ami M'norhouse. This uas a revelation. The llriiith !."agncr im defence d"- ii"l "lied the line" like his liugbv compeer. I'-'c that under League rules would in. m I a, -cniiii from tie- uoinl ,n w' i,ii be ! fl.-ked, -,, that Wa'gstair. .\!ourb..-i-c | and •' 'o.. who were never on! id place. | kepi the ball condaiilly in play, pa-sing' backwards and forwards, in and out, 'and scoring whenever they felt inclined. As for the Taranaki jiini'.'Micy jiut up

« realiy good fight against odds in weight and in knowledge, and .pres.-.ed the visitors hard on several occasions. Hooker and Fitzgerald, of the backs and Kyle, live-eighths, and Tocker at half, with 0. King, Osborne and Martiwere .responsible for individual good play.

I There are other points about the League game which could be dea't with more fully, in an article devoted to it. The manager of the British team remarked to a News representative tfeit the game was making enormous strides in England, and in the four yeais which had lapsed since his first visit to New Zealand has marvellously improved here. The mistake which Colonials made, he said, and it was an idea that was fostered by the Bugby Unions at Home, was that the game was professional. As a matter of fact the men were merely paid for lost working time when at Home, and on tour received 10s per d:av on board ship and SOU per week on shore, with expenses. In addition, one-third <>>' any profits goes to the team. The British team has had a victorious record in Austi.di'

THE SCHOOLS COMPETITION. Yesterday Fitzrey defeated Central by 15 points; to nil. Ttoe score consisted of five tries, none of which was converted. Fitzroy are now level with Stratford: in the northern division. Neither school has yet been beaten, so that considerable interest attaches to their meeting at Stratford on Saturday week.