FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 70, 12 August 1914, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

THE WAIRARAPA MATCH. To-morrow, at Stratford, Taranaki ■ will be called upon to withstand another challenge {or the Ranfurly Shield, the challengors in this instance being Wai- ' rarapa. The challenging team is noted ■for its heavy and dashing forwards, and is confidently expected to make a big bid for supremacy. Taranaki will have a strong team in the field to defend the ' trophy, and the fifteen will include an infusion of young blood, which performed very well with the B team in •Auckland. NEWS AND NOTES. The curtain was rung down on the senior cup competition on Saturday, when Okato and Inglewood played off their tie for the Sole Cup, and as a Jesuit, Okato annexed it from Inglewood, who are the present holders. The game though not brilliant, was keenly contested. It was principally confined to the forwards, and here, the coastal men playing with greater dash than their opponents, held the supremacy. The coaxial backs tielded and lined well, and thu?, 1 lllified the work of the Inglewood i font guard. Inglewood backs were weak in taking the ball. In attack they showed more combination than the others. The tendency of the centre three-quarter to hang on to the ball at the critical time spoilt several scoring chances. Okato won by a try and a penalty goal to nil and on the day they deserved their win, as they were undoubtedly the better team. Oi the Okato forwards, Carey, Sullivan, Doyle and Tautim were the pick. The former played a fine dashing gam?, ' though, lrko the majority of the team, he ihad spent 'the previous night up till about 3 a.m. at a dance. Of the wing forwards, Reg. Hill was the pick. He is vtiy dashing, and is always on the ball. Burrows played well, and did not get oil side as hequently as usual. Corbett at half, and Eustace at fiveeights, were the pick of the backs, the ; latter playing very solidly. C. Putt, wbo inade his first appearance with the seniois, shaped well at wing three-quarter and showed a fine turn of speed. R. Julian, at full-back, though slow, did his work well. Of the Inglewood pack, Olsen, Kavaulus, Chapman and Atu were the pick. Olsen played exceedingly well. G. Nicaolls, on the wing, played a hard dashing game, marred by occasional off-side bursts. Harris, on the other wing, lacKed condition. F. Nicholls, at half, got the ball away smartly and defended well. Eaynor Bros., at half and centre threequarter, played solid games and handled the ball well, but the latter lias a tendency to hang on to tjie leather. . Smith and Miles, at wing three-quar- ' ter, were weak in taking the ball. The former, though not playing up to form, showed flashes of his old time pace. | Miles, at full-back, was slow to get the ball away and not too sure at taking it. The necessity for always playing the ball was evidenced in this match. Okato 'had a fihot at goal, which went so close " it was doubtful to the spectators whether it was a goal or not. While several Inglewood players shouted no goal, an Okato man rushed up and touched the ball down, so that if the goal had not been allowed, three points would have been scored for a try, with a probable two extra for a conversion. However, the referee awarded a goal. The moral is always play the ball. Don't wait to argue on till the whistle blows The play-off in the junior championship for the northern division, between Tukapa and Stratford, will- take place at Inglewood to-day. This will be the fourth meeting of these rivals, and each has to date a win, a loss and a draw to its credit. The Clifton team returned to New Plymouth yesterday after a very lengthy •journoy of 22 hours' duration by°th'e •Raxawa. 'They report having had an enjoyable time. Though beaten handsomely by the local champions, spectators say that the game was not so one-sided as the scores indicate. Clifton more than held their own in the forwards, but the local backs proved much too finished, their passing rushes being much admired by even the nonplussed Clifton team. TIIE AUSTRALIAN CARXTVAL. < Received at 111 .SO a.m. .. . „ Sydney, August 10. At the Football Carnival, South Australia beat New South Wales by 116 to br Kff n to29 Ta,mania hCat QuePnslan(l