FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 97, 19 September 1914, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. I As far as j,;.. football i s concerned in l New Aalan,!, to-day -will see the cur . tarn rung; , ov,„ f or tllß lou R after a faaturday or two, during which Louse mat,,,., uf a mon , or lea 3 sorious nature will 110 . p ! a yed, the ball will be stowed a ong with the jersey and football bools for six months. Locally the season has been a very strenuous one, and the large number of representative matches played has ma<i o bis calls on the time of Taranaki's representatnes, and will mean an extended tnp next year, if all the visits are to bs repaid.

I If football is to continue to progress—- ; nnd there is no reason why it should not, I despite the opinion of numbers of pessimists, who tell us that in a few more years there will be no more Rugby—something will have to be done to curtail the amount of travelling. This season Taranaki played ten matches, and then could not accommodate every union that wanted a game. It will either be necessary for the New Zealand Union to form two grades, say six or eight firstgrade provinces, and placing the rest in another division, or else some of the small unions will have to amalgamate, and thus form stronger unions and fewer of them, which will prove an advantage all round.

Taranaki's defeat at the hands of Wellington was deplored by many, not so much because the men from the" Empire City captured the Shield, but mainly because we were deprived of a visit 'from the Auckland team. The visit of the northerners is always the popular event in Taranaki football circles, and this year it was being eagerly looked forward to; indeed, practically every car in the country townships of Taranaki had been been booked for the occasion. Once the Shield had gone, the incentive to visit Taranaki had gone, too, and the Aueklanders abandoned the match, which had only been arranged conditionally on the Shield being here at the time. If the trip had been undertaken, it is certain there would have been a. record gate, which the local Union could have well done with.

The gate at the Wellington match in Stratford was a disappointment. Including over £2O on the stand, it failed to reach £IOO, and this on a perfect day as regards weather. This seems to dispose of the .theory that Stratford is the best place to hold the matches. The Wellington match was the biggest match of the year, and would have attracted a big crowd at the Recreation Grounds, New Plymouth. In point of fact, quite a fair proportion of the gate was taken to Stratford from this end by the midday train. No doubt the war may have affected the takings, but then it would affect it to the same extent locally, and yet a week previously in a much less important fixture nearly £7O was, I taken at New Plymouth without any i extra stand money.

TO-DAiY'B MATCH. (By " Water-waggon "). The match to be played to-day between the Owners, Jockeys and Trainers t. ti;e Borough Council team, in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund, is creating a lot of interest. Both teams are putting in a lot of practice. The Borough team is prepared to stake the borough overdraft on themselves. The following is a description of the Borough team:—

F. Woodward, full-back, learnt his football at Caobage Bay; very reliable, especially on a New Zealand Cup day. W. Pycroft, the old Star flyer, In iiiC days before the Stars got sunburnt or smoked; can still "scale" a bit; will take a Carbine to c&tcn Jiim.

T. Smith, the same old "liOSis," in the sere anu yellO'W leaf as regards football, used to play for Mungu's team; scored more tries with a bullock's bladder than any man in Mangaone. ' "Norn'Tooke—the old Central School rep.; his fi'' st bi K football match; will scarify and J Oll opposition around; I won't Ecore.

li. Frewin—a nat'""- c ' Ostcnd and a game fighter. A mora' to drive the jocksters over the dead ba.V Ime ;, bit cunning in his old age; player Raiting game—waiting for the smoke conceit W. Allan, "the midget"—plays halfback; played big football for "the infant school, when lie wasn't "mitching." Donaldson —learnt football at Granity Creek; was there in the big rush; very quiet player; great tackier; will tackle anything from a strike wab to a long 'un. Sam Haskell—was taught football by Mister 'Preston at Kaipokapoka; sure to catch a few of them; has been practising catching—horses. Sid. Stroud—used to kick goals just to annoy the opposing teams; still keeps a "Stohr" about this kit; will kick goals for a trophy. Wai Inch —the Maoris' favorite; great punt; would put the Kaiser from Nancy to Heligoland. The Ngatiawa tribe will be there to see him play. W. O'Donnell —can pick who's going to win; not a bad colt; will take, some watching. Fitzpatrick—who has the dash of a dozen Irish forwards, will he sure to j have his lamps on a few of them.

0. Revell—the dark horse; learnt tricks from brother Bill; will "kerb" a few of them.

B. Bunbury—very fast forward; good dribbler; will play in the front row with Fergy to make him talk; used to play for Irishtown.

G. Ferguson—a forward of the Charlie Seeling type; will shake the referee up if there is any nonsense; trained by Jack Cameron.

THE JOCKEYS' TEAM. p. Johnson, J. O'Neill, E. Croot, W. ■Woods, J. James, J. Woods, P. Stannering, I*. nealy, W. Gunson, J. Johnson, B. Jury, Spate, W. Tx>we, Glcnfurn, W. Gush; emergencies: Don Cameron and Whittington. Players must get their own logs (amber and black jerseys).