FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 258, 10 April 1915, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

NEWS AND NOTE& I i i'he Taranaki Rugby Union met last (light, and a few weeks more will see j the good old game in full swing in the province. The various teams find their Vaults considerably depleted owing tu the war. This, however is pleasing 1 uews to chronicle as it shows mat the footballer like a true sport fully recognises his responsibility to the country and is prepared „to assist to his uttermost. There are numerous other players ready, to go when wanted. Meanwhile they win play the game cleanly, keep lit and well, and so he prepared to meet a crisis when called upon, it id hoped that the ranks of the barrackers on the side line will be thinned by the young men donning the jersey to assist vhe depleted playing ranus. At every matcli last year one could not help but be struck by the number of sturdy' youtiis that should have been playing j the game instead of frenziedly urging the learn they were honoring with tneir! support (and which oftimes was the I only team they saw in the match) to more strenuous efforts. There appears to be every prospect of Star being unable to raise a team this season. Once a star of the iirst magnitude, this, team has fallen on evil days during the past two or three seasons, and tne chances of its rising above the horizon this season at all appear very remote. It is to be hoped tliat some of the old members of the clu.s will throw their weight into the balance and so keep alive a name that Was once as- j sociated with all that was best and brightest in the football arena. 'lne majority, of the alubs have had', their annual meetings, and speak hopefully of the season's prospects. It is questionable whether Inglewood or Opu- I nake will be able to enter teams, though j both towns possess enthusiasts t\iat will not give up without a struggle. Okato have had several practices and expect , to be at least as strong as last year. l Tliis team possesses tile true, sporting spirit, and does not allow itself to be; crushed by a defeat or two. 1 I The tragic death of A. E. Stoddart, as j reported in last week's cables serves to j revive early memories of Taranaki football. In 18S7 the men from the butter province laid claim to recognition in leading football circles by defeating a strong Auckland team by one point (a try) to nil. The following year they 1 compelled recognition by inflicting the j first defeat on the first English team ■ to tour the Dominion. Since then Tara- i naki has always been a power to reckon with in the football arena. It is in connection with the visit of this iirst English team that the name of Stoddart stands out so prominently. A. E. Stoddart, an English interna-1 tional player, represented Middlesex ; and Rovers. He was a brilliant three- J quarter in ithat combination, has! gone down to posterity as Stoddart's team, though Stoddart was onlyi a mem- j ber of the team, which was organised by Lillywhitc and Shrewsbury, two pro- j minent cricketers of the time. Indeed, Stoddart was not its first captain, that mantle only falling on his shoulders I through the tragic death of R. Seddon (the Lancashire and Swinton forward), who was ejected captain on the journey out. The majority of the team came from the North. He captain the team in the first match, but was found drowned under unfortunate conditions in Australia, lie was an enthusiastic sculler, and was found drowned underneath his skill, in which his feet were strapped, as was customary in those days, so that he had no chance of saving himself when the skiff capsized. Stoddart did not play in , the first Taranaki match, owing to his ankle having been injured in the Canterbury match. This was the fourth match the Britishers played, as ihey hid defeated Otago by 8 to 3, Canterbury bv H to C, and drew with Wellington. The lirst match was played oil the New Ply,mouth racecourse, and near the iinisii of a great game 11. Good, with one of his strong runs, scored the only try of the day, which counted one point in those days. The late A. Bayly captained the Taranaki team, which com-prised:—Full-back, R. H. Kivell; threequarters, A. Good, A. Bayly (captain), 11. Coghill; quarter, C. Bayly; wingforwards, 11. Tate and 11. Iline; forwards, 11. Good, T. Joll, W. Snook, W. Clieync, C. E. Major, J. B. Veale, A. I'earce and J. Whitehouse. After returning from Australia a match was played at llawera on October 2, and this the English team won by 7 points to 1, Stoddart captained the English team, and scored the first trv. after a brilliant run. The late J. Lambie scored the last try of the match, arid the only one for Taranaki. The composition of the local team was somewhat different from the first team. It comprised: Fullback, F. Tyrer; three-j quarters, Ti Hempton, A. Bayfly, A. I Good; half-back, F. Mills; wing-lor-wards, H. Good and R. Tate; jiorwarus, C E Major, T. Joll, Sangster, A. Pearce. J. D. Scale J. lambic, McCarty and', Willy. Several of these p.ayers :iuve crossed to the "bourne from which no traveller returns," but the majority of j ! them left their mark on the history oi j | football in Taranaki and New Zea- j land.

CLIFTON CLUB. , The adjourned annual general meeting of the Clifton Club was held on Thursday evening. Mr. Buchanan presiding. The report and balance-sheet showed receipts £34 18s 2d and expenditure £2!) 9s, leaving a credit balance of £5 8s o<u, with assets amounting to £22 3s Oil. The following officers were elected for the ensuing season:—President, Mr. W. I. ■Tenkins'; vice-presidents, Messrs li. Tate and ,A. Tatton; secretary and treasurer, Mr. 11. Spurdle; assistant secretary, Mr. C. 11. Tate; club captain, Mr. K. Tate; selector senior, Mr, W. Jury; delegate to Taranaki Rugby Union, Mr. 1. Buchanan; committee, Messrs D. George, B. Arms, A. Lush, W. Jury, M. Cain, J. Cain. T. Buchanan, S. Loveridge, and captain of senior team; auditor, Mr. L. Sampson. It was (Willed to enter three teams for the Saturday competition. The secretary was unanimously voted five guineas for his past ,services, i The f(.l!»win:i ni'v; iiimiiW* ww rl'fl-!c(l:--l". IT'i!'<■!"!s S. Cameron. T. Carey, A. Kc'ui, .1. King. S. Kjfi'.f-lou. Ilnigeat, J. Heron, SlHit, .1. Patter-on. I It was rc-olved Uml an i.pi'lii.ig match j ,be arraa'N il itli apa a> C'V" j ; mouth. ' The eieelioil of ■ eV ; t„r for ! lirst ami Mvoml juniors wis lifl'l over. ! Footballer- throughout the province : will be pleased to hear of the revival of {he l!n'. ; i>v code in Lithane,, where it suffered seriously from the inroads of : the League came. Some enthusiasts, in--1 eluding "All" 11 iuiseu, have done their be-t to iii'U-e a. little life into the club . wliirli ha;- been defunct year or two. and this vear their efforts have been frowned with success. A iinm her of voting players have signified their iine:i!ion of donning iln« Mark and while ji-r-fV and a junior am! sentm I team will be entered this. year.