FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 295, 22 May 1915, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

THE OPENING OF THE SEASON. The football season was opened in Taranaki on Thursday, when the junior anil second junior cup competitions were started. There were two forfeitures, Star IT, being unable to send a teiun to Waitara to meet Clifton 11., whilst Clifton IIT. journeyed to Inglewood to play Inglewood 11T., but on arrival at the ground, prepared to play, they found no one to meet them but the referee. RESULTS. SECOND GRADE. Tukapa 12 v. Eltham 9. Stratford 5 v. Inglewood nil. Clifton won from Star by default. THIRD GRADE. N.P. Technical College 13 v. Eltham 0. Stratford 0 v. Stratford D.11.5. 3. Clifton won from Inglewood by default

SECOND GRADE. TUKAPA DEFEAT ELTHAM. Eltham journeyed to New Plymouth by motor-car and met Tukapa on Western Park, a very fast game for the opening of the season resulting. Tukapa showed the best back play, whilst Eltham, though possessing heavy forwards, did not possess science. It was an interesting game, the result being in doubt right to the end. Tukapa scored six points before Eltham opened their scoring account, Fuller scoring from a forward rush and Tito from a passing bout. Eltham then attacked, and Attrill being blocked, dropped a beautiful goal. The first spell ended!: Tukapa. 0, Eltham 4. Fuller again scored for Tukapa, but the kick at goal failed. Then from a scramble in front of Tnkapa's goal Walshe picked up from the ruck and touched down, Franklin converting. AVith the scores at 0 all, play became verv willing.l Eltham were penalised for lifting in the scrum, and Tukapa following up fast, a scramble ensued, and the ball going over the line. Fuller touched down. Time sounded' soon after, leaving Tukapa victors bv 12 points to 9. The local team's goal kicking was poor. Mr. <). West controlled the game.

STRATFORD I>EFEAT INGLE-WOOD. At Stratford the local team defeated Inglewood by 5 points to nil, Kivell scoring a try, which Collins converted. Mr. A. Smith refereed. THIRD GRADE. TECHNICAL COLLEGE -DEFEAT ELTIIAM. Technical College journeyed to Eltliam on Thursday. The home team won the toss and at once attacked, hut Fenwick, with a fine mark, saved, and the College attacking, looked like scoring. 'Eltliam defended well and play hovered about midfield, until N. Wright scored from a good forward rush and Oliver converted. Neither side had any further advantage when half-time sounded. Soon after the kick-off, College set up a dribbling rush from which G. Fuller scored and Oliver failed to goal. Eltliam attacked hotly, but the College defence was sound. College then attacked, and a fine run by Lcaland, who passed at .the right time, saw tVnniall score near the post. Oliver again goaling, College were attacking when the game ended with tlie scores: Technical College 13, Elthnm nil. Mr. F. Roberts ably controlled the game. STRATFORD 111 DEFEAT STRATFORD D.11.5. At Stratford, the Stratford TTT. team defeated Stratford D.TI.S. by « points to 3. For the winners Crossan scored two tries, whilst for the losers Mail kicked a penalty goal. Mr. A. Smith refereed.

TO-DAY'S MATCHES. Senior: Clifton v. Tnkapu, at Waitara. MATCHES FOR NEXT WEEK. THURSDAY, MAY 27th. First juniors: Tuknpa v. Clifton, at Waitara; Star v. N.P.H.S., at New Plymouth (Star ma tell); Stratford v. Eltliam, at Eltliam; Inglewood, a bye. Second juniors: Eltliam v. Clifton, at Waitara (]..'i(),p.m.); Stratford v. Inglewood, at Inglewood; Stratford High School v. New Plymouth, at New Plymouth.

SATURDAY, MAY 2!) TH." Seniors: Ttikapa v. Inglewood, at New Plymouth. Star v. Stratford, at Stratford; Clifton v. Okato, at Okato. NEWS AND NOTES. The football season opened on Thursday afternoon, and, considering the disorganisation caused in the ranks of the various clubs, it must be admitted that it proved very successful. Club matches deserve, encouraging, as they keep young men in training and greatly facilitate the work of the military officials when the young fellows respond to the Kmpire's call. Representative matches should not be encouraged, as they might perhaps oll'er an incentive to some footballers to refrain from enlisting. Up to the present footballers have nobly responded, and we feel sure that they are still prepared to do more. There were only two defections on Thursday, Star forfeiting to Clifton Juniors, and Inglewood lit forfeiting to Clifton 111. Star notified Clifton early of their inability to raise a team. Either there was sonic misunderstanding over the Inglewood-Clifton third junior match or else Inglewood were wanting in consideration, and, from knowledge of the sportsmanlike spirit that has always permeated the Inglewood Club, the writer prefers to think the former. At all. events, Clifton, on arriving on the Inglewood ground, stripped for the fray, found the ground deserted, there being neither player nor spectator to greet them. Mr. I'iig", the referee, bad a fruitless journey from Sew Plymouth.

A Stratford enthusiast complains tint that there was no accredited member of the Referees' Association on the ground to control either „f the Stratford matches. He states that Mr. A. Nmitri, of inglew.ood, stepped into the breach, and rel'ereed both matches in line style. Riving every satisfaction. He suggests that Stratford referees should be appointed to these matches. Kcfcrcnce to the list of referees, as published in Wednesday morning's news, shows that Stratford gentlemen were appointed to both matches. Inquiry I'rom the secretary of the lieferoes' Committee hero shows that the referees are not notified of their appointment by letter, but that it lias been customary for years past to notify referees by publishing appointments in the Da'ily .Yews. I'ossililv now that referees understand that tlie appointments are regularly published, future misunderstandings will be avoided. Mr. V. Spurdle. who has been a very active referee for the. past.twenty years, is reluctantly compelled to cease from following the game with the whislle

[ for at least the first round, owing to a knee, which was injured years ago, having gone back on him. One hopes to see him out again before the season terminates, as Fred is a referee of a typo thai can ill be spared. The senior competition opens to-day. At the time of writing the only match certain to take place is the TukapaClifton match at Waitura. Sta. have notified Okato that they are unable to raise, a team. Stratford has suffered so heavily from the war that only two 'if the last year's seniors are available, and a similar number of juniors. It is said that Stratford will be unable to raise a Saturday senior team, though possibly they may be able to raise a Tliursday senior team. *

Tlie Taranaki Rugby Union will probably have to rearrange the whole fixtures owing to the defections. New Plymouth High School have entered a team in the second junior competition, as well as in the first junior competition. Okato is playing a match this afternoon against I'uniho. Neither of the three teams representing Trentham in the Wellington competition were successful last week. Quite a number of their prominent players were away on leave, probably the final leave before! leaving for the front. hi unanimously deciding to devote all profits from matches this season to a fund for the assistance of wounded New Zealand soldiers, the Hawerii Football Club has set an example, which it is hoped that other clubs will follow. There is no : doubt that such a fund will be seeded. Clubs should note that referees are under instructions to strictly enforce tin! rule relative to players appearing on the field in wrong colors. On Thursday, the opening day, a little leniency was shown to two or three players who infringed this rule, but in future no player will be allowed on the field of play unless wearing his club jersey.