FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 301, 29 May 1915, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

TO-DAY'S MATCHES. j SENIORS. Inglewood v. Tukapa, at Western Park; referee, Mr. >L. Humphries. Clifton v. Okato, at Okato; referee, Mr. W. Roch. THE FIXTURES. Now that the season is well under way and the various teams have , disclosed themselves—for until the actual kick-off it was impossible to say what fifteens would actually be available—the Taranaki Rugby Union has recasted the fixtures for a fortnight only, as follow: SENIORS. June s.—Tukapa v. Okato, at Okato; Clifton v. Inglewood, at Inglewood. June 12. —Clifton v. Tukapa, at New Plymouth (second round); Okato v. Inglewood, place to be arranged. FIRST JUNIORS. June 3.—Tukapa v. Stratford, at Stratford; New Plymouth High School v. Clifton at Waitara; Inglewood v. Eltham, at Inglewood. June 10. —Tukapa v., Inglewood, at New Plymouth; Stratfowl v. Clifton, at Stratford; Eltham v. New Plymouth High School, at Eltham. SECOND JUNIORS. June 3.—Eltham v. Stratford, at Eltham; New Plymouth High School v. Clifton, at New Plymouth; New Plymouth Technical College and Stratford Dh-'riet High School, byes. June 10.—Eltham v. New Plymouth High School, at New Plymouth; Clifton v. Stratford, at Waitara; New Ply■■'th Technical College and Stratford IV '"'ct High School, byes. Plymouth Technical College and ?tr;\ ford District High School have been riven byes owing to i7ie school holiday;. The matches between Inglewood. a:id Okato are lert to mutual ar-ran/'eme-t, owing +o Inglewood objcctir"! to travel to Okato. In the event

<•'' J i>rce rounds being played, it would, ">«™ haps, he advisable to play home-and-lionie matches, with the final match at New Plymouth.

NEWS AXI) NOTES,

Of the six senior, six junior and seven second junior teams originally entered, there have been four defections—namely, Star and Stratford seniors. Star juniors and Inglewood thirds, whilst New Plymouth High School has signified its intention of entering a team in the third grade. The regrettable feature is the absence of Star and_ Stratford from the senior ranks, which have now been reduced to four. Star has been in parlous straits for some years past, and ofttimes had difficulty in mustering oven a down men to fulfil an engagement, and the defection of several of its leading players to fill the gaps in the Tukapa ranks proved the final blow. Stratford has suffered severely from the war. This club was never too well served bv the chance to Saturday, and it is said that a Thursday fifteen might be mustered. It seems hard to realise that, even despite the inroads made by volunteers for the war, this progressive district could not manage to raise a Saturday fifteen at least as good as those which have in the past done battle bravely, and very often under adverse circumstances for Star, Inglewood and Okato.

lAt a meeting of the. Management Committee, it was decided to circularise the other senior clubs in the Northern Division and ascertain if they could play on Thursday's instead of Saturdays, as it is probable that Stratford would then be able to raise a team.

Last Saturday was the opening clay of tlie senior competition. Only one match was plnyotl, but, from the play shown, there is no doubt that future matches between these teams will be awaited with much interest. Clifton had the better of the forward division, but the Tukapa backs were much more nippy, and with combination will develop into a dangerous attacking machine, They handled the greasy ball well. Skipper at half and Mana at liveeighths continue well. Loveridge was in good form. Coutts shaped well. Some of the Tukapa forwards did not wake up until late in the game. This remarK, however, does not apply to Ward and Perry. The former was on the ball all the time, and played right np to hh top form. His try was a beauty. Hicks. Thomas and Baigent bore the brunt of the Clifton attack anil did nobly. Tiie former scored a heady try. Reid played well, but is apt at times not to be too serious, Crowley did a lot of sporting work, but big backs could not get going. Goodwin at wing three-quarter showed all his old dash, whilst Tate showed a great turn of speed, when ho scored especially. Dawson Webster, up on holiday leave from Trentbnm. showed that he'has not forgotten. how to take a ball. Clifton has quite a number of last vcai s fifteen in its team this season including C. Tate, Goodwin, Abbott Crowley (backs), V. Tat*. Hicks, Thomas and Jones (forwards). Egglestont> is back again assisting the green and gold, whilst Waka, W. Lash, E, Tate are familiar Clifton names. Reid (Stratford), Iving and Baigent are a trio of hefty forwards that donned the Clifton jersey for the first time.

Of last year's seniors, Tukapa mustei ed but three —namely, Loveridge, (back), Ward and Perry (forwards). lj. Whitaker,.Fuller and Bacon have donned the blue and white jersey previously. New hacks include Ryder ( Albion), Coutts (Wanganui). Mana and Skipper (Star), and forwards. Carroll mid Waka (Star), Broughton (Wairarapa) and Barley (Waimate). Cain was an interested spectator at tiie Tukapa-Clifton match on Saturday. He is almost certain to don the jersey before many Saturdays are past. C. Brown is on holiday leave from . camp, and will probably play for Tukapa to-day.

Martin, tlie Southland representative bnek lias returned to New Plymouth, after a visit to the South Island, and will probably play for Tukapa. fke Taranaki team will journey to Wanjranui next Thursday (King's Ttirthday) to fulfil tlio annual engagement with the team for the river city. The Ijintch would probably have been abandoned, but for tile: faet that Wanganiii lias arranged for it, to be played in aid of flip Hospital Tielief Ship. The selectors will probably publish' the team in ;i day or two. At hllliam 011 Thursday afternoon TCltham 'first juniors defeated Stratford by f! points to 3.

liH'Jewood I[l" mot Stratford 111 on tin l ground on Thursday, when tlio visit.din won I>v 1- points to | ml. had sume dillit'iilly in ! Uciiinj: a learn together, but eventually! ion!; tlie field -\viih eleven playe;'.-, Id their opponents' thirteen. Mr, V. Julian ' l eiVreed.