FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1915, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

TO-DAY'S -.MATCH. Okato v. Clifton, at Waituiv,; referee. Mr. W. Koch. next week's fixtuhes. Thursday, July l,j. Juniors.—Tnkapa v. Clifton, at -\ow Plymouth; Stratford v. I'Tlliium, at Siratford; liiglcwood v. X.1'.11.5. r.t Xow Plymouth. Second juniors.—Eltlnuu v. Xow PlvrnontU Technical Colic;;., at Xow Pi'month; Clifton v. X.I'.U.S.. at Waibr.i; (it. rat ford v. Strafford District School, at Stratford. Saturday, July 17th. Seniors.—Tukapa v. Okato, at Okato. NWS AXI) NOTES. To-day will see a resumption of the senior competition in belli divisions. In the northern division the second round will be brought to a conclusion, when Okato and C lifton will meet at Wait;i:\i. When diese teams met at Okato in lh" first round the weather was very boisterous, and a game of two twenty-fi iV minuto spoils indod in a draw. To-ihy (Jlifton will liir .strvnytlit'iuid by thi l i:i elusion of several players who wen' n:iable to journey to Okato, and will a bfc bid for victory. Should they not .succeed their chances of winning tiic division premiership will be practically nil. In any ease Tnkajm will need to be beaten twice t.o give any other team a chance of gaining the premiership. Okato will be playing practically the same fifteen that it lias played ail the season, having very few men to come and go on. but it can always be relied upon to lill its engagements. Xext round Okato may have the assistance of iMol.ccd and Kupe. These two representatives would considerably still'cn the country team's rearguard. The return match between V/angan:ii ar.d Taranaki, which was expected to provide a good exhibition of football, proved a disappointment in this respect., though it provided considerable amusement to the spectators. Taranaki again played two wing forwards, their opponents adopting tiie two live-eighths system. The local tenia, however, could not play the extra buck, as they did not have the man available. Indeed, with the absence (if Colman and Twoomoy. they were, hard put to it to find the complement of backs that they did, and several experiments had to be tried. The fecal team had the better of the game and should have won b,v a big margin, only they lacked finish. Both backs and forwards would do a lot of good work, and then would come a faulty pass, or a ragged bit of work that would spoil it all. Wry rarely did the backs get moving with machine-like precision, and though some tine openings were milde. the passes were given in a very haphazard fashion. Some new players donned the representative jersey and showed gooil promise. .Mac Skipper, the Tukapa half, played a very heady game. lie. made some fine openings, and was sound 011 defence. Time a (id again he badly fooled his opponents. He made a few mistakes, but. with coaching, should develop into a topliotcher.

Tin; five-eighths position was occupied in turn by Twomcy (who jjot hurt) and Roberts. Both played heady unci nippy eames, while the latter, who was not Uj> to top form, ."bowed flashes of bis bint at times.

I.ovorideo. at win;; three-quarter, tlioiifb he found th<; line well, appeared to feel the effects of Wednesday's knock. .J. Robertson, at wiug-threeqimr-ter and also at centre three-quarter left, nothing to be desired. Martin, at fullback, was very sound. Jlc took the ball well and found the line almost every time.

In the. southern cup competition only time teams remain, viz., ilawera. Kaand Waimate. The issue will be between the two lirst named. Waimate, the giants of yore, have fallen 011 evil days, and will probably have to withdraw from the competition. They have already forfeited a match owlny to inability to raise a team.

In the Knsper Cup competition I'ilinma defeated I'arihuka by I! points to nil. The team from the are, however, still leading in the competition l>v one point. It is probable that Taranaki will play two more representative matches this season. The visit of the AW.liiigtir.i team will probably be returned, and it is poss'iblo that Auckland may journey to Taranaki.