FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1919, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

2s T EWS AND NOTES. THE REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. Judging by the showing made by the Taranaki representative .team in its initial appearance against Wellington at Hawera on Wednesday the prospects for Taranaki in future engagements should be fairly bright. Not even the most enthusiastic Taranaki supporter expec.ted the team to put up such a great performance against a team like Wellington. It must not be forgotten tha,t in choosing the Taranaki team the selectors had very little to go upon, as none of them had seen every team play; indeed some of them had no.t seen all the teams in their own division play, and the late start of the season's fixures also militated against the selection. The selectors were also unable ,to select the team upon the previous season's reputation, because in this case four or five years had elapsed since the last representative match took place.

It must be admitted tha.t on the wholo the selectors did their work well, this being borne out by the fact that, with one or two exceptions, all the players justified their selection and have been wcinded in the team against Wanganui. Possibly as the season advances other players will demonstrate .their right to be included, and this will further strengthen the team.

The large attendance at the match, despite rough weather conditions and the absence of any 1 ruin service, should silence those wlm held that there would never be the interest takeu in football as wasi the case before the war, and tha.t we would never again sec players of the calibre of the old-timers. There are indications that football will not suffer in consequence of the war, as njjmbe: j of young fellows, who never kicked a football in their civilian life, took to the game in camp and at .the front, and this is borne out by the number of players unknown here who-have helped to make a name for New Zealand football at Home.

In criticising Taranaki's play on Wednesday it must be remembered that the players have had no opportunity of practir'.ig together, coming as they do from various parts of the districts end having had no opportunity of seeing each other's play. Four years ago when the teams met at Hawera Wellington won by IB points to On Wednesday Taranaki were defeated by 8 points to 5, so that their performance was a very creditable one-

The wretched weather conditions were somewhat in favor of Taranaki, whose backs were heavier, and more adapted to the wet conditions than Wellington's lighter rear-guard, but it must also be remembered .that during the first spell, when the visitors were playing with the wind, the rain held oil', and the ball was comparatively dry. Taranaki forwards played a great game in the open and loose, all working well, and they gave some t'.impaes of the old irresistible Taranaki rushes, causing a surprise by the way in which they lasted out a heavy game. In the scrum they were mostly beaten for the ball, and on a dry day the Wellington backs, who showed more skill and nippiness in handling the ball and a better knowledge of the game in attack, would have made things awkward for our reps.

Taranaki backs were, on the whole, solid in defence, and their spoiling tactics were much in evidence.

The best backs for Taranaki were undoubtedly S. Cameron and F. Atkin- The first-named, who was elected captain, played flveeighths, and both in attack and defence Bhowed his old form, playing with great dash and seldom making a mistake. Atkin, at half, took the place of Coleman, who was unable to play. It is hard to see how he can be put out. He is Very solid in defence, clever behind the scrum, cool and quick in handling the ball, and feeds his backs well. Coutts, at second five-eighths, played a solid game in defence, but was inclined to hang on too long. He is young, and should improve in this respect. Ivupe, at centre three-quarters, was the weak spot in the backs, and is hardly class enough for representative honors.

Gibson, wing three-quarter, was deadly in his tackling and followed lip fast. Hickcy, on the other wing, proved reliable but had few opportunities of showing his pace. Malone, at full-back, was very cool, sometimes somewhat slow, took the ball well, but at times did' not get -his kick away too well. He is a likely man, and should improve.

Lynskey, at wing forward, played ii I splendid gtime, being always in the van of every forward rush, besides helping to spoil the Wellington back play. All the forwards worked hard, Spratt, Charter*| Bourke and Fuller probably* being the most prominent. Of the Wellington ipuni Tilyard, at half, played a fine game, setting his backs moving smartly, and with Jackson, at first five-eighths, (and Algar, centre, ma.de a very solid combination bo.th in attack and defence. Corner, McArtlmr and Thomas all played well In fact, there was not a weak spot in the rear division. Malin, at full back, never made a mistake.

Of the forwards Paton, Parker, Love and Troy were the most conspicuous, Gair playing a solid game at wing, forward.

In the Wellington competition, Athletic lms now a lead of two points fro« ; Ponek'e, and Petone is not yet out of ; the running. The leaders for championship honors are: Athletic 13, Poneke 11 Petone 11, 'Varsity '7,'Selwyn 6. ' TO-DAY'S MATCHES. The following Sta'r'iwf Juniors against StrMJord Higli SKShobP on the RecreatiiSh 1 this afternoon' at 1.30 p.m.BackSV 'Piatt, Jury, Sharp, Bourke, Belctieiy'BifylSr, Amor," Hurley. Forwards: Macauley I ,' Boon, Falwasser, Henry, Clare, Way', Bedford. Emergencies: Haldane, Currant Brookenshire. The following will represent Tukapa Second Juniors against Lepperton this afternoon at Waitara! McHardy, Tichbon, Lepine (2), Goodacre, Loveridge, Hart, Campbell, Quickfall, Beggs, Redwood, Ambrose, Bodman, McLean, Murphy, Hall. The following will represent the Old' Boys in a match ,to be played in the Recreation grounds at 3 p.m. to-day:— Fox, Little, Herbert, McDonald, Bayly, Wynyard, L. Sole, Doile, E, Ewing, Kelly, Saxton, Corkill, Brokensliire, Throssel, Hughes. Emergencies: Grant, W. Ewing. < general? By defeating Okaiawa last week, Haj wera are nowlea4irig tor championship

honow in the Southern Division by one point from Okaiawa. Waimate, who arp a point, further back, are still well in the running.

In North Taranaki football is showing a decided improvement, and before long a Thursday senior competition, as well as a Saturday competition, should be in vogue. Stratford, of course, were always willing to play as seniors, in fact, were anxious to, but owing to the dual ballholiday, there was 110 other senior team entered in the Thursday competition. Stratford, therefore, were allowed to play in the junior competition this year in order tjiat their members should not be lost to football .this year, but it was understood that their matches were not to all'ect the championship results. That they' were fully qualified to rank as seniors-is shown by .three of their players, Coutts, Rogers, and Masters, being deemed worthy of representative honors. Tukapa and Eltham Clubs, who were only able to muster junior teams at the commencement of the competitions, have now improved very much, and are quite entitled to rank as seniors-

Tukapa, by defeating a very strong Stratford team on Thursday, have proved this, whilst Eltham now has the assistance of Moir, Glentworth, and .others. The former, playing at five-eighths, is said to be well worth inclusion,,in the Taranaki representatives. Some of the other teams also may be worthy of being raised a grade. This, however, will be si matter for the Classification Committee, set up a,t last meetijn»,of the union, to decide. - '

In the final match of the competition undor the Army Rugby Union,, which was playecl at Inverleith, Edinburgh,, between New Zealand and the,; (Mother Country, .the latter team comprised two lieut.-colonels, two majors, six ceptains, and four lieutenants, the remaining member being a company sergt.-major. The New Zealanders, moßt of whom were mere privates, were not dismayed by this array of army officers, as they defeated them, and won the Army Cup. Among the Taranaki representatives who are touring South-Africa with the New Zealand team are Stohr, C. Brown, D. Roberts, Cain, Kisßick, Whittington and West, the last named an old Hawera player. In addition, Loveridge and others have to return. Should these men return in August Taranaki should have a formidable team.