FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1919, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

TODAY'S teams; The following will represent Star juniors against 'fukapa at Westown Park to-daj at 3 p.m.: Falconer (saptain), Hurley, Sharp, Jury, Haldane. Belcher, Amor, Pratt, Bowler, Way, Bedford, Henry, Clare, Macauley, Boon. Emergencies, Fahvasaer, Bourth. Tlui team to represent Tukapa second Juniors against Star at Western Park this afternoon, will lie picked from'the following: MeKardy, Tichbon, Stohr, Copley, Hart, Loveridge, Lepine (2), Bodniirs, ' Quiekfall, Kirk, Redwood, Daviea. Gilbert, Ambrose, McLean, and Murphy. SOUTHERN DIVISION. The following are the teams engaged in to-day's fixtures:— Okaiawa v. Kaponga. Okaiwa seniors-. Nicol, Grieg, Roberts (2), Luxton, Sam McCalluni, Johnston, Radiford (2), Toro, King, Peta, Cliadwiok, Harris. Emergencies, Martin and Howe. Wainiate meet Opunake, and Hawera has a bye. In the Junior Waimate will be represented against Oqunake bv McKay, rpmantil. Landers, Cantolin,' Jackson, Gane, McDonald, S. Hickey, Murray, Cargo, Phillips, Sutton, 'Borrie, S. Winters, Elkington. Okaiawa juniors against Kaponga include: Jurd,.Wright, Griffin. Poole Messenger, Guy, Jackson, "Ward, Hollis, Johnston, Radford. Myers, Olivers, Sid Pervis. Emergencies, Wisnowski and Griffin.

SATURDAY'S HEP, MATCH. After the great showing Taranaki Made against Wellington on the preceding. Wednesday, it was confidently expected that they would have gained a soniewhat easy victory over Wanganui, particularly as that team contained all young players, none of whom had previously donned the representative jersey, whereas Taranaki possessed several seasoned players, and had the advantage of a game together, Wanganui, to their credit, kept the local .team busv throughout. Indeed, during the first spell, they were attacking Well, and the way they handlod the ball was very pleasing. It was only the solid defence of their heavier opponents that prevented them from scoring. Taranaki forwards did not infuse that vigor into their work that was expected, though at times they Mused themselves. They also failed to jeeurc the ball from the scrum, and, therefore did not give their buck an opportunity of handllffg the tali. This Was noticeable in the first spell. In the Recond spell, when Johnson and Fottrke took the front row places from Norgate and Fuller, improvement was shown,- l>nf thefi> is room for much greater improvement. 3he pack was much the same as against Wellington, save that Masters replaced Manu White. Charters plaved a solid game until he was hurt, and Murphy, who Toplaced hini, also shaped Well but, lacked, condition. When in form he should prove an acquisition. Lvnskev, on the wing, was in everv rush, and'played a great game. His tendency to off-side plav was very noticeable, and caused numerous free kicks against his side. Unless lip overcomes this habit he mav prove expensive. ' r

The banks as a whole showed better combination, Atkin, at half, %vas asain Solid, both in attack and defence, shownig that his form on Wednosdav no flash in the pan. It is hard, to see how he can be displaced. Cameron, at first five-eighths, played a dashing, yet headr game, making some great openings, always giving the ball ■ft the right time. In defence he was verv sound.

Wynyard, who replaced Contt, at second five-pichfTfT flip latter being imftbl* to ptnr. jugtfflod his inclusion. He tackled solidly, and was good in attack, though hardly used to Cameron's play. Gibson, who went, from wing to centre, in place of Kupe, nlnved a stood frame in » new position, being also sound in defence.

Sogers earned his place as wins threequarter, showing a fine turn of speed and gathering up the ball nicelv, particularly when he scored his trv. Hickey, oil the other wing, played a safe gamp. Maloile, at full-back, did not inspire confidence. He is far too slow for the position, and kept Taranaki supporters uneasy when the ball went his way. The Wanganui team as a whole' show g*e»t promise. In both baoks and forwards they are a very even lot, and with experience should take heating. Not one of the team is oyer -20, and it is greatly to their credit that they held Taranaki bo well.

The forwards beat Taranaki for the Hall m the scrum, anS in the open theV also shone, Alabaster, perhaps, being the most conspicuous, being ably backed Z Z ? reen ', IHoj?a "' and Co - Connor did good work on the wing. -J*?!?'' «t attack and defence, with the two five-eighths, ■ falinejr- and Svenson, form a fine com- .^ S L p * ssl - I! P tytoß'.very nippy fthd their tackling good. The th- -hid, BC(ire d ws* the result of good at. .je'ritre .tljreerquarter, W® B : aJso , good .oh defence.: bis long [Rjotong being a thorn in the side of the | Taranaki ' fomards. fHe also handled | the ball-nicely. , ; Of the wings, Dayies showed considerable paofei'and jpii.t'in some, nice ...... Hpad, gfc Mf-bft«l{, was cool a*t<l safe. • THE STATCSOF THE TEAMS. The v? ns ' d -?. r of the Jeams in the has decided to Valise iStraiford, Tiikapa; Ellham, and Tiiglewood to.seniors. , ; g i ve a imiMday senior eoinpetition, ««. well as a. SaturdasucompetitioTl. Platers in 2me rt mp ¥'!i ff alnst; «». same Wamfi as if they had remained, in tne Junior and will n oW have,. the chance, of gaining representative honors, The winning team will have, SJi, ppportunity of;, gaininst provinWiampibnship honors,. The matches each Of the tennis have played agai{ist eacb other so far will count for championship points. It is probable that Bomb players in some of the second junldr teams will also be regraded J ■ AN INTERESTING CHAT. George Loveridsf the well-known Tukapa • and Tariffaki representative, rctnrnifd to New Plymouth this week after over three years aVence at the front", accompanied !>y his bride. Footballers will extend hearty congratulations to tith It is to iv hoped that 'Oeorgq" will Jie ahle to don the jersey again for his old club this year, as his presence Will greatly strengthen their backs, particular!? now that ihev.beve gone int<? Senior ranks. He should also prow uigful to tie representative team.

■ln conversation with the writer, Loveridge gave some interesting information regarding some of Taranaki's leading players in the team string South Africa, Charlie Brown, he Bays, is regarded as the best half in New Zealand, his play having improved wonderfully. When he left here he was very slow in getting the ball away to liis backs; now lie is like lightning. ItisIpicfr is also regarded as the best 'forward in England. Mick Cain and Whittington are in great form. West, the young Hawera player, is another greatly improved man. Jack Stohr is kicking well, but is not inclined to hustle himself unduly. Dick Roberta has not been showing much form, and still luis a tendency to hang on too long. "George" Is very enthusiastic over Singe, the voting Auckland plarer, who is regarded as a really great wing-forward.

GENERAL. The difficulty of obtaining chili colors this year is not only confined to clubs, Taranaki representatives, owing to amber and black being unoßtairiable, are playing in red and black, whilst Auckland, whose color* usually are blue and white, last week played in yellow and black*

Football is booming in the Hamilton district at present, no fewer than 300 players participating each week. •At the last meeting: of the Auckland Rugby Union, delegates from Hamilton asked for a representative match to be played there. The Auckland Union, however, stated that it was probable that a match would bo played between Auckland and country representatives with a view to giving country nlavers a chance of inclusion in the Auckland Provincial representatives. At Thames last Saturday, the local representatives defeated Auckland by sixpoints to nil, tries being scored by R, Smith and Poland. MATCH AT STRATFORD. ALLEGED DISGRACEFUL BEHAVIOUR. "A Visitor," belonging to Dunedin, tvrites from Eltham under yesterday's date:—l happened to be a visitor at Stratford yesterday. I went there to have a look at the town, and was very pleased with it. It seems a very nice, clean town and progressive. I eventually wandered to. the Park to watch a football match that was in progress there. I had no interest in the players, but hud played the game a lot, and felt the olil-time snorting feeling. But I must say that I came awav disgusted with the hostile demonstration of the spectators. It seems to me that two returned soldiers were the principal culprits at the start. However, as soon as the schoolboys put in an appearance the larrikinism started with a vengeance. What I cannot understand is why the officials of the Rugby Union do not take come stand in the matter of conducting football grounds. How you can expect referees to tolerate such (lisgrao?fill larrikinism as this man had to put up with at yesterday's match T really don't understand, licw can yott expect referees to give their time and services and tolerate conduct? I have had ten vears' experience in refereeing in the south, and consider (his man very capable, very decisive, and in every way impartial. Why the hostile demonstration against him it is impossible to imagine. More so. as the local team was winning, I would have expected .1 little hostile feeling had the local team been losing. There was present one policeman, and T believe rome Rtigbv Union officials, but. n, far as I could see they made no attempt to stop this disgusting demonstration. The sooner something is done to put down this larrikinism the better it will be for the ?ood old sport. In yesterday's display It had a .tendency to make the game roii"h. Tt is quite possible if it had not been that the referee kept the game well in baud the whole thin? would have ended in n free fiirlit. or a riot. The referee bad at one time of the jjawo to put, a. Stratford plaver off the field for using obsenee language. Then the feeling reached n elimnv. T could see the disgusted look nn the faces of the Stratford public, who love the eood old sport and who like fair play. Tn conclusion, Pir. T hone, nevpt* ngai* to see or hen'r of such disgraceful conduct on a football ground. But. in fairness to the plavero, T must say that the fnitie was plaved clean but hard, and T think it was verv satisfactory from their point of view. AUCKLAND'S REQUEST. Auckland, Lnst Night The Auckland Ruqhv Union decided to-night to again ask the New Zealand Union to consider Auckland's request to be permitted to play all the five amendments to the game as played here in the 1918 season. .

RELAXING THE RULES. Auckland is still persisting to piny with relaxed rules, To this the New Zealand Rugby Union has set Its face, consequent on the attitude of the English Union, which !s firm in its refusal to have the rules altered in the directions required. There !s no doubt that the rules could with advantage be altered, but : if New Zealand flies In the face of the pawnt I body it will ostracise Itself. New Zealand cannot stand alone It must he in a position to play New South Wains. Queensl.iful, South Africa and Kngland. The only thing left for it to do Is to endeavor to persuade tlie English I authorities to accept the amendments L Tlie Northern Union game, It must be adI tnitted, is In some respects more interesting | than-rugby, but New Zealand Is 1 ton small to :have two classes, of rugby. Either must suffer, ntid it is better that the new importation should. The professional element has cropj. Into the Northern''Union frame, and liothtofK'is more ■ calculated; to :low.nT" foothali in the eyes of the public thiip profes ionnlisni. . Xuiifo liow little I interest is manifested .in tlie ,'drilnga of the 'New Zealand Northern Union thini in Australia. Few core'what happens to-the team, for the members are not regarded np>;true representatives of New Zealand football. If * rugby team were touring Jt would he an entirely different matter.' • Everyone would be interested. The reason* are that rugby, after all, is the truly-national game, and-Hint a representative team that leaves Its shores Is truly representative of the whole Dominion, and is not confined; to professionals of v the cities. The Northern Union game .is,,an. exotic that one hopefr will not flourish.lri New Zealand—at any rite, while it countenances wiial amounts to professionalism.

Wc want particularly, to lteop, thp younger boys from Its influence. Rugby has Its drawbacks, hut it is free from any taint of sordidness and selfishness, and it should l>e tlie aim of all who have worn -the jersey—and what virile mau In this country has not?—to encourage the good old game; and give the quietus to the Northern Union, with Its semiprofessionalism. Once allow the professional element into the sports of our growing lads and we will have a condition of things that will prove inimical to them later on in life. It is not claiming too much to any that the Splendid position won by our soldiers on and off the battlefields of Europe was due very largely to tlie training they received on the football and cricket fields in their youth. There they were taught to "play the game," and this lesson they never lost, and will never lose. If they oujy play the game for what there is in it, then the chief national value of football will be lost.