FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1919, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. MATCHES PLATED. Aug. 14.—t. Wairoa Sub-Union, won by 32 to nil. MATCHES ARRANGED. Aug. 23.—v. Auckland, *t Auckland. Sept.2o.—v. Wellington, at Wellington. Sept. 11.—y. Auckland, at New Plymouth. Sept. 13.—t. Wnnganut, at Wanganul. The last two fixtures are subject to confirmation. THE SENIOR COMPETITION. POSITION OF THE TEAMS. Thursday.

TO-DAY'S FIXTURES. SENIOR. Okato v. Old Boys, at Okato; referee, Mr. West. Clifton v. Star, at New Plymouth; referee, Mr. Roch. i .SECOND JUNIOR. High School B. v. Lepperton, at New Plymouth; referee, Mr. Roberts. High School A. v. Tukapa, at New Plymouth; referee, Mr. Hooker. Star v. Clifton, at Waltara; referee, Mr. D. Johnson. Stratford D.H.S., n bye. FIXTURES FOR NEXT WEEK. THURSDAY, AUGUST 21. SENIORS. Stratford v. Inglewood, nt Stratford. JUNIORS. Mldhlrst v. High School, at Midhlrst (first round). Clifton v. Star, at New Plymouth SECOND JUNIORS. Eltham v. Star, at Now Plymouth. Stratford v. Inglewood, at Stratford. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23. SENIOR. Rahotu v. Star, at New Plymouth. Clifton v. Old Boys, at New Plymouth. Okato, a bye. Second Junior fixtures have to be redrawn. The following will represent Tukapa Juniors against High School on the rocecourse ot 3 p.m. to-day :—Qulckfall, Gush, Murphy, Gilbert, Evans, Gardiner, Qulckfall, Morey, Leplne, Stohr, Leonard, Tlchbon, Norman, Bodmin, Oliver. Emergencies: Boulton, Redwood. The Old Boys team to play Okato at Okato to-day is as follows:—Herbert, Throssel, McDonald, Hughes, Lyttle, Sole, Foi, Saxten, Dollo, Kelly, Hughes, Fuller, Brokenshire, Wynyard, Howell. NEWS AND NOTES. The representative match between Taranaki and Wairoa Sub-Union which had been arranged for the purpose of giving the representative team an opportunity of practising together, also of giving the selectors a final chance of seeing tho pick of the gub-Unlon In action with a view to inclusion in the Taranaki representative team, proved very disappointing, as the visitors were outclassed, and thereforo the local team was not called upon to extend itseir. Individually the Wairoa team possesses some good men, but combination was lacking, tho teami nover having played together until that day, and the fact that their forwards were beaten by the local pack, did not give their fivo-elghtlis Cameron and McKeroia any opportunity of getting moving in attack. Moreover, the team had hard luck in having to reorganise on three oc : caslons owing to the loss through minor mishaps, of two backs, viz., Tlnney, ex-rap. fullback, and Thompson, who played a plucky game, but appeared too light for the position, and probably their best forward Leahy. Taranaki also lost Coutts with an Injured ankle towards the end of the game, which was contested in tho friendliest possible spirit. Though Taranaki won by 32 points to nil their play was far from perfect, and will need to show improvement next Saturday if they are to defeat Auckland. Of the Taranaki team chosen Molr (full, back), Gibson (wing three-quarter), Tate (wing forward), and Blucher (forward) failed to turn up and their places were taken by Anderson (nan-era), nt l'ull-back, whilst N. Elvell, cmergoney back, was played second five-eighths, Wynyard being dropped back to ccntro tlm-e-qunntr, and Stewart going out ou tho wing. Tate was absent frAm wing forward owing to an Injury sustained In the Okato-Cllfton match, and McCullagb filled tho bill. Blucher, who has gone to Auckland, was replaced by Winters (Kaponga). Atkln was easily the best back on the ground and did a vast amount of work, both attack and defence. Klvell fully justified his Inclusion. He handles the ball with precision, and Is very nippy. Coutts also played his usual brilliant game, and It will bo unfortunate If his Injured ankle precludes his travelling. One would not have thought from his play on Thursday that he had Just risen from a sick bed. Hlckey, wing three-quarter, looks like a discovery. He is very speedy, possesses weight, and Is a difficult man to stop, running with a swerve. He, however, has a tendency to "hurdling" that may lead to trouble. He scored five tries on Thursday. Stewart,' on the other wing, did not get many chances, but did good work. Anderson, at full-back, did not Impress. He made one or two speculators that ruined his prospects for representative honors. All tho forwards played well, though they did not infuse the vim into their work that one would have liked. Possibly against a stronger team they will rise to the occasion. Spratt was very prominent in the loose, but has a tendency to get off-side that might lead to trouble when playing against a team possessing n decent goal kicker. Taranaki is lacking in a good place kick this year, as only one goal was scored out of about 15 attempts, yet no less than six members of the team were given a trial. j Of the Wairoa team, Cameron, tho Taranaki I rep., and McKenna were the pick. They did a lot of work, but were allowed few opportunities to shine. Their Inclusion in the Taranaki fifteen was expected. The other Wairoa men are hardly up to rep. form yst, though some of them, notably R. Thompson, Pearman, McLean, and Richards (backs), Barford, C. Cameron, and Cornwall, In the forwards, show promise. Leahy played well until he retire^. The Taranaki selectors have on the whole performed their task well in tho selection of the team to tour Auckland. The position of full-back has yet to bo filled. Were Molr (Eltharn) available, one need look no further, but his shoulder Is said to be bad. Anderson, on the strength of n great game played for Hawora a&ulhst Okalavva on Saturday, wos considered to be in the running, but his display on Thursday makes his inclusion very doubtful. It Is a pity that H. Oliver (Tukapa) was not given a chance. He was chosen as emergency and was ready stripped on the side line, but the selectors played Anderson (Hawera), whom they had not selected when choosing the team. It was hard luck for the New Plymouth man. who did not get the opportunity of making good. Hdwevcr his time should come. It is understood that tho claims of 8 George (Clifton), and Prior (Tukapa), are being considered among others for the position. The team to play Auckland leaves by the Rarawn on Thursday evening, returning on tho Tuesday morning following. Mr. A. Lees (Okaiawn) will bo manager. Mr. T. Buchanan is also making the trip. New Plymouth is not represented In the Taranaki team this year. Of those so far chosen, four hail from Btratford, two from Waltara (making six from the Northern Division), four from Walmate, two from Hawera, two from Kaponga (making eight from the Southern Division), and two from the Wairoa Sub-Union. The match between Clifton and Star !» creating considerable interest, as should the former win they will win the Saturday competition, and have to play off with Stratrord for the honor of meeting Hawera. From the game put up when these teams met at Watta, m iatareitim gun tfm& MM&.

SOME REMINISCENCES. THE ELTHAM CLUB. By Hal Berte. The history of the Eltham Club seniors reads something like a "hard-luck" atory, In that Although at times possessing a fifteen that was equal to the best club team In the province the players of Eltham have never proved division champions, let ajone provincial winners. Whatever the cause of nonsuccess Individually the club bus hart mmnbera who have loomed largely in representative games. Way back In the 89 s Eltham had good forwards, and old stagers will remember Tom Willy as a representative player. "Bill" Songster was another good player of those days. In the 90's Charlie Baker, now a concrete king, was a great u/.ttier, and lifter him there were such fine players ns Bob Patr, Harry Robinson (a good five-eighth), "Curley" Page, the Molr Bros. (4). One would think that a club that bas Included In Its ranks Dive and Furrle (North Island team), Glasgow (original All-Black), Totler, Buckland, D. Mplr and other Toranakl players, would have prevailed In club contests. But whilst the seniors have been denied the honors, the club's Ist juniors have more than once secured honors In that division, winning two years in succession, whilst the third division has also landed honors In their competition. Apart from the players ttie Eltham residents for many years were keen supporters. The late Dr. Harrison took great Interest in the game, and whenever a player was winded the genial doctor was there to assist. To facilitate training operations a csnvnas of the town enabled the erection of substantial training sheds, hut just previous to the war the club received a set-back. This season a revival has taken place, and all associated with the "Magpies" hope that better days are in store. In the opinion of the writer the Elthom players were the most genuine amateurs playing In the Dominion. I have recollections qf Dive, living about 30 miles from the railway station, riJlng In to catch tho early morning train to piny for his club against Tukapn, Star and Clifton, and then facing tho homoward Journey the same night after reaching Eltham at 7 p.m. Mangatoki players, Jim Charters, Potter, Cooper and others, were also put to fair expense in playing the game, and paid up without a murmur. I mentioned previously that Eltham were fortunate In having enthusiasts, and In this connection Messrs Selgel and J. L. Campbell stand out In memory for fine work, whilst "Tui" Jenkins and Prank Brown (a Taranakl representative) were keen on training work. The member for Egmont (Mr C. A. Wilkinson) ha 3 been president on more than ono occasion, but though he can win success himself his position at the head of the club's affairs did not - break Eltham's non-success. Harry Nuttall Is probably the oldest associate In the club's history, and his hobby was tho care and control of the Ist Juniors, and In his business it used to be a standing joke that one of the qualifications of a job was the ability to play football, and practically every man on his staff was then a footballer of more or less merit. He Is president this year, and the honor has been long delayed and he has struck a lean year. Although the club has hod some fine forwards they rarely succeeded in winning representative hondrs, and during twenty yeare and more 1 only remember Willy, Brown, Levlck, Glasgow, Charters and McGovern as forwards wearing the amber and black jerseys. In backs the position was better, and with Dive, Potler and Buckland playing one year the club had a three-quarter line good enough for Taranakl. At one lime and another these men wero chosen but never in tho one game. There.is no reason why Eltham should not again put. fifteens In tho field equal to those of the past. The Taumata Park Is an Ideal ground, one of the best In Taranakl, and the central position of Eltham makes It convenient for the railway-travelling spectators. I have withheld tho name of r. A. Ongley. He was en enthusiast of first water. Unfortunately be struck Eltham when the club was on the down grade and the South Island player (he was one of tho South Island team against North Island) had few chances here, as Eltbom dropped from senior to Junior grade. Ongley did not loso any games, as the Okaiawa team olected him thoir captain and were very pleased to have him In their ranks. After a few years he left for Wellington, and then tho war claimed him, and eventually he reached France and there he sleeps the long sleep with many other Eltham players who bundled away the black and white jersey and took up the musket and tben travelled "West." . y.'i- ■ i. -, ',;»

Tilka pa , Stratford P. A '. L. 1 1 d. rts. 2 8 Inelewood 0 l 0 1 3 L 8 2 4 1 3 Old Boys Saturday. P. \\ 0 ! •••• 7 \ 7 1 '. 1. S -- I 1 I 2 i 5 1 5 D. Pts. 1 11 — 8 2 4 — 4 1 3