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Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1919, Page 7

NEXT THURSDAY'S MATCH. AUCKLAND t. TARANAKI. c ,2, f or four years have the followers of «ugbj in Taranaki bad an opportunity of wit* W.; representative football match in No* l yraoutii but neit Thursday an, opportunity , e afforded of witnessing a struggle thaiPromises to be homerlc. The occasion will Da the return game between the representatives or Auckland and Taranaki. The big victory a fortnight ago has to be avenged If it is possible, and followers of the game can be assured that every effort will be strained by the local team to put to good account the lessons taught by the Aucklanders' new style of play. Although several of the Jaranakt representatives were unable to make 'no trip to Wellington for to-dav's match, a strong learn—the strongest available this season—will take the field next Thursday. n„„K m ?r',° tho rallwa y "out." the Taranaki in,? ■ on is woU "!• against It financially. All Union matches that have boen played thl» season have boen very costly, players having to he transported by motor car. The travelling J lO ' 01 «nenses 0 f the Wellington team ulii i? e J Taranakl <" Hawera In June cost the local union over £9O, apart from Ihe expenses of the local team. The trips to Auc!{una and Wellington, despite a certain amount ■ assistance from these Unions, have not eased tho financial position. The local Union decided to allow Auckland 25 per cent, of the Gross gate next Thursday to ensure the game, ihe prices for admission !o the game have been nsea at is for men; Is for Indies and schoolnoys. A large attendance Is fully anticipated, and patron may confidently anticipate getting full value for their money.

THE NORTHERN DIVISION PLAY-OFF. . It i» to be regretted that heavy rain fell on Saturday just prior to the play-off match between Stratford and Clifton, for It soon rendered the ground which was just recovering rrom the effects of the junior match on Thursday a quagmire, aud a brilliant display of football was out of the question. Nevertheless Play was interesting and Stratford backs at time# showed that they could haudle a greinv ball well, but from a scoring point of view the efforts were resultless. Tho game was last and neither side appeared to have any decided advantage for any longth of time, until near the finish, when Stratford gained the upper hand, and fully deserved their win. Both teams of forwards worked hard and put in some good work, Taylor, Soffe, Fuller and White being prominent for Clifton; and Mast£ re '.» j ugh, Carlson and Thompson for , ? Cm "ts, the Stratford five-eighths, played the best back game on the ground, gelting the ball away well and being solid In defense. Goodwin, the Clifton flier, at centre three-quarter,, was probably the next best. He seems to play better this year now he is closer up to his work. S. George appeared to be over anxious, and made some mistakes, one costing a try. Both as a back and later as a forward N, ICivell did good work. Fonwlck, me Stratford full back, showed promise, colnz down well to the forward rushes. The play-off between Hawera and Stratford next week should be full of Interest as both teams possess some fine backs and 'with fine weather a good display of rugby should result.

THE ELTHAM CASE. The case of L. Bunn, the Eltham player who struck the referee during tho intorval in the fcl ham-Stratford senior match at Eltham on July 31st., was Inquired Into by tho Itugbv bnlon on the same epenlng, but the Union's decision was not promulgated at the time, so

that tho proceedings before the Magistrate's Court might not bo projudlced. The case having now been dealt with by the court, there is no longer reason for not publishing the Unions decision, which was that Bunn be disqualified for five years, and warned off all pounds under the Union's jurisdiction during that period.

GENERAL. . 5 kerned fitting that Canterbury should liavo had first chnnco of securing the shield from Wellington on tho resumption of shlold matches, for just three weeks prior to Wellington taking the shield from Taranaki the men from the South Island had hard luck In not securing it, only being beaten In tho call of time Taranaki certainly did not have their best line Dewor, Young and Bertrand being in camp, whilst Cain and Roberts landed in New Plymouth from Australia juat flftoen minutes pri't.r to the match, having motored all night from Wellington. Abbott was played wing threequarter but could not got back to form. Canterbury scored five points In the first spell, and do what they would Taranaki could not reduce the margin until within 15 minutes of time, when Stolir landed a penalty goal, and then jusl us Taranaki supporters could se" the shield slipping from their grasp, C. Whittlnglon scored a great try as tho result of a periect passing bout In which Brown, Coleman, Roberts and Cameron and ho combined beautifully. It was indeed a great flnl3h, and Tarar.nkl breathed freely again as the bell sounded a moment later.

Goal kicking played an Important part In the Auckland match on Saturday week. Out of ten shots, six converted tries and .1 penalty goal resulted, a total of in points. This Is a decided contrast to the goal-kicking In Tarai nkl tills year.

Next Thursday at Ne* Plymouth Taranaki and Auckland will meet at New Plymouth. This is the most popular fixture In Taranaki, and as It .is just six years since these teams met la New Plymouth' tliero is certain to be a large gathering at the Pari*. Though the railway service is very much out of action, the motor car and motor lorries will be running in full force, and it Is certain that ever bv-road in Taranakl will contribute its quota 'to the traffk' that day. It is to be hoped the weather will be fine, and the ground, for the public are anxious to see the Aucklanders in action and view for themselves the effect the playing of the new rules, about which there has been so much controversy, have on the game from a spectacular point of view. Certain it Is that as the result of their visit to Auckland. Messrs Buchanan, Masters and other keen followers of the game nro quite satisfied that they are a step in the right direction, and possibly when the meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union is hold this month to consider the alterations, they may be brought into effect generally throughout New Zealand. Auckland Is anxious to meet Wellington, probably with the idea of removing the shield back to Its old homo up North. Wellington has Teplied that the only date available is on Wednesday, September 17lh. The only Taranakl men Included l'i tho North Island team are 'McCook (Waimate) and Masters (Stratford). After the former's great display In Auckland, where King was given credit by the press for a lot of hlB work, his Inclusion was regarded as certain. Congratulations to both on obtaining their Taland cap. May It be followed by N. 55. cap soon.

A Stratford team played a match on Thursday against a team picked from Whanjamomona, Strathmore, and To Wera, and won by 10 points.

The following is tho team to represent Old Boys against Star on tho Recreation Grounds this afternoon: McHardy, McDonald, Thossell, Herbert, I'.Me, Wynyard, Sole, Doile, Hughes, Puller, Brokenshire, Johns, Blundell, Boon, Atkinson, and Fox.