FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1919, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

i EXIT 1919 SEASON. i • _^_ Hal Berte writes:—With the play-oft between Hawera and Stratford last week the curtain has been rung down on the 1919 football. Considering lhe fact lhat Taranakl. had practically ceased playing during the past threo winters, the standard of play attained during the season must be generally admitted as very fair. It was generally anticipated when the opening matches were played that Stratford and Clifton would prove strong teams, and this worked out correctly, as these flrteens met In the semi-flnal. Clifton put up great performances In the three divisions, and were successful In winning the Junior and third grade championships, whilst their final game In the seniors against Stratford Indicated they were very little behind the red and blacks. Probably a large meaure of Clifton's success is r..tributnb!e to the enthusiasm shown by .players and suppdrtep. Rarely did the team travel without being accompanied by a contingent of "barrackers," whilst it, was very noticeable that selector "Bunny" Abbot, and union official. T. Buchanan, were also present to watch the seniors In action, Good average forwards and lair to medium backs were always available, and if they keep together the northern players should again experience a tine season next winter. In the Thursday play, Stratford had a fewhard games, particularly against Eltham, but, strangely enough, the team that was supposed to "shake things up" against them— Tukapa—invariably failed to rise to the occasion ; and Stratford scored almost as heavily against them n< against Inglewood. As with Clifton, the strength of the Stratford team lay principally with the forwards, and the team certainly had some players in the vanguard fit for any tenn. The bricks were also a speedy lot, but they were unfortunate in having some of the best players injured during the season. Fit and well, lhe Stratford team could hold any team In tho province, and losing the championship to Kawera by n margin of two points showed how narrowly they missed the victory. Inglcwood for many years has been a "forlorn hope" fifteen, but despite a monotonous series of defeats the players come up smiling each game, and surely must meet with reward The writer only saw the seniors In one game—against Tukapa—■ and the play was very promising, many of the fifteen showing themselves capable of fielding, kicking, and collaring -nil the necessary attributes of a footballer—and with a little coaching would show a big improvement. Practically all are young pluyns, and experience Is only necessary to make them much more formidable opponents. No one would begrudge them success. Regarding Tukapa, when one considers the I average weight of the team, the merit of their play is more than satisfactory. It was a moot point as to whether in lhe aggregate the forwards were heavier than the backs, and In the Rugby game, as played nl present, forwards of weight are necessary, and this the club lacked when pitted against other fifteens. To the spectator the play of the blue and whites was always more Interesting than the opposing team, as the Tukapa men always endeavoured to make the game open, tnd when they held possession of the ball anything was likely to happen. A pleasing feature of their play was that as the season progressed their game showed a vast improvement, and those win have followed the games closely recognised that the concluding matches showed the Tukapa team the fittest in the Thursday competition. In this connection it may be mentioned that (he juniors who met the Star team for the Carbine Shield were practically the third fifteen which had an unenviable record, but stiffened with two or three older players, surnrlscd all by the manner In which they held the blacks, lhe latter on the season's play, being naturally expected "to get all over" the blues. One knows scarcely anything of the next season, but with Lovertdge, Stohr, Hooker, Whittaker, and a few others available the club should possess a back division with rep. possibilities, always ptovided the forward division is reasonably strong. Eltham, at time's, played good football, and their drawn game against Tukapa at New Plymouth gave indications that with a fine dry ground they would play good football. The younger plavers In the fifteen were fast and strong, whilst the forwards were quite capable of holding their own against other teams. If tbev should go in for solid training next season they will bring off n few surprises, bul experiences of the past Indicate that Eltham seniors are not keen in this class of work. Stars also gave fine exhibitions In their games. They should have done better. That was palpable to all who have seen Ihem In action, and to mv mind a part of tills no - success is attributable I" the continual changes in the team. The selectors were too drastic. Tho material was there, but Instead of shifting the men round the seniors were continual.)' having fresh faces in their ranks, and it would be Idle to deny that some of the changes wove not Improvements In Mnnu, the blacks possess a back who must eventually secure representative honors, and in Hamblln lhe club has a plnver who is as safe a field and strong a runner as any one In the competition. I'ennlnll, with training, should also develop Into a fine back Spenco and Richards nrc- two forwards who are likely to make names for themselves in the vanguard next season. It would be idle to say that the play generally was up to pre-war standard. It \ was not, but as the season progressed so did the standard of play improve, and those iunlors who assisted in the senior games should benefit greatly bv the experience gained. To make wav for the more experienced men who are expected to take up lhe game next season many playing this sason as seniors will revert to Junior rank, and thus lift up the grades , About tho representative games, the less said the better.