FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1920, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. Notes and comments. This afternoon will sc*e the football season formally ushered In us far as New Plymouth Is concerned, when two matches will be played, the. participants being High School senior and junior and Old Roys' senior and junior. Both clubs aro noted for tlm clean, open game they play, 30 that the public can be assured of three hours interesting football from t p.w., when tho junior game will commence. A fortnight from to-day will seo football well under way in Taranaki, for on that date a start will be made with the Saturday competitions, and on tho following Thursday it will be In full swing, for that day will see the start of the mid-week competitions. That football followers are in for u good season's sport may be cleaned from a perusal of the list of fixtures published iti this issue, and incidentally by the keenness evinced by players in all the clubs in attending practices. A striking feature is the expansion of Saturday football. Despite the dual half-holiday in North Taranaki Saturday football has during the past few years made enormous strides. This year tho number of senior teams competing has been increased 10 seven, tho additions being United and Tukapa, whilst, with four second grade, seven third grade, and four fourth grade teams entered, the Saturday competition now musters 22 teanns and 300 players will don tho jersey each Saturday, while 30 players (two teams) will have a bye. The Thursday competition has drawn the same four senior teams as last year, viz., Stratford, Tukiipa, Inglewood, and Eltham. There are no entries in each of tho second and third grades, making sixteen teams ill all or 240 players. Tho Referees' Association in the Northern Division will have Its hands full in finding eight referees each Thursday and ten each Saturday. The need for every club nominating suitable men ls f therefore, more apparent than ever.

The McMasters Challenge Shield, at present held by the Hawera Club, is now on view in the window of Mr. P. McLaughlin, tobacconist, Union Street, and it will not be the fault of the wearers of the amber and blade If it does not iemnin there this year. Since It was donated for senior competition in 1902, the shield has been competed for 15 times (there was no competition during 1916, 1917, and 1918), and it has been won by Walmato six times (1908-9-10-12-13-14)» Haiwera three times (15)05-15-19), Tukapa twice (1902-4), Stratford twice (190G-7), Star once (1903), and Okaiawa once (1911). Since 1908 the shield has not come north. South appears to hold a big hand again this year, us practically ail tho southern teams are In tho running, whereas in North Taranaki, tho subdivision of New Plymouth into five senior learns, practically limits serious opposition to Stratford and Clifton.

Tho Tukapa Club have rnadd arrangements with the Inglewood Club to play a benefit match on Thursday next. All players are urgently requested to attend practice on the Western Park to-day.

At a meeting held at Normanhy on Tuesday last. it. was decided to re-form the football dHib, and officials were appointed. D. Palmer being elected club captain. FIXTURES FOR FIRST ROUND. The Ruphy competitions in the northern division of Taranakl commence on Saturday, May 1, find Thursday, May 0. The fixtures for the first round have been drawn as follows: SATURDAY COMPETITIONS. SENIOR. May I.—Okato r. Rahotu, at Okato; Star v Clifton, at New Plymouth; United t\ Old Boyn, nt Show Grmyid; Tukapa, a bye. May S.—Tukapa v. Clifton, at Waitara ;'United v. Okato, at Okato; Star v. Old Bcvs (Old Boys' match).; Rahotu, a bye. May If).—Rahotu v. United, at. New Plymouth; Clifton v. Old Boys, at Waitara; Tukapa v. Star (Tuknpa match); Okato, a bye. May 22—Okato r, Tukapa, at New Plymouth; Rahotu v. Star, nt Rahotu; Clifton y. United, at Show Grounds; Old Boys, ti bye. May 21).—01 d Boys v. Ilahotu, at- Rahotu: Tuiiopa y. Uii'ted (Tukapa match) ; Okato v. Clifton, at Waitara; Star, a bye. June. s.—Star v. Okato, it IMiotu'; Clifton r. Ilahotu, nt Waitara; Old Hoys Tukapa (Old Boys' match) ; United, a hye. Juno 12—Rnhotu y. Tukapa. at Rahotu; United v. Star (Star match); Old Boys v. Okato, at Okato; Clifton, a bye. SECON'D GRADE. .. May I.—Star y. Rahotu, at Rnliotu; United y. Old Boys (Old Boys' match). May B.—Star r. United (Star match); Old Boys v. Rahotu, at Rahotu. May 15.—Star v. Old Boys (Star match); United v. Rahotu, at Show Grounds.

THIRD GRADE. May I.—High School A v. Old Roys (School match), 3 p.m.: High School B v. Tukapa (Tukapa match), 3 p.m.; Clifton v. Lepperton, at Waltara, 3 p.m.; Okato. a bve. May B.—High School A-v. High School 8., 3 pm.; Tukapa v. Clifton, at New Plymouth, 3 p..m; Lepperton v. Okato, at Waitara, 3 p.m.; Old Boys, a bye. Mny ] s'—High School B. v. Old Boys (Old Boys' match); Lepperton r. Tukapa v at New riymoutli, 3 p.<m ; Clifton v. Okato, at Okato. ,3 p.m.: Hijrh School A., a »ye. Mity 22.—High School A. v. Lepperton, at New Plymouth; Tukapa v. Okato, at Oftato; Old Boys v. Clifton, at Waltara; High School 8., a bye. May 29 —nigh School B. v. Lepperton, nt 'Waitara; Tukapa. v. Old Boys, nt 1,30 (Tukapa riatch) ; High School A. v. Okato, at New Plymouth; Clifton, a bye. June s.—Clifton v. High School A., at New Plymouth; High School B, r. Okato.'•at Okato; Old Boys t. Lepperton, nt Waltara; Tukapa, a bye. June 12 —Tukapa r. High School A (Tukapa match) ; Clifton v. High School 8.. at New Plymouth; Okato v. Old Boys, at New Plymouth; Lepperton, a bye. .

FOURTH GRADE.. Way 1. —High School C. v. High School D.; Star v. Technical College. May B.—High School C v. Star; High School D., v. Technical College. May lx—Hlch School C. v. Technical College; High School D. v. Star. THURSDAY COMPETITIONS. SENIOR. May G.—lnglewood v. Tukapa, at Inglewood (3 p.m.); Stratford v. Eltham, at Stratfrod (3 p.m.). May 13,—Inglewood v. Eltham, at Eltham (S p.m.; Stratford r. Tukapa, a' New Plymouth (0 jJ.;m.) May 20.—Inglewood v. Stratford, at Stratford (3 p.in); Tukapa v. Eltham, at New Plymouth (3 pm.)

SECOND GRADE. May fi.—lnclewooil v. Midhirst. at Midhirst (3 p.m.); Toko v. Stratford, nt Toko <3 p.m.); Star v. Clifton, at Wtiltarn (8 p.m.). May 13.—InRlcwood v. Stratford, at Indcwood 3 D m.) ; Toko v. Star, nt Now Plymouth (3 p.m,) ; Clifton v. Midhirst, at Midhirst (3 p.m.) Map 20.—Tnglewood v. Toko, at Inglowood (3 p.m.) ; Star v. Midhirst, at New Plymouth (3 p.m.) ; Stratford v. Clifton, at Stratford (3 p.m.). May 27.—Infflewond v. Star, at Inglewood (3 p.m.) ; MldlilTSt v. Stratford, at Stratford (3 pm.) ; Toko v. Clifton, at Clifton (3 p.m.). Juno 3.—liulewood v. Clifton, at. Wnitara (3 pun.: Midhirst. v. Toko, at Toko (3 p.m ) • Star v. Stratford, nt Stratford (3 pm) THIRD GRADE. May o.—Stratford v, Stratford D.H.S nt Stratford (1.30 p.m ) ; Tuluipa. v. New Plymouth Tocluiir:i 1 College {Tuk'apa match) ; SttiT v. Elthnin. at Elllinm (3 pm.) May 13.—Stratford v. Tukapn, at Stratford <3 p.m.) ; Stratford l. tl s, v. Elthnm, at Kltham (3 p.m.) ; Technical College v. Star (Star match). May Stratford v. Minimi College, at A«v Plymouth;-Stratford D.11.5. v. Star at Stratford; Elthnm v. Tuknpa, nt New Plymouth. May 27 Stratford y. Eltliam, nt Eltliaim (1.30 p.m.); Stratford D.H S. v. Technical Colics?, at Stratford; Star v. Tukapa (Star match). .Tuno 3.—Star v. Stratford, at New Plymouth; Stratford D.HS. v. Tukniw, nt Stratford; Technical College r. Elthnm, at Elthnm.