FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1920, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

i FIXTURES FOR TO-DAY. SENIOR. Okato v. Tukapa, at New Plymouth, Mr. 0. West; Rahotu v. Star, at Jhlmtu, 3 p.m., Mr W. Koch; Clifton v. Uniled at Show Grounds, U p.m., Mr. !\ Julian SECOND GRADE. Star v. Rahotu, at New Plymouth, 3 p.m, Mr J. Johnson. THIRD GRADE Tukapa v. Rahotu, at Rahotu, at 3 p.m., Mr. A. Walls; Old Boys v. Clifton, at Waitara, FIXTURES FOR NEXT WEEK. THURSDAY COMPETITION. SENIOR. Inglewood v. Tukapa, at New Plymouth, at 3 p.m.; Stratford r. Eltham, at Eltham, at 3 p.m. SECOND GRADE. Inglewood v. Star, at Inglewood, at 3 p.m.} Mldhirst v. Siratford, at Stratford, at 3 p.m.; Toko v. Cltfton, at Clifton, at 3 p.m. THIRD GRADE. Stratford v. Eltham, at Eltham, at 1.30 p.m.; Stratford D.H.S. 'v. Technical College, at Stratford; Star v. Tukapa (Star match). SATURDAY COMPETITION. SENIOR. Old Boys v. .Rahotu, at Rahotu; Tukapa v. United (Tukapa (match); Okato v. Clifton, • at Waitara; Star, a bye. THIRD GRADE. Tukjapa Clifton, at New Plymouth, at ?, p.m.; Lepperton v. Okato, at Lepperton, at 3 p.m.; Old Boys, a bye. (The third grade may probably be re-drawn.) REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES ARRANGED. June 3. —V. Wanganui. at Wanganui. July 7.—V. Wellington, at Hawera. July 10.—V. Wanganui, at Hawera. TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. SECOND GRADE. Old Boys v. Clifton, at Waitara. —G. Boon, J Whittle, Patterson. It. Macdonald, Renaud, ; McHardy, Howell, Doile, Ridge, Blundell, Bellringer, Calder, Boon, t'axton, and Kyngdon; emergencies, Macauly, P. Wright. PGSITION OF THE SENIOR TEAMS. SATURDAY COMPETITION. |

In the Saturday competition, Clifton won from Star by default, and United won from Old Boys on a protest. The tables above show the exact position of the competition. NOTES AND COMMENTS. Clifton, thanks to their fine set of forwards. who fairly bore their opponents down, had no difficulty In defeating the Old Boys very comfortably. Indeed, had the Clifton barks pressed home the attack more successfully In the second spell when their for-. wards were so aggressive, the score might have been oven greater. Every member of the Clifton pack played well. M. Cain was In great farm, and was on the ball every time, hut. Fuller, Soffe, Betts, Smith, and Co. all did their share. Among the backs, who were somewhat disorganized by the abse.ncc of Coutts and Goodwin, none shaped bettor than Colman and G. Taylor. The. former Is playing as well as ever, and should be f-ure of a place In the Taranakl team, whilst the latter H also shaping well. They were prominent In some fine passing rushes. Sheehan, a. junior, at centre three-quarter, filled the bill very well. C. Stewart and Penniall, the wing threequarters, were not given very many opportunities, but the former did not piny up to representative form. J. Taylor, as rover, wasi always a thorn In the side of Ills opponents. Old Boys, considering that their pack was minus the .services of Dollc and Corklll, their hookers, and also Bggleton, their rover, are to be complimented on the fight they put up against their heavier And more experienced opponents. In the early stages It looked as If they had a winning chance, the game being very even and open, but all through the second spell their pack was palpably outplayed. Nevertheless, they fought gamely to the finish. Fussell, Whittle, Boon and Saston wore prominent among the forwards. Sole, at half, had a lot of work to do, and defended gamiely. Sykes was also strong on defence and showed dash In attack. Bruce, who played wing three-quarter, requires a few tames to get Into form. He will he /in acquisition to the club. Bayly, at fullback, defended well. In the latter stages of the game he was Inclined to get too close up. This is probably due to the fact that he was playing out of position. The Star-Tukapa match last Saturday was; a sternly contested event in which several of the players on both sides showed evidence of coming Into form. Although 15 points were registered against the blacks it need not be Imagined they were quite outclassed. Indeed, by splendid defensive tactics they prevented further scores on several occasions. Spence is one of the most useful of forwards, and does a great deal to keep his own side well into things. Sheppard Is also shaping well as are also Tuohy and Cormack. Among the backs Hughes and Copestake were perhaps the mcst prominent, and Jenkins again proved safe at full-back, his kicking being a feature of the side's play,

For Tukapa the forwards played a forceful game, Allen, Bedford, Davis, and Early being the most conspicuous In this section cf the team. The backs are getting into good form and are proba.bly the best set In the competition at the present time. Brown has hardly shown his real form yet, but he did a deal of useful work on Saturday and gave signs of former smartness behind the scrum. Ennis, at five-eighths, played a splendid game, while Hooker and Oliver were a lively pair throughout the game and showed sure/teas and dash in the handling of the leather. Priar was more at home when moved to full-back in the second spell.

The Tukapn-Eltham match on Thursday was somewhat disappointing from a spectator's viewpoint. The game was for the most part a forwards' scramble. Only on one or two occasions was their any sign of headwork, and the backs on neither side got any openings which gave them a chance tc show their mettle.- Only once near the end of the game was there anything In the nature of a bit of open work, and that was on the part of the Tukapa backs, who curried the ball between them nearly the full length of the field before Oliver was brought down near the corner when he was within an ace of scoring The b.icks were the weak point of the Eltham fifteen, and though Cameron worked harm he did not get the support that his efforts deserved. He wan, of course, well marked by the opposing forces. Writes a. correspondent from Inglewood: Tl'e 1 football mattth at Inglewood on Thursday against the Toko (junior) teami resuted in a win for Toko by V.\ to 6. It Is generally , conceded that the winners were the heavier: team, that a good satisfactory game was played, and that the home team were outgeneralled. There is, however, a solam for the beaten team to he got from the generous tribute paid to them by their opponents, and ncte-playlng visitors from Toko, who all expressed keen appreciation of the manly sporting way they played. In the words of oofe of these, one who has played In Wales In "his younger days: v "They played a. fcood, Hear, game right through. Our bays will "be always glad to meet- fellows who show that spirit." And tho Inglewood side speak In similar terms of the Toko team. So may good fellowship be spread nmongst. the dwellers of tho land, even by means of a leathern sphere. Rahotu proved to be a much combination than when they met. Okato, and had a win over United. Their backs prov& nipple* ttte tottn B*hui

with his brother and the three flohlas kept their opponents busy.

The decision of the Tnranaki Rugby Union io tour the South Island this year should be •in additional incentive lo players to yet. into i'Mim, ior with tho home and away matches ugaiilSl WauLMiiui, Wellington and Auckland, well as tin; possibility of a match being played h.v the, touring team iu tho Wairarapa, as well as a homo match against, tlio South Island country representatives, Taranalu has a biff prolamine in front of it, and befoie the season ends a. largo niwnber of players will probably have the opportuntiy of representing the province. If Tsirauakl is not to lose the tine reputation she has deservedly gained in the past, it is necessary that all players should hold themselves in readiness to put forth their best endeavors for tho province when called upon. Congratulations to Mr. D. J. Malone on having been appointed one of the selectors for the New Zealand team, which is to visit Australia in July and August. Though tho genial Dan has been for some years a selector of the North Island team, this Is the first occasion that he has been chosen to assist In selecting a Dominion team, and tills compliment to Taranakl should be appreciated by all players and enthusiasts. The New Zealand Union Is also to be congratulated on having increased the number of selectors to Jive, thus enabling a man outside the four chief centres to be appointed. The officials of the CJlfton Club aie to be congratulated on the manner In which the spectators are kept off the field of play. Other clubs might with advantage send their officials to Waitara to take a leaf out of the local club's booto.

The shortage of referees is still very acute. One referee who has filled the breach for many years past, has to take two seniors matches next week owing to lack of sufficient referees to go round. There Is a splendid opportunity for ex-players t'o lend valuable assistance to the game by exchanging the Jersey for the referees' sweater and whistle. In South Taranakl, retired footballers assist freely in this way. Owing to the school vacation, the matoli between High School and Lepperton third grade, set down for to-day, will he a bye. The Lepperton Okato third juniors play at Lepperton next Saturday, not to-dny. The Star-Rahotu second juniors' natch carded for to-day, will not take place. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION. THE ANNUAL REPORT. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union takes place at Wellington next Friday. The annual report deals with the success of last season, and forecasts an even more successful season this year. The report soys:—"lt is reported that new clubs are forming, while the complete restoration of the inter-provincial matches promises to give that little extra incentive to players which makes the difference between a good season and an exceptional season. It is proposed to send a New Zealand team to Sydney, leaving here in July." The balance-sheet discloses a small loss on the transactions for the year. The committee recommends that a South Island country team tour the North Island this season, and a North Island country team tour the South Island in 1921. The North v. South match this year will be played on June 26, when the New Zealand team for Australia, will be selected. An effort was made to obtain a visit from a South African combination', but, it is regretted, without success. The South African Union has offered to send a team during the 1921 season, and you will be asked to decide whether the offer Is to bo accepted. An invitation from the Vancouver Rugby authorities was received, and further particulars are being awaited.

The committee has decided to reinstate certain disqualified players by virtue or the powers delegated to the New Zealand Rugby Union by the English Rugby Football Union. Forms have been printed and distributed to all Unions which have to be completed by those seeking to re-enter Rugby ranks, and, after the applications have been before the local Union, thoy must bo sent on to the New Zealand Unipn for final decision.

, £ 1 Points. 'O E i s | 0 5 S £ Q fo Clifton .. a 3 — — :jr. 3 6 Ok.itu 2 — — 20 l> 4 Tukupa ..2 1 i — ir, K 2 Ruhotu ..2 1 — 9 9 2 Star ..3 1 2 — li 18 2 United .. 1 2 — G 35 2 Old Boys .. 3 — 3 — 15 n ~ THURSDAY COMPETITION. Tukapa ... 3 3 — — 26 Q n Stratford „, i 1 — 23 9 2 Kltham .... 2 1 1 —. 13 !) 2 Inxiroood ... 3 — 3 — 0 41 0