FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1920, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TO-DAY'S FIXTURES. SENIOR. Star v. Okato, at Okato; Clifton v. Rahotu, at Waitara; Old Boys v. Tukapa (Old Boys' match); United, a bye. THIRD GRADE. Old Boys v. Lcpporton, at Waitara; Tukapa v. Rahotu, at Rahotu; Clifton v. High School A, at New Plymouth; High School B v. Okato, at Okato; Star, a bye. FIXTURES FOR NEXT WEEK. THURSDAY COMPETITION. SENIOR. North Taranakl v. South Taranakl, on - Recreation Grounds, New Plymouth, at 3 p.m. SECOND GRADE. Inglewood v. MUthlrst, at Inslewood; Tolco v. Stratford, at Stratford; Star v. Clifton, at New Plymouth. THIRD GRADE. Stratfprd y. Stratford D.H.S.; Tukapa v. New Plymouii technical College (Technical College match); Star v. Eltham. SATURDAY COMPETITION; SENIOR. Rahotu v. Tukapa, at Rahotu; United v. Star (Star match); Okato r. Old Boys, at Okato. THIRD GRADE. Tukapa v. High School A (Tukapa match); Clifton v. Hlffh School B, at New Plymouth; Okato v. Old Boys, at New Plymouth; Lepperton v. Star, at Lepperton. REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. RESULTS TO DATE. Taranakl (11) v. ' FIXTURES ARRANGED. July 7.—V. Wellington# at Hawera. July 10. —V. W&nganui, at Hawera. POSITION OF THE SENIOR TEAK* SATURDAY COMPETITION.

£ * & I** iI I i S So £ o o .a a, S p fit v Clifton 5 5 Tukapa 4 3 1 Raliotu 4 3 1 Okato 4 22 Star 4 1 3 0 18 2 United 5 1 4 Old Boys 4 \ THURSDAY COMPETITION. Tukapa. 4 4 Stratford 3 2 1 Elthim 3 1 213 l 3 18 2 Inglewood 4 In the Saturday competition, Clifton and Rahotu won from Star by default, and United won from Old Boys on a protest. The tables above show the exact position of the competition.

TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. THIRD GRADE. Old Boys juniors v. Lepeprton, at Lepperton. B. Boon, McHardy, Patterson, Beggs, Renaud, R. Boon, Howell, lCyngdon, Brookes, Macaulay, Calder, llellrlnger, Blundell, Knapman, Ridge; emergencies, W. Mackay and N. Hamblyn. NORTH v. SOUTH TARANAKI, THE TEAMS. A match that should attract a, large attendance will be played In New Plymouth next Thursday, when a representative trial match will be played between North and South Taranaki. In view of the important engagements, the selectors have left out some of tlio certainties, so as to give a number of young players an opportunity of gaining representative honors. The teams nro as follow:

NORTH. Full-back: H. Oliver (Tukapa). Three-quarters: Pennlall (Clifton), Coleman (Clifton), Coutts (Clifton). Five-eighths: R. Oliver (Tukapa), Sykes (Old Boys). Half: Brown (Tukapa). Rover: ,T. Taylor (Clifton). Forwards: Spence (Star), Norgate (Rahotu), Masters, King, Kivell (Stratford), Allen (Tukapa), Rowlands (Elthnm). Emergencies i~ Backs: Rogers (Stratford), McCarthy (Okato); forwards: Soffe (Clifton), Burkhnrdt (Inglewood). Cain and Georgo have been left out temporarily. f SOUTH. i Full-back: Anderson (Waimate). Three-quarters: P. Hiekey (Watonate), Robertson (Hawera), Wilkinson (Hawera). Five-eighths: McKenna (Patea), S. Cameron (Hawera), Half: F. Atkins (Waimate), Rovfr: O'RotUo (Opunake). Forwards: Blrchall, Winters, McCook (Waimate), West, Patterson (Hawera), Martin (Okalawa), Malone (Kaponga). Emergencies: Backs: McSweeney (Opuuake), McCarthy (Kaponga); forwards: Johnstone' (Okalawa), Guthrie (Kaponga). NEWS AND NOTES. The cup eompetiton was advanced a further stage on Saturday, when Clifton seniors continued their winning career by defeating Okato by 30 points to nil. The country team played a plucky game, and held their more doughty opponents well in the first spell, but in, tho second spell the heavier Tukapa forI warijs gained tiie upper hand, and tholr backs outclassing the visitors, they had no difficulty lp scoring an easy win, despite the absence of Coutts, J. Taylor, Betts, and Spurdle. The Okato forwards are a good even lot, all young and keen, and should develop into a real good set with experience. In the back division the coastal team is weak. McCarthy, at five-eighths, however, played a great game, being very solid in defence; never missing a ball. Old Boys have not met with much success this year, only win being against United, which they afterwards lost on a. protest. Last week they suffered defeat at the hands of Rahotu by 11 points to 8, the three points difference being represented by a penalty goal. Rahotu have a nippy set of backs and solid forwards, and wlih the possible exception of Clifton, will prove a difficult proposition for any team In the competition. Old Boys have had hard luck In five of their best forwards being out of action through 111-health, and should be a much Improved team before the season closes. Star are to meet Okato to-day. It Is to be hoped that tho town team will be able to muster a full fifteen to-day. Dowmand, a senior player front Otago, has come to New Plymouth, and will be available for Star this season, lie is emergency for to-day's match. Dick Roberts, ex-Taranaki and New Zealand three-quarter, arrived in Taranaki last night by the express from the Main Trunk. Dick has been farming in the King Country, and on Thursday represented Tatunarunul against Auckland, the latter securing a comfortable win. THE WANGANUi MATCH. Taranaki managed to secure a narrow win on Thursday in their first representative match played at Wanganui against Wanganui, though until well into the second spell It looked as though the amber and blacks, who, by the way, were playing in red, white, and blue Jerseys, were going to suffer defeat. However, the Taranaki team came with a great rush )n tho closing stages of the game, and secured three tries, one of which was converted, just winning by the narrow margin of three points. The game, though not a brilliant exhibition of Rugby, was full of Incident and excite* ment sufficient to please the crowd, which was most impartial, showing their appreciation ' of f«ed play, wMttwt W lettl

team or by tho visitors. In the closing stages, when Taranakl was changing a Wanganui victory into defeat, tlioy were most enthusiastic.

The Taranaki team lacked combination, but this was only to be expected, as It. wa,s the first occasion on which the team had met together, and the attacking backs represented as many different teams, whilst in the forwards Ave clubs were represented. With combination and possibly an alteration or two In the backs, Taranakl will liavo a strong team.

The forwards all played a great game, and it would be invidious to distinguish between them, but possibly Cain, West, and Mastors showed more experience. There was a lack of cohesion, and too great a tendency to go on their own. Hard kicking was also noticeable, whilst they were also Inclined to hang on to the ball, Instead of giving short passes. These faults will, howover, be remedied after a match or two. Malone, who Inst year played full-back for the representatives, shaped well among the forwards. He was always on the ball, which he handled well, and In the second spell narrowly missed potting a goal. Spratt, at wing forward, played a dashing game. He had hard luck in getting injured towards the end of the first spell, when Ire nearly scored. Klvell, who tool: his place, acquitted himself well in a position new to him. Brown, at half, did not. show his true form in the first spell, but In the second spell played a great game, which was capped by the beautiful try he scored. Securing the ball from the scrum, he cut round the scrum on the open and dived over the line before his opponents realised that he was moving. This proved the turning point of the game, as Taranakl scored two tries afterwards.

Canneron, at first five-eighths, showed an Improvement on his club form, but he is not the Cameron of old. Colman, at second five-eighths, and in the eecond spell as centre three-quarter, has played better games. Robertson was tho best of the three-quarter line. He shows a considerable turn of speed and never failed to take the hall, whilst his ltne-kleklng was a treat. Hlekey, on the other wing, also did some good work. He tries to beat too many men,-when a short punt, smartly followed urf, would be more effective. The wings, however, did not ge.t many opportunities In attack. Sykes did well for his first appearance In representative company. He Is a great kick, and his speed was responsible'for one score being saved. He was, however, apt to keep too far away from the five-eighths. George, at full-back, took the ball well and found the line in great style.

The Taranakl team cannot speak too highly of the way In which,, they were looked after by the Wanganui Rugby officials. Messrs. 0. Pownall (president), E. O'Meara. (treasurer), Tronson (secretary), and the other officials, could not do too much for the team, who were the guests of the Union at dinner, and also at a concert given in aid of C. Stewart, last year's Wanganui representative captain, and an ex-Taranaki player, who had met with an accident. At the concert, a gold life membership badge was presented to Mr. Spriggings, who had been president of the Union for about twenty years After the concert' the team was entertained to light aupper at the Gothic.

The Wanganui Chronicle, commenting on the match says:—

The better side won. That Is, Taranaki won on their merits, although with a little better fortune Wanganui might have staved off defeat. The forwards of the respective sides were fairly evenly matched. The visitors were heavier, and in the loose rushes they controlled the ball better and backed each other up. In this they maintained a tradition of Taranaki football. Speed In the loose and good collaring by the home forwards alone was the levelling factor. Neither pack heeled cleanly, n contributor)' cause to mar the spectatcular effect of the game. Likewise the Taranaki backs were a superior combination, Rnd their line kicking was an object lesson to their opponents, who should realise the futility of kicking straight up the field to safe handling backs. Brown, the Taranaki half, was the cleverest back on the field, and Is easily one of the best scrum halves In the Dominion to-day. At full-back, George played a flno game and made no mistakes.

The vlstors' three-quarters got. few opportunities but sufficient to show that Robertson, Sykes, and Hickey—particularly the former two—are players for whom thq future may hold a lot.

The flve-elghths, Cameron and Colman tiro sound on defence, but lack versatility. Both have had long football careers. They are not as accomplished as some other players who have filled those positions In the past, and In ii Hunter-Mynott comparison naturally suffer. Taranaki had a fine pack who played with the traditional devil which has characterised Ihelr vanguards over a long stretch of years. Masters Is a great forward, and West Is full of promise. It was a real good pack all round, and with Kissick In would bo greater still. Appended are the names of the Taranaki team who played against Wanganui In 1895, a quarter of a century ago. They are: Fullback, Robinson; three-quarters, A. Bavly, H. Good, Young; five-eighth, Allen; hair, Humphries; forwnrds, Laing, Watson, O. Dowda, humble, Wells, George, Livingstone, Standlsh, Buckland. Old timers may be tempted to speculate how that combination would compare with some of the present day teaims.