FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1920, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. TO-DAY'S FIXTURES. SENIOR. Clifton v. Okato, at Okato, Mr. D. Johnson; Star v. Old Boys, at New Plymouth (Star huatch), Mr. I'. Hooker; Tukapa v. Knliotu, at New Plymouth (Kahotu forfeited). THIRD GRADE. High School B v. Old Boys, at New Plymouth, Mr. Eggleton; High School A v. Star, at New Plymouth, Mr. A. McLean; Tukapa v. lepperton, at Lepperton, Mr. T. Clare; Clifton v. Okato, at Wnitarn, Mt. D. George. FOURTH GItADE. High School C v. Star; High School D v. Technical College. FIXTURES FOR NEXT WEEK. WEDNESDAY, JULY J. Wellington v. Taranaki (Ranfurly Shield match), at Hawera, at 2.30 pm. SATURDAY, JULY 10. New Plymouth High School v. Wanganui College, at Hawera, at 1 p.m. Wanganui v. Taranaki representative match, , at Hawera, at 2.30 p.m. NEXT WEEK'S BIG FOOTBALL. Taranaki football enthusiasts are promised a good week's football at Hawera during Show Week. On Wednesday next, Taranaki and Wellington representatives will try conclusions nt Hawera. This match Is always a great draw and greater Interest attaches to it this year because the Ranfurly Shield which is now held by Wellington, will be at stake, and thero are many who think that the Taranaki team will prove capable of annexing It. However, that may be, It is certain that the Wellington men \glll ha,ve to fully extend themselves If they do not wish to leave th 3 Shield behind them, when they leave on Thursday morning, Tills match will start at 2.30 so as to enable spectators to catch the afternoon trains north and south. On Saturday there will be another fine afternoon's sport. At one o'clock the New Plymouth High School and Wanganui College will meet for the first time in the history of the schools on tho football arena, and great Interest is evinced In the meeting. Each team will have a largo following from Its oehool Immediately after, Taranaki and Wanganui representatives will meet, and those who saw Taranaki snatch a narrow victory from Wanganui recently are looking forward to another close and exciting contest. THE REP. TEAM. It must bo admitted that the selectors have done their work well ln selecting the team to meet Wellington. They had a difficult task, in the forwards particularly, not so much in selections, but in omissions. Possibly Malonc is the only forward; that one could take exception to, many preferring King. However, against a team of the calibre of the Wellington forwards, Mnlone's experience as a back might prove valuable. The backs are the strongest combination that could bo selected. One would have liked to seo R. Oliver included as five-eighths, but there can be no question that on Thursday, JicKenna showed himself the better man. The three-quarter line is a good attacking 1 one, but in defence they will want to learn to tackle low. If George can reproduco Thursday's form, one need not fear for Ills department. THE TRIAL MATCH. The trial match at Elthani on Thursday provided a keen and Interesting display of football, the piny being very fast, n>i<l the bail travelling up and down the field with great rapidity. At, times the plav ivns of a very high standard. The forwards wqrked hard right throughout, and there were some very good rushes. .In this department Taranaki should he as strong as it hns been for many years, and enthusiasts need not fear Tarnnaki holding its own. Both teams cont'lined some splendid types of forwards, but none shone up better than Pogarty, of Hawera, in the E's. Tall and welghtv, he Is very fast, and is a deadly tackier, InvarlnMy being close up to the ball, whilst his spoiling tactics and those of his colleagues, particularly Thoumine, MeDavitt and Birchall, broke up the A backs tloie and again. The A forwards put up a fine performance, none showing up better than Kivell, West, .Masters and Cain. Malone was prominent In the loose, but appeared to shirk a little in the tight. O'Rorke, as rover, shows promise, and with more experience should develop Into a rep. Taylor also held his own, and will be heard of later on. The backs also shr.rted well, and nt times threw the ball about nicely. A good den! of rnggedness wes noticeable, but once combination has been gained, they should prqive a good lot, both in attack nnd defence. Brown, tho New Zealand half, shot the ball out well, and was solid ln defence, but during the early stages of the game did not gnther the ball tip too well. I.ynskey, wlio wns tried nt half for the B"s, shnped well, both In attack, and defence, and his performance should be gratifying to the selectors In view of the urgent need of a good half, with Brown awny in Australia, nnd Atkln Injured t Cameron played h!s usual fine gnme ot fiveeighth. and Is rapidly 'coining back to his top form B, Oliver also played well. Sykos nnd Bobcrtson ployed with considerable dash in the three-quarter line hut each failed to find the line with his usual precision, stunners (of Eltlinm) who filled the gap en used by the absence of Dick Roberts, acquitted himself creditably. Prlar, nt full-back, had' e lot of work to do and got out of some difficult positions well nt times. On the dnv. however, ho wns outplnyed by his vis n vis C.eoTge, who fielded the ball well nnd found the lino with unfailing regularity. With a little imore pnee one need look no further for Tarannkl's last line of dofence. Hlckoy. at wing three-quarter, showed a turn of speed that should come ln useful, whilst 11. Oliver, nt centre three-quarter, nlso shone out, and should rench the reps before the season closes. Pennlnll nlso acquitted himself well. McKennn, at fire-eighths, wns the best back on his side. In attnek he handles well and runs straight, whilst in defence he is very solid. Coutts took the ball well, and is Improving In attnek, but he Goes not tackle solidly enough. NOTES. In order to enable pin vers to view the representative mntehes at Hawern, nil fixtures ln the northern dlvison set down for Thursday and Saturday next have been postponed. For several causes the Rnhotu seniors are unnble to meet.the Tuknpa seniors this afternoon nt Western Park. Mr. H. A. Nuttall must, tie complimented on the completeness of the arrangements for the trial match nt Elthani. The ground wns marked out. gnte-keepers, nnd earetnker for the dressing room were provided, nnd at no cost to tho Rugby Union, whilst the Park wns nlso given fcee of charge The uttendnnece on the day was very satisfactory, showthnt the Eltham public nnpreclnted the mntch being held there. It is hoped next yenr that the Union mny be nble to arrange to plnv a rep. fixture at Eltlinm. THE EMBARGO ON REPS. CAN PLAY POR PROVINCES. Wellington, Last Nlsrlit Tho manager of the New Zenlnnd Rugby tenm advises that the 'embargo on the New Zealand representatives playing for their provinces applies only to .matches ngnlnst the : New Zeiil.ind team itself, nnd then only if the provincial plnyers nre required' for the All Blacks. If not required for the New Zenland fifteen the Auckland nnd Wnngnnui-Man.iwntu-Horowhenua men may plav «gnlnst the New Zealand tenm r.t Auckland and Palmersfon respectively. It will therefore lie cMenr that Rel'lis. Brown. Cain, Went. Algnr, Moffltt, Roberts, nnd Tilyard can piny in the forthcoming representtitlve matches (W.niganul-Tnranakl, and Tnrnnakl-Welllngton) If nvnllnble. LEAGUE TEAM IN "AUSTRALIA. ( Received July 2, 8 pim. ' Bv Telegraph.—Press Received July 2, f> in p.m. Sydney, July 2 The outlook for to-morrow's test football mntch Is gloomy. Heavy rnin is continuing, nnd (lie ground is sodden.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. I