FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1920, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. TO-DAY'S MATCHES. ' Following ,-,ve the matches for to-day:— CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL, Clifton v. Hawera, at 3 p.m., Recreation Grounds. SECOND JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL. Clifton v. Stratford D.H.S., at 1.15 p.m., at. Recreation Grounds. CLIFTON V. HAWERA. This afternoon will be the last opportunity that the football public, will have of witnessing Important matches in Taranaki this season, and incidentally ■it will provide the first opportunity lor the Saturday public to enjoy • a first-class afternoon's play. Tim third meeting of Hawera and Clifton is exciting great interest throughout the province, and/pinion is fairly evenly divided as to'whicb,-rfstin will win. .Seeing that the teams, have already played two drawn matches It Is extremely difficult to forecast the result. The match will start promptly at 3 p.m. Tho Hawera team will bo practically the same as that when the teams met at Waitara, .but the Clifton team will be minus Colman, who injured his hand. Clifton will play in red and black jerseys, and Hawera in amber and black. Mr. G. Hopkins will referee. THE THIRD GRADE MATCH. At 1.15 p.m., Clifton and Stratford District High School will meet to decide which teaim is to represent tho Northern Division in the play-off against Kaponga, the Southern Division champions. An interesting game should ensue, for though Clifton are the heavier team, Stratford possess a siteady set of backs who keep the game open. The Clifton team will comprise: .Tupp, Pennington, Southwall, Rackley, Procter, Knuckey, Guinea, K. Lye, V Pennington, Cole, Tanner, St. George, Telfar, Blanchard, E. Frost, Laurent, R. Frost. Mr. Wilson will referee. THE RANFURLY SHIELD. 'Ever since the Ranfurly Shield competition was inaugurated in 1902, the coveted trophy lir.9 been continuously held In the North Island. Auckland, to whom it was awarded in 1902, lield it until 1904, when Wellington secured it, only to lose it again to Auckland In 1905, and the Northerners retained possession, successfully staving off twenty challenger::, though some challengers, notably Wellington in 1910" and Otago in 1912, went very close, drawing with the holders, until in 1913, Taranaki secured it. Taramiki had a busy season in 1914, defending it successfully six times, but Wellington came to Stratford and took it away m 1914 to the Empire City, where it has remained ever since. For four years, 1915-10-17-18, there was no competition. Last year Wellington staved off five challenges, and this year have already .defeated numerous challengers, only Jo lose the Shield as Taranki did, in practically tho last mai(<h of tho season. Southland are to be congratulated on having the honor of introducing the Shield to the South Island. Tills Union has challenged twice previously for <he Shield. iii 1900 Auckland defeated them comfortably by 48 points to. 12, which strangely enough constitutes, tho ' hi»hest score compiled by both the winning and" tlie losing ■ team in any Shield match? Their next attempt was at New Plymouth, when after a good contest, they were defeated by Taranaki by 6 points to nil. Last Wednesday they completely turned the tables 'on Wellington, ivlfom they defeated by '-'points to 6.'