FOOTBALL REVIVAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1920, Page 5

FOOTBALL REVIVAL.

CHANGES NEXT SEASON. IN TARANAKI SENIOR MATCHES. The annual re-union of the Hawera Football Club was held at Hawera on Friday evening. Mr. R. Greenbank (president of the Club) presided over an attendance of about 120, among those present being Mr. Jas. McLeod, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union and chairman of the Management Committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union. Replying to the toast of the Taranaki Rugby Union, Mr. McLeod congratulated the Hawera Club on the sportsmanlike manner in which they had accepted the decision of the Union to play the last match at New Plymouth, thus helping considerably to place 'the finances of the Union in a satisfactory lie also congratulated the Club on winning the shield against such doughty opponents as Clifton, both clubs deserving credit for the clean games played. Mr. McLeod touched on the need for more interest among the individual players, and said that next year it was proposed to do away with the divisions as far as senior teapis were concerned, and so arrange matches that every senior team would meet every dtheV one. Ho believed that under such a proposal football would receive such a revival as it had never before experienced. It was also proposed to have one Referees' Association, and so have uni- i form outings. He also referred at length to the negotiations leading up to the adop'tion of the proposed new rules, and mentioned that information had been received frc|n England that the English Union was now willing to grant New Zealand representation on the International Board, a request which New Zealand had been asking for during the past ten years. The effect of the new rules would be to change some of the tactics of the game, the stopping o£ "bullocking," making the game more open, and giving opportunity for more individual initiative. The New Zealand Union had arranged for the visit of a South African team next season, which would give a great impetus to the game. During the evening Mr. A. Lees, amidst applause, handed the shield to Mr. A. West (vice-captain). Mr. Lees also presented the following medals: Presented by Mrs. G. H. Gibson for best forward in seniors, Mr. A. West; donated by Mr. J. Russell for best back in seniors, Mr. J. Robertson; best back in juniors, E. Bowen, donated by Mr. J. Grant, V.C.; best forward in juniors, Mr. W. Knight, presented by Mr v P, DonaeUjf.