FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

FIXTURES FOR THE WEEK. A GRADE SENIOR. Kaponga v. Waimate, at Kaponga, Mr. A. Neilson. Hawera v. Okaiawa, at Okaiawa, Mr. W. Roch. Tukapa v. Clifton, at Sports Ground, New Plymouth, Mr. F. Julian. Stratford v. Patea. at Patea, Mr. A. H. Guy. B GRADE SENIOR. Old Boys v. Star, at Sports Ground, 1.30 p.m. Mr. A. Page. Okato v. Inglewood, at Okato, Mr. J. Johnson. FIXTURES FOR NEXT WEEK. A GRADE SENIOR. Opuuake v. Tukapa, at Opunake. Hawera at Waitara. Kaponga v. Patea/ at Kaponga. Waimate v. Okaiawa, at Manaia. B GRADE SENIOR. Old Boys v. Eltham, at New Plymouth. Star v. Inglewood, at New Plymouth. REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES ARRANGED. June 3—v. Wanganui, at Wanganui. •June 30—v. Manawatu, at Stratford. July 6—v. Scuth Auckland, at Hawera. •July 28—v. Wanganui, ’* Stratford. August 3 —v. Canterbury, at Hawera. August 6—v. South Africa, at New Plymouth. August 27—v. Otago, at New Plymouth. Sept. 17—v. Wellington, at New Plymouth. •Arranged tentatively. Matches have yet to be arranged with Auckland at Taranaki and with Auckland, Wellington and Manawatu on the respective clubs’ grounds. There is also a probability of a match with Hawke’s Bay being played in Taranaki. POSITION OF SENIOR TEAMS. "A” GRADE.

TO-DAY’S MATCHES. To-day's matches will be watched with keen Interest, as the outcome will affect the positions of the leading teams. Probably pride of place will be given to the Waiaiate-Kaponga contest. This should provide a struggle worth going some distance to see, as both possess strong forward divisions and solid defensive backs. Hawera and Okaiawa meet at Okaiawa. The latter always prove a difficult proposition on their own ground. Clifton and Tukapa meet at New Plymouth Recreation Grounds. Though the latter have given a disappointing display their performance against Waimate and Kaponga stamp them as a good team, and can generally be relied to give Clifton a good "go.” Stratford meet Patea at Patea, and will need to take no liberties with the men of tte southern river town. In the B grade competition Old Boys and Stars meet at the Recreation Grounds at 1.30 p-m. Each is confident of winning, and a good game should be provided). Okato meet Inglewood at Okato. The coastal team should be Improved as the result of the three matdies already played. NEWS AND NOTES.

The result of last week’s matches did not materially affect the position of the leading teams in the A competition. Clifton and Waimate, the two top teams, drew, so that Clifton, with three wins and a draw, is just one point above Waimate, which has two wins and two draws. Hawera, Okaiawa and Stratford all had wins, and the first-named, with a tmatch less than the leaders, Is just two points below Clifton. Neither of the three leading ’ teams have yet had a loss, whilst Okaiawa, Stratford and Kaponga, with one defeat each, are all well in the running. It gives some indication of the closeness of the competition that after four weeks six teams and possibly seven are still In the running for top position. In tte B grade, the position is equally interesting. Of the five competing teams four are even with 4 •points each, though in the case of Old Boys and Inglewood a protest is pending that may affect the position. Interest was centred week In the meeting of Clifton and Waimate at Manaia. The Clifton team were without the services of Cain in the forwards, and their play proved somewhat disappointing to supporters. Their backs at times showed some brilliant work, but the fast following up of the Waimate pack and the solid tackling of the whole team prevented Ciifton putting on the desired finish. Rose and Kingston played fine games, while Goodwin, who is playing at the top of his form, made some great runs. Coleman was not up to his usual form, and would probably show up better at five-eighths. Birchall led the Waimate pack, who are showing improved form each match. Tukapj. and Stratford gave a disappointing display. Tukapa, if anything, had the worse of de luck, for after playing against the wind in the first spell, in which two kcals i were registered against them, they looked to: have a good chance in the second spell. Rain, however, eame on and «made the ball d ificult to handle. Each sde added three points, ‘ Stratford thus gaining the victory. Masters played a great game, anc. evidently has struck top form this season. Kivell and Cou’ton a’.K playsd great games. Allen was u»e pick of ••be Tukapa ferwards, being well backed up by Jotnson. Priar gave a picturing display at full-back. Opunake put up a great fight against Hawera, and, though finally defeated by four tries to nil, have no need to be ashamed of their performance against last year’s champions. Okaiawa maintained their position on the list by narrowly defeating Patea, the victory being due to the superiority of the Okaiawa backs.

In the B division, Inglewood brought off a surprise by defeating Old Boys. The Ingle- 1 wood forwards proved too good for Old Boys,; and their hard tackling nullified the passing of the Old Boys’ backs, who were’ very close to scaring on several occasions. Inglewood were strengthened by the inclusion of Coutts. ex-Taranaki rep. who recently underwent an operation, and Brown, of the High School. Lealand, formerly of New Plymouth, donned the jersey for the first time this year, and played a fine game while his condition lastgd Eltham gained their second win this season, defeating Okato by a narrow margin. Play throughout was very even, the teams being well matched, and with a little better luck Okato might have won. The game was mostly confined to the forwards, there being some fine loose rushes. Okato threw the ball about, but did not gain much ground, the defence being sound. Eltham essayed some paslng bouts, but McCracken spoilt .many by hanging on too long.. Briscoe, at full for jxitfcaiß, was very safe. Tte pick of the Okato

I backs were Mare, at half, who plajred the ♦ best game on the ground, and McCarty. OT -the Eltham forwards, Gibson, Hickey, and Fulton were conspicuous, whilst Norgate, Corbett and O’Sullivan were the pick of the coastal team. Frances/ wto formerly played for Star, and was last year a (member of the South Canterbury team, was a visitor to New Plymouth last week. On Thursday morning he returned to Dunedin, where he is this year playing with the Union Club.

Atkinson, formerly of the High School, will be playing as lock for Waimate, and McKay, the present lock, also of the High Sclkol, will drop back to half. McDavitt, late of Clifton, will don the Old Boys’ jersey and should materially strengthen Its pack.

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. For years past one of the features of the Hawera Winter Show week has been the special match with Wellington, Which has always been looked forward to with keen interaest by the football public. Unfortunately, this year, owing to the proximity of the South African match, as then arranged, Wellington has notified its inability to make the trip this year. However, the Taranaki football public will not be disappointed, as a visit will be paid by the South Auckland representatives, who will make their first appearance on Taranaki soil. The team is a solid proposition, and last year at Hamilton played a draw against Taranaki after a good game. With the first representative match less than a fortnight off, Taranaki having to journey to Wanganui on June 3rd, interest is already being manifested In the selection of the first fifteen to don the amber and black this season. Naturally with so many teains playing over a scattered area it will be impossible for the selector to have seen ail the seniors in action prior to the selection, though 1 Mr. Malone is endeavouring to visit as many centres as possible. There is no dearth of good forwards to choose from, and in this department Taranaki should be stronger than has been the case for years. There will be more difficulty over the backs, though indications point to the province being fairly strong here also. One thing is certain; that is, every player selected will have to keep right up to form if he wishes to retain his position, as there are certain to be a number knocking at the door eager to seize the opportunity of earning rep. honors. Once a suitable combination is got together it is hoped that no stone will be left unturned by the controlling authorities to give the fifteen every opportunity of obtaining that combination that is so necessary if Taranaki is to worthily uphold its great traditions, particularly when it meets the South Africans.

s « Q •3 fa s ti I 8 a g Clifton . -4 3 31 20 7 Waimate 4 2 2 — 28 11 6 Hawera 3 2 1 — 45 9 Okaiawa 3 2 — 20 9 4 Stratford 4 2 1 18 23 4 Kaponga 2 1 1 1 11 14 3 Opunake 4 1 0 3 17 42 2 Tukapa 3 0 1 2 11 19 Fatea 4 • "B” 0 4 GRADE. 12 46 0 Old Boys 3 2 — 1 3G 16 4 Star 3 2 — 1 16 9 4 Eltham 4 9 — 2 23 4 Inglewood 3 2 — 16 10 4 Okato 3 — 3 3 30 0