FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. MATCHES PLAYED. Wanganui, won 6 points to 3. ARRANGED. July 6—v. South Auckland, at Rawer a. Juiy 16—v. South Africa, at New Plymouth. July 28—v. Wanganui, at Stratford. August 3—v. Canterbury, at Hawera. August 13 or 20—v. Wellington, at Wellington. August 17 or 24—v. Manawatu, at Palmerston North. August 27—v. Wellington, at New Plymouth. September 3—v. Auckland, at Auckland. September 10 —v. Otago, at New Plymouth. September 24—v. Auckland, at New Plymouth. INTER-COLLEGIATE MATCH. July 9—New Plymouth High Sctool ■v. Wanganui College, at Hawera. FIXTURES FOR TO-DAY. Following are the senior fixtures for today’s campetition matches: — A GRADE. Clifton v. Palea, at Wail.- a. Stratford v. Kaponga, at Stratford. Okaiawa v. Opunake, at Okaiawa. WaLmate v. Tukapa, at Manala, B GRADE. Star v. Inglewood, at New Plymouth. Eltham v. Old Boys, at Eltham. POSITION OF THE TEAMS. A GRADE.

The following will represent the Stratford thirds in their match aga.'nst Toko, at Toko, at 3 p.m. to-day .-—Grubb, Anderson, Haldane. Payne, Berg, Collins, Malt, Davey, Sleepe, Hinton, Duddlng. McDonald, Papps, McSweeney, Grant. The lorry will leave the Post Office at 2 o’clock. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ MATCH. The following boys have been picked as “probables” to plaj’ in a trial match at 11.15 this (Saturday) morning In Pukekura Park;—Backs: Fletcher (H.S.), S. Smith (Central), Hawkins (Fltzroy), N. Smith (H.S.), V. Smith (Central), Petty (West End), Fookes (H.S.). Forwards: Godfrey, Max- ! well (Central), Holmes, Rakau, Bartholomew i (West End), Ennis (Inglewood), Knuckle, Thomas (H.S.). After the trial match, the team to represent North Taranaki Primary Schools v. South, on July 9, at Hawera, will be finally picked. TO-DAY’S MATCHES. The match between Star and Inglewood at the Recreation Grounds to-day will prove of particular interest, and on its result will largely depend which of the B grade teams will be entitled to go into the A grade next year. These teams have such a commanding lead that the issue is practically confined to them. Inglewood always possessed good forwards, and tills season their backs have been strengthened by the Inclusion of Coutts. Today a player from the Hawke’s Bay district will also don the Inglewood jersey for the first time. They are confident of winning, as are also Star, so that a keen game should result. Old Boys will journey to Eltham. TUs game should be worth watching, as Eltham backs arc now in good form. McClymont, the exHawke’s Bay five-eighth. Is said to be playing a great game, jind one worthy of consideration for representative honors. Most interest In the A grade will be centred on the Stratford-Kaponga match. These teams are equal as runners-up to Clifton and Hawera, and each will be out to hold that

position. Stratford appear to hold tl:e advantage, as when the teams met at Kaponga in the opening match a draw resulted. To-day Kaponga will be without Kissick, one of the finest forwards in the Dominion, whilst Stratford are showing improved form. Tukapa and Wabnate meet at Manala, and as both are. in the running for bottom place, their game Is not devoid of interest. They drew at New Plymouth, but Waimate have always been a hard proposition on their own ground. Clifton have to meet Patea, and the match between tbe teams from the wiver ports will also arouse interest through the province. Patea extended the northerners last time, and to-day Clifton will be weakened by the absence of Taylor Bros., and possibly Hickey, who has been laid up with pleurisy since the Opunake match. Kingston will also be absent. Opunake and Okaiawa meet at Okaiawa. No doubt the home team will strain every nerve to avenge the defeat Inflicted by Opunake In the first round. LAST WEEK’S MATCHES. The cup matches were played last week under wintry conditions, there again being very little between the teams as far as points were concerned. In the A grade the effect of the day’s play was to cause an evening up of the competition at both ends, and the position now is that any one of the five top teams has a winning chance, while there is the possibility that any one of the bottom teams may fill the lowest position on the ladder, and consequently drop to the B grade. Competition, therefore. Is likely to be well sustained right through. In the B grade Star and Inglewood have a clear lead, and to-day’s match’will decide which goes into the A grade next season. Opunake’s surpirse defeat of Clifton was the evening influence at the top end, as it brought Clifton down equal to Hawera, whilst Stratford, Kaponga, and Okaiawa are each three points further back. Opunake thoroughly deserve their win, as tjie club has been dogged by hard luck through the season, causing the loss of several players, but neverthel less the coastal men have stuck gamely to their guns. Their victory was due to their forwards, wlroae solid tackling and fast following up disconcerted their opponents, whilst their backs also made good use of opportunities. Clifton were handicapped by the loss of Ross, whose finger was broken In the match against Stratford, and there is no doubt his generalship was sadly missed. Some other members of the team were also not up to concert pitch, though Rye’s try was a good one, being mainly the result of bad tackling by his opponents, no less than three letting him away. Tuwhaka, Opunake’s full-back, greatly impressed with his display. Hawera and Stratford drew in the first round, and as both teams were possessed of good forwards and fast backs, a great struggle was looked forward to. Unfortunately the jxouud and weather were not. oonduoiyej-

back play, so that, the game was largely confined to the forwards, and the heavier Hawera pack, led by West, had the advantage, though at times the Stratford pack, led by Masters and Klvell, asserted themselves to advantage. Hawera backs did not handle the ball much, but when they did it was to such purpose that two tries were scored. Stratford were inclined to make too much use of their backs for such a day, for accurate handling was difficult. Hawera were given ninny opportunities to intercept. Gray and Berg played fine games, whilst Collins was very sound. Tukapa put up a great fight against. Kaponga on a ground and day that were against them and in favor of the southerners, their forwards, with C. Brown as lock, standing up well to their doughty opponents, and they have every reason to bo satisfied with their perfonmance in only being defeated by 3 points. Patea, by defeating Waimate, evened tip the tail end of the competition. The southerners were in a minority of 8 points, but came to light and scored three tries, winning by a point. There is now only fwo points between Tukapa, Waimate, Okaiawa, and Patra. Star, whose forwards were too good on the day, just scraped home from Old Boys, Patterson—who, by the by, hod previously played In a junior match —potting a nice goai. At Inglewood the local team proved tco good for the coastal boys. The inclusion of Coutts In the Inglewood rearguard has stiffened the team. The ex-Tnranaki rep. is playing well, and may be considered for rep. honors. THE SOUTH AUCKLAND MATCH. Taranaki enthusiasts will have the opfrorI unity of seeing their representatives in action in Taranaki for the first occasion this season at Hawera on Wednesday, when they meet South Auckland, and in view of the approaching visit of the South Africans the following week the game will be watched with interest. It should be well worth witnessing, as South Auckland are said to be a strong combination. At Hamilton last year they 1 drew with Taranaki, and since then the Hamilton Union has affiliated with South Auckland, and should considerably strengthen that fifteen. They also> play the open, spectacular game that the public likes. Taranaki also are a stronger combination, and the absence of the North Island trio has given the selector an opportunity of trying some new ma- 1 terial. a desirable feature in view of the big international match. On tte whole Mr. Malone has done his, work well. There are some drastic changes in the team as compared with the team that met Wanganui, one of the most striking be- | ing the removal of Colman from wing-forward to full-back. This, no doubt, was done to give McAllum a trial, and the Tukapa player well deserves the chance, as he Is a grafter. He is always on, the ball, and plays a heady game. While, however, admitting the adaptability of Colman to ti?e position, one would have liked to have seen a younger player tried, say Tuwhaka, the Opunake full-back, as the selector was well acquainted with Colman’s qualifications and could always fall back on him. In the three-quarter line Roberts retains his place at centre, though he did not play at Wanganui. Sykes has retained his place as wing three-quarter, whilst C. Whittington is played on the other (Robertson being laid up with pneumonia). Given the ball the wings should keep the defence busy. Wynyard is given a chance at second fiveeighths. Ho is said to be playing at the top of his form and should strengthen the attack. Lynskey, at first flv-eigtths, is solid both in

defence and attack, whilst Ross, at. half, replaces Atkins, ’rhe ex-Aucklander Is more versatile in attack, and should be able to get his rearguard moving. The forwards are a solid lot, and can be relied on to give a good account of themselves. M. Cain, though not as dashing as of yore, still has great command of the ball in the scrum, a necessity if the backs are to be given a chance in attack. McKay, the young Waimate forward, has a responsible position at lock, but should come through the ordeal all right. One would like to see the pack coached in combined scrum work prior to the match. In the loose and on the line they will take some beating. CHRISTCHURCH CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS. Tho Christchurch championship points are

THE LEAGUE GAME. AUSTRALIAN TEAM CRITICISED. P.y Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, July 1. At the New Zealand League meeting several speakers expressed surprise and indignation at the inclusion of only one New Zealander in the Australasian League team visiting England. Mr. Oakley said that it seemed to him an insult to New Zealand as there were at least two other men fit to be included. Mr. Phelan said that the selectors were qualified men and the New Zealanders could not have been up tc the standard. Mr. Benson said that New Zealand should have an alteration made, so that other Leagues than New South Wales should have more control in the management. The chainman, Mr. M’Lean, said that in his opinion, until New Zealand beat New South Wales matters would remain as they were. They could emphasise the fact that the team was not an Australasian team with only one New Zealander in It. TUe question of obtaining coaches and improving the standard of play was discussed and a sub-comml.ttee was appointed comprising the chairman, Messrs. Benon, Oakley, and Fergusson, to inquire into and report on the matter.

*2 E § s s G> g a Clifton 9 6 2 48 34 14 Hawera 9 6 2 1 83 31 14 Stratford 9 4 3 2 61 4;» 11 Kaponga 9 5 1 3 77 35 11 Okaiawa 8 4 1 3 38 31 9 Waimate 9 2 2 5 50 69 6 Tukapa 9 2 2 5 42 47 6 i'atea 9 2 1 6 74 U Opunake 9 2 — 7 38 97 4 E GRADE. -Star 8 5 2 1 42 29 12 Inglewood 8 K 2 1 36 16 Old Rolys S 3 1 4 59 47 7 Eltham 8 2 2 4 23 40 6 Okato 8 1 1 6 21 59 3 STRATFORD . TOKO.

ns follow:— Points 'W. L. D. For. Ajfst. Tl. Mnrists 11 — — 215 .33 11 Merivale 10 2 — 186 56 10 Old Boys 7 5 — 95 ,100 7 Christchurch ... 6 G — 136 166 6 Linwood 5 6 1 137 78 5% ’Varsity 4 8 — 46 45 4 Albion 3 8 1 61 126 3% Sydenham ...... 0 11 — 42 313 0