FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 July 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TO-DAY’S GAME. TARANAKI v. SOUTH AUCKLAND, THE TEAMS. To-day one of the usual show week football attractions will be played at the A. and P. Grounds, Hawera, when South Auckland meets Taranaki. Last year these two teams drew at Hamilton. Since then the Hamilton Rugby Union has affiliated with the South Auckland Union, and no less than seven of that team’s players are included, so that the South Auckland team is a much stronger combination this year. Taranaki is also represented by a stronger fifteen, so that a. good game should be witnessed, particularly as the northern ream plays bright, attractive football. The South Auckland team arrived iu Hawera last night, with Mr. McDavltt, an old Taranaki toy, as manager. The teams to-day will be as follows: SOUTH AUCKLAND (black and white). Matheson. Cassells, Kirk, Clarkln. Buckingtam, Peach. Mclntyre. (Capt.) Morris. R. Patterson, Hamilton, R. Harty, Devine, L. Harty, McHardy, Hooper. Emergencies.—Thompson (back), Warren (forward). TARANAKI (amber and black). J. Coleman. C. Whittington, R. Roberts, Sykes C. H. Wynyard, M. Lynskey. Ross. Rover, C. MrAllum. M. Cain, Campbell, Kivell, McKay, Spratt, , Blrchail. Emergencies.—Backs, W. Gray, P. Hickey. Forwards, M. Malone, P. Carlson. Mr. D. J. Malone, who Is one of the selectors of the North Island team, returned by tho mail train last night from Christchurch, where he witnessed the inter-island match on Saturday. THE SPRINGBOK’S PROGRAMME. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, July 5. The Springboks arrive In Auckland on Monday next. The first match is at Wanganui on the 3th. The visitors plaj’ Taranaki on the 16th and then 50 to the Wairarapa, playing there on the 20th and in Wellington on the 23rd. The Otago and Southland dates have been transposed. Other dates are as previously announced.

THE SPRINGBOKS. TARANAKI MATCH AT NEW PLYMOUTH. THE ARRANGEMENTS. After numerous delays and alterations of arrangements necessitated by shipping arrangements, definite information Is now to hand that the match between the famous Springboks and the Taranaki Rugby representatives will take place at New Plymouth on 16th inst, flpmmeneing sharp at 2.30. This is essential to enable the railways department to handle tte outward traffic, the first homeward train being timed to leave New Plymouth at 4.30, carrying return passengers to stations south of Stratford. The Springboks will arrive in Auckland from Sydney on Monday 11th inst., and will probably leave the same night for Wanganui, where they play on Thursday 14th., whan a suitable welcome will be arranged. The Taranaki team will be chosen to-day in all probability, and will assemble at the Red House Hotel, New Plymouth, on Monday night, to undergo a few days’ training together. All necessary arrangements for the match are now being rushed forward, and at least four trains will run from Hawera aid Stratford to cope with the anticipated extraordinary traffic. Trains will probably reach New Plymouth from 10 a.m. onward, the last not later than 2 p.m. For the convenience of those who will take up their posit tons in the grounds early, the chairman of the. Union has arranged that refreshments will be procurable on the grounds. A special stand to accommodate about 800 is being erected within the enclosure, and reserved seats at 7s 6d each (Including cost of admission to the grounds) are now on 1 sale, by letter only. Particulars of these reserved seats are se,t out in advertisement in another purl of this paper. No reserved seat will be sold on personal application until after mid-day on Monday next, 11th inst., at the office of Messrs. McLeod and Slade Ltd., Devon Street, New Plymouth. This is to enable country applicants to have an opportunity of reserving by letter, a privilege that Is of course also open to town residents. The price of admission to the grounds has been fixed at the nominal one of 2s, and tickets Will be on sale in Eltham. Stratford, and Hawera, and probably elsewhere, about Wednesday 13th, at places that will be duly notified.

The visit of these Empire cousins of ours is notable in many ways, quite apart from its importance to football, and it Is the wish of the New Zealand Rugby Union that everything possible should be done to make their stay in New Zealand a pleasurable one. The only official function so far arranged will be a visit to Mt. Egmont on Sunday 17th. On Friday 15th it is hoped to arrange to motor the visitors (who number about 35) to points of interest in the province,, and particularly to modern farm homesteads. Owners of motor cars willing to undertake a share in dispensing this hospitality should communicate with the chairman of the Union, Mr. J. McLeod, who will arrange the necessary details If the Africans accept the invitations. Naturally nothing definite can be arranged until the programme has been submitted to the visitors’ manager. FRANCE DEFEATS IRELAND. IRISH FORWARDS PLAY A GREAT GAME. The London Sportsman report of this match runs thus: The last Rugby International match of the seascu was decided at Colombes, outside Paris, on Saturday, April 9, between France and Ireland, the home players proving victorious by 20 points to 10 points. The scoring was made up Qf six tries, tour being obtained by France whtoh were all converted by Crabos, and two by Ireland, which were gaoled by Wallis. Although the place kicks were not from difficult positions, the consistent success was noticeable. Popular opinion in Paris suggested an easy win for France, and although tie result in points was a deference of ten, the play, as it ran, did not warrant tnat margin. There were many touches of brilliance on the part of the forwards on both sides. The Irishmen depended on .-.nart rushes and attractive footwork, which had the effect of rendering the Frenchmen a little bit nonplussed. Early in the game some good kicking up the field and speedy following up resulted in the play being frequently in the French half, for the Irishmen were on the opposing backs before they were able to part with the ball. The feature of the French play was the really clean, smart short passing among their forwards. Tie attacks of the French three-quarters, who made a fast quartette, were not allowed to develop greatly, this being! particularly the case when Crabos and De L«borderie were concerned. Stevenson could surely not have played a more brilliant tackling game. He never missed his man when making a tackle, and gave the Frenchmen points in that brunch if the game. SPEED WON FOR FRANCE. What enabled the Frenchmen to win was their speed, coupled with a remarkably good display of Piteu, the outside half, who was never afraid to go right down to the Irish

rushes, and was the one man on the field able to get rid of the ball into touch. Piteu frequently tried to set his three-quarters in motion, and with Crabos always being nicely placed there were some movements. The three-quarters, however, seldom got far. They were forced across the field from the attention of the Irish forwards, who gave one I the impression that if It were possible to prevent France from winning they would be responsible. Crawford did . a tremendous amount of defensive work, and his hands seemed surer than ever. He was a groat deal better than Lasserre, who was deputising for Clement, that flue full-back being visited with an attack of fever. Lasserre had sufficiently recovered to have allowed him to figure in the pack, but the eighth forward was Guichimerre, who played against England, and who thus completed the saune set of forwards who had appeared against England. IRISH FORWARD HUMMED. Although Stevenson played suck: an impressive game, much of the glory of the Irish display was associated with Stokes, the Garryowen forward. He seemed to be just where he was wanted, and whether he made progress with clever footwork or advancing with the ball In hand, dashing first this player and then another aside, he was the most dangerous attacking force of the Irish forwards. At the beginning of the game Purcell .was frequently prominent, but as the match went on it was Stokes, Collopy, and Doherty who made combined dribbles. As a imatter of fact, the Irish forwards were all good, and gave a much better account of themselves than they did against England at Twickenham last February. The Irish forwards as a whole were better than the French pack, and as a pair Mayne and Cunningham were not far behind the combined efforts of Bousquet and Piteu, but the last-named was the best, the Surest, and the most effective of/the four. He showed an intelligence and an anticipation which 1 had much to do with the successful issue of the match, and which also had to do with most of the actual scoring by the Frenchmen, as likewise much of the spoiling of the Irishmen’s efforts. ENTHUSIASM: HUGE CROW. There was another huge crowd. The four extensive stands were occupied some hours before the match started, and the spectators were entertained by two military bands, while, when the Irishmen entered the field and paraded the ground, a pipe band preceded them. Before the kick-off, both teams had visited the memorial erected to fallen Rugby Frenchmen, the massed bands playing the Marseillaise, the vast assembly standing bareheaded. The ground was, as anight be expected, very hard, but it was level, and fairly covered with turf. In such a hard and fast game, where frequently there were desperate turns. It was fortunate that only Crabos and Stokes were at all injured, and the latter was out of action for a very brief period, while Crabos, after a little attention, went on playing. INTERNATIONAL TABLE 1920-21.

Points. M. W. L. For. Agst. England 4 4 0 61 9 Wales 4 2 2 29 36 France 4 '2 2 33 32 Scotland *•<»«•«•« 4-1 3 22 38 Ireland 4 1 3 19 49