FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TO-DAY’S TEST MATCH. SOUTH AFRICA v. NEW ZEALAND. , _ THE SPRINGBOKS’ TEAM. PLAYERS AND THEIR CAREERS. The first test match between the Springboks and New Zealand takes place at Dunedin today, and considerable interest is naturally being taken in it. Before the Springboks arrived in New Zealand few would have given them a chance in the tests, tut they have shown themselves to be as good a team as have toured the Dominion, and proved their right to measure their strength with New Zealand's best. The South Africans have done well in putting down strong teams like Southland and Otago, and to-day will put in their strongest side. They have the advantage of playing together for weeks, thus securing understanding and combination, whilst New Zealand has not yet played together. They certainly have been drilled this week by* William Stead, who is a good coach, and knows all the points of the game. It is a strong team, if ail reports are true, though to those who saw the Wellington match the centre of the back division leaves something to be desired. A New Zealand representative team, however, when put to it, can always be depended upon to give a good account of themselves, and they will go on the field full of determination, confidence, and staying power.

As the Sydney Referee said recently, “the best class of New Zealand footballers probably require less match practice than those of other countries in order to cultivate those rhythmic, flashing, and delicate movements that produce tries. Rugby football is a kind of religion with the New Zealand youth. Be imbibes a most intimate knowledge of its fine points as a boy at school, and adds to this later in club footbail, so that by the time he becomes a representative player he has mastered most of those little things that, in the sum, are the AU Blacks' game as it has been shown in every land. ,He is, therefore, ready at any time to drop into the general mechanism as a unit that fits easily, and with very little coaching helps to make the team a try-getting or try-stopping force of no ordinary calibre.”

Ever since the Ail Blacks visited England in 1905, and were followed by the Springboks a year or two later, there has been much controversy in football circles as to which country is entitled to be considered the football champions, and these three test matches will help to settle the question. In view of the controversy, therefore, a comparison of the doings of the respective teams in their British tour should be worth repeating. The details ar» as follows:

In International matches, the AU Blacks heat Scotland by 12 to 7, Ireland by 15 to nil, England by 15 to nil, and were defeated by Wales by 3 points to nil. South Africa beat Wales by 11 to nil (the only Welsh defeat at Swansea for 25 years), and Ireland by 15 points to 12; they were defeated by Scotland by G to nil, and drew with England, 3 points .each. South Africa’s other defeat was by Cardiff, who scored 17 to nil. THE SOUTH AFRICANS. The following details of the Springboks’ team for to-day should be of interest: — Gerhard P. Morkel, age 33, height sft weight 12.10, full-back. Member of the Springbok team of 1912. Noted for his powerful kicking: in his prime probably the finest kick in the world. Represented Western Province, 1911-1920. Henry Morkel, age 26, height 6ft o%in, weight 12.12, wing three-quarter. Strong runner, great scorer; has leg liable to give way. (Western Province, 1912-1914-1920). C. du P. Meyer, age 23, height sft Sin, weight 12.7, centre or wing three-quarter. Fast, clever player, sturdy, and hard to stop. (Western Province, 1920). W. C. Zeller, age 26, height 6ft, weight 12.0, wing three-quarter. Fast and dodgy runner, good on side-step; prolific scorer. (Natal, 191920). W. A. Clarkson, age 24, sft Ilin, 11.7, centre-three-quarter, cool, reliable, solid, plenty of pace. (Natal, 1919-1920). J. P. MichauL age 20, height sft lOin, weight 12.2, half. Considered best scrum half in South Africa; youngest member of team. (Western Provinces, 1919-1920). W. Townsend, age 25, height sft 4%1n, weight 11.4, half-back. Short, stocky; great battler for openings.

M. Eilis, age 29, height sft Hxd, weight 13.5, powerful forward. (Transvaal, 1919-1920). T. Kruger, age 25, height 6ft, weight 14.4, hard-grafting forward, (transvaal, 1920).

J. W. Van Eooyen, age 28, height 6ft l%!n, weight 15.10. One of the leading forwards in the loose, strong on line-out. (Transvaal, 1919-1920)!

N. du Plessis (pronounced du Plessee), weight 11.8. Heavy, solid type of forward. A. K. Walker, age 28, height Gft o%in, weight 13.5. Next to Mellish, probably the best forward in the team; first down in the serum, and always oh the ball. (Natal, 19194920).

F. W. Meilish, age 24, height 6ft, weight 13.12. One of the world’s best forwards; represented England last season, and was accounted best forward of the year. A great player. (Western Province, 1949-1920).

Royxl Morkel, age 25, height lift Sin, weight 17.2. Great forward in scrum. (Western Province, 1919-1920).

Harry Morkel, age 23, height sft 11%in., weight 13.0. Resourceful forward. (Western j Province, 1914-1920). i .P. J. Moestert, age 24, height 6ft, weight 13.12. Promising forward. (Western Province, 1919-1920). THE NEV,’ ZEALAND TEAM. Full-back.—Kingston is a very sound player, kicks with good judgment. Can take a ball from any position with confidence; good line kicker. Three-quarters.—Aitken (centre). A young player improving every match. Strong runner; will be the best centre N.Z. has had for I years. Steele shaped well last year, and is playing good football this year. A fast, good scoring man—no game is too hard for him. Storey is the most dangerous man near the line. Very fast off the mark, and runs with good judgment, his side-stepping and swerving are pretty. Suffering from sprained ankle, but will be right for the first Test.

Nicholls (fire-eighth). Good all-round player, great rush-stopper. Kicks with good judgment. Will stand up to opposing forwards. Good tackler and fine goal-kicker.

Badcley (five-eighth). Very fiist, good scoring man, cuts iu well, will always be a thorn to opposing players.

Nicholls (Ginger) (half-back). A young player, solid as a rock. Sends the ball out well from the scrummage. At present playing well and improving.

Donald (wing-forward). Good, solid player, great tackler and fast, sound line-out man. Very hard on opposing half-back.

Hughes (centre forward). Very fine hooker, understands the finer points of scrum work, solid man in tight corners; has good hands. Duncan (centre-forward). Another Steve Casey, always on the ball and fine player for the short man in line-out play.

Jim Moffatt (lock-man). Playing great football; first-class lock. Very solid line-out player, good scoring man; playing better this year than any other. I think be will captain the team in the first Test. Favorite with players and public.

MeLean (support man). A wonderful player and a line kick. With improving knowledge of scrum work will be in the same standard as Purdue, Seeling and Tom Cross, N.Z.'a three best forwards in the past. Richardson (support). Best line-out, man in the team. Very fast, the right man to pick and play with fast backs; improving every

White (back man). Sound player and best forward in N.Z. to-day. Thoroughly understands finer points of forward play. It will be a great go between McLean, Bellis, White and Richardson for the New Zealand star forward of 1921.

Bellis (hack man). -Very fine player in the looser handles the ball like, a back; suffering from a ki-k on the shoulder, but by the first Test will be hack to last year's form. Fastest man off the mark in the forwards.

Fogarty (forward), who will probably be playing to AldLaaa’a place, Is a dashing heady

forward, very fast and always on the ball right to the finish of the game. Went through South Africa with the soldiers’ team, and is now playing for Taranalri. right at the top of his form. TARANAKI B v. WAIROA. THE TARANAKI TEAM. The Taranaki B representatives play Wairoa Sub-Union at. Waverley on Thursday, next, August 18. The Taranaki team is to assemble on the mail train on the morning of Ihe imateh, and will return the same evening. Players are requested to notify the secretary (Mr. G. E. Jago, Stratford) not later than Monday whether they are available. The team is as follows: Dunford (Star). Hart (Tukapa), Coutts (Inglewood), Wilkinson (Hawera). Lynskey fcKaponga), B. Roberts (Okaiawa). Berg (Stratford), Tayler (Clifton) wing, Harris (Okaiawa), and Fuller (Clifton) hookers, Allen (Tukapa) and Day (Hawera) supports, Hunt (Hawera) lock, McCullough (Stratford), and Fryday (Clifton) back row. Emergencies.—Back, McClymont (Eltbam). Forwards, McKay (Waimate), and McKenna. (Patea). TO-DAY’S MATCHES. In the senior competition matches to-day the greatest interest will centre in the meeting of Hawera and Tukapa, at Pukekura Park this afternoon at 3.15. On their own ground Tukapa can be relied upon to put. up a good fight, and the southern champions can take no chances if they wish to meet Clifton on level terms next Saturday. The Hawera team is a very popular one in New Plymouth, as enthusiasts remember the fine game they put up | against Clifton when they won the cnampion- ■ ship last year on the same ground, after j previously playing two draws with the river | port team. They play an open, attractive | game, using their speedy backs at every op- j portunity, and as Tukapa do the same, an I open and spectacular display should be wit- j nessed.

At Opunake the local team will meet the representatives of Patea, The southernmost team are keen on remaining in the A grade, and as their win against Tukapa has considerably enhanced their chances, they are certain to take a strong team to meet the western team.

i Waimate, for the same reason, will be out 1 to defeat Stratford if at all possible. | With only two points between Opunake, Patea and Waimate, and three matches yet to go, the fight to remain in the A grade promises to be pretty keen. The match between Kaponga and Okaiawa, at Kaponga, will arouse considerable local interest, as each team now has the same number of championship points, and will be keen to gain supremacy over tte other. JUNIOR SEMI-FINALS. The junior semi-finals will be played to-day at Stratford and Hawera. In each of tlie second, third and fourth grades there are three divisions. In the junior grade, Okaiawa, winner of the southern division, win meet Toko, winner of the central division, at the Stratford A. and P. Grounds, and the winner will meet Lepperton in the final on a date to be fixed. In the fourth grade. New Plymouth High School C,.winner of the north end, will meet Hawera, winner of the south end, at 1.30 p.m., the winner playing Stratford later in the season. At 3 p.m. Stratford and Patea will Dlay off for the third grade, the winner to meet New Plymouth High School later. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ MATCH. The northern and southern division primary school representatives will meet at Pukekura • • Park to-day as a curtain-falser to the Hawera I Iv. Tukapa matci:. When the teams met a 1 ! month ago South Taranaki won after an intcr- | esting game by 4 points to 3. Both teams j have been strengthened since, and a good contest is assured. The south team will lunch I at the Waratah at 11.30 a.m., and arrangements have been made for baths at the Fire Brigade station. LAST WEEK’S MATCHES. Clifton and Hawera, by defeating Okaiawa and Kaponga comfortably last Saturday, retain their positions at the head of the competition, and their meeting next Saturday will he eagerly looked forward to. Stratford defeated Opunake, but the coastal team had hard luck in losing Aitken and Lusk early in the game, and another player later on. Tukapa took a weak team to Patea, and suffered defeat by 9 points to nil, Patea thus being lifted up a place in the competition. The play-off in the northern division junior championship between Lepperton and Clifton, which was played at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, provided a keen exhibition, Lepperton winning by 8 points to nil. The winners are to be congratulated upon their success. They possess a fine set of forwards, who only require coaching to develop into topnotekers, whilst they also have some speedy backs. The club has done well during its couple of years’ existence, and if it wins the junior competition this year, is said to he contemplating entering the B senior competition next year--a very laudable desire.

NEWS AND NOTES. A match has been arranged between the Taranaki B reps, and Wairoa Sub-Union, to take place at Waverley next Thursday. If possible a match will be arranged later with Wanganui B reps. The southern ,county clubs are now finding difficulty in getting their teams to fulfil engagements, owing to the call of the cow' becoming very imperative. The season looks like being an early one, and as tl:e Football season will be a late one, with a number of important representative matches in view, it behoves all players to keep as fit as possible so as to worthily uphold the reputation of the province. It is probable that next year the union will have to reduce the number of teams in the A grade by onte, so as to permit the .two rounds being completed in fourteen weeks instead of eighteen, as at present. The New Plymouth High School learn leave on Thursday io play a friendly match with Nelson College. While away on tour they may possibly play another Moasear Cup match. By defeating Wanganui by 21 points to nil i and Wairarapa by 11 points to 3, Canterbury j proved that their win against Taranaki was correct. The southerners nroet Wellington today, and in the absence of Wellington’s men playing against the Springboks, should notch another victory, returning home from their northern tour with an unbeaten record. Taranaki enthusiasts will be pleased that Fogarty is likely to have a chance of representing New Zealand to-day. ’ The Hawera forward, who has been playing well this sea- i son, is at present fit, and certain to justify his inclusion. West is another Taranaki forward who only wants a chance to show his •worth. He is easily the best forward in Taranaki, and was sadly missed against Canterbury last week. It is pleasing to note the interest that, is being taken in football matters in the Mn-kau-Awal:ino-Tongaporutu district; With the advent of better reading facilities tnat district will play an important part in Taranaki football', and possibly may supply many Tara- i naki representatives. One would like to see ; a team t'rem that district come out and try conclusions with a New Plymouth team, as no < doubt such a visit would benefit football in team defeated Central by 11 points to 3. I PRIMARY SCHOOLS 1 DIVISION-. On Thursday the High School Preparatory team defeated Central by 11 points to 3. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. All members of the New Plymouth Association Football Club are requested to be at the showgrounds to-day at 2 p.m., when Mnturoa wih meet New Plymouth; The teams will be picked on the ground.

MOASCAR CUP MATCH. It is almost proverbial that if you want to see a really good clean game of football, it will be provided at a secondary schools’ match, and last Saturday’s game between the New Plymouth Boys' High School and the Wanganui Technical College, was no exception. Secondary school teams have the advantage over tl?e- ordinary club teams in that they get many more' opportunities for united practice during the week, and thus are able to take the field perfectly fit and with a jomplete knowledge of each other’s play. .

The High School backs have undergone a slight re-arrangement, during the last few weeks, and their three-quarter line has been especially strengthened. The result of this was seen in last week’s game when all three three-quarters scored tries.

The New Plyouth hookers invariably shot the ball out to the backs, wfio were (Jttiek to take advantage of their opportunities. Brodie, at half, made same great openings for his backs, getting the ball out well, whilst he varied bis play by using the “dummy” judiciously, and working the blind side of the scrum. -The five-eighths were light, but more than made up for this by their nippiness. Shaw played, an exceptionally good game, and made many a smart cut in and dashing run. Browp.’s try was largely due to his work. Alexander, until his retirement, was doing great work, Taylor, who replaced him, couning up from full-back. Though out of position, ne played a creditable game. The three-quarters, as has been said, were a scoring combination, anil should acquit themselves with' credit at Nelson, where they play on Monday week. Brown, in particular, played a fine game, and should he go on, will earn representative honors. The state of the ground mitigated somewhat against tho speedy wings.

Mason, the diminutive full-back, who filled the vacancy, acquitted himself well, fielding the ball and lining with either foot with fine judgment. He had a tendency to get up too close, which was perhaps only natural, as his customary position is behind the scrum. He could not be blamed for not stopping Whai Pine, who badly fooled Brown.

The High School backs have a tendency to stand too deep when on the attack. Thus the ball is sent out by the half and reaches almost to the centre three-quarter before any appreciable ground is gained, unless the fiveeighths cut in, which is not always possible or advisable.

All the forwards worked solidly. They excelled in hook work, and also in rallying round the ball. It would be invidious to mention names when ail worked so strenuously and well, but Patterson, as wing forward, played a particularly fine game, working in well with both backs and forwards, besides holding his own at the side of the scrum.

The Wanganui team were unfortunate in being without the services of Walpole (the captain), who was on the injured list, and who usually plays In the five-eighths line, and also of Welch, a fast wing three-quarter. Vtli) was two weeks over ago.

In the forwards Win. Pine, Dyke and Grou.be were always prominent. The try which the latter secured was the result of a smart piece of work.

The Wanganui backs did not impress so favorably as their opponents/ but Whai Pino, the centre three-quarter, stood out on hr* own. lie was, in fact, the mainstay of the backs. The way he “dummied” through the

opposing backs from the twenty-five line and scored behind the posts stamps him as a player with a future.

All things considered, the New Plymouth boys won on their merits, and it was only good tackling on Wanganui’s part that kept the»r line intact for the greater ?<rt of the second spell. Wanganui, though beaten, put up a splendid fight, and in no ways disgraced themselves. TO-DAY'S MATCHES. SENIOR. A GRADE. Stratford v. Waimate, at Manaia, Mr. F Neilson. Hawera v. Tukapa, at New Plymouth, Mr. F. : Hooker. Kaponga v. Okaiawa, at Kaponga, Mr. A. H. I Guy. Patea v. Opunake, at Opunake, Mr. P. Holmes. NORTHERN DIVISION. SECOND GRADE. Star v. Tukapa, at New Plymouth Racecourse, 1.30 p.m. JUNIOR SEMI-FINALS. JCNIOB. Okaiawa v. Toko, at Stratford A. and P.» 3 p.m.; Lepperton a bye. THIRD GRADE. Stratford v. Tatea, at Hawera, 3 p.m.; New Plymouth High School, a bye. FOURTH GRADE. New Plymouth High School C v. Hawera, at Hawera, 1.30 p.m.; Stratford a bye. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ MATCH. North Taranaki v. South Taranaki, Pukekura Park, 1.45 p,m.; referee, Mr. Rock. REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. MATCHES PLAYED. v. Wanganui—Won by 6 points to 3. v. South Auckland —Drawn, 15 points each. v. South Africa—Drawn, no score. v. Wanganui—Won by 9 points to 6. v. Canterbury—Lost, 14 points to 5. MATCHES ARRANGED. August 27—v. Wellington, at New Plymouth. September 10—v. Auckland, at Auckland. September J.7—v. Otago, at New Plymouth. September 24—-v. Auckland, ar. New Plymouth.

B REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. August IS— Taranaki B. v. Wairoa Sub-Union, at. Waverley. THE SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR. RESULTS TO DATE. v. Wanganui—Won 1 i points to 5. v. Taranaki—Draw, no score. v. Wairarapa—Won by 18 points to 3. v. Wellington—Won 8 points to 3. -v. West Coast—Won 33 points to 3. v. Canterbury—Lost C-points to 4. v. South Canterbury—Won 34 points to 3. v. Southland —Won 12 points to nil. v. Otago —Won, 11 points to nil. MATCHES TO PLAY. August 13—v. New Zealand, at Dunedin (first test). August 17—v. Manawatu. August 20.—v. Auckland. August 24—v. Rotorua. August 27—v. New Zealand, at Auckland (second test). August .‘ll—v. ITawke’ft Bay. September 6—v. Nelson and Marlborough. September 10—v. New Zealand, at Wellington , (Gnal test). POSITION OF THE TEAMS. A GRADE.

Inglewood and Star won by default from ; and Eitiiam rsapecfiValy,

Matches. Points. P. VV. L. D. For. Against, .ill Blacks 33 32 1 — 86$ 47 Springboks 29 26 2 1 608 85

? « ? # u « i £ £ £ 3 £ “ 5 Clifton 11 11 1 2 i 138 62 24 iawera 13 ip 2 I 134 43 22 Stratford 14 7 3 4 108 • 92 17 Okatawa 13 6 1 6 73 77 13 <aponga 13 6 1 6 104 74 13 Tukapa 13 4 2 7 72 88 10 Opunake 13 4 — 9 58 126 8 Pa tea 14 3 1 10 63 124 7 Wainiate 13 2 2 9 76 130 6 B GRADE. [figlewood 10 7 2 1 46 19 16 Star 11 6 2 3 45 35 14 Eltham 12 4 3 4 45 52 11 Old Boys 10 4 1 5 90 53 9 Okato 11 I 2 8 30 96 4