FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. MATCHES PLAYED. ▼. Wanganui—Won by 6 points to 3. v. South Auckland—Drawn, 15 points each, v. South Africa—Drawn, no score. V. WangtnUi—Won by 9 points to 6. v. Canterbury— Lost. 14 points to 5., y. Wellington—Lost, 17 points to nil. B REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. Taranaki B v. Wairoa Sub-Union—Won, 16 points to 6. MATCHES ARRANGED. September 10—r. Auckland, at Auckland. September 17—v. Otago, at New Plymouth. September 24—v. Auckland, at New Plymouth. THE SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR. RESULTS TO DATE. t. Wanganui—Won 11 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 6 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. v. New Zealand (first test) —Lost IS points to v. Manawatu-Horowhenua—Won 3 points to nil. v. Auckland—Won 24 points to 8. v. Bay of Plenty—won 17 points to 9. T. New Zealand (second test)—Won, 9 points to 5. I. Waikato—Won, 6 points to nil. REMAINING MATCHES. September 3.—Hawke's Bay and Poverty' 8.-. y at Napier. September 7.—v. Maori representatives, at i Napier. September 10.—v. Nelson, Marlborough and Gulden Bay, at Nelson. September 17.-—v. New Zealand, at Weilinpon (final test). i NEW SOUTH WALES’ TOUR. MATCHES PLAYED. . t. North Auckland—Won by 17 to 8. t. South Auckland—Won by 28 to 11. j T. Poverty Ba ? —Won by 26 to 8. T. Marlborough—Won by 19 to 11. v. Waive rapa—Won by 34 to 5. t. Buller—Won by 27 points to 11. f. West Coast—Won by 26 points to 8. MATCHES TO BE PLAYED. September 3. —At Christchurch (test). September 7.—At Wellington. NS.W. v. NEW ZEALAND. THE TEST MATCH TO-DAY. THE TEAMS. By Telegraph —Press Association. : Christchurch, Last Night. I The teams for to-morrow’s test match between New South Wales and New Zealand are:— NEW ZEALAND. Full-back—€. E. Evans (Canterbury). j Thre-e-quarters—W. A. Ford (Canterbury). 1 E. Ryan (Wellington), F. G. Ward (Otago), j Five-eighths—P. Markham (Wellington), B. Al*ar (Wellington). Half—E Roberts (Wellington). Forwards—S. Shearer (Wellington), ML I Carroll (Maaawatu), L. Peterson (Canterbury), C. Fletcher (Auckland), S. White: (Southland), W. Cummings (Canterbury), M. Bjowniee (Hawke’s Bay), S. Cabot (Otago). NEW SOUTH WALES. Full-back —-Nothling. Three-quarters— Wogan, Stanley, Raymond. Five-eigtths—Humphreys. Half—Walker. Forwards—Davis, Bond, Smith, Fox, Elliott, Louden, Dunn, Shorn. Mr. L. Simpson (Wellington) will referee. TOUR OF THE SPRINGBOKS. TO-DAY’S EAST COAST MATCH. ' Napier, Last Night. Tte Springboks were enthusiastically welcomed at a civic reception here this morning. The team for to-morrow’s match against Pov- j trty Bay and Hawke’s Bay will not be announced till to-morrow morning. The weather prospects are good, the ground is in excellent condition, and the arrangements are complete for accommodating a record crowd. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. ATTITUDE OF SOUTH AFRICA. Napier, Last Night. According to a telegram published this morning, the chairman of the New Zealand j Rugby Union stated at a meeting of the com- • mltteo at Wellirajton last night that he under-j etood that al a conference between New I Zealand, New South Wales and South Africa, i (he last-named would agree in respect to re-' presentation on the English Union. The | chairman added that the only difference of j opinion would probably be on an amendment to one rule of the game. Mr. Bennett (manager of the South Africans). made a statement to-night to the effect that he had no power to agree to any proposals. He would merely listen to the arguments and subsequently make recommendations to tte South African Rugby Board. Mr. Bennett has so far expressed no opinions on the matters for discussion, and will sot do so. the new south wales match. TO-DAY’S TEST GAME. The New South Wales team has had a triumphant tour so far, winning all seven matches played so far. scoring 177 points and having 62 scored against them. To-day, however, they will meet their serious match of the tour, when they play New Zealand at Christchurch. The New Zealand team is a fairly strong one, and contains a number of those who have been included in the 20 from which the New Zealand team for the third test against South Africa is to be selected. Taranaki is not represented in the team, though it is difficult to understand how the claims of Masters were overlooked. New Zealand has met New South Wales on 21 occasions, winning 16 matches, losing 4. the otter being drawn. Three of the losses and the draw were in second test matches. New South Wales has not defeated New Zealand since 1907. TARANAKI V. AUCKLAND. THE TARANAKI TEAM. The following team has been selected to represent Taranaki in the match against Auckland, at Auckland, on September 10: Backs: Brown (Tukapa), Sykes (Old Boys). G. Hooker (Tukapa), Hickey (Clifton), Wilkinson (Hawera), Robertson (Hawera), Coutts (Inglewood), Berg (Stratford), Lusk (Upunake). Forwards: McAllum (Tukapa), Campbell (Clifton), Whittington (Hawera), Alien (Tukapa). Hunt (Hawera), Malone (Kaponga), Fryday (Clifton), Birchali . CuiiojjffU JStratfwO,

Emergencies:—Backs: Cameron (Hawera), and R. Oliver (Tukapa). Forwards: Day (Hawera), and Fuller (Clifton). Players are requested to notify the secretary of the Taranaki Rugby Union (Mr. G. E. Jago.' Stratford) immediately whether they are available or nof.

The team will travel to Auckland by the mail train on Thursday morning, leaving Auckland again by the south express on Sun- , day evening.

THE WELLINGTON MATCH. FEATURES OF THE PLAY. Wellington severely defeated Taranaki on Saturday, by 17 points to nil. It is just 20 years ago since Wellington inflicted such a decisive defeat on Taranaki, when they scored 23 points to 3, but that match was played on th? Wellington ground. Ten years later, also # Wellington, Taranaki put up the record margin in matches between the two provinces, winning by just 20 points, 23 points to 3. On Saturday, Taranaki in the first spell looked to have a good chance of winning, and, indeed, there was not the difference between the teams that the scores indicate. The only difference was that Wellington knew how to drive their advantage home when they got one, their backs showing more resourcefulness, and being more at home in fielding the ball when facing the sun than Taranaki. To this latter advantage they largely owe tiieir victory. Time and again in the second spell a Taranaki back would fail to take tte ball and Wellington would gain considerable advantage. Dunford was particularly weak in this respect, and tho visitors sOon recognised it. The visiting backs gave a good exhibition of open play, throwing the ball about well, and i net being afraid to take risks. Their work was by no means perfect, there being many a faulty pass and dropped ball, whilst the tackling of the local team was in the whole good, though not equal to that shown in the Springbok matet. Taranaki backs got going i occasionally, but their attack lacked nippiness, and their wings, when they got anything to do, were invariably crowded on the j line. The backs also did not like going down to the Wellington forward rushes, the visiting pack often sweeping down the field in g0r,.l 'style. At times Taranaki forwards asserted ' themselves and proved themselves more .than equal to their opponents, but their dashes were spasmodic and towards the conclusion they tired considerably. Uf the Taranaki team that played against . the Springboks, only six, Hickey, Roberts, Coutts (backs), and MeAlhun, Campbell, and Kivell (forwards), played against Wellington. Kingston (full-back), Fogarty, West (forwards), were away with the New Zealand team at Auckland. Masters was witnessing the test, while M Cain has retired from the game. This necessitated a re-arrange-ment of the team, and several players, including Dunford, Brown, Allen, and Whittington, donned the rep. jersey for the first time this year, bringing the number that have represented tte province so far up to about 40. Of the team, Dunford at full-back was painfully weak. In the first spell ho made the mistake of waiting for the bounce, whilst in the second spell he was badly beaten by the sun, and his kicking was also indifferent. With Kingston in that position the result would hare been different. Of the three-quarters, Hickey was the pick, though he had little work to do. Wilkinson, on the other wing, was inclined to hesitate. Roberts at centre, has played better games However, he was not given a dance, as he had travelled by train and motor for Whangamccnona all the morning, just arriving in time for the match. Coutts and Robertson at five eighths were the pick of the Taranaki backs. The latter was particularly gcod on defence. Brcwn at talf got the bail away, but was not given too much time by the opposing pack. He is not as solid on defence os of yore. McAllum did a lot of useful work on the wing, and had hard luck in not scoring on one occasion. All rhe forwards • did their share. Allen and Malone being prominent in the lino-out, whilst Fryday shone in the loose. Of the Wellington backs, Siddells at centre threequarter stood out. Fast, weigtty, and resourceful, he did a lot of work, getting off some fine corkscrew runs, whilst his fielding and kicking were strong features. When crowded on the line he invariably made for the centre of the field, and set his backs going. Of the wings Jackson showed great dash until he retired injured. Hutchensen and Markham centred well at five-eighths, cutting In nicely and being tard to stop. The last named on one occasion had a run suddenly cut short in a manner not prescribed by the rules, i.e., by the loss of hLs nether garments—an occurrence that the oldest follower of the game has never ' previously known. Matheson, at half, fed his backs at every opportunity. Of a fine lot of forwards, King, Shearer.. Bruce, Parker, and De Clifton, were probably the best. , Brooks at full-back was quite reliable and safe.

MOASCAR CUP MATCH. GRAMMAR SCHOOL v. NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL. Rugby football was seen at its best in the Moascar Cup match between Auckland Grammar School and New Plymouth Boys’ High I School. The Aucklanders won a fast, specta-' cular game by 13 points to 5, but there was, not 8 points difference In the teams. In , fact, there was very little to choose between , thecn. The Grammar backs were very solid < in defence and speed, and clever in attack. Ifwerson, the brilliant first flve-eighlhs, made mast of tte openings, which were carried out by the other backs with a snap and sparkle delightful to watch. Grammar’s three-quarter line was formidable, and it was only solid tackling by the High School that kept them out. McCrystal ’ was exceptionally dangerous, and time and again ho was within an ace of •coring. Badeley at centre, was also good. Freeman, on the other wing, did not get so many opportunities as McCrystal, but never-; theless acquitted himself with credit. Stewart. 1 the second five-eighths, had just recovered I from an iajury to his leg. As the connecting I Ink between Ifwerson and Badeley, he did I good work. Smith, the half, got the ball | away well and on numerous occasions re-j lieved his side in tight corners by marking l the ball. Goodacre, the full-back, kicked and tackled well. It was l e who brought down Foden within a few feet from the goal-line early in the second spell. The forwards were an oven lot. They were generally beaten for the ball in the scrummages, and did not always follow up fast. Their strong point was loose dribbling rushes, which their opponents found difficult to stem. Gould, Reid, Nicholls and McLean, were the ' pick of the forwards. The King-pin of the High School backs was Brown, the captain. In fact, the other backs relied too much on him. This was noticeable on several occasions, especially when McCrystal, early in the game, made strenuous efforts to score and Brown had to come across to save. Otherwise the backs combined well, their dean passing and concerted movements quite equalling their opponents. The wing men. Abbott and Foden, made good use of the opportunities given them, and both went near scoring. Once Brown attempted a cut-in near the line and was smothered. Had he passed to Abbott a second earlier a try was inevitable. Brown's try was a good piece of work. A spectator’s remark, "A great try, boy,” is a fitting tribute. The five-eighths. Alexander and Shaw, played well, but have been seen to better advantage. They were good on attack, although in the first half Shaw was too slow in getting away with tte ball, but their defence was a trifle weak. Brodie at half, gave a good exhibition, and showed great versatility. Taylor was a good last line of defence, fielding and tackling well, and lining with judgment. The forwards heeled out the ball in great style, generally beating the opposing frontrankers. They also followed up and rallied round well. In tho loose they were not so good, but got their fair share of the ball from tho line-outs. The best of the pack were Barak -and Christie (who did such good work at looking).

This will probably ba the last oecftS’nn this year Ujat Sciwol WIU &• W &

action. The outlook for next year is rosy, as most of the players, who were mainly new recruits this year, aro coming back again next season, and the extra weight they will put on in the interim should serve them in good stead next season. With a little more weight and the snap that characterised their previous games, they should have a very good chance of defeating Grammar School, and perhaps of securing the Moascar Cup.

THE SECOND TEST. SOME VIEWS AND COMMENTS. Tho New Zealanders might lave won bj . brilliant individual play,' as apparently thej did at Dunedin, but Steel, the hero of the first test, was particularly well marked or Saturday (says the Auckland Herald). Ever so, there were one or two occasions on which he just failed to accomplish the outstanding individual act that might have turned defeal ■ into victory. On two occasions in particular, I when the ball came out to tim from the i loose, he was just jumping into his stride i when he had to withstand a tackle. He actu- : ally shook off the tackler, but the shock was sufficient to stagger him and eventually tc ; bring him stumbling to tho ground. Sufficient time was thus given to tho African ( backs to swarm round to the defence, and | tte golden opportunity for the outstanding individualist of the All Blacks was lost As a matter of fact, though the Springboks’ scores were obtained by the backs, the game was won by the forwards. The try they scored was made easy by Van Rooyen, who unexpectedly broke away from the pack with the hall and running straight down the centre of the field he only had to send it out to lis quick-moving supports to make a score a certainty. The Springbok forwards aro masters in the art of masking the attack. When the ball is hooked in the scrum the eight bulky forwards mass round and manoeuvre i until it is like looking for a needle in a haystack to discern the ball. It may eventually trickle out to the halfback to allow ■ him to set the back machine moving, or it may emerge at some unexpected angle in the "rasp of a forward who is flanked and protected by another bulky member of the pack. Time and again the break-away from the ruck was achieved in this manner, and it is to the credit of the New Zealand backs that except on one occasion they presented an impenetrable line of defence. Twice they were seriously troubled by the African backs, who were particularly unlucky on one occasion in not crossing the line, but the forward plan of attack was usually well blocked. In this style of concerted play, however, they were superior to the New Zealand forwards, but tte latter shone in dashing loose rushes. THE FIRST TRY. It was a clean break through by Van Rooyen, the big Springbok fifteen stone forward, which led to the Africans’ opening score. He started close to the 25 flag on the left side of the field. Roberts tackled him round one leg, but was shaken off. The big - Dutchman was striding along at top when he came to Aitken who made a poor attempt to stop him. Van Rooyen then sent tte ball away on the- open 3’de to Meyer, to Clarkson, to Sendin. The last named got the ball in front of the posts and about fifteen yards out. Between him and goal were a couple of the Blacks. Sendin turned away towards the corner flag, on his right side and set sail. It was a brilliant sprint, and his pace carried him round Storey who was the last opponent in the way. Badeley and Kingston raced along the goal line to try and keep the invader out but the Sendin’s pace carried him through the open gap just in time to score near the corner flag. Gerhard Morkel, despite the angle, converted. NEW ZEALAND’S TRY. Just on the African side of half way Roberts picked up from a ruck, feinted for the open, and quickly reversed for the blind, at tho same time cutting in cleanly and outwitting a couple of the Greens who. "on the off chance, were trying to block the way. Henry Morkel was standing a bit wide of his centre, and Roberts wtmt through the gap in a twinkling. Coming to Gertard Morkel he shot the ball away to Bellis who was five yards off the touchline and had about fifteen yards to go with a clear field ahead. It was an electrical movement as Bellis tossed his head back, lengthened his stride and tore for the line. Within a few yards of it he was tackled from behind and then Bellis did another clever thing. To save the ball going into touch when he fell he pushed it away to his right and fell in such a way that his Springbok tackler could not get it. For a fleeting moment the gall lay there. The next to arrive was McLean, the big Bay of Plenty forward. Like a wise man he did not try to pick it up. He toed it across and fell on it. v THE DECIDING SCORE. The deciding score made Rugby history and with it will always be associated tho name of Gerhard Morkel. Kingston was playing brilliantly at full-back although his penchant for gaily side-stepping an opponent or two before getting his kick in caused a bit of anxiety. Kingston had fielded a long kick and was apparently making for the left side of the field when he decided to come the other way. And at that critical moment his feet slipped from beneath him. Two of the Africans went at the prostrate player gleefully intent on getting the ball. Kingston could not afford tu lie on it and give a penalty away, but he managed to save the situation until Bellis got there and kicked the ball across (he front or the goal. Other Blacks took up the defence and somebody with an extra kick sent the ball back to the 25 line where Gerhard Morkel fielded it five yards off the line. He moved across the field for better position, carefully sighted bis object and coolly kicked with the result that the ball sailed over between the pasts high above the cross bar.

LESSONS OF THE GAME. It is obvious that the Now Zealand team will have to be strengthened for the final test game, particularly in the five-eighth line where men of better physique are required. Markham will probably get a place, but there will be surprise if M. Nicholls is retained. The dropping of Aitken appears to indicate that the new centre will be Algar or Ifwerseu. The former on his day is brilliant but he has a good many off days. Ifwersen in a curtain raiser game at Eden Park last Saturday certainly did not disclose All Black form, although, he is a heady player with a safe pair of hands. Possibly Evans will be played at full-back, and in that case Kingston, who can play anywhere in the backs, would be a suitable centre.

There was really nothing in Storey's display to warrant dropping him out of twenty probables, although Ford may replace him with credit. Storey’s weakness is his poor defence.

One Is not surprised at the dropping of Hughes from the forwards. It was obvious on

Saturday that a test match is no place for a man 43 years of age. Donald on his showing will be lucky if he gets a place and could well be replaced on the wing by Bellis. No doubt McLean and Richardson will retain their places, although they are not yet in the Seeling class as has been stated.

It is interesting to remark that the Springboks regard Peterson (Canterbury) as about the best forward that they have met on the tour, but the selectors apparently hold other opinions. In fact the reasoning of the New Zealand selectors is hard to follow. After the first test match at Dunedin they awarded H. Nicholls a gold medal for being the best back. In the next test match they left him 'out. THE FINAL TEST. GREAT DECISION AT STAKE. It is questionable iA there has ever been such interest taken in a football match in New Zealand as is being evinced in the final test between the All Blacks and the Springboks. They each meet on level terms, having a win and a loss to their credit, and the deciding contest will draw football enthusiasts from every part of tte Dominion. Indeed the difficulty will be to accommodate the huge crowd that will assemble. It is a matter of great importance in the football world, as the great question of whether the Springboks or the AH BU<*» entitled to

be recognised as the champions—about which there has been great controversy since 1906 will be settled, The New Zealand team on that occasion should bat a stiffer proposition than last Saturday’s fift'een. The twenty from which the team is to be chosen contains a number of new (pen, Aitken, Badeley, and Storey having been dropped from the backs, and Ford, Ifwerson, and Algar included. Hughes has been dropped from the forwards, and Turnbull and and Fletcher included. It is probable that after to-day’s match at Christchurch, some others may be included,, as the N.Z. selectors are to View the New South Wales match. Tho training also is to be taken seriously, as the men are to go into camp for at least a week at Trenthara or Day’s Bay. They will need to be tuned up if they are to do New Zealand credit. It is a pity that A. L. Humphries, the ex-N.Z. half, could not be secured to inspire the team with his lectures, and help by his advice as he inspired and helped the Taranaki team. The material is there, and if the team is selected right, and turned out fit there is no need to fear the result, but it must be in condition to go hard right to the finish and not tire over tho first stages. From the enquiries made in various directions there should bo no trouble in securing sufficient guarantee to enable a special train to be run to Wellington on tfce Friday night, returning on the Saturday.

TAKEN TO TASK. THE N.Z. RUGBY UNION. The football critic of the Evening Post takes the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union severely to task for its management of the Springbok tour. Discussing the withholding of the names of tl?e players till the last minute, the writer says:— “The public has been much disappointed with the official souvenir programme of tho tour, and the withholding of the names of the teams until the last minute, witb tho result that in Auckland unofficial programmes flooded the streets with inaccurate names, such that one of the Auckland papers was misled into putting into the Springbok team two South Africans who watched the game from tho bank, and mentioning that one oi' the two played a splendid game.”

C. S. Tendall, tho Auckland Press critic, says;— Tho Englist Rugby Union is twitted with being out ot date. I grant you that is so, but the New Zealand Union, which claims to be more enterprising, also has its faults. The withholding of tho names of tho All Black team on Friday night was one of the most hopeless bits of folly I have ever seen. Contracts or no contracts, the public had a right to know the names of the players, and a change of officials in the governing body in the Dominion seems overdue.

Why the union has placed itself in such an untenable position is hard to understand. Looks aS if there will be trouble for some one at the next annual meeting. The union has a capable, resourceful and discreet president, and it is a great pity that the same cannot be said of some of those under him who have more to do with the actual management work. NEWS AND NOTES. SEASON CLOSING. Owing to the Hunt Club Races there will be no football in New Plymouth this afternoon—for the first Saturday afternoon' sigee the end of April. The season is now rapidly closing, and the end of this month will see it out. Saturday next, when the Taranaki team is in Auckland, a match will probably be played between Waitara returned soldiers and New Plymouth returned soldiers.

6teps are to bo taken immediately after the football season to effect, considerable improvements to the playing area at Pukekura Park Tte scheme, includes draining, ploughing, and re-sowing, so that bj ? next season there should be a good turf to play on.

Christchurch Boys’ nigh School have won the premiership of the South Island, and they will meet the winner of the St. Patrick’s College v. Auckland Grammar School match, to decide tte final of the Moascar Cup. THE “SOCCER” GAME. STRATFORD (1) v. HAWERA (0). A match was played on the Hawera ground on Thursday between Stratford and Hawera. Play from the kick off was fast, the teams being evenly matched. It was a “ding dong” j go from start to finish. The goal that gave Stratford the load was the result of a fine ; passing movement by the whole of the Strat- ; ford forwards, and eventually Lowry secured the leather and judiciously centred, and Milner (captain), unado no mistake in shooting what proved to be tho winning goal. The; outstanding feature of the game was tne fine j display at hack of Casey (Stratford). Hawe-1 ra’s right half was also very safe. The Strat- ' ford team were afterwards entertained by' the Hawera Club in the Central tea rooms.