FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1921, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI RUGBY UNION. MEETING OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. A meeting of the management committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union was held at Stratford last night, when there were present: Messrs. Jas McLeod (chairman), A. R. Ryder, W. B. Fearon, A. F. Neilson, D. J. Malone, Jas. Garcia and G. E. Jago (hon secreta.-y). An apology wae received from R. h* Harkness.

The northern committee of the Taranaki RA.ferees’ Association asked for a re-hearing of tihe Telfar caae. It was decided not to re-open same. An explanation was received from L. Smith, who was reported by a referee for insulting language. It was resolved to warn the player, and to notify him that a recurrence would lead to his being banned off all grounds under the jurisdiction of the union. A copy of thfe explanation will also be forwarded to the Referees’ Association. Mr. J. O’Grady, referee in the CliftonLepperton match, reported that he had ordered off E. St. George and E. Frost, Clifton players, for rough play. Both were warned off till the end of the season. P. J. Holmes also reported C. Derrett (Patea) and H. Buggs (Opunake) for rough play, and they were similarly dealt with. E. Dive (Eltham) and Arden (Star), ordered off for rough play in the St..rEltham match, on July 25, were cautioned. The chairman reported that he had attended the boundaries commission in Auckland to discuss the formation of the proposed South Auckland Union, and this had been satisfactorily fixed up. The new union would probably be called the "Waikato Union, and comprise! about eight sub-unions Taranaki territory had been extended to include Awakino and Mahoenui, and ultimately it would mean that the Tongaporutii-Mokau-Awakino and Mahoenui competition would be played under Taranaki. No action had yet‘been taken with regard to the Ohura, pending an arrangement with Wanganui. If the railway was through there was no doubt this district would be in Taranaki territory. In connection with the junior playoffs, it was resolved that the fourth, grade match be played between New Plymouth High School and Stratford on September 15, and the third grade match between the same clubs on September 17. The secretary of the Clifton Football Club forwarded, a statement of gate receipts amounting to \£169.. Mr. H. Spurdie intimated his intention of resigning the secretaryship of the Clifton Club, owing to pressure of business, after having occupied the position for years. Members of the union expressed regret at Mr. Spurdle’e resignation, he having been a most efficient secretary. The Western Park Board asked for a donation of £lO to the funds, pointing out that owing to the union taking all gates and playing all club matches at Pukekura Park, they had received no revenue from the Tukapa Club, who formerly used the ground.—Granted. The Paten sports ground committee forwarded a claim for £2O for rent of ground to July 1. It was pointed out that the Patea gates had only totalled £54, and it wtis resolved to remit 10 per cent on this. It was also pointed, out that the inclusion of the Patea Club in the Taranaki Rugby Union had not been a success from a financial point o2 view, as the travelling expenses from Patea were so heavy.

In connection with the Bayly scholarship, Mr. A. R. Ryder was authorised to forward the revised conditions to the Taranaki Education Board. It was resolved to vote £2O towards the New Plymouth High School’s sports fund,

TARANAKI v. AUCKLAND. The following team will leave by the mail train this morning to represent Taranaki against Auckland, at Auckland, on Saturday: Lusk, Hickey, Hooker, Wilkinson, Cameron, Coutts, Berg, Anderson, Fryday, McCullough. Birchall, Hunt. Allen, Campbell, O’Rourke, Malone and Whittington. Messrs. G. E. Jago and Jas. Garcia will go with the teaffi. THE THIRD TEST. SPECIAL TRAIN GUARANTEED. The question of running a special train’ to Wellington on the occasion of the third test match was discussed. It was state<l that the Railway Department were willing to run a special train provided the Rugby Union would guarantee 100 first-class fares from New Plymouth. This amounted to £386. The Railway Department would credit against this guarantee all tickets taken out between New Plymouth and Eltham. Tickets would be issued at excursion rates. The members of the Taranaki Rugby Union considered that it was impossible to guarantee the train unless Hawera were included. The chairman suited that*he had telegraphed the gem era! manager at Wellington on the position.

It was resolved that in the event of Hawera being included in the guarantee the union would guarantee the train. Later the union got in touch with the general manager’s office, and it was stated that Hawera tickets would be included. The train will therefore be guaranteed. The fare from New Plymouth will be about £2 17s, and from other places proportionately less. It was also decided that the 200 seats which have been allotted to the Taranaki Rugby Union shall be available for passengers by the train, and that none will be sold except on the train.

Here is a significant extract from the report of the last meeting of the ma-n--agement committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union: “Other complaints about the selection of teams and general arrangements were made, and the chairman remarked: “There will be some fun at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union. I hope 1 will be a delegate.” Speaking at Wellington on Tuesday. -\1 r. Boswell, manager of the New South Wales teem, said it was very gratifying to note that the public men of all the New Zealand towns took such a very great interest in Rugby football. Unfortunately, the same measure of public interest did not obtain in New South Wales. In New Zealand his team had been absolutely overwhelmed with hospitality. It is,” he added, ‘'wonderful that we have been able to win a match at all, because yon have been so good to us in this respect. Take the sportla* naif it iA Christahuroh, where &&

the match the public simply took chaQf®’ of our players and carried them off the field.

“We are out to play a fast, opengame. We don’t like close games. We had to cut out the wing-forward in Near South Wales in order to compete Wittt the other game, and the sooner New laid drops him and his spoiling tactics the better it will be for New Zealand/ football in the future. We have only seen one passing rush during orr tour in which the bail has travelled out to the wing three-quarter, except in tho teat match on Saturday. On every* other day the ball has never got part the first five-eighth or thle second fiveeighth, and one of the reasons is that the wing-forward has such opportunity for spoiling tactics. From our standpoint, to-morrow, unless thlis wingforward (of yours) is very, very good, you will see a good, fast, open game. We realise that we are up against a good stiff proposition—quite as good a» last Saturday.” With a view to providing additional seating accommodation for tho third test match, the chairmen of the Wellington and New Zealand Rugby Unions* (Messrs. J. Prenreville and G. W. Slade) made an inspection at the Athletic Park, and found tldat it would be convenientto make additions to the present eland nt the north and south ends. The work was commenced last week. It ia expected that this will provide 500 seats. The chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union anticipates that th«re will be no difficulty in upwards of 30,000 people in the park.