FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

representative fixtures. ' • TO-DAY’S MATCH. Taranaki v. Auckland, at Auckland. MATCHES PLAYED. v. Wanganui—Won by C points to 3. v. South Auckland—Drawn, 15 points each. F. South Africa—Drawn, no score. v. Wanganui—Won by 9 points to G. F. Canterbury—Lost, 14 points to 5. ». Wellington—Lost, 17 points to nil, B REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. Taranaki B v. Wairoa Sub-Union—Won, 16 points to 6. MATCHES ARRANGED. September 17—v. Otago, at New Plymouth. September 24—v. Auckland, at New Plymouth. THE SPRINGBOKS' TOUR. RESULTS TO DATE. F. Wanganui—Won, 11 points to 6. T. Taranaki—Draw, no score. F. 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 G points to 4. v. South Canterbury—Won 34 points to 3. v. Southland —Won 12 points to nil. v. Otago—Won. 11 points to 3. y. New Zealand (first test)—Lost 13 points to 5. F.'Manawatu-Horowhenua—Von 3 points to nil. f. Auckland—Won 24 points to 8. v. Bay of Plenty—won 17 points to 9. F. New Zealand (aecoflfi test)—Won, 9 points to 5. F. Waikato—Won? 6 points to nil. X- Hawkes Bay and Poverty Bay—W’on by 14 points to 8. f. Maori*-, representatives—W’on by 9 points to 8.

REMAINING MATCHES. September 10.—v. Nelson, Marlborough and Golden Bay, at Nelson. September 17.—v. New Zealand, at WeL Sngton (final test). NEW SOUTH WALES’ TOUR. MATCHES PLAYED. *. North Auckland—Won by J 7 to 8. y. South Auckland—Won by 28 to 11. v. Poverjy Bay—Won by 26 tp 8. v. Marlborough—Won by 19 to 11. V. Wairara'pa—Won by 34 to 5. t. Buller—Won by 27 point? to 11. v. West Coast—Won by 26 points to S. v. New Zealand (test) —Won by 17 to nil. N. Wellington—Lost by 16 points to 8.

AUCKLAND v. TARANAKI.

KEEK INTEREST EVINCED. THE TEAMS CHOSEN. (Special to Daily News.) Auckland, Last Night. The Taranaki team reached Auckland by the Alain Trhnk express eariy this morning, and were met on arrival by Messrs. M. J. Sheahan. G. Nicholson and T. Buchanan, representatives of the Rugby Union, and taken to their quarters. This afternoon the whole team, with the exception of Allen, who arrives by the Rimu in the morning, were invited to Eden Park and indulged in useful practice. The ground is very dry and hard, a patch in the centre being parched and caked. I*t is intended to water it to-night.

Keen interest is being evinced here 5n the match, as the issue is generally regarded as very open, in view of the uncertainty of football form, as illustrated by the fact that Taranaki drew with the Springboks, who defeated both Auckland and Wellington, and the latter, after defeating Taranaki, were defeated by Auckland. Given fine weather, a large attendance is assured, and present indications point to a fine day. f THE TEAMS. The teams have been finally chosen 63 follows: ' TARANAKI. Full-back: Lusk. Three-quarters: Wilkinson, Hooker (captain), Hickey. Five-eighths: Coutts, Cameron. . Half: Berg. Forwards: Malone (rover), Campbell, Whittington, Allen, Hunt, Fryday, McCullough, Birchall. AUCKLAND. Full-back: Findlay. Three-quarters: Grierson, Lucas, Williams. Five-eighths: V. Badelev, C. Badeley. Half: Ear]. Forwards: Milliken (rover), McCullough. Tresize, McLean. Mclnnes, Me- 1 Ginley, Nicholas, Arnold. This is the same team that defeated Wellington last week, except that Muir. , full-back, is replaced by Findlay. Mr. Sutherland will referee. The personnel of the Taranaki team against Auckland again differs from that against Wellington, due mainly to a number of players being unable’ to j make the trip. Though not the strongest I team the province has put out this seeeon,.it should give a good account of it- j eelf, as it contains a number of young I players, with a stiffening of older ! heads. The seventeen published in ' Thursday’s paper made the trip. The ' forwards are practically the same as i those that played against Wellington, j with the exception that McCullough and | Birchall replace Ki veil and Malone in the j pack, ami the latter goes wing forward i in place of McAilum, who is unable to ! make the trip. The forwards should • have the advantage of the combination i gained in the last game. The backs are quite a different team, only three of the 1 seven who played against Wellington ! being in the team. Berg replaces Brown at half, and the j young Stratford player can be relied ! upon to openj up the game if his for- I wards give him the ball. Cameron and | Coutts are the five-eighths, the former , replacing Robertson. Both are good on defence, the former particularly getting down to the forward rushes, whilst he in also a dangerous man close to the line. Coutts is also an improving player, and I does a lot of clever work, though at times he ic apt to go too far on his own. The three-quarter line is the same, save that Hooker replaces Roberts. It is a good attacking line if the ball is only allowed to reach the wings. Lusk replaces Dunford as full back. The Opunake man is a solid tackler, and a good fielder and kick. ‘'Babe’’ Hooker will probably be captain. : There are probibly few*who look for Taranaki to defeat Auckland this year,/

but football is uncertain, and it does not follow that because Auckland bear Wellington, which defeated Taranaki, that the. Northerners will also beat Taranaki. Ine Taranaki team nearly always seem to play their beet at Auckland, and their plucky fights there have made them very popular with the Northerners.

Auckland and Taranaki have met on 34 occasions, and of these Auckland has won 23 matches, Taranaki seven and four have been drawn, 356 points have been scored by Auckland, whilst Taranaki has scored 172. Taranaki has not defeated Auckland since 1913, when the butter province lifted the Ranfurly Shield after a memorable struggle. The following are the detailed scores:—

4 1887—At Auckland, Targnaki won, 1 to nil. 1889—At New Plymouth, Auckland won, 6 to 0. 18ii0—At Auckland, Auckland won, 8 to 0. J S9l—At Hawera, draw, 6 all. 18&2—At Auckland, Auckland won, 1 to 0. 1893—At New Plymouth, Auckland won, 4 to 2. 1884—At Auckland, Taranaki won, 14 to 0. 1895 At New Plymouth, draw, no score. 1896 At Auckland, Taranaki won, 16 to 0. 1897 At New Plymouth, Auckland won. 23 to 0. 1898— At Auckland, draw, no score. 1899 At New Plymouth, Auckland won, 18

to 3. 190&—At Auckland, Auckland won, 19 to 3. 1901— At New Plymouth, Auckland won, 5 to 0. 1902 At Auckland, Auckland won, 21 to 3. 1903 At New Plymouth, Taranaki, won, 6 to 1 1904 At Auckland, Taranaki won, 3 to 0. 1905 At New Plymouth, Auckland won, 6 to 5. 1906 At Auckland, Auckland won, 18 to 5. 1907 At Auckland. Auckland won, 12 to 8. 1907 At Auckland, Auckland won, 9 to 0. 1908— At Auckland, Auckland won, 9 to 0. 1909 At New Plymouth, Taranaki won, 6 to 3. 1999—at Auckland, Auckland won, 18 5. 1910— At Auckland, Auckland won, 16 to 9. 1911— At New Plymouth, Auckland won, 6 to 3. 1912 At Auckland, Auckland won, 6 to 5. 1913 At Auckland, Taranaki won, 14 to 11. 1913 At New Plymouth, Auckland won, 11 to 8. 1914 At Auckland, Auckland won, 13 to 8. j 9l9—At Auckland, Auckland won, 42 to 9. 1919 At New Plymouth, Auckland won, 23 to 16. 1920 At Auckland, Auckland won, 9 to 3. 1920—At New Plymouth, Auckland won, 17 to 11. THE TEST MATCH. SPECIAL TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS. In connection with the arrangement? for the special train from New Plymouth to Wellington, on the occasion of the final test match against the Springboks, Mr. J. McLeod has been notified by the stationmaster at New Plymouth that the train will leave here on Friday next at 8.30 p.m., and will stop at Lepperton, Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Hawera and Patea only. The time of arrival at Wellington will be notified later.

Those intending passengers who have left ticket money with Mr. Jago (Stratford), Mr. Goodwin (Hawera), or Mr. McLeod (New Plymouth), are requested to call for same, as the tickets will be issued at the stations at usual. The Taranaki Rugby Union are to be congratulated on agreeing to guarantee a special train to enable enthusiasts to visit Wellington and view the test match with a minimum loss of time, even though such train will take away a i number who would otherwise have’ attended the Otago match at New Ply-j mouth the same day. The team is certain to be well filled, as every district in Taranaki is sending its quota. However, one can hardly understand the action of the Department in wishing to limit the Union to the district between New Plymouth and Eltham in assessing the tickets, which are to be credited, I against the guarantee. The Rugby Uni ion looks after the territory from New | Plymouth to Patea, and the train was I asked to be run in the interests of i footballers within that area. The Un- | ion. however, only asked to be given the . territory as far as Hawera as a set-off against their guarantee of £386, and, after considerable telegraphing and intercommunication, the Department agreed. The Department is on a good wicket all the time, for if the train-earns £lOO oil the trip they get that amount, whereas if it only takes £lOO the T.R.U. has to make up the deficiency. So as to ensure that those making the trip by train get a seat on the ground, the union has decided to sell its 200 reserved seat tickets on the train going down.

THE SOUTH AFRICANS. TO REST AWHILE. On their return to Wellington from Nelson the South Africans will go into a rest camp the location of which has yet to be c ided upon. It will he somewhere in the country away from the atmosphere of the city, and within conveniently handy range. Pienaar is remaining behind in Wellington with the object of selecting a suitable camp. Several of the visitors’ star players are on the injured list. Sendin is nursing a dislocated collarbone, and it is understood that he will not be avail►able for the third test. He will be a big loss, a.s they are now weak in wings, and he is regarded as one of their crack performers. Kruger has a sprained ankle and a strained knee, and he will be missing very probably. Henry Morkel is, it is not to play again. He has injured his arm anew, and he is not in the pink o£ condition. ?

De Koch still limps, and although he is taking part in to-morrow’s game, it is understood that he may probably not take the field against the AH Blacks.

Van Heerden was hurt in the match against the Maoris, but will probably be available for selection.

The way in which the Springboks are nursing De Villiers is regarded in wellinformed quarters as indicative of the fact that hJ is being kept back for the great effort, in preference to Gerhard Morkel, whose uncertainty in the matter of goal-kicking is said to be prejudicial to his chances. Zeller, Meyer, and Townsend are all said to be certain starters in the big event. Zeller at the present moment being the only crack wing in the outfit. This is no reflection on Meyer, who proved so useful in the second test, as fly half, that the visitors would only play him on the wing with great reluctance. Clarkson developed a very bad leg in the second test on account of the very hard ground; but his comrades hope that it will be quite all right for the third test.

NEW SOUTH WALES TOUR.

The New South Wales team has had a most successful tour through New Zealand, and their performances should do much to rehabilitate the game in their own State. After all that was the main object of the trip. The team plays clean, open football that delighte the spectators . They signally defeated the New Zealand team, and thoroughly deserved

their win, though it most be admitted that the New Zealand football authorities were courting defeat, as no attempt was made to get combination, the local team not being completely assembled until the morning of the match. Wellington, the only team to defeat them, played a. great game.

Much surprise waa occasioned outside Wellington by the dropping of the Nicholls brothers, who are retained in the All Black twenty, and the inclusion of Aitken, who was dropped out of the New Zealand team. New South Wales have scored 202 points, and had 78 points scored against them.

THE RULES COMMITTEE. One cannot understand the action of the New Zealand Rugby Union in omitting the name of Mr. Jas. McLeod, the president, from the committee that has been appointed to confer with the representatives of the New South Wales apd South African teams. Without any fear of being accused of ’bias on account of Mr. McLeod being a Taranaki man, one can unhesitatingly assert that practically every one who has followed the controversy expected Mr. McLeod to have been the first choice, Indeed, there is no one in New Zealand more fitted to represent the Dominion in a conference that may have far-reaching effects. Mr. McLeod has a better grip of the position and knowledge of the debatable points at issue than anyone else, for he has made a close study of the matters to be considered. He has also the ability and tact necessary to handle a difficult situation. This was generally recognised and appreciated by delegates when he presided at the annual meeting of the N.Z.R.U., where he handled a delicate position, arising out of the amended rules, most skilfully, receiving unstinted praise from the Press.

Needless to say, Mr. McLeod is not taking the omission without protest, as he feels, as uo all who have the true interests of foot-ball at heart, that he is entitled to representation on the committee. Backed, by the support of most of the larger unions, he is certain to get there. Meanwhile the matter will be put down by many as another example of the muddling that has taken place lately by the management committee of the N.Z.R.U. It is fortunate that this year there was a “strong man” in the position of president, and not a figurehead.

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

Mr. D. J. Malone, president of the Taranaki Rugby Union, has put forward a suggestion that might well be taken up by enthusiasts. It is to the effect hat” New Zealand might provide a challenge vase or cup, to be open for competition among the gr-?at football nations of the world as a championship cup. It is generally recognised that at present New Zealand and South Africa can be looked on as the two premier football countries next Saturday. These two countries are meeting for the third test, and that will, it may be said, decide the championship. If the N.Z.R.U. take the suggestion up there should be no reason why the cup should not be competed for next Saturday. and held by the winner until taken from it on its own'ground by a challenger. Next, week South Africa, New South Wales and New Zealand are sitting in conference, and the question might easily be discussed and settled. Rugby football is rapidly coming into prominence as a game right throughout the world, as is shown by its being included in the Olympic games and a challenge cup on suitable conditions should add to the interest.

OUR FOOTBALL REPUTATION.

New Zealand's football reputation will not bo enhanced by the successive de- ! feats at the hands of South Africa and New South Wales (writes the Auckland Herald). The first was'in a sense unavoidable, our best, or practically our best, team going down before an exceedingly strong aide, which was superior on the day’s play. Oh the other hand, in the debacle on there was a large element of bad management. The event has shown that the selectors miscalculated the strength of the NewSouth Walos players in expecting that a team, far from New Zealand’s best., would beat them without previous practice. The difficulties of getting the best team together for four test matches were no doubt formidable, but there was at least no reason why the men chosen to represent the Dominion against New South Wales should not have been given time to practise together and develop combination. Rugby is only a ’game, if our national game, but even a game is worth playing well. Our men are under the same handicap as England’s cricketers. The programme is too congested, and we have not done ourselves justice in the inter-Dominion matches. It would have been better not to have met New South Wales than to do the visitors doubtful courtesy of meeting them with an improvised team which, as it proved, had no chance against them. Now Zealand’s Rugby reputation is now very definitely at stake.

MAORIS GET UP THEIR BLOOD. A disinterested eye-witness of the match against the Maoris told the. Dominion football reporter that there was one or two anxious moments in the course of the game. He said that on cine occasion the referee warned the Native team that if they did not desist from certain tactics he would stop the game altogether. For one thing, the Maoris, the Dominion's informant alleged, would not let the Springboks pack down in the scrum, locking up so ■tightly as to squeeze the South Africans’ heads with disastrous results. It .is also told that the Springboks played .only thirteen men for fully a quarter of an hour, both Van Heerden anck Kruger having to spell off for appreciable periods. Hori took the visitors very seriously! NEWS AND NOTES.

Wellington meets Southland to-day, and. judging by the form shown by the respective teams on Wednesday, when Southland just defeated Wairarapa. and Wellington had a somewhat comfortable win against the New South Walea team, there seems every reason to assume _Jhat the Ranfurly Shield will again remain in the Empire City. Taranaki’s next fixture is on Saturday, against Otago. The latter have a strong aide, having defeated Southland by 20 points to nil. By defeating Grammar School, Christchurch Boys’ High School will hold the Moasoar Cup for the second year in succession.

The Bayly Scholarship, which was established by the Taranaki Rugby Union to commemorate the memory of the late Mr. Alf Bayly, than whom no one did more to make football in Taranaki what it was in the past, and

what one hopes to see it again in the future, has not in the past attracted the interest among teachers and pupils that one would have liked. The scholarship was designed for athletic boys of average scholastic attainment. The conditions provided that the marks gained at the Junior National Scholarship examination should be added to the points gained at an athletic sports meeting with standard set for athletics and goal kicking. The conditions have now been altered, so that any boy who gains his proficiency certificate under 14 years can enter, and the scholarship will be awarded solely on the athletic points gained. This ehould lead to increased entries.

Though the football fixtures were started a fortnight earlier than usual, it will be necessary to start them even earlier next year in order to ensure that the matches and representative fixtures are finished before September. Taranaki is essentially a dairying district, and the call of the cow, especially in an early spring, makes it difficult for many and impossible for some to get away. Certainly the number of teams entered in the senior A. grade competition may be reduced, thus enabling the two rounds to be completed in fourteen weeks instead of 18, but even that, with the big programme of representative fixtures to be carried out next year, will not make it possible to close the season in good time unless an earlier start is made. Clifton footballers, and those interested in football generally, will regret to hear that Mr. H. Spurdie, the painstaking and capable secretary of the Clifton Club, has found it necessary to resign owing to pressure of business. “Harry’’ has held the reins of the club for 32 years, and will be a very hard man to replace. Secretary to an important club like Clifton is no sinecure, involving a iot of work and correspondence, as those familiar with the work ln his letters to the union he always showed that he had a clear grip of any situation that arose, and desirous of helping the sport along. Though resigning his position as secretary, members of the Clifton Club can be relied upon to see that he does not retire from the game altogether, as men of his stamp ate all too few. With the provision of good road communication, the wasted district between Tongaporutu and Mahoenui is destined to play an important part in Taranaki football. It is pleasing to note that it ? is now recognised as part of Taranaki territory, the boundary having been extended from Mokau. But for the roads it would have been included years ago. Already there is a competition going < on in the district, which should be j able to supply some useful men to the ! Taranaki reps, later on.

Fogarty, the Hawera forward, will probably be playing in the front row against South Africa in the final test.

The New Zealand authorities are taking no chances with the training of the third test team. Kingston was anxious to gq to Auckland on business and return to Wellington on Monday, hut could not get leave, so made the trip to Wellington yesterday.

YORKSHIRE LEAGUERS.

GOING INTO TRAINING.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, September 8. The Northern Union entertained the Australasian footballers at dinner at Leeds, and they were afterwards motored to their quarters at Harrowgate.

The ‘Yorkshire Rugby L T nion discussed the Northern Union’s request that the Australasians be allowed to use the ground of the Harrowgate Old Boys’ Club for training. Some members said it would be contrary to the spirit of the Rugby Union for one of its clubs to accept payment from the Northern Union. Eventually it was decided that the English Rugby Union should give a ruling on the point, treating it as a matter of urgency.