FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. PLAY IN TARANAKI. fcO-DAY’-S SENIOR FIXTURES. A Grade. Tukapa y. Stratford, at New Plymouth; Referee, P. Page. Hawera v. Opunake, at Hawera : A'. F. Neilson. Clifton v. Waimate, at Waitara : F. Hooker. Patea v. Okaiawa at Okaiawa; J. S. McKay. B Grade. Okato v. Star at Okato: J. Johnson. Old Boys v. Lepperton at Lepperton: F. Julian. Inglewood v. Eltham at Eltham: F. A, Phelan. SATURDAY, MAY 29 SENIOR A. Okaiawa v. Opunake, at Opunake; Referee, A. H. Guy. Stratford v. Kaponga, at Kaponga; J. F. Kiley. Patea v. Clifton, at Waitara; F. Julian. Tukapa v. Waimate, at Monafa; F. A. Pt elan. SENIOR B. Old Boys v. Inglewood, at Inglewood; J. H. Thompson. Okato v. Lepperton, at Lepperton; J. 0. Grady. Eltham v. Star, at New Plymouth; F. Hooker. REFEREES FOR TO-DAY. 2nd GRADE. Clifton v. Star, Western Park, 1.15 p.m.; J. O’Grady. Old Boys v. High School, Racecourse No. I, 3 p.m.; F. Webb. Tukapa v. Urenui, at Urenui, 3 p^in.; E. Andrews. 3rd GRADE. Tukapa V. High' School, Racecourse No. 1, 1.15, p.m.; A. Papps. Ohl Boys v. Urenui, Racecourse No. 2, 3 p.m.; Len. Goodacre. Clifton v. Lepperton, at Waitara, 1.15 p.m.; L. Andrew. Okato v. Star, Racecourse No. 3, 3 p.m.; A, McLean. 4th GRADE. Clifton v. Tukapa, Racecourse No. 4, 3 p.m.; E. Gilmour. High School C. v. Star, Racecourse No. 1, 1.15 p.m.; Len. Goodacre. High School D v. Old Boys, Racecourse No. 2, <0.15 pun.; F. Webb.

With the commencement of the cup fixtures the football season for 1922 will be j officially opened in Taranaki to-day. i Indications point to the season being one j of the best that has yet' been seen in Tara- ; naki. There is a keenness everywhere among players and enthusiasts that is very refreshing. Players of all grades have gone in for systematic training and should take the field fitter than is usually the case at this time of the year. It is to be' hoped this enthtMiaam will be maintained right to the close of the season, and if so there is bound to be a general improvement in the standard of play. Interest will centre in all the matches today, as the strength of the teams is unore or less an unknown quantity. Perhaps most interest will be in the meeting of Hawera and Opunake. Last year’s champions have had the advantage of a match together and sliould just about win. The match, however, should be worth going a long way to see, as each team possesses speedy and clever backs, who will make the game open. The inclusion of Ifwerson, the New Zealand rep., in the coastal team has had the effect of considerably improving that club’s rearguard, which consisted of keen young players who have profited by the advice of their experienced coach. Their forwards, also, show improvement on last year. Hawera greatly improved by their display against Imlay last week. Their backs are speedy and plucky. In Pareell they have a five-eighths who cuts in nicely and plays a heady game, while Atkins at half opened the game well. Walsh did not play up to form, in fact, on Saturday’s play he was the weak spot. The threequarter line Is good. Wilkinson played right up to top form. He has a beautiful swerve, which made his opponents look silly time and again. Jack Robertson at centre is not yet right, up to top form, though he did some good work. He is apt to hold on too long. Whittington on the other wing ran straight. Hughes at full back was safe. 'Hie forwards, fed by West and Fogarty, are a good pack.

At Western Park Tukapa and Straitford will meet. This should provide another good contest. Tukapa is a stronger team than last year, including Kingston, R. Oliver, Hart, G. Hooker, and C. Brown among its backs, while the forwards will be lead by Allen and McAllum. Beard, a Wanganui player, is .an acquisition, whilst the other members of the team are young players who represented the club last year. Stratford also has a team of young players, who are expected to keep their opponents more than busy. H. Masters. the Taranaki rep. forward, is in good Waknate are said to be weak this year and will probably be beaten by Clifton, as last year's runners-up have a strong team again. The match between Patea and Okaiawa should provide an even contest. Leppterton, who won the junior champipnship last year, make their debut in the’ B grade. They are confronted with a strong proposition in meeting Old Boys, whose backs are very speedy and resourceful. The country forwards, however, can be relied upon to keep their opponents moving. The match between Eltham and Inglewood will prov-de a good struggle. Eltham has a stronger team than last year and so have Inglewood, as the latter club showed by winning the seven-a-side tournament at Waitara on Easter Monday. The Star-Okato match should also be interesting. Star is said to possess a much stronger combination than last year, whilst the Okato club possesses some new men, and will also have the assistance of Eustace. Footballers generally will regret to hear of the death of the late T. Duffy, the very promising young Opunake footballer, who died on Tuesday as the result of injuries received while motoring back to Opunake after the Manaia tournament on Saturday, April 8. Deceased was a fine, manly young fellow, who would have made his name in the footba. 1 world, and was well liked and respected. His relatives will have the sympathy of all.

The tournament at Kaponga on Thursday, April 27, is attracting great interest and promises record entries. Teams from all parts of Tranaki will be competing, and the presence of a team from Petone, including the redoubtable Nicholls Bros.. Ryan, and Connor, will give it unore than local interest. The handsome shield is worth winning. The management committee intend to take definite steps to fix the boundaries of the various districts this year. Ever since the papers defining the boundaries were destroyed by fire ti ere has been some little doubt as to tbe actual line of demarcation between some of the districts, and consequently uncertainty in some oases as to which club a player should join. During the war periol the unatter was not of so much moment, but now that football is coming back again and clubs are springing up >n various centres, it is absolutely necessary that all boundaries should be defined. Mr. A. Lees, of Okaiawa, has un< rthed records giving the boundaries of some of the Southern districts, and an endeavor is being made to find the original boundaries of the other districts. The Kaponga Club has received word that Petone, the redoubtable club in Wellington, is sending a team to take part in the seven-a-side tournament on April 27. Other teams which have entered are New Plymouth High Sebeol, OpUMke, Hawera aad Ka»nga.

The boundaries so far ascertained are os follows: Eltham.—From Te Roti station down Skeet Road to Mountain Road, alomß Mountain Road •to T&whiti Hill, thence through to Fraser Road (both sides of this road) to Rotokare Road. On west side from Te Roti Station along railway on east side to Neill Road, along northern side of Neill Road to Manga•tokl stream, and /along eastern side of Mangatoki stream to Opunake-Stratford Road, along Opunake Road to Hastings Road, and along that road to Finnerty Road, along that road on southern side to Mountain Road, along Mountain road to Cheal Road, along Cheal Road to Robson Road to Wingrove Road, along Wingrove Road to Rawhitiroa Road east. Kaponga.— from mountain reserve down Oeo river to Skeet, Road, thence along Skeet Road to Raimer Road, both sides to Neill Road. Along Neill Road to Mangatoki reserve. North that stream to Mountain reserve. North boundary; mountain reserve. Walmate.—'From eastern coast line up Inaha Road to Riverdale factory, thence along Inaha Road to Narmanby Road, with the exception of farms on western side froun Riverdale factory to the Normanby-Manaia Road, along Kokiri Road to Skeet Road, thence io Oeo river and down Oeo river to sea coast on western boundary. |

Okaiawa.—From coast line at Inaha Road (eastern side of road) to Riverdale factory, farms on western side of Inaha Road from Main South Road to Normanby-Manaia Road, up Kokiri Road from Normanby Road to Skeet Road, thence along Kapuni stream to NeUl Road, along Neill Road to the railway line, thence along the line to Te Roti station, thence along Skeet Road to Mountain Road, thence along old Mountain Road to Winks’ crossing, along Walker Road to Ketemarae» down that road to the Whenuku Road, along that road to Walngongoro river, down that river to the coast. Hawera.—As fixed by boundaries on both north and west as described by Eltham and Okaiawa boundaries, southern boundary Manawapou river. Opunake.—To Oeo river. As showing the marked advance in the Rugby game in Wellington already 97 teams have entered for tho various grade competitions during the season. Further entries are expected and it is anticipated the total number of teams will be 100. Thus, irrespective of the schools, which provide a large number of juvenile players, no fewer than 2300 men and youths will be playing under the union's banner this season. This is an easy record. The Wellington Rugby Union had a profit on the last year’s workings of £1762 6s sd, and its credit at the bank Is £3126 8s 7d. The gate receipts at the Athletic Park totalled £6144 2s sd; £2717 10s 5d was spent on improvements to the ground, and further expenditure in this connection is contemplated. When the improvement are completed it is anticipated that the Athletic Park will be one of tie finest grounds in Neva