FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. FLAY IN TARANAKI. TO-DAY’S SENIOR FIXTURES. A Grade. , B Grade. Ist Juniors (Northern Division.)’ Ist Juniors (Southern Division.)’ TO-DAY’S FIXTURES. A Grade. Opunake v. Tukapa.—At Opunake. Referee, Mr. E. P. Burke. Hawera v. Clifton.—At Hawera. Referee, Mr. A. Papps. Patea v. Kaponga.—-At Patea. Referee, Mr. J. F. Kiley. Okaiawa v. Waimate.—At Okaiawa. Referee, Mr. A. F. Neilsen. B Grade. Star V. Old Boys.—At Pukekura Park. Referee, Mr. J. Webb. Okato v. Eltham.—At Okato. Referee, Mr. P. Page. Lepperton v. Inglewood.—At Lepperton. Referee, Mr. J. Johnson. Second Grade. Tukapa v. Rahotu. —At Western Park, at 3 Star v P High School.—At Pukekura Park, at 1.15 p.m. Clifton v. Old Boys.—At Waitara, at 3 p.m. Alton v. Patea.—At Alton, at 2.45 p.m. Waimate v. Okaiawa. —At Manaia, at 2.45 p.m. Kaponga v. Opunake.—At Kaponga, at 2.45 Eltham v. Hawera.—At Eltham, at 2.45 p.m. Third Grade. Urenul v. Tukapa.—At Urenul, at 3 p.m. Clifton v. Old Boys.—At Waitara, at 1.15 p.m. Technical College v. Okato.—At Racecourse No. 1, at 3 p.m. Star v. Lepperton.—At Racecourse No. 2, at 3 p.m. Patea v. Hawera.—At Patea, at 1.15 p.m. Waimate v. Okaiawa.—At Manaia, at 1.15 p.m. POSITION OF THE TEAMS. A GRADE.

SATURDAY, MAY 20. A Grade. Stratford v. Waimate, at Manaia. Hawera v. Tukapa, at New Plymouth. Kaponga v. Okaiawa, at Kaponga. Patea v. Opunake, at Patea. B Grade. Star v. Lepperton, at New Plymouth. Old Boys v. Eltham, at Eitham. Okato v. Inglewood, at Inglewood. REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES ARRANGED. June 3 —v. Wanganui, at Wanganui. July s—v. Wellington, at Hawera. Aug. 12—v. Auckland, at New Plymouth. Aug. 19—v. Wellington, at Wellington. Aug. 23—v. South Canterbury, at Timaru. Aug. 26—v. Southland, at Invercargill. Aug. 30—v. Otago, at Dunedin. Sept.—2 v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. Sept. 16 —v. Auckland, at Auckland. Home matches have to be arranged against Wanganui and Walrarapa, and also possibly against North Auckland. NEWS AND NOTES. The competition for championship honors promises to be very keen, and with three clubs so far undefeated anch two having sustained only one loss, it is difficult to forecast the actual winners. Hawera, last year’s champions, have a good team and will lie hard to dispose of, but indications point to their having to put up great battles in practically every match. Indeed, one of the most pleasing features is the evenness of the teams, with possibly one or two exceptions, and with several of the teams capable of improvement as the season advances there are certain to be numerous survrises. The form shown by Patea and Okaiawa is particularly gratifying and before the season advances much further Waimate should be much improved, as several of the veterans have decided to come back and assist the club. Clifton appears to have struck a somewhat lean year, but there is good material there and before the season is over it will probably be found that the men of Waitara will still have their influence in deciding the result.

As expected the game between Hawera and Okaiawa provided a strenuous struggle. The Okaiawa forwards played a very hard game and kept the Hawera pack busy, whilst the tackling also was very deadly. At times there appeared to be a little unnecessary roughness infused Into the play, due possibly to some feeling between the teams, but on the whole Mr. Meuli controlled the game well. Okaiawa did their share of attacking but they could not make the same use of their opportunities, as did Hawera, and when in the latter stages the champions began to secure the ball it was easily seen that victory would go their way. Wilkinson scored a very nice try. Neither full-back was reliable. Hughes gave Hawera many an anxious moment, but he saved well on two occasions: when okaiawa pressed hotly. Atkins, at half, was not given many chances. Osborne showed tip better than he has done this season. Wilkinson and Whittington did not get the ball very often, but put in some good work. Both were injured and will probably not play today. Okaiawa possesses some good young backs, particularly Johnson at five-eighths. He runs straight and tackles well and should have a great future. Laurent, Guy and McClymont also shape very well, whilst Manu at half plays a heady game. Of the forwards Burne, Martin and Harris impressed most. The Hawera pack played their usual solid game, West and Fogarty in the van, well backed up by Sutherland, Hunt and Co.

Waimate put up a good fight against Kaponga, who only defeated them by 9 points to three. Waimate are evidently improving as Kaponga have a very solid team. It was hard luck for Waimate to lose Winters, who was unfortunate enough to break his leg. All footballers will wish this fine sport a quick recovery.

Old Boys’ play against Okato indicated that they should be capable of putting up a good display under fine weather conditions. As a whole the team played with considerable dash. It would be hard to individualise among the forwards, for they were an energetic pack. In the backs Sykes played with characteristic dash; he was an untiring worker. Marks was another who infused a lot of vim into his play. At full back Valefitlne cool reliable* Okau put up

a good showing. Most work fell on the forwards. Corbett, Roebuck and O’Sullivan took the initiative on a number of occasions. Roberts capably filled his place behind the scrum. In the position of full back Andrews was called on for a lot of work and ably took his part in the defensive work. Robson was, perhaps, the best of the other backs.

All of to-day’s A grade matches are full of interest. Perhaps the greatest interest will centre in the meeting of Tukapa and Opunake. The latter is always a dangerous proposition on their own ground and to-day, recognising that their weakness has been in their forwards, they have stiffened up the pack. Both teams have speedy backs, so a great contest should ensue. Clifton also journey to Hawera, and another great struggle should ensue between these two old rivals, and though Clifton is hardly up to last year’s strength they will keep the southerners busy. Patea play their first home match this season, when they meet Kaponga, who so far have not been defeated, but will have to play hard to-day if they are to win. Okaiawa will probably find Waimate a harder proposition to-day than other clubs have found them.

In the B grade Old Boys and Star will meet and the two town clubs should put up a good game, though possibly the superiority of the Oid Boys’ backs may prove the deciding factor. ' At Okato the local team meets Eltham and an even match shoiild result, whilst Lepperton will meet Inglewood at the former elub’s ground. The Wellington Rugby Union is being called upon to defend the Ranfurly Shield early this year. Bay of Plenty having challenged, and the match will take place on June 14. The Tukapa-Clifton game last Saturday was productive of some very good football. Anything that was lacking in scientific play was more than made up for by the keenness which both sides infused into their work. Both packs toiled hard all through, the lighter Tukapa men lasting out the game better than their opponents. It was not until the last fifteen minutes that the blues looked like winning, and it may safely be said they owed theijr victory mainly to their superior condition. The Clifton hookers secured the ball in the majority of the scrums, but good tackling by Tukapa prevented their backs from gaining much advantage. Of the Clifton forwards Tancred was the best of a good pack, Campbell also being prominent. Hickey and Jones were the best of the visiting backs. Goodwin was tried at full-back and acquitted himself fairly well. His taking from high kicks was uncertain at times. The Tukapa pack stood up to their heavier opponents well, Allen, McAllum and Cocker being perhaps the pick. Kingston played his usual safe game at full-back. Stohr and Hart, the I wings, did all that was required of them, although the latter was inclined to get out of position. Hooker was responsible for some good work, and was deserving of better luck with his goal kicking. The play at times was very strenuous, both sides showing a tendency to “mix it,” Clifton being the chief offenders. It is a pity to see senior players indulging in such tactics, and for the good of the game It is to be hoped they will “cut out the rough stuff” in future. In last Saturday’s ..natch at Stratford there was nothing to choose between the Patea and Stratford teams, and keen competition may be expected between these teams. Until the final whistle the issue was in doubt, and a few minutes before the call of time Stratford had a chance of winning by a point, being awarded a free kick right in front of ti.e posts, but a greasy ball foiled the final attempt. Coulton, Masters and Court were most In evidence among the Stratford players. Masters' weight, accounting for the first and only try. He took a pass neatly near the line and tore his way through. The Stratford players showed more individuality, but as a team Paten probably showed a little more combination.

Thompson, ti c Patea full-back, is a safe player. He was severely cut on the head on Saturday, but played on, although towards the end of the game he looked seedy. Probably with more training Patea. will do even greater things than they have done already. At the end of each spell at. Stratford on Saturday, Stratford was in the ascendancy, standing the pace a little better than their opponents.

Since the competitions opened Laurie Hunt has been the only man tn score in competition matches for the Patea seniors. Good luck has undoubtedly favored this player, but he remains a dangerous man where the finishing touch is required.

As in <most of tho matcircs, the. weather was all against good, attractive football in the Star-Inglewood match. The game soon resolved itself .into one *.etween the opposing forwards, with .a few individual efforts by the backs. No individual players stood out on the day’s play, though Sutherland, who played on the wing for Inglewood, seems likely to develop into a useful player if l:e were surer on his feet and infused a little more dash into his play. At least three times on Saturday he went very close to scoring. A noticeable feature of the game, chiefly among the Inglewood team, was the number of appeals made to the referee. This, at any time, is the duty of the captain, but on several occasions three or four han<w were raised in appeal at once. Footballers should learn to play to the whistle better.

The writer has to acknowledge receipt of the Auckland Rugby Union's handbook. This publication contains 1 ; a lot of useful information, being well compiled and up-to-date. The compiler is Mr. Thos. Buchanan, who is the official Press representative on the Auckland Rugby Union, and who for about 21 years represented Clifton on the Taranaki Rugby Union. Tom is as keen a follower of the tfarne up north as ever he was.

Congratulations to Mr. A. L. Humphries on having been appointed one of the North Island selector*?. Arthur was one of the best half-backs the Dominion has ever seen, and twenty years ago his name was a household word throughout the Dominion. Last year his clever handling of the Taranaki team prior to the great match with the Springboks, wnen Taranaki drew with their redoubtable opponents, brought him Into prominence not. only in the Dominion, but throughout South Africa, the Springboks giving him great praise. He will prove a worthy successor to Mr. D. J. Malone, who has held the position witn distinction for the past few years. The seven-aside tournament which is to be held on the New Plymouth Sports ground on June 3, is exciting considerable interest, and there is certain to be a very large entry. The Dewar Imperial Shield, a very handsome trophy, will be on view in a few days.

CENTRAL DIVISION. Tarikl first juniors beat Cardiff by 20 points to nil on Thursday. TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. RAHOTU CLUB. Rahotu v. Tukapa. Bloomfield, Greenwood, Gibson, Walsle. Doherty, Walwiri (2). Raynor, Ngaia, Rumbal, Chapman, Hopkins, Andrews. Hunter, Tamati. Emergencies: Mathews, Paton, Looney. ASSOCIATION GAME. NEW PLYMOUTH v. HAWERA. __ A "Soccer” match will be played between New Plymouth and Hawera, at New Plymouth this afternoon. The New Plymouth team is: Johnstone, Shepherd, Lawrence, Kutz, Woodhead, MacGulre. Fitzgerald, Grundy, Balchin, Howlett, Worthington, Jones, Rowland, and Gorringe. Mr. Dawson will referee.

U « 2 '= 2 .5 & c - . £ - -3 £ £ j q £ £ 5 Tukapa •.- 3 3 “ "“ * ? ’ J Hawera ... 2 2 29 9 4 Kaponga •• 2 2 !•» Okalawa ..3 2 1 20 !•» Patea 3. 2 1- 11 9 J Clifton ... 3 1 2 — 39 13 Opunake .,2 — 2 — ’ ij! _ Stratford 3 — 3 .» rq _ Waimate .. 3 — 3 — 3 ->9 B Grade. Old Boys . 3 3 23 11 $ Okato .... 3 111® 1 * 3 Star 3 1 1 1 14 9 J Inglewood ? 1 i 1 U Ji 9 Eltham ... 3 1 2 — 15 20 - Lepperton . 3 — 2 1 , The Hawera— Opunakc and Old Boys - Lepperton matches have to be replayed and may effect the results.