FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

‘ THE RUGBY GAME ‘ TO-DAY’S MATCHES. */-' . A GRADE. Okaiawa. v. Tukapa, at Okaiawa; Mr. A. H. Guy. Clifton v. Stratford, at Stratford, Mr. GoodOpunake v. Kaponga, at Opunake, Mr. Meuli. Waimate v. Hawera, at Manaia, Mr. Kiley. B GRADE. Star v. Okato. at Western Park, Mr. Webb. Old Boys v. Lepperton, at Sports Ground, Mr. O'Grady. Inglewood v. Eltham, at Inglewood, Mr. Andrews. SATURDAY, JUNE 3. Seven-aside tournament, at Sports Ground, New Plymouth. POSITION OF THE TEAMS.

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 Tlmaru. Aug. 26—v. Southland, ax 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 W’alrarapa, and also possibly against North Auckland. TEAMS FOR TO-DAY, TUKAFA CLUB. Tukapa I v. Okaiawa. —Kingston*, Stohr, Ennis, Hart, Hooker, Oliver, Brown, McAUum, McLean, Murphy, Allen, Beard, Linn, H. Oliver, Walsh. First Juniors v. Old Boys, at 1.15 p.m.» at Pukekura Park.—Allen, McGinnis, Hurlstone, Crone, Todd, Andrews, Evetts, Cameron Bos we 1, Shaw, Priad, Hooker, Malcolawon, Lepine Stohr. CENTRAL DIVISION. MATCHES. FIRST JUNIORS. At Cardiff, on Thursday, Midhirst defeated Cardiff by 14 to 6. Toko beat Ngaere, at Toko, by 19 to 6. At Inglewood, Tarlki defeated Inglewood by 15 to nil. FOURTH GRADE. Stratford Technical High School A were de- 1 feated by Stratford by 8 to nil. NEW'S AND NOTES. The improvement in the standard of play in Taranaki as compared with the past few years was manifested by the splendid gome put up by Tukapa and Hawera last Saturday in the presence of. a record club contest attendance. If similar football is played in future the attendances should even be greater. The match was of that open, spectacular nature that appeals to the public, and its varying changes were followed with the keenest enthusiasm. It was Indeed a clean contest, fought throughout in a sporting spirit by two good teams, but Tukapa backs possessed combination, and to that they owe their victory. Each man was a cog in a well running machine. Hawera. on the ether hand, lacked combination, the ball seldom getting out to their speedy wings, and when it did there was no sting in the passing. Forward Hawera had the advantage, though the lighter Tukapa pack battled out every inch and stood up to them very well. The game opened with a sensational try that early showed the calibre of the Tukapa rearguard from a nice often I ng made by Allen, and it closed equally sensational with a clever try, in which Ennis took the star part and .Stohr added the finishing touches. Right throughout the intervening rime the game swept from end to end of tne field very rapidly, and it was anybody's gam’s. For the winners Brown, at half, was the Brown of old. playing a great game and getting the ball out from the toes of his opponents to his backs. Oliver and Hooker combined well at five-eighths, and did a lot ctf work. Ennis, at centre three-quarter, played remarkably well, running straight and taking and transferring with great judgment. Stoor used his pace and scored two good tries, whilst Hart did a lot of work, but was well marked. Kingston, at full, was, as usual, a great help to his side, though he has played bitter games Allen. Linn. Davis and Baird were the pick of a hard working pack, whilst McAllum. on the wing, was airways on the ball. Of the Hawera backs Jenkins, at full, was easily the pick, taking and kicking well and showing coolness and judgment that compared favorably with his vis-a-vis. Wilkinson and Whittington, on the wings, made some good dashes, but they were not fed over much. Robertson was the pick of the other backs, but fee has not yet struck his old form. West and Fogarty played fine games, their dribbling rushes taking a row*'.* of stopping. Chadwick, on the wing, piayed a fine, dashing game, doing a lot of good Opunake, who have recently strengthened their forward division, showed that they are always a dangerous proposition by drawing with Hawera in the re-play on Wednesday, rendered necessary by- Hawera playing Atkins in the firs* match, which Hawera won by 20 points to 6. The matches during the past week have effected a change in the championship position. Tukapa. with fife wins, having a two points lend over Patea and Okaiawa. who hav#* each one defeat, while ■ Hawera is a point further behind. Indications point to some great matches before finality is reacnea between the leading four. To-day Tukapa meet Okaiawa, and the town teaen will find the hefty country forwards a warm proposition. They play a very hard game, at times bordering very closely on roughness, but if Tukapa can get their share of the ball their speedy backs should keep Okaiawa very busy. At Stratford Clifton will meet the local team, and as these two old rivals are In equal positions on the

championship list, a close game should en«ue. Hawera wfll play Waimate. and must not hold the plainsmen too cheap, as they are an improving team. At Opunake the coastal team will probably keep Kaponga very busy.

In the B grade Eltham, by defeating the hitherto unbeaten Old Boys, have materially affected the position, and at the end of the first round Old Boys are just a point In front of last year's winners, Inglewood, who easily defeated Okato, whilst Star and Lepperton drew. With the exception of Lepperton none of the teams are more than four points behind the leaders, so the second round, starting to-day, should be full of interest.

To-day Okato and Star meet. Okato bea-t Star by a narrow margin last round, and another close game should result. Lepperton and Old Boys also try conclusions, and as both teams have improved since they 'first oner, (his should provide an interesting match. If Old Boys’ backs get going they, should win. Inglewood and Eltham, will again provide a strenuous struggle. Last time they met Inglewood won by a penalty goal, on which there is an undecided protest owing to (the placer being allowed to kick the bad.

The Eltham seniors rather excelled themselves last Saturday by decisively beating Old Boys, previously unbeaten. The game, however, considering the ideal ground and weather conditions, did not rank amongst good football, and Eltham were indeed lucky to win. Eltham’s forward line cannot be

better much, and it would be hard to individualise any player in that line. The backs, however, show weakness. Stauners, at jialf, plays a good game, and would do better with stronger support. McSweeney, at. full, and Peebles (three-quarter), and McCracken (fiveeighth) are the only three in the backs that show any promise. H. Greig, at right wing, has the displeasing habit of running in-field into rhe ruck, and gets his -team penalised frequently for hanging on too long. W. Greig plays a spasmodic game, and Loveridge, at left wing, is exceedingly weak. Though he can show a lot of "toe” once he gets the ball into his possession. The backs, generally speaking, cannot take a ball and their passing la terribly poor. Much practice is needed, and if the Eltham Club are desirous of being anywhere in the competition they will have to see to it that more training is put in.

Old Boys were without Marks, Bertrand, Sykes and Eggleton. which naturally considerably weakened them

Taranaki plays the first rep. match of the season next week, when Wanganui will be met at Wanganui. Messrs. D J. Malone, A. L. Humphries and W. A Guy, the selectors, will meet to select the fifteen to represent the province, and the result of their united wisdom will be awaited with much interest From general appearances Taranaki should be capable of producing a good team. The Star-Lepperton game last Saturday was not of a high standard, and with the exception of a few individual efforts, was an uninteresting exhibition. There is some good material in the Lepperton team, and with experience they should do better. Their backs bandied and kicked very well, Arms. Bamball and Paul being noticeable for good work. The forwards are a young and hard working pack, Feakins being perhaps the best of a useful lot.

Star showed a decided lack of combination, especially in the first spell. They improved towards the finish, but there is room for much improvement in their play, both back and for-

K. Ifwerson, who played for Opunake in the early part of the season. is back in Auckland playing for Grammar School Old Boys.

The Patea team this year 13 showing itself a power to be reckoned with. Last week, Patea comparatively easily defeated Opunake, who a few days later drew with Hawera. It is pleasing indeed to notice such a revival In football at the other end of the province, the improvement on last year beng most marked. When the new gymnasium, which is almost completed, is ready for training operations, an even greater improvement should be shown. Patea seem to have good staying power, for though they were only leading by 3 to nil at half-time, they rattled on 15 more points before the final whistle sounded. Sam Cameron at five-eighths played a great game, and was well supported by Sullivan and Frank McKenna. McLecn on the wing was also good, though Scully, on the other wing, was not particularly impressive. Thomson at full-back was invariably safe. Among the forwards. Laurie Hunt was the outstanding figure, and If he raaintlans his present form he should be at Wanganui next week with the amber and black jersey on. Spratt was another forward who piayed a hard but clean game. Of the others in the Patea pack, Crompton, Petersen, Fred McKenna and Len. Hunt caught the eye most.

No one can deny the fact that Opunake has the makings of a good team, but they seemed to go to pieces towards the end. In the first half they did tbeix fair share of attacking, their rear division giving promise of scoring several times. As a team they seemed to lack staying power. Practice is the only way to remedy this defect. Tuwhaka, Rye, Pennloll and Hokaia played well in the backs, but would be a much solider proposition if they worked more in unison. Tuwhaka has a habit of trying to “hurdle” tacklers, and this very nearly landed him in trouble on Saturday. A. Lusk at full back was fairly safe. He should, however, get rid of the ball 'quicker, as the fast-followlng-up atea pack caught hirti with the ball on several occasions, front one of which Patea were unlucky not to score. Of the fQrwards,,no player stood out prominently, though Norgate.was generally where the ball

AUCKLAND REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. Says the Observer: The Auckland Rugby Union has a big task in front of it this year to convince the rest of New Zealand regarding the efficiency of the amended rules. Some of the unions have adopted the mandate with bad grace, and will take a good deal of convincing that the amendments improve the game. Auckland’s southern tour, therefore, will be of a missionary character and of paramount importance to Auckland. The rep. team will have to be comprised of our best warriors to convincingly illustrate the necessity for the adoption of the amendments to advance Rugby. The new rules truly will be on their trial south. ASSOCIATION GAME. HAWERA DEFEATS STRATFORD. Playing at Hawera on Thursday, the Hawera Association team defeated Stratford by five goals to one. SHANNON INCIDENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmerston N., May 26. A meting of the Shannon Football Club decided not to play the senior and third grade matches set down to-mor-row as a protest against the action of the Horowhenua. Union in suspending the Shannon ground consequent on the referee being assaulted last week. Members of the club and the public of Shannon were appointed to wait on the union to protest against the action.

A Grade. •6 E* § i | a £ 1 s a 8 Tukapa .. 5 5 — — 60 IB 10 Patea 5 4 1 — 4. Okalawa 3 4 1 — H n wpri 4 2 11 44 31 5 Kaponga 4 2 2 — 29 30 4 Clifton 4 1 3 — 35 29 Stratford 4 13 — 18 28 Opunake . 3 — 4 1 20 49 Waimate - 5 — a — Old Boys B Grade. 4 1 — 37 25 8 Inglewood 3 3 11 30 14 Eltham 5 *> 2 1 32 28 a Star 5 12 2 20 21 4 Okato ... . 12 2 12 30 4 Lepperton 3 — 3 2 Play ©Id Buys off and Lepperton bare yet to