FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

... RUGBY GAME. S TO-DAY’S FIXTURES SENIOR A. Clifton v. Opunake, at Waitara. Tukapa v. Kaponga, at Kaponga. Hawera v. Stratford, at Hawera. Patea v. Walmate, at Patea. SENIOR B. Inglewood v. Star, at New Plymouth. < Okato v. Old Boys, at Okato. Lepperton v. Eltham, at Lepperton. SECOND GRADE. Clifton v. Star, at Waitara. Old Boys v. High School, Pukekura Park, 1.15 p.m. Tukapa v. Urenui, at New Plymouth. THIRD GRADE. High School v. Old Boys, at Racecourse No. 3. Okato v. Lepperton, at Racecourse No. 1. Clifton v. Urenui, at Urenui. Tukapa v. Technical School, Racecourse No. 2. FOURTH GRADE. Star v. Clifton, at Waitara. Tukapa v. High School, at Racecourse No. 4. Old Boys v. High School C, at Racecourse No. 2. FIXTURES FOR NEXT WEEK. SENIOR A. Hawera v. Patea, at Patea. 'Stratford v. Okaiawa, at Stratford. Kaponga v. Clifton, at Kaponga. Walmate v. Opunake, at Opunake. SENIOR B. Star v. Old Boys, at Western Park. Okato v. Eltham, at Okato. Inglewood v. Lepperton, at Inglewood. POSITION OF THE TEAMS. The position of the teams is as follows: Senior A.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES PLAYED. v. Wanganui, lost 12 to 9. REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES ARRANGED. July s—v. Wellington, at Hawera. Aug. 5. —v. Wanganui, at New Plymouth. Aug. 10.—v. Manawatu, at Stratford. 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 Wairarapa, and possibly against North Auckland.

EMERGENCY REPS. FIXTURES. July s.—Taranaki v. Wanganui, at Hawera (curtain-raiser). TO-DAY’S MATCHES , Principal inerest will centre to-day in the meeting of Tukapa and Kaponga at the latter club’s ground. Tukapa to-day is playing’ the last match of the first round, and it will be interesting to see if they can go through the round with an unbeaten record. If they can it will go a long way towards helping them In the championship, as they will be up against some stiff propositions next round. Kaponga is always a hard proposition, more so on their own ground, and Tukapa will have to play their best if they wish to come out victorious. At Hawera the local team will meet Stratford. The latter is an improving team, and expect to give the southerners a big shake up. At Waitara Clifton will meet Opunake, and on recent form the Waitara men should win, but Opunake can be relied upon to put up a good fight. Wlaimate journey to Patea, and unless the plainsmen have improved the southerners should have a comfortable win. In the B grade Old Boys, who are in the lead, meet. Okato at. the coastal club’s ground, and will have to play up to win, as the local forwards are always a hard proposition. The meeting of Inglewood and Star should be interesting, as the latter club is said to have been training. Lepperton and Eltham will meet at Lepperton.

NEWS AND NOTES., Fpr the Hawera Winter Show week the following programme has been arranged:— Wednesday, July 5, Wanganui emergency team v. Taranaki emergency team, at 1.15 p.m., as curtain-raiser, to be followed by Wellington v. Taranaki. Saturday, July 8, North v. South primary schools’ representatives as curtain-raiser, to be followed by New Plymouth High School v. Wanganui ColA North v. South match is to be played at Stratford on June 29 prior to the selection of the team to play against Wellington. The match between High School and Old Boys on the Spotts Ground, at 1.15 p.m. today should attract a good deal of interest •in view of the school’s inter-collegiate engagements. A match has been definitely arranged, to be played at New Plymouth in August, against Nelson College, and there is probability of Scots’ College, Wellington, visiting here. It was unfortunate for Patea and also for .'aranaki that McCleary, who was playing a fine game at half early in the season for the southern club was transferred to Wellington. After a couple of games there he was picked in the Wellington team against the Maoris, and commenting on his play the New Zealand Tinies says: “It will be a good man who displaces McCleary from his position of half on the day’s showing. His' untiring energy, the opportunities he made, and his crisp passing (never once was he caught with the ball) combine to make him probably one of the best half-backs seen in Wellington for years. The great revival of interest in football in New Plymouth was again evidenced on Saturday last by the crowd that attended the Tukapa-Patea match, over 3000 visiting Pukekura Park. They were provided with a fine game, and though perhaps not as spectacular as the Patea-Hawera match, the game was brimful of incident, and the issue was in doubt right to the close. Tukapa won, and perhaps on the day they deserved their win, as their condition lasted better. Patea, however, have a great set of forwards and some useful backs, though they suffered from the absence of Sam Cameron, and in the early stages it looked as if they might win. Tukapa backs, who had been playing very indifferently in the opening stages, came to light in the second half, and that made all the difference. The Patea pack is a. good, even one. The Hunt brotnen, retersen and Spratt were always on the ball, while lYti

Mekenfia, at wing-forward, also did well. Hurley, at half had plenty of opportunities, as his forwards were securing the ball, and he made some good openings, also tackling well. McKenna and Sullivan combined well. The former was always prominent, and scored a nice try, though he should have been tackled. Southcombe, at centre three-quar-ter, was a bit slow and had a day off at kicking, otherwise the score might have been different. McLean was the pick of the wing three-quarters, though Wills, a junior, did his share. Thompson, at full, was very safe. The Tukapa pack did not get the ball in the scrum, but showed up well in the loose. Linn was always prominent, as were Alien, Baird and H. Oliver. Walshe, who played in place of McAllum, who had not recovered from the injury sustained in the Okaiawa match, shaped very well. Tukapa backs were handicapped by their forwards not getting the ball very often, but when they did Brown did not get it away as smartly as usual, and some of his passes were very wild. Oliver took the ball well, but was inclined to try and go too far. Hooker was one of the best of the backs, playing his usual sound game. Ennis made some great openings, but spoilt certain tries, by trying to go on his own. Both the wing three-quarters played up to form. Kingston, at full, was very patchy at the start, and several times was in trouble. In the second spell he gave a great exhibition, lining beautifully and killifig 'the opposing pack, who began to tire palpably. Cliftoh appear to be showing Improved form as the season advances, and put up a great game against Okaiawa on Saturday, when the southerners won by a narrow margin. Ross played a sound game at fullback. Hickey was not up to usual form. Colman played well, as did Sheehan and Fryday. Campbell and Fuller were perhaps the pick of the farwards. For Okaiawa Toro was the pick of the forwards, Ike also playing well. Of the backs D. Johnson, Roberts brothers and Atkins were the pick. Old Boys beat Inglewood on Saturday, having the better of the game until the concluding stages, when Inglewood, whose forwards had played a good solid game, came to light. Old Boys' backs did not combine as well as expected. Sole, at half, did not shape too well. Wynyard did some good work, but was patchy. Bertrand scored a pretty try, getting a beautiful “dummy" on to his opponents. Sykes did a lot of good work, and appears to be striking form. Valentine, at full, was very safe. The forwards also stood up well, Blundell, perhaps, being the pick. The Inglewood pack worked well, Cheyne and Burkhart being the pick. Of the backs, Coutts Stood out on his own and did a vast amount of work, both in attack and defence. Hopson, at wing three-quarter, sfhowed a lot of dash. Messrs. Griffiths (Wellington) and Stewart (Dunedin) have been appointed selectors of the Ail Black team which will tour Australia this season. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. - TO-tfAY’S TEST MATCH. THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Dunedin, Last Night. The Australian team for to-morrow's test match is:— Goal: G. Cartwright. Backs: Fisher, D. Cumberford, Gibbs (capt). Sheaton and Doyle. Forwards: Dane, J. Cumberford, Maunder, Ward, P. Thomson. AUSTRALIANS v. TARANAKI. PREPARING FOR THE MATCH. Interest is gathering round the international "soccer” match at New Plymouth on Wednesday, June 28. This is the first time an international Association fodtball team has visited this country, and it somewhat depends on the financial success of the visit of the men from Australia whether we have a visit of an amateur international team from England next year. The Australians have been giving some excellent exhibitions of "soccer” in the South Island, and have only lost one match during the tour so far, but none of the scores denote a runaway game. The Taranaki men can be expected to hold them, even if they do not actually extend them. The final selection of the Taranaki team has not yet,/been made, but it is understood that all probable players are training hard. At least four of the representative team will be New Plymouth men; in fact, the name of their centre-forward, Fitzgerald, has been sent on to New Zealand headquarters for inclusion in the New Zealand probables. The way this player got past the redoubtable Mitchell, of Wanganui, the other Saturday, was a treat to watch.

The people of Taranaki may expect an exhibition of good, clean sport. Programmes are being printed with abbreviated rules of the game on the back, which it is hoped the Rugby followers will study so as to familiarise themselves with the difference in the style of play, especially regarding the “off-side” rule. Another point they want’ to note Is that It is the intentional handling of the ball that is penalised, and no If the ball just hits a player’s arm. The schools have been granted a halfholiday so that the scholars can witness the match. The association regrets that matters of finance will not permit them to throw the ground open to them free. Notice has been received that the Employers’ Association are recommending shops and offices to close for the duration of the match.

o g> ”* 1 • . s s s s 5 > § 2 O xi a p< Ph o Tukapa ...-.? 7 — — 74 28 14 Okaiawa ... 7 5 2 — €5 51 10 Hawepa ....6 4 1 1 67 40 9 Patea 6 4 2 — 50 26 8 Kaponga ... 6 3 3 — 44 50 6 Clifton 0 2 4 — 63 47 4 Stratford ... 6 2 4 — 34 43 4 Opunake ... 6 — 5 1 29 78 1 Waimate ... 6 — 6 — 20 90 — Senior B. Old Boys .<7 6 — 1 69 34 12 Inglewood .. 7 4 1 2 47 29 9 Eltlham 7 3 2 2 35 42 8 Okato ...... 7 2 2 3 15 45 6 Sttir — 7 2 2 3 35 27 6 Lepperton ..7 —r- . 2 5 18 44 2