FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. r the Maoris in Australia, BEATEN BY NEW SOUTH WALES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jung 26, 10.15 p.m. Sydney, June 2G. At Rugby New South Wales beat the Maoris by 28 points (six tries, two converted and two penalty goals) to 13 (two converted tries and one penalty goal). The game was hard throughout, though lacking the brilliancy and keenness of Saturday’s match. The reversal of form was due primarily to the vast improvement of the N-w South Wales forwards, who benefited considerably by Davis, Fowles and Smith, who played in the front row. through New Zealand occupying similar positions. The Maoris were severely handicapped by the injury to Jacobs’ knee, while Matui was also injured. Phillips opened for the visitors by,, dashing across the iine after a combined rush, and Jacobs kicked a goal. The half-time scores were: New South Wales 14 Maoris 5 New South Wales added another 14 points in the second spell. Peina left a couple of opponents standing in a race for the line, and Akuria goaled, and later kicked a penalty. The game ended: New South Wales «»T«xx«r. nß K> 28 Maoris 13 The Maoris now have eight men on the injured list as a result of knocks in their two matches, and as a consequence Wednesday’s fixture against the Metropolis has been postponed till July.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. INTER-ISLAND MATCH, CHANGE IN SOUTH TEAM. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. Owing to a death in the family, C. St. George (Southland) will be unable to play in the Inter-Island match. R. Matheson (Otago) has been appointed to play half-back. THE LEAGUE GAME THE MAORIS OUTCLASSED, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received June 26, 10.15 p.m. Sydney, June 26. The League Maori footballers played Metropolitan as a curtain-raiser to the match, the Kangaroos versus Australasia. Although the home team was only about the fourth best New South Wales combination, the visitors rarely penetrated the former's territory. Metropolitan were six to nil at the Interval, and afterwards scored with monotonous rapidity. The Maoris’ tackling whs pathetically weak. The final scores were: Metropolitan 38 (ten tries and four goals) ; Maoris nil. The Kangaroos beat the Rest of Australas : a by 35 points to 24.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. AUSTRALIA V. TARANAKI. TO-MORROW’S MATCH. To-morrow the much talked of match between Taranaki and -the Australians will be played in Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, commencing at 2.15 p.m. sharp. Full arrangements have been made, and everything is well in hand to give the visitors the usual Taranaki welcome. Given a fine day, the prospects of a large attendance of both Soccer and Rugby enthusiasts are distinctly rosy. The schools have been granted a halfholiday and many of the shops will close for two hours. Though the popularity of the Soccer game in Taranaki has never come anywhere near that of Rugby, the fact of this game being against our old athletic opponents should-.be sufficient enough to bring out a large crowd; The public may be sure of an exhibition well worth watching, as both teaims are out to win, and from the description of the various games played, especially the test matches, the “Aussies" in action are a treat to witness.

In the side chosen to represent Taranaki four are from the New Plymouth Club, viz., Johnston, Worthington. Woodhead, and Fitzgerald. On paper it is a good eleven. Johnston, in goal, is always very safe and never loses hie head. The backs, Jones and Barker, are both fast and safe kicks. The halves, who will get more than their share of the work, are a clever trio, and should give a good account of themselves. The forwards, led by the New Plymouth crack centr-5 forward, Fitzgerald, will no doubt make things interesting and give the Kangaroo’s halfback a very lively time, and also, we hope, the visiting goalkeeper. Combination, of course, counts for a lot in soccer and the Australians will have a decided advantage, but provided the Taranaki men are fit and well the tussle should be a keen one.

RESULTS OF AUSTRALIAN TOUR. The results of the Australian tour to date are:— Australia 3 v. Wanganui 1. Australia 8 v. Nelson 2. Wellington 3 v. Australia 0. Australia 2 v. Westland 1. Australia 4 v. South Island 1 Australia 2 v. Otago 1. New Zealand 3 v. Australia 1. Canterbury 3 v. Australia 1. Australia 1 v. New Zealand 1. Played 9, won 5, lost 3, drawn 1. So far we are ahead of the Australians in the test matches, but as will be seen by the drawn game played on Saturday the Kangaroos are a much improved team, and will in pll probability put up the best fight of the lot at Auckland on July 8, when the third and last test match will be played. New Zealand will have their work cut out to win. Should Australia win, then the result will be similar to the great struggle for supremacy at Rugby with the Springboks last year. However, the visit of the Australians has given the “Soccer” game a much needed fillip, and although, perhaps, we may not have picked up many/ wrinkles in regard to the finer points of' the game, they illustrated the great necessity of strict training and keeping fit. As in Rugby a player must be fit to keep his place in any teaun, and our visitors are a well trained side. In all their matches it has been noticeable that during the last stages of the game they make their greatest efforts and appear to be quite as fresh as when they start.