FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. PLAY IN TARANAKI. POSITION OF THE TEAMS. Ti>e position of the teams is as follows:— Senior A.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES PLAYED. v. Wanganui, lost 12 to 9. | v. Wellington, lost 13 to 3. B TEAM | v. Wanganui, won IS to 13. REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES ARRANGED. Aug. s.—v. Wanganui, at New Plymouth. Aug. 10.—v. Manawatu, at Stratford. , Aug. 12—v. Auckland, at New Plymouth, j Aug. 19—v. Wellington, at Wellington. I Aug. 23—r. South Canterbury, at Timaru. | Aug. 26—v. Southland, at Invercargill. i Aug. 30—v. Otago, at Dunedin. I Sept.—2 v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. I Sept. 16—v. Auckland, at Auckland. Home matches have to be arranged against Wairarapa, and possibly against North Auckland. FIXTURES FOR NEXT WEEK. A GRADE. Okaiawa v. Hawera, at Hawera. Tukapa v. Patea, at Patea. Clifton v. Kaponga, at Waltara. Walmate v. Stratford, at Stratford. B GRADE. Old Boys v. Inglewood, at Inglewood. Okato v. Lepperton, at Western Park. Star v. Eltham, at Sports Ground. TO-DAY’S MATCHES. A GRADE. Tukapa v. Walmate, at Sports Ground. Hawera v Kaponga, at Kaponga. Patea v. Stratford, at Patea. Okaiawa v. Opunake. at Okaiawa. B GRADE. Star v. Okato, at Okato. Old Boys v. Lepperton, at Lepperton. Inglewood v. Eltham, at Eltham. Interest in the competition matches to-day will be well spread throughout the province, as the leading teams have engagements at various centres. At New Plymouth, Tukapa will be meeting Walmate, and though the latter hare so far failed to win a match, the leaders must not hold them too cheaply. The plainsmen have shown by the great fights they put up against Patea, Clifton and Hawera that they are a force to be reckoned with when on their game, and their forwards are certain to extend the New Plymouth men. In any case, the public may rely on seeing a good Okaiawa will meet Opunake at Okaiawa, and a good tussle should result, though the southerners will probably prove too good for the coastal men. Hawera will meet Kaponga at the latter club’s ground, and will find the Kaponga men a hard proposition. At Patea the local team will be opposed by Stratford, whose performance last week stamps them as an improved team, and they are bound to fully extend the southerners. In the B Grade the opening matches of the third round will be played. Old Boys will meet Lepperton. The latter Is a much improved team, and may defeat Old Boys, whose play at times is very disappointing. These teams will have to meet again to replay the first round match. Inglewood and Eltham meet at the latter club’s ground. Eltham are confident of turning the tables on the Inglewood men. who are runners up to Old Boys. Star will journey to Okato, and another close game should, ensue. The competition matches in the various grades will be resumed to-day. The Senior A Grade matches were the only fixtures played last Saturday, and the result made no difference to the position of the leading teams, as both Tukapa and Okaiawa won their matches, while Hawera had a bye. Among the teams lower down the list Stratford defeated Kaponga, and advance into sixth position.

LAST SATURDAY’S GAMES. Evidence of the evenness of the senior competition this year was provided by the match between Tukapa and Opunake last Saturday, when the leaders were fully extended by the coastal men, who are well down the competition ladder. The contest was perhaps closer than the score of 13 to 7 Indicates. It was only when the Tukapa backs got properly into their stride in the second spell that the chances of Opunake making at least a drawn game began to recede. The first spell was in favor of Opunake, though they could not score, whilst Stohr scored a good try for Tukapa in one of the few occasions the town men invaded the coastal team’s twenty-five. The visiting forwards gained most of the scrums, heeling the ball out in good style, making many good openings for the backs, wbo. however, lacked the penetrating power necessary to pierce their opponents’ line. Tukapa livened up considerably in the second spell, the backs giving some of those crisp, sparkling rushes that delight the spectators. The Opunake forwards played a solid game and Tukapa only managed to score one try and kick a penalty goal, whilst Opunake added seven points, a potted goal by Ifwerson and an unconverted try near the end of the game by Penniall. The try Brown scored was the result of a brilliant piece of work and was reminiscent of the Brown of. old. Opunake possesses a good lot of forwards. Bowman, Norgate and Macßeynolds being perhaps the pick whilst their backs, with a little more cohesion, would be a formidable combination. , The Opunake Times, commenting on the match, says: “The game was fast right through and was enjoyed by the large crowd of spectators, who gave the visitors a great reception, applauding Individual players freely. This fine sporty spirit was much appreciated by the Opunake boys.’’ Okaiawa had a very easy win over palmate who, however, were minus several of their’best players, and though defeated by 33 points to 3, they put up a great fight Of the winning team s 33 points 15 were the result of goal-kicking. Roberts was in good scoring mood, notching two tries and converting three, also kicking a penalty goal. Stratford kept Kaponga very busy on Saturday. when the men of the central city put up 23 points to their opponents’ 3. Certainly Kaponga were somewhat on the weak side, but Stratford was not at full strength either and, scored a very meritorious win, crossing Kaponga’3 line on six occasions. Patea had to keep going to beat Clifton, the match between the men of the two river ports providing a good struggle. The manager of the New Zealand Rugby League Maori footballers, who have returned from Australia, states that financially the tour was not a success, hut loaa is in-

THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ MATCH.

The popularity of college football was evidenced by the large crowd that assembled at. Hawera on Saturday to see the annual match between New Plymouth High School and Wanganui College, and those present voted it easily the best exposition of the game seen this year. It was indeed a fine game, being played according to the best, traditions of college football, the boys being imbued with the spirit of doing their best for their school and playing clean, open football with a refreshing keenness that lasted to the close of a fast and strenuous game. Wanganui showed much improved form to that displayed against Te Aute; indeed, as one of their masters remarked, “they were a 50 per cent better team.’’ New Plymouth High School, on the other hand, were perhaps not as fresh as they were a few weeks back, the strenuous matches played in the cup competitions, in which they met heavier players than themselves, having somewhat affected them. Some of their players also had been out of action for a while, and their combination suffered somewhat through the absence of Shaw, a tricky and resourceful lad who fills a big part in the backs. Of course all did their bit for the honor of the school, and there was some fine spectacular work among the backs. The fact that they did not score more frequently was due to the great tackling of the visitors, who seldom made mistakes. The local team also tackled well, hough some of them were apt to go too high, rurward, the visitors had the advantage in the loose, though in scrum work honors were easy. School, however, deserved their win, as on the day they were the better team, and though the three points margin was the result of a penalty kick there were two or three occasions on which they had very hard luck in net scoring. Brown and Foden again showed what a great pair of backs they are, each scoring a good try. They were well supported by the rest of the team. Hewitt was the star back of the Wanganui team, playing a great game both in attack and defence. Torwards the end of the first speli he was injured, but after a brief respite came on again. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ MATCH. The primary schools match played as a curtain-raiser to the college match proved a surprisingly good exhibition, the lads showing a knowledge of the game, both back and forward, that indicadted and attention to coaching. The play shown augurs well for the football of Taranaki, and the province is fortunate in having men to take such an interest in the boys. The backs threw the ball about very neatly, and, though the North predominated in this department, there were times when they lost ground over their movements, whilst the Southerners I showed resource and nippiness. In the loose the South forwards, exhibited that dash and vim that has always been characteristic of South Taranaki, being superior to North in this department. The game ended in a draw which was a fair index of the merits of the teams. Several of the players on both sides, both back and forward, give much promise, and will assuredly be heard of later in the football world.

The New Zealand team to tour Australia will leave the Dominion on Thursday. Hickey (Clifton) and Masters (Stratford) will leave by the mail train on Monday for Wellington, where the team will assemble on Tuesday and after playing Wairarapa on Wednesday will leave by the Ulimaroa the following day for Sydney. The best of good wishes from all Taranaki footbaUers will accompany the two Taranaki men, who should be back in time to play for Taranaki against Canterbury. The record of having scored 363 points m seven matches, with only three points scored against them, is what has been achieved by the Wellington College A team In the sixth grade of the Wellington cup competitions. One of their matches was won by 98 points to nil, and another by 80 to nil. The ream is coached by A. E. Caddick. Up till last match, when they defeated Petone by 33 points to 3, they had not had a point scored against them. The Wanganui Chronicle speaks in high terms of Weir, the Imlay wing three-quarter, whose play was considered vastly superior to Hickey, the New Zealand three-quarter in the Wanganui-Taranaki match. On that day Hickey’s play was not up to senior form, but the Clifton three-quarter can be relied upon to make good in Australia. The Wellington senior competition is In -.in interesting stage. Poneke (19) have a twopoint lead over Petone (17), with Marist (16) close up. Then follow University and Berhampore (13), Athletic (12), Oriental (8), Old Bovs (6), Selwyn (4). Wellington (2). Enthusiasts will learn with regret that there will be no visit of an English team to New Zealand next season. The application of the Taranaki Rugby Union for a loan of £5OO, which will be utilised in connection with the comprehensive scheme for laying out Victoria Park, Stratford, has, with several other applications, been held over by the New Zealand Rugby Union pending receipt of further particulars re the nature of the security of the tenure of the grounds. Among the loans granted is one of £750 to Wanganui. A proposal has been made that a match should be arranged between the Taranaki Maoris and the New Zealand No. 3 native’ team which lias just completed a successful tour in Australia. The match between Okaiawa and Opunake seniors to-day will be played at Manaia, instead of Okaiawa, as originally arranged.

u « 5 £ 5 £ I ■ . g 5 5 S * £ 3 a £ £ 5 Tukapa ... 10 9 — 1 102 44 19 Okaiawa .. 10 8 2 — 107 54 16 Hawera ... 9 6 1 2 87 43 14 Patea .... 10 6 4 — 56 36 12 Clifton ... 10 5 5 — 106 67 10 Stratford . 10 3 6 1 G3 58 7 Kaponga ..9 3 6 — 60 98 6 Opunake .. 10 1 7 2 59 123 4 Waimate .. 10 — 10 — 33 142 0 Senior B. Old Boys .10 9 1 — 95 33 18 Inglewood . 10 7 2 1 70 42 15 Eltham .. 10 4 3 3 53 4S 11 Star 10 3 5 2 57 53 8 Oka to .... 10 2 6 2 21 80 6 Lepperton . 10 — 7 3 43 66 3