FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. tO-DAY S MATCHES. REPRESENTATIVE FOOTBALL Taranaki v Wanganui, at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, 3 p.m Star n. v Tukapa 11., at 1.30 p m (Carbine Shield match). NEXT WEEK'S MATCHES THURSDAY. AUGUST 10. Manawatu v. Taranaki, at A. and P. Grounds, Stratford, 3 p.m. Stratford 11. v. Okaiawa 11.. at 1.30 p.m. (Junior semi-final). Kaponga IV. v. Stratford or Stratford D.H.S. IV (fourth grade semi-final) at 12.15 p.m. SATURDAY, AUGUST 12. Auckland v. Taranaki,* at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, at 3 p.m. Clifton 11. v. High School, at 1.30 p.m. (Junior Pinal in Northern Division). Wai tar a v. Stratford, at 12.15 p.m. (final of Schools Championship). REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES PLAYED. v. Wanganui, lost 12 to 9. v. Wellington, lost 13 to 3. B TEAS! v. Wanganui, won 18 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. 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. NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN AUSTRALIA. MATCHES TO DATE. N.8.W., won by 26 to 19. Metropolitan, won by 24 to 6. MATCHES TO PLAY August 5 v. N.S.W. August 7 v. N.S.W. August 9 v. MetropoliUn. POSITION OF THE TEAMS. The pdbitlon of the teams is now as follows: ▲ GRADE.

CUP FIXTURES. Owing to the representative fixtures against Wanganui and Auckland occupying the next two Saturdays, there will be no cup matches until Saturday, August 19. The following are the remaining fixtures:A GRADE. Saturday. August 19. i Clifton v. Tukapa, at Wai tar a. Stratford v. Hawera, at Stratford. Kaponga v. Okaiawa. at Okaiawa. Opunake v. Patea, at Opunake. Wai mate a bye. Saturday, August 26. Clifton v. Stratford, at Wattara. Tukapa v. Kaponga, at New Plymouth. Waimate v. Patea. at Manata. Opunake v I at Opunake. Okaiawa a bye. Saturday. September 2. Clifton v. Okaiawa, at Okaiawa. Tukapa v. Stratford, at Stratford. . Kaponga v. Opunake, at Kaponga. Waimate v. Hawera, at Hawera. Patea a bye. Saturday, September 9Clifton v. Hawera, at Waitara. Stratford v. Okaiawa. at Okaiawa. Kaponga v. Patea, at Kaponga. Waimate v. Opunake, at Manata. Tukapa a bye. B GRADE. Saturday. August 19. Star v. Old Boys, Sports Ground. Okato v. Eltbam, at Opunake. Inglewood v. Lepperton, at Lepperton. Saturday, August 26. gear v. Lepperton, at Western Park Old Boys v. Eltham, at Eltham. Okatc v. Inglewood, at Okato. TO-DAY’S MATCH. TARANAKI v. WANGANUI. THE TEAMS AND PROSPECTS. The Taranaki representatives will be seen in action for the first time In New Plymouth this year, when they will meet Wansanu. on the Pukekura Park sports ground to-day. Wanganui are visiting New Plymouth after an absence of thirteen years. The last match was played in 1909, when Wanganui won. Taranaki and Wanganui have met frequently since in Taranaki, but the matches have been played at Hawera. with the exception of one at Stratford. Already this season the teams have met. Wanganui defeating Taranaki on June 3 at Wanganui by 12 points to 9. On that occasion, however, Taranaki hardly did themselves justice, as the team played within about an hour and a half after arriving at the end of a long motor journey. To-day Taranaki is hopeful of turning the tables The match should prove a spectacular one, as both teams possess speedy and resourceful backs. Wanganui’s natives, Pelna and Potaka, who have just returned from Australia, are clever players, while in Delves they have a more than useful five-eighths. Baddeley. at half, was considered by many as in the running for New Zealand honors, and Weir is also considered to be superior to Hickey at wing three-quarter. Their forwards are a solid lot, though Bellis will be missed. The team motored through and reached here last night. The Taranaki team is a very strong one, mi,ancaufii. st itself*

ward It Is. perhaps, the strongest that, with ‘ Masters away in Australia, could be picked. The backs are an entirely different combination to that which enet Wanganui earlier in the season ; Vaughan is the only one of the septette to hold his place. Colman, who is one of Taranaki’s most versatile players. Is half, and there Is no question that he Is the best of those offering to-day. It is, however, a striking comentary on the lack of young players that a veteran ha? to be taken for this position. However, bis knowledge should prove invaluable to the other members of the rear division, who are all young. Fryday, at first five-eighth, should fill the bill well, as he is solid In defence, runs straight, and gets rid of the ball well. Johnson justified his inclusion Ln the Wellington match. The threequarter line should be a great attacking one. Vaughan, at centre, is fast and runs straight, but is inclined to hold on to the ball too long. He must remember that he has two speedy wingers who require to be fed if they are to have scoring opportunities. Given the ball. Loth Stohr and Wilkinson will keep the opposition busy. Roberjscn, at full-back, is a solid defender. Taken right, through, the team IS one that should make good. The majority of the Taranaki team arrived in New Plymouth by the mail "train last night, and the others will assemble early this morning. The teams are as follow: WANGANUI. Full-back: Collier. Three-quarters: Head. Potaka, Weir. Five-eighths : Peina, Delves. Half: Baddeley. Wing: A. Brown. Forwards: W. Smith, Stewart, Harre, Packer, Ross, Abbott, Cox. Reserves: Hartley (back), Collerton (forward). TARANAKI Full-back: Robertson (Hawera). Three-quarters: Wilkinson (Hawera), Vaughan (Stratford), Stohr (Tuka Five-eighths: Johnson (Okkiawa), Fryday (Clifton). Half* Colman (Clifton). Rover: Malone (Kaponga). Forwards: Campbell (Clifton), Hammersley (Kaponga), Laurie Hunt (Patea), Scott (Kaponga), McCullough (Stratford), West and Fogarty (Hawera). Emergencies: Backs, Marks (Old Boys), Ennis (Tukapa), Coutts (Inglewood) ; forwards, Brien Okaiawaf, Crompton and Spratt (Patea). TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. Old Boys third grade team to play Clifton on the Racecourse at 1.15 p.m. is as follows: Corkill. Merton, Falwasser. Wheeler, Newell, Bayly, McHardy, Olson, Rae, Drader, Luxton, Rawlinson, Ellis, Allan, Frethey. The Star third grade team to play Technical School on the Racecourse at 1.1-5 p.m. is as follows: Morris, Parker, Russell, Bullott, Hoffmann, Loveridge, Smith, Stroud, McKenzie, R. Berge, Murphy, Kendell, Eyre, Francis, N. Berg. SECOND GRADE COMPETITION. High School went out to Urenui on Thursday and defeated the local team by 11 points to 3. High School and Clifton, who are now level at the head of this grade in the northern division, will play off, the game being made a curtain-raiser to the Auckland-Tara-naki representative match at> Pukekura Park to-day week.

WAIPAPA V. TIKORANGL On Wednesday a return match was played In Messrs. Parli Bros/ paddock, Motunui, between Waipapa and Tikorangi factories, the former winning by the comfortable margin of 12 points, the scores being 15 (5 tries) io 3 (1 try). It proved to be a very fast and interesting open game throughout. The first try was scored by T. Bailey on the wing, after a good passing rush, all hacks handling well. This same player scored again soon after by fast following up. beating the full back for the ball. L. Skelton failed with the kick. Then C. Woods set the Tikorangi backs moving, the ball travelling out to Morrison, who dived over at the corner. C. Foreman failed to convert. Waipapa got going, the ball travelling to W. Skelton, who fumbled, but recovered sunartly, and. sprinting, beat the full-back and scored between the posts. He failed with an easy kick. The next, try came after a forward rush. W. Brown (five-eighths) picked up smartly, transferred to W. Skelton, who scored his second try, but again failed with the kick. Tikorangi now were showing signs of weariness. Then F. Parli (who was playing a great game at wing-forward) kicked, and T. Bailey following fast, scored his third try. R. Roach failed to convert. The game ended soon after with Waipapa pressing. Mr. L. Andrews gave every satisfaction as referee. After the match the visiting team were hospitably entertained by Waipapa, who have now won 4 matches in succession, and have not been defeated.

NEWS AND NOTES. C. Brown, the Tukapa half, is at present an inmate of the hospital, as a result of injuries sustained in the Tukapa-Hawera match on Wednesday. A small bone In the leg is broken and the angle Is wrenched. Excitement ran high last Saturday during the progress of the Tukapa-Okaiawa match, the match that virtually decided the senior competition, and. as a result, Tukapa are now fairly assured of being the Taraftaki champions for 1922. The teams were separated by one point at the head of the championshin table and had Okaiawa succeeded in winning this would have placed them a point ahead of their rivals. But success did not come their way this time for, after a keen, hard-fought battle for supremacy. Tukapa emerged victorious by 8 points to 3. More brilliant games have been seen, but nevertheless the match was ful’ of exciting incidents, which were followed with keen interest by the 2600 people present. The game was an exceptionally fast one and it speaks well for the stamina of those taking part that they played with undiminished vigor throughout, never relaxing their efforts. Much had been heard of Okaiawa’s fast dashing pack of forwards and their display on Saturday certainly did not belie the reputation that had preceded them. Heavier than the opposing pack they invariably heeled the ball out quickly and cleanly from the serum, giving their backs opportunities of winch they availed themselves fairly well. In tbe loose, too, the visiting pack gave a splendid display, coming to the rescue of their side with irresistible sweeping rushes down field. In the line-out and in tight work they were perhaps not so successful and in these departments honors may without prejudice be bestowed upon the Tukapa rearguard. As for both sets of backs they gave a good, yet disappointing, display. Time and again—and this happened on both sides—the ball would be smartly sent out to the backs, a promising passing rush would start, and spectators, all agog with excitement, were expectant of something “classy” in store for them, when the whole movement would break down through a dropped pass or a knock-on. But there was one piece of sheer brilliance that gave Tukapa their early lead and was really the deciding score of the match. Tukapa were in a good attacking position when Brown made an opening for his backs, the ball going via Oliver and Hooker to Ennis who badly beat Roberts. The defence was being drawn towards the corner and, later beating Roberts, Ennis shot the ball out to Stohr who cut in on the defenders, beat the full back (Tuki) and scored behind the post? Perhaps the jolting in the of backs was attributable to lack of generalship. Guy and D. Johnson, who had played well together in the five-eighths line, were separated. Guy going on the wing and James (a junior) filling the first five-eighths position. This experiment not proving too satisfactory, Roberts took James’ place during the second spell, Guy was moved in to centre, and James went out on the wing. Later Guy went to fiveeighths. This proved a better arrangement, but the change was made too late. In any case, it does not pay to experiment in important unatches. The way to Okaiawa’s only score was paved by D. Johnson, who played much better as the game progressed. He made a useful run in Tukapa’s twenty-five before handing on to J. Taylor, who scored. This still left Tukapa, for whom Hooker had later landed a penalty goal, with a lead of five points, an advantage they did not lose despite Okaiawa’s repeated endeavors to draw level. On the whole the game made up in exciting anyUiiQg it lacked in brUltaace and

was well worthy of a match between rival champions.

The tmatch between Hawera a’nd Patea last week proved a disappointment. After the latter team’s defeat of Tukapa the previous week something great was expected, but play right through was only of a mediocre character. The forwards in both sides did some pood" work. West. Fogarty, and Sutherland showing up for Hawera. as did Hunt. Spratt, and Fred. McKenna for Patea. Of tbe backs. Sullivan and Frank McKenna were the pick for Patea. The former has a. tendency to get in some tricky kicks, which, however, failed to come off. Wilkinson for Hawera seldom got a chance to show his scoring abilities.

Kaponga had no difficulty in defeating Waimate on Saturday. It looks as though the plainsmen will have trouble in breaking their duck this year.

Clifton were unable to get a team to make the trip to Opunake, and so were reluctantly compelled to forfeit. It is stated that several Clifton players were incapacitated through sickness, etc. This (s unfortunate, especially in view of the strong representations made by ..Clifton to have the full programme carried out. The Auckland team, which is to play Taranaki on Saturday next, leaves Auckland on August 8, and returns home on September 5. During the tour they play eight matches, viz., South Auckland, Taranaki, South Canterbury. Otago, Southland, Canterbury, Wairarapa, and Wellington. The team will arrive in New Plymouth on Thursday evening. August 10, and will leave again on Monday morning.

Taranaki’s representatives in the New Zealand team have each worn the fern leaf in Australia. Masters being played against New South Wales and Hickey against Metropolitan. Both will return to New Zealand in time to accompany Taranaki on the southern tour. On Thursday next Taranaki will meet Manawatu at Stratford, and on Saturday the Auckland touring team will visit New Plymouth. These representative matches should give the Taranaki touring team a great chance of getting combination.

The various junior grade competitions are now nearing conclusion, and during the coming week several semi-finals will be decided. The matches will be played as curtain-raisers to the representative matches.

i 1 Q a i Tukspa -rrx»3 13 11 1 130 68 23 Okalawa 13 10 3 — 132 68 20 Patea ....•» 13 8 5 03 16 Hawera ..... 12 7 3 2 111 68 16 Kaponga .... 12 6 6 — 104 125 12 Clifton 12 7 — 118 81 ’.10 Stratford .... 12 7 89 70 9 Opunake .... 12 2 8 2 59 136 4 Wakmate .... 13 — 13 54 199 Senior B Old Boys .... 13 11 2 — 117 22 Inglewood .... 13 10 2 119 59 zl Eli ham 13 6 a 2 87 Okato 13 7 33 91 13 3 8 2 73 97 Lepperton ... 13 — 10 3 61 95 3