FOOTBALL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 18 September 1920, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

The only occasion this season on which the Taranaki team—as far as home matches are concerned —haye shown that they understood the art of-scientific and combined paiy,, was in the Auckland match played at New Plymouth. In the presence of a large assemblage of visicors from all parts of the province, they gave the redoubtable northerners a vigorous shakmg-up, and with a, little luck might easily have come through victorious. It was a little time before they appeared to wake up, and meanwhile Auckland notched a fairly easy try, but then they took their courage in both hands and kept the ball moving in strong concentrated attack, during part of the first spell and the major portion of the second. Their front rankers were getting the ball from most of the scrums, and Brown, the Taranaki half, shot it out well to his rearguard. On uumerous occasions it passed along; the whole back line; accurately, but not. as nippiJy as was the case with their opponents. Often —much too often—the wing three-quarter "was jammed on the line, where as a little more straight running and beating of an opponent by ; T,he live-eighths would have been much more, effective, and also drawn some of the defence into the centre, thus giving ! the three-quarters a much better opportunity of finishing the passing movement. I/hat was mainly Avhere the backs failed, but on occasions it looked, an error of judgment when one of the fiveeighths kicked before neing tackled'instead of running up to his opposite man and passing at the right moment. Hickey's try was the finishing touch in ona of the best "rushes of the day's play. Jack Robertson, as always, was solid in defence and in attack, prominent in every movement, and Wilkinson did not appear to get much opportunity. The forwards played a great game. The Taranalu -wing-forward was quite oveishadowed by Singe,, the Auckland winger, who gave one of the finest exhibitions of aggressive and spoiling play ever seen here tor a long tune. "He and Greville, the lengthy forward, quite outshone their companions, and were in* the"limelighf practically all the time. Anderson, at full-back, was not only brlliant, but solid and safe, taking the ball cleanly and coolly in the face of the galloping forwards, and always getting iir his kick to the line. His attempt at potting a goal was very fine, and almost succeeded, while on another-ocoa-sion he narrowly missed scoring a try, emulating in this the feat of the famed New Zealand and Wellington full-back, of the late nineties. "Baby" Wilson! who, in one of the rep matches did score a try. Auckland had a very fine speedy threequarter and five-eighths line, and when they secured the ball it travelled j,with speedy precision*-up the field. On several of-casions they caught their opponents badly out of position, and gen-. erally had two men racing down the field together at the end of a scoring movement, with only one Taranaki man to oppose them. Their final try was brilliant.

Hawera and Clifton aYe playing today at New Plymouth. It is >to be hoped they will both open up the play and ijot play so much for safety,, realising; that it is the sport of the game and not the i win alone that is to be aimed at. It seems, however, a pity that the Union did not decide to play at Stratford, for, j besides encouraging the game there it s\ would have been much easier for people ! from the south, to witness the match. The Union's action savours rather selfishness. It deprives many Hawera enthusiasts of the chance of seeing the match.

! The play of the boys in the school s rep teams is worth more than passing mention. Unfortunately the writer was not in time to Bee the. whole of the match. The portion he did see made him wish he had seen it all., The last two tries were secured in fine workmanlike style, the five-eighths cutting in cleverly and making fine openings. One would like to see the boys matched against their city brothers. Hanson and the two Pattersons were 'particularly noticeable in jthe South team, while all their backs were good. ' ! The Riccarton school's football leant this year won the Primary Schools' Junior Shield for the sixth year in succession, which is probably a record for the Dominion. The Management Committee of the Canterbury- Ruby Union, at its last meeting expressed its pleasure at Riccarton's success, and its congratulations on the strength of the present year's team. A message from London states that there &s every prospect of a. .successful Rugby ftpotball season to celebrate .the Rugby UuioJl's jubilee in England. The success of last season was comparatively poor, as ndfc sufficient $ime had elapsed to repair war's ravages, The interval has now produced a crop .of promising younger men, enabling the old stagers Ito retire. Few country games have been played. Rugby circles /egret that the Northern Union code has made such progress in "New Zealand, as well as in Australia, but there is no liklihood that the r.ulgg will be amended to meet the wishes of Australia and New Zealand. even, if international tours cease as a consequence. If, is expected that South Africa will adhere ssric£ly to the Union code. Followers of \h& viva} code in North England are elated a£ £he progress in the Antipodes, Fuji reports of the test matches played in Australia and New Zealand were read with great interest. There is an indication pf a highly successful season in the North, despite the counter-attractions of the Soccer game. There is no special need, for much change in the rules to make and keep Rugby interesting to the general body of spectators. All that is'needed js for eyesy team and their management committees to insist that their players make the play open, think more of "the sport of the game than merely winning match.es. That will g«> .a long way to- I wards countering the attractions of the ' League game. The futur,e of Rugby is largely in the hajids of the .c\uh$ and i the players. A League chaaipionship match i© Melbourne last week drew fl, record gate ' for the season of 40,000 people. 'The I gate taking were £750.