FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 59, 18 June 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

(By -Spectator.'') I** K +* 5 • '? -3 3 1 o a s % s Stratford .. 5 4 1 0 51 15 9 Tukapa, 5 3' 2 0 55 2S 8 Clifton 5 3 1 1 52 0 7 Eltham 5 2 0 3 35 44 4 Star 5 1 0 4 33 44 2 Inglewood ... 5 0 0 5 17 104 0 The Taranaki Rugby Union has made known that in its opinion the striking of a player by another on the field of play isn't a very serious matter. Nor is it a. very bad oll'ence to swear at a referee. Is it worth while for a referee to report a player at all? If this batch of sentences can be taken as an indication of the Union's attitude towards •lay. the players will soon be able to do as they like. The Star-Stratford match on Thursday was a good "go." It was all the more appreciated because, like many other bi.'ss'mgs. the hard struggle was quite unexpected. A little less selfishness on the part of the Star captain would probably have spelt defeat for Stratford. It may,look like "rubbing it in." but many a. prominent footballer of to-day owes his position to having dropped an outstanding fault because of newspaper criticism. Hill will doubtless remember that on several occasions he held far too long before passing to Grant. Selfishness is a terrible lault in a centre threequarter. Emery is a good full-back. He opened poorly oil Thursday.

Brown ana Whitakcr played splendidly en Thursday, both in attack and defence. Brown was evidently glad to be relieved of the responsibility of captaining the team, and played his best game of the season to date. Grant was right on his game, and did everything well that came his way. Ross was prominent in the forwards. He denies the rumor that he will play for the Northern League team to-day. Turnbull was generally "on it," and Dixon, Hawkins. Hopkins, and Bellringer were going right through the piece. So was Bullock, who uses his head as well as his ;\e.. "Put the boot in," is a favorite barracker's phrase. Mr. Eliot, a Waitara referee, won't tolerate the words. Quite right!. It savors a bit of "Give 'em the axe!" The accident to Burghain was most unfortunate. He was playing a most u ,e----ful game right through till the moment of the unfortunate collision. Tocker and Bonner played very safe games for Stratford. The hitter never missed getting the ball- if it came his way. And he sent it'out smartly. The forwards were evidently nonplussed hi the loose play. With the exception of the one forward who has seval times been criticised this season there seemed to be no rough player engaged. ihe Eltham-CHfton match provided some good football., Though fought very strenuously, it was absolutely devoid of any ill feeling. Clifton forwards were superior to Eltluun in the line out and loose, and De Blois, Cain, «Loveridge and Crowley were always prominent. Eltham hookers managed to secure the ball, but it seemed to hang badly in the pack. Clifton wings were thus always able to get round before the Eltham half could set his backs going. Eltham werej also handicapped by being a forward short. Among the Eltham forwards,' Levick, Narboy, and Osborne shone throughout. Charteris was prominent in the loose, but did not appear to be doing his share of the heavy graft. Sampson, as full back for Clifton, played a good game, his long kicks to touch being very demoralising to the Eltham forwards. He was also sound on defence.

The Clifton three-quarter line is a fast nippy one. Jones at centre takes the ball neatly and feeds his wings well., Tate plays with great dash and is very fast. He was well watched on Thursday, and only crossed the line once, when he got across with a fine determined, swerving run.

Goodwin, on the other wing, is a brilliant player, solid on defence, fast and tricky. He has a tendency to play to the "gallery."' , | Kyle, at five-eighths, was prominent in every passing rush, and made some nice openings for his confreres. Lash does not equal his predecessor, S. George, at half back. He is very solid, though, and! goes down to rushes well. He does not pass smartly enough. A slow, high pass is too easily intercepted. He should practice getting the ball away without, bringing his 'hands above his head. Workman, at full back for 'Eltham, did' all that was asked of him, although he 1 carries plenty of condition. He was also, useful when removed to wing three-quar-ter in the second spell. I

Dive, at centre three-quarter, played up to his best form, and was often very dangerous. His tackling was sound, and his centring kicks were of great service on several occasions.

Potier, on the wing, also played with great dash, and with Dive and Moir had a hand in numerous passing rushes. | Glentworth,. on the other wing, was , very weak, but when shifted to full back in the second spell showed an improvement, although he made one or two fead' mistakes. Moir played a solid game and made some nice openings. It was hard luck for him that the whistle had gone for a throw forward before he took Goodwin's pass forward, as he was robbed of a cer j tain try. Cooper, at half, did not go down to the, forward rushes as might have been desired. McLean, at wing forward, played a very useful game, and was always, handy. A feature of the game was the improvement in the method of tackling. Both teams took their men fairly low, and there was not so much reaching for an opponent's neck as usual. It has been quite evident from the poor goal-kicking in the New Zealand matches in Australia that Stohr was | not playing. A private letter received from "Jack" states that, on arrival in Sydney, he had his shoulder medically examined —it had been painful from the night of the match in Wellington just prior to leaving. It was found that the ligaments of the left shoulder had been badly torn, and play was out of the question. He expects to have a game. , or two later in the tour. J

'HIE JL'NIOR GRADES. I mil's,[a \ ■, junior games were a de- . ..: .; .'!:,| :o\i iiic:si on anything seen ,1 - m\;-oii. I lie contests were mostly : ... . ana o|ien, ihe decision of the various | ..in-, en._ug.-d. in adopti.;g the "tivej,. ard I brown-in" being in no lialc way .. --j-■«•;i- nile lor ihe at irai li\ cm, -.-, o ; me linij-.r.iy of the games. Une wry noticeable feature is the absence, of former aimo-i incessant appealing in a number of the matches played, although there are still some offenders. The most n-! noying point is, that through ignorance of the rules, these appeals are generally made when tu; breach has been committed. The referees have been very strict on "appeals," and it must be admitted that they 'have done a lot to stop this objectionable practice, but, there are players who generally have their ''little nag" when the referee's back is turned. 1 It is a very dill'ieiiU matter to catch the culprit. Players would do well in re-1 membering that should a referee miss any breach, no amount of appealing will make 'him see it. This lesson applies eiiuallv to the senior ranks. i

The Tukapa —Inglewood first junior played on the Western Park was a splendid game. It was the general opinion that Inglewood, who had only suffered one defeat this season, would wm, The game was very evenly contested until the last twenty minutes, when superior condition and combination told its tale, the "blues" scoring four tries in quick succession. in the home team it is a difficult matter to single out any one of the backs for special mention. Each one played a sterling game, and their nippy passing rushes would have done credit to many of the senior teams. Addison, at five-eighths, was a success, making some splendid openings wliich the other backs did not fail to take advantage of. In Ryder (wing three-quar-ter) the team has a great scoring man. He takes a pass veil, and, what is more, is always in his place when wanted. The forward division played with good combination, Francis and Allen being most conspicuous in the loose, although the latter player and Bullot have a great tendency for "off-side" play, and were responsible for their team being penalised a great deal more than was necessary in Thursday's match.

The Star first juniors, by defeating Stratford on Thursday, scored their first win for the season. They have had bad luck in not being able to place the same, team in the field on any two occasions. They are a team which requires a little talking to. Bullot (the skipper) allows other members of the team to do it, with the result that there are generally about "thirteen" captains. I The Eltham first juniors are still on top in the second grade, having finished the first round without a defeat. In i Robinson, of their forward division, they have a great scoring man. Up till last 1 Thursday (of which day this scribe is' not cert'tin) he scored two tries in :;very match 'lie played. They owe a lot to their sele«tor and coach, Mr. H. Nuttall, for the indefatigable interest he takes in the team. It is not often that one looks to third grade teams for any brilliant exhibition of Rugby, but mention must be made of :'v >tar-Stratford third grade match, played on the Racecourse ground on Thursday. Although considerably heavier than the home team, the visitors found plenty to do in repelling the vigorous attacks Which were made into their territory. Stratford kept the blacks on the defence during the most of the second spell and registered a try. The back play of the visitors was superior to that >f the home team, but some of thorn spoiled many chances by not running straight. Some of them have yet to learn that the goal line is at the end and not at the side of the ground. i THE ELTHAM-STAR MATCH. j Mr. J. Andrews, secretary of the Eltham club, writes:—Usually the "News" is very impartial in its reports but a few remarks by ''Spectator" on the above match need contradict!.) r. The fact that the Stars did not come 00. ~ -tit a mil team is admitted, but it is a--.'.': 1 that Eltham declined to wait for Stars. The match was advertised to start at 3 p.m.,' and the Eltham captain waited till 3.20 before taking the field. By good luck the train just arrived, and when the play started, the Stars had a full team on the ground and inside , the gates. In three minutes they had a full team. On the other hand, Eltham placed 11 men on the field and it was not until 20 minutes play had gone that the home team had a full fifteen, although 14 of the players were ready at 3 p.m. The sporting instinct of Dive is quoted as a means of delaying the commencement of the game. Does "Spectator" imagine that Eltham were frightened to meet Stars fullI handed, fearing a defeat? If so, he is ' mistaken. The reason for insisting upon a start was that it would be dark at 4.30 and our fifteen were keen on playing long spells and giving the spectators I their shilling's worth. Another reason why we objected to delaying play was that if this were done other visiting clubs may claim the same privilege, and . the club is against delaying the hour of I commencement of any game. Neither Bellringer nor another player conveniently "laid out" as the game opened, but neither side was eager to "get at it" till the teams were better balanced in players. Might I add that the game was decided in the best of gnod feeling/ 1 the thirty players taking their "mud and | water doses" in the ibest of manners. One or two may have got bumps, but I these are excusable and part of the game in Rugby." | There was no intention to cast any discredit on the Eltham Club, nor to justify the Stars for travelling by the afternoon train. Tf Eltham had'stuck to the rules no doubt thev could have rattled up a big score against tl>" six Star men I who were "on time." Put !l ia( -onhln't j have given thi> public ; . .viillingsworth I cither. —"Spectator." I TO-DAY'S MATCHES. | ' Warehouses v. Civil Service, at Racecourse. Rovers v. Pirates, on Recreation Grounds. , Principal interest centres in the Warehouse—Service match. These teams are I leading in the competition, and Ware- | houses are two points ahead. The following will represent the Ro-, I vers in their match against the Pirates on the Recreation Sports Oval to-day, at 3 p.m.:—Emory, Ryder, Thompson, Loveridge, Grant, Bollinger, Hoby, Coker, Grey. Mulloy, Forrest, Baker, Rea, Monk and Weade. ' NEXT THURSDAY'S MATCHES. SENIORS. Tukapa v. Eltham, at Western ParK. 1 Star v. Inglewood, at Inglewood. • j Clifton v. Stratford, at Waitara. ,| Second and third grade teams same as • i above.

THE ASSOCIATION I.IAME. (By -Half-Back.") ■ On Thursday last the .Shiri'ord eleven paid New Plymouth a visa '.o try .inclusions with our local ;'i'■ ■■■■.. The visitors arrived with two men short, their places being tilled by New Phinouth men. The game was very fast throughout. In the lirsl, half the locals were most aggressive, but the erratic shooting spoilt their otherwise fairly good work. Fen ! ton, in goal, for New Plymouth, in the first half was not called upon once to save, half-time arriving with a clean sheet. In the second half, matters were more even. Stratford played hard, but were unable to penetrate the local's fortress. Lcgg. who took Kenton's place, saved two good shots in masterly fashion. Goddard s-orcd for New Plymouth about two minutes a''tor lr'lf-time. For the locals. Elliot. Holmes and Bullock were the pick, with Lcgg and Hodley next best. For the visitors, Chapman was easily best, his kicking «nd tackling being very ncnt. If Stratford could muster a few more of his calibre they would prove a very hard team to boat. Bodle, at back, was safe and sure. Sparrow 'has been seen to bettor advantage. Although playing a good game, he found his match in Elliot, who gave him no rope at all. Butchart, at half, played a sound defensive, as well as an aggressive, game. On the day's play New Plymouth were lucky to win. Their shooting was very wide of the mark, and there was no combination amoTig the forwards. If each forward would keep to his place and follow the ball up the field so as not to Jot the opposing backs get their kicks in, we should find a different result on. the score sheet. As it was, on Thursday there wore good openings going a-beg-ging, through men not being in their place. On two or three occasions the forwards took the ball away from their own men. and got in one another's way. Another point T would like to Impress on the pin vers: "Don't argue with your opponents as to who's throw-in it is. While vou are nrgni"?. the other side is getting into position"; and again: "Alwavs play up to the whistle, even if you see a foul or hands; the referee cannot always be in the same position ps yonrsolf. Don't stop, but plnv on until you ihear the whistle sound." ' Mr. Bowls was a very impartial reforce: in fact, it would be a great thing for the soccer game in Taranaki if we had other men li'ko him. The championship <nHe up to date reads:— NORTH DIVISION. a w ££B S c .-.. £ uj p c Stratford 31113 N"w Plymouth 3 10 2 4 Eltliam 2 0 111