FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 272, 18 April 1914, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

NEWS AND NOTES. The sudden advent of winter weather has caused devotees oi' the grand old winter game to turn their thoughts toward.-) preparation in earnest for the coming fray. For some weeks past the wise footballer has been quietly training, and is now putting cm the finishing touches. Some of the clubs are assiduously practising, so that players can get the necessary combination essential for the successful playing of the gameTraining and combination will often win matches against players of much higher calibre who lack these essentials. A weaker team able to keep up the pace from the word go to the finish and knowing each other's play, will always prove a difficult proposition to beat, particularly in the last twenty minutes, when lack of condition tells its talc on the opponents. Then look at the moral effect of a win or two early in the season. It has a wonderful hardening tone, just as defeat after defeat has a demoralising effect. It is hard to say yet whether there will be any Thursday senior football j in Taranaki this year. Clifton (have ; not yet decided to return to Thursday football, and it is also rumoured that Stratford intend to play on Saturdays.If this is so Tukapa >will also nolens volens have to throw in their lot with the Saturday players. This is unfortunate, as it is- understood that some of their best players—New Zealand reps. at that—would have difficulty in playing .on any other day but Thursday. These are men that Taranaki can ill afford to lose, especially at the present juncture with the Ranfurly Shield. It would be distinctly hard luck for tdiese players 'if they cannot 'get football, in view of the probable trip to Australia and England this year. It is understood from advices received from Wellington that the Wellington Rugby Union will not make the special match to be played at Hawera during "winter show" week a shield miiteh. . Wellington would like to receive a visit from Taranaki on June 3rd. This, however, is the day set apart for the Wanganui match at Wanganui. The local Union Would like to reciprocate with Wellington for the latter's kindness in paying a special visit to Taranaki each year, but it is hard to see 'how the match can be arranged on the date mentioned.

Rovers are holding a match to-day against High School. Okato played a match against Opunake at Rahotu on Saturday last, and were defeated by 5 points to 3. Surgenor, who played for Okato last year, scored for Opunakc, whilst H. Corbett did likewise for Okato after a run from half way. Okato have a good team of forwards, but their backs, with one or two exceptions, will be weak. A return match is to be played at Rahotu to-day. On Easter Monday, a seven a-Bide tournament was played at Okato, four teams competing. Okato Seniors defeated Okato Juniors by 11 to nil. Warea defeated Rahotu (a surprise) by 3 points to nil, a try scored by A. Clarke. In the final Okato defeated Warea by HI points to nil. L. Carey (2), CL, Eustace and D. O'Sullivan scored tries, C. Eustance and Narby each converting one.

"Touehline," writing in the Stratford Post, says the prospects for the coming football season as far as the Stratford Football Club is concerned, are very rosy. The senior team will be probably better than last year. The forwards are much the same, with the exception of R. Boon, who is away. Read and Whittington are two new forward men, although the latter played for Stratford two years ago. The weakness of the team lies in the absence of a good half back. With a really good man in that position. Stratford would bo hard to beat. The back lines will be somewhat different from last year, as I understand that L. Tocker, Don Cameron, and J. Dobson will not be playing this -year. Dud Cameron and C. Stewart are back again, and there are also three new backs in C. Young, A. Ricklcben und N. Higginson.