FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1920, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THIRD GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP. , WON BY CLIFTON. The final for the third grade championship was played at Eltham on Saturday between Clifton (winners of the Northern Division competition), and Kaponga (winners of the Southern Division), and, as on the previous occasion when the same teams met at Stratford last year, the Northerners had no difficulty in gaining the verdict, winning this time by 17 points to nil. The game was mostly confined to the forwards, the rain which fell practically throughout the match making anything liko accurate handling an impossibility. Nevertheless, the Kaponga hacks, on the whole, fielded the ball well, but did not handle it as well as their opponents, who thorughlv deserved their win. Clifton played through the greater part of the game with fourteen men, one of their forwards being ordered off early In tho game. The gnrno was fast and interesting, and though beaten, Kaponga, who were the., lighier team, put up a great fight, and were within an ace of scoring on several occasions.

Clifton forwards attacked from the kick-off, and an infringement gave Telfar a shot at goal, which just missed, the referee having difficulty In -deciding. Twice in succession, Kaponga wcro forced. Then Walsh, Doyle and Bennie headed a. great Southern rush but Jupp, at full-back, lined well. A passing bout by Walsh and Hammersley had Kaponga attacking hard. A Clifton player was ordered off for alleged foul play.' Tills roused the Northerners, and Tanner, St. Georgq, Frost, and Guinney headed a rush that swept the full length of the field, the latter scoring. Telfar again failed to goal. Kaponga now pressed, but .Tupn gathered up and .cut downfleld, handed orj to Rackley, who scored a pretty try. The kick at goal again failed. Play continued up and down field, hut ftere was no further score during tills spell. On resuming, Kaponga attacked, but infringements always spoilt, and Clifton were able to work down the field, Guinney set his backs moving, but Pennington was well taken on the line. Then Tanner headed another rush, from which St. George scored. Telfar failed to goal. Clifton kept up the pressure, forcing Kaponga, who returned the compliment a littlo later, when they forced Clifton twice in succession. Clifton then set up another rousing rust 1 . In going down to which (iernhoefer was hurt. On resuming, Tanner forced his way over. Telfar failed to goal. Clifton wero now having the better of the game, from a passing rush. In which Guinney, Soutlnviill, Proetor, and Pennington participated, the latter scored. Telfar con verted nicely. Kaponga had the better of the closing stages, and were nearly over, Rackley coming across in time to force. Mr. H. A. Nuttall gave every satisfaction as referee. OTAGO BEAT SOUTHLAND. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Duuedin, Sept. 25. The final representative football match of I the season, Otago versus Southland (holders of the llanfurly Shield) was played this afternoon 011 the Carisbrook ground before 10,000 spectator*. . The weather was entirely favorable for a good display, but the piny was of a ragged order, and was confined to tiie forwards. Otago led at half-time by three points (one try) to nil. In the second spell, Edwards potted a flue goal for Otago. Near tho call of time Miller scored for Southland, the goal kick failing. There was no further score, and the match ended: Otago 7, Southland .1. WEST COAST BEAT BULLER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Westport, Sept. 25. Tho final representative football match of the season was played at Westport to-day between Buller and West Coast, and was won by the Coast by 12 points to 9. It was a fast and open game, in which the Coast distinctly outshone Buller in back play, but Puller were better in the forwards. STAR FOOTBALL CLUB. ANNUAL RE-UNION. The annual re-union of tho Star Football Club, which took place in the Foresters' Hall on Saturday night, proved a most enjoyable and successful function. Mr. A. L. Humphries, cl.alrnian of the executive, presided over! a large attendance of members, amongst those present being Messrs. Jas. Clarke (vlce-pre-dent of the Club), Jas. Garcia, W. Roch, and G. Guthrie (members of the Taranaki Rugby Union), G. Hopkins (president of the Northern Division Committee of the Taranaki Referees' Association), and representatives of tilt Tukapa and Old Boys and Clifton Clubs. Apologies were received from Messrs. E. Dockrill (patron), E. Whittle (president), nnd Jas McLeod (chairman of the Taranaki Rugby Union). After full justice had been done to the light repast provided, a toast list was discussed, interspersed with musical items. "Tho King." was loyally honored, after which .Mr. A. L. Humphries proposed the "Tarannki Rugby Union." He remarked that without an organised body to control it. footbr.il could not be carried out to success. While there were many who did not always HS-ree with its administration, he pointed 0111 I hat tho .Management Committee was elected !>y Iho Clubs themselves, and he was satisj lled that the Union always endeavoured 10 do ! Its best in the interests of football. The tiisirict was a very hard one to work, and the Union bad had its ups and downs. They liad had a. first- -lass team which every other Union had wanted to play, but there was always the difficulty of finance, and in many cases It had only been through the kindness »f a. good many gentlemen, notably the Bayly family, that they had been ablo to pay 1110 expenses of tiie team. He urged all players to keep tI:o flag flying. They had lost several years football during tho war, but If they put their energies into tiie game end played |.t as it should he played, it would soon become pre-eminent again. Mr. .Tas. Garcia, in responding, regretted the , absence of Mr. McLeod, whose keen interest in the welfare of the gaime had been recognised by footballers throughout New Zealand in his appointment to the high position of president of the New Zealand Rugby Union a tonor of which Taranaki footballer's should be proud. lie referred to the difficulty that the Union had to contend with in working such a'scattered district, but considered that, though it was impossible for every club ttt liave direct representation on the Management Committee, the members of that body ivlion elected worked in the interests of football as a whole, and not for any individual club. He touched 011 tho financial difficulties that t!:e Union had had to contend with in !he past, but pointed out that the present season had been most successful from a financial point of view, owing to the revival o( Interest that bad taken place in the game, Mid though the team had not done as well on tiie i'h'id as old time supporters wouid Jiave Ilkf'i, he considered that with the promising material 011 hand, and the interest taken in (he lower grades and in primaryt school football, the prospects for Taranaki fool ball were very bright. In tills connection, lie congratulated the Star Club on having won tiie fourth grade competition, which had been inaugurated this season. Mr Spence proposed "The Taranaki Iwferees Association," and in response, Mr. liopuins urged all to play the game for allits worth. Referees did not take the field for their own pleasure, but in tire Interests of tiie gane, and he oxpressed gratification that the.ii' association had received direct representation In tiie Union. He urged p!ayers to join the association on giving up the game He considered that it would be a good idea to make club's responsible for finding recruits, pointing out that though the Association had been in existence eighteon' years, only thirtytwo members had passed through- It, nnd twenty of these were still on the books. Mr. Roch also repltcd. The chairman, on behalf of the Club, and amidst great applause, then presented Mr. R. Spf.nce with a dinner set, referring to his valuable services, and wishing Mr. Spence and Ilia wife, who is shortly arriving from Eiij-