FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1925, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

PLAY IN TARANAKI. THE CUP FIXTURES. TO-DAY’S SENIOR MATCHES, Tlie referees and fixtures for to-day are:—v > Group I. Tukapa v. Patea, at New Plymouth; Mr. Goodacre. Clifton v. Okaiawa, at Waitara; Mr. Gilmour. Group 11. 1 Old Boys v. Opunake, at Opunake; Mr. Kiley. Stratford v. Kaponga, at Kaponga;, Mr. Nielson. Star v. Eltham, at Eltham; Mr. Julian. Athletic, a bye. Owing to the races at Hawera to-day, the match set down for decision at Hawera, between Inglewood and Hawera, has been postponed. FIXTURES FOR NEXT WEEK. Group I. Tukapa v. Clifton, at New Plymouth, 1.30 p.m. Okaiawa v. Hawera, at Okaiawa. Inglewood v. Patea, at Inglewood. Group 11. Star v. Opunake, at New Plymouth, 3 p.m. Athletic v. Kaponga, at Hawera. Stratford v. Eltham, at Stratford. POSITION OF THE TEAMS. Group I.

ALL BLACKS FOR AUSTRALIA. TARANAKI NOMINATIONS. The Taranaki nominations for the team which is to tour New South Wales were announced yesterday. They are: R. Oliver (Tukapa), Ennis (Tukapa), D. Johnston (Okaiawa), M. Malone (Kaponga), Walters (Stratford), Kivell (Stratford), and A. H. West (Hawera). WEST COAST NOMINEES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Greymoutli, May 15. West Coast nominations for the All Black team are; J. Goodall (Grey), full-back, and P. J. O’Regan (Inangahua), forward. Steele is not available. MATCH POSTPONED. On account of the Hawera races, the match Clifton v. Okaiawa, which was to have been played at Waitara to-day, has been postponed. It is to be played as a mid-week fixture later in the season. THE HAwMa CLUB. A meeting of the. Hawera Football Club was held on Thursday night. Mr. H. A. Morgan was in the chair. A letter was received from Wanganui regarding the annual junior repre- . sentative match. It was decided to send I a junior representative team from Hawera on June 3 to meet Wanganui on that date. Permission was given to the Taranaki Football Association to use the club's goal posts, net and flags, etc., for the representative match, Taranaki v. Wanganui, at Hawera on June 3. TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. CLIFTON CLUB. Fourth grade. —E. Young. K. Watson, Sampson, McFarlane, Wilson, Rowe, Patten, Frost, Clemants, Soffe, Muir, Kopu, Peterson, J. Fowler, Roberts. Emergency: Fowler. Seniors. —I. Young, Briggs, Jones, Cru- | dis, Cook, Knuekey, Kapa, J. Taylor, j W. Soffe, Telfar, Ward, Tanner, Bailey, | Macquire, Fitzgerald. Emergencies: H. ! Bailey, E. Frost, Hellier. Arrangements are in hand whereby the third grade match against Star can be started at 1.30 p.m., instead of 3 p.m. as advertised. OKATO CLUB. First Juniors v. Old Boys, at Okato. —Shotter, Thomas, Roebuck, Goodwin (4), Roberts, Jones, Taylor, Julian (2), O’Sullivan, J. Lawn, Simon, Stewart, West; Graham. Second juniors v. Old Box's, at Tukapa at 3 p.m. —Hickiford (3), Julian, Thomas, Ansley, Wadsworth, Wako, Tongfl., Telford (2), Lawn, Benton (2), Cocksedge, , McCabe (2). TUKAPA V. PATEA. The Tukapa-Patea senior match to-day will be played at Western Park. ASSOCIATION GAME. New Plymouth team to play Suffolk at the Tukapa ground is as follows (kick off at 2.30) : —Royston Lewis, Skjellerup, Herdson, Dr. Brown, Shepherd. A. Anderson, W. Anderson, Randall, Spedding, Bree. Emergencies: Crandley, Watson, Florence. NEWS AND NOTES. The result of the senior matches last Saturday indicate that the competitions in both groups may prove very interesting before the season closes, as many of the teams will improve after a match or two enables the players to gain a little more combination, team work thus becoming more possible. The standard of play, so far, shows an improvement on the early stages of last year, and some great football should be in store in the second round. There is a tendency on

the part of most teams to open up the game and throw the ball about, features that tend to popularise the game with the public. A feature of last Saturday’s games was that some of the teams which were defeated the previous week won their matches, and as a result there are only four teams that are undefeated, viz.: Patea and Tukapa, in group one, and Opunake and Stratford, in group two, the latter only having played one match, Five other teams have also won one match and four have not yet won a match. The value of condition was strikingly illustrated in the Okaiawa—Tukapa match. Early in the game the Okaiawa forwards were dominating the position and, though Tukapa stood up to them well, the town pack must have been worn down, but for the fact that they Were well trained. This enabled them to outstay Okaiawa. In the closing ' stages they were beating their opponents and gave the speedy Tukapa rearguard an opportunity to shine against the opposing rearguard, which showed that it could be dangerous at times. Okaiawa looks like having a bright future, as the majority of the team consists of young and keen players who are willing to learn and will unquestionably improve. In F. Atkins, as half, the team has a great general, whilst in D. John- I ston, who is playing brilliant football, | they have a star back. Crawford, the i High School boy, on- the wing, is very ! speedy, but at present is inclined to hesitate. That will be overcome in time. 1 He should have a bright future. The Tukapa backs combined very , well, but the keenness of the opposing pack did not give them much chance in the early stages. R. Oliver is playing as well as ever, and his try was a fine effort, completely beating the opposition. I There was considerable disappoint- • nient at the absence of Hart, the inter- ■ national three-quarter, who had been injured the previous week. Stohr, who filled the position, was on his best behaviour, scoring a fine try. Hooker, on the other wing, got a knock early in the game that took the sting out of his play. Loveridge looks like developing into a second five-eighth of more than aver- ! age class. Ennis was not at his best. Petty played a sound game at full- ! back, but should check his tendency to ! run up too far, otherwise lie may get i his team into trouble. All the Tukapa forwards played well, ; but none shone more than H. Oliver and G. Taylor. Of the Okaiawa pack, Linn, Ike and Parslow were, perhaps, the best. Patea also continued their unbeaten career by defeating last year’s ch am- : pions, Hawera. The latter, however, ; have suffered heavily by the defection i of players who have joined the Ath- I k tic, and practically, with, the exception I ot Cameron, had to find a new set of j backs. Most of these are young, some ' playing third last year, but they will be ■ a harder proposition in the second round. Hammond, at centre three-quarter, Rex, • at half, show distinct promise. .The for- j wards are a solid lot, as usual, with West, Paterson and Robinson to lead them. Patea, on the other hand, have improved. Always a solid pack, they have strengthened this department by the inclusion of some Waver ley players, whilst their backs comprise practically last year's team, being sound in defence and useful, though not brilliant, in attack.

Clifton effected somewhat of a surprise by defeating Inglewood. Clifton have, however, improved their team by the inclusion of Ivan Young, the fullback, who has been persuaded to again don the jersey. Orudis, the. ex-Tainui rep. three-quarter, and others, whilst their forwards are also very solid. In Group Two, Opunake proved that their victory over Kaponga was no fluke ' by defeating Eltham at Opunake. The j coastal team is said to possess a very strong forward division, led by Norgate, Snow and Lusk brothers, whilst their backs include the speedy Hohia brothers and Brophy. Mason, last year’s school half, was behind the scrum. Now that . they have won two successive matches, they can be depended on to settle down ■ to solid training, though this is difficult in a district which draws its players over a radius of 20 miles, if Opunake plays off for championship honours they will be a popular team, as they have battled hard against odds for many ‘ years. Athletic definitely established themselves in Taranaki football by defeating . Old Boys. Athletic have a good set of ‘ forwards and useful backs who take the game seriously, and consequently take the field fit. . Owens, the Athletic half, played a 1 solid game, but was not so versatile or nippy as the diminutive Old Boys’ half, ‘ Morey. ( Brown' did not show up to interna- ‘ tional form, at Hawera. Brown, however. does not time his passes too well. Earl, five-eighths, is speedy t and clever/but a little on the light side. McGregor and Thomas combined well r for Athletic, who should beat more than beat them. Kaponga, mainly owing to their for- i wards, defeated Star comfortably, i Malone xvas everywhere, playing a great game forward, but getting among the I backs too much. The Kaponga backs did not impress in i attack. Star proved somewhat disappointing, their play -being very ragged. Of the backs, Bruce was easily the ' pick. Hoffman showed a lot of pace, but lacked judgment in his kicking. Star, however, should benefit greatly by the match. TO-DAY’S MATCHES. Principal interest to-day will centre in the meeting of the two unbeaten teams in Group One, viz., Tukapa and i Patea at New Plymouth, and it should prove a very fine game. Patea are confident of victory, and are training hard, i whilst Tukapa supporters cannot see : their team defeated. It is certain that Tukapa will find themselves up against one of the best forward packs, if not the best, they have met this year, whilst the Patea backs are not to be 'despised. Given fine weather there ' should be a record gate. \ Tn Group Two interest will be divided between the meeting of Opunake and | Old Boys at Opunake, and Stratford and ' Kaponga at Kaponga. The unbeaten • coastal team will probably maintain ' their record, as they have a fine- set of. forwards, and the rough ground at the seaport town will not suit the speedy Old Boys’ backs. Stratford and Kaponga should provide a great clash at Kaponga. Eltham and Star meet at Eltham, and should be evenly matched.

NEWS AND NOTES. Clifton has a useful acquisition to its ' ranks in Pat Ward, the Linwood and Canterbury forward, who was given a game in the South Island trial match last year. They think so highly of him"

nated for a trip to Australia this year.! in Christchurch that he has been nomi- l' We have to thank the publishers (G. ! W. Slade, Ltd.) for a copy of the N.Z. ■' Rugby Annual of 1925. This is the fourth year of publication, and the An- | nual is right up to date as a book of , reference of the doings of New Zealand i football. There died at Dunedin an old-time j rep. Rugby footballer in the person of j David Simpson, who passed away at his residence, Anderson Bay, at the age I of 57. The late Mr. Simpson, who was I a fine half-back, represented Otago | against Auckland and Hawke’s Bay in 1887, and against England in 1888.

£ g £ 11 £ 1 a Tukapa .. x 27 0 4 Patea .... 2 14 3 4 Okaiawa 2 1 1 — 12 14 2 Clifton . . . 2 1 1 — 11 11 2 Inglewood . 2 — 2 — 6 17 0 Hawera .. 2 — 2 — Group II. 3 22 0 Opunake .. 2 2 — - — 19 12 4 Stratford .. 1 . 1 — — 12 9 2 Kaponga .. 2 1 1 — 24 16 2 Athletic .. 2 1 1 — 25 21 •z Old Boys . 2 1 1 — 23 19 2 Star 1 — 1 — 6 Ifl 0 Eltham ... 2 — 2 — 6 23 0