FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL

THE GAME IN TARANAKI PROSPECTS DISCUSSED. RUGBY ADMINISTRATION. Now that the annual meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Union has been held it will not be long before the winter game is holding full sway throughout Taranaki. Indications point to the new season proving even more successful than last, which showed a distinct revival in the standard of play and public interest. There was a refreshing enthusiasm manifested at the annual meeting of the T.R.U. delegates showing that they had the interests of the game, more than of their-own particular clubs, at heart. It is only at the annual meeting that clubs have an opportunity of submitting their view point, as once a delegate is elected to the Management Committee he ceases to represent the views of his particular club, but represents footballers as a whole. It was gratifying to note that all delegates recognised the necessity for doing everything possible to encourage the lower grade players. It is from the third and fourths that the seniors ultimately come, and a province that is strong in its juniors must later becomq strong it its representative football. There was very little controversy over the balance sheet. When a debit balance of £lBO at the commencement of the season had been turned into a credit of £574, the season thus showing a profit of £754, it was only to be expected that delegates would be in a satisfied mood. The balance-sheet had been very clearly set out by secretary Neilson, giving a wealth of detail that enabled all to see the position at a glance. CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS. As anticipated, there were one or two controversial questions. Pooling of the gates, of course, proved contentious. It was only to be expected that the smaller and less financial clubs would look for a share of the gates received by the elubs in New Plymouth and the larger towns. Opunake brought the scheme forward, stating that owing to finance, junior football was suffering in South Taranaki, teams having to default owing to insufficient funds to enable them to travel. Their delegate suggested that of the 55 per cent, of gate money now going to the larger clubs, one fifth should be pooled and divided at the discretion of the Union among the smaller clubs. Mr. Casey, of Eltham, moved an amendment to the effect that all gates should be pooled and divided amongst clubs having teams in the senior competition. Whilst delegates favoured - assisting weaker clubs, it was felt that it was not fair to penalise those clubs, which, by catering for the public, in the way of providing attractive football with players all numbered and programmes to enable the game to be closely followed, had in return received the patronage of that public. It must also be borne in mind that in all the districts, except New Plymouth, Hawera and Stratford, clubs collect junior gates on alternative Saturdays, and these are entirely the property of the clubs themselves, the Union having no knowledge of the amounts so received. In Stratford, junior gates are collected every Thursday, but in New Plymouth and Hawera there are no junior gates owing to there being a senior match every Saturday. Of course, in Hawera there are the Wednesday competitions, but these come under a different head. It was ffeit, therefore, that it would only be fair to pool all the gates, and utilise a proportion to assist junior football throughout the province, and clubs were being asked to express their opinion on the matter. It is not felt that the town clubs will raise any serious, objection to the scheme. Qualification of players also cropped up, a motion being brought forward to limit the qualification to residence instead of, as at present, giving the player the option of playing for the team in whose district he either works or resides. After discussion, it was decided to leave the rule as it is. There will always be players who are keen to play for a stronger club, and tempt a strong player from his district, and in these days of motor-cycles and motor-cars it is so easy for a player to travel a long distance night and morning that it is difficult to see how the position can be overcome. Each case will have to be dealt with on its merits. A GOOD SELECTOR. In view of the success of the representative team last aeason in winning eight matches out of ten, it was only to be expected that Mr. W. A. Guy would be re-appointed sole selector. It was a well deserved compliment, and the province is fortunate in having a man who is prepared to devote so much of his time in the interests of the game. Mr. Guy does his work thoroughly, .sparing neither himself nor his car in travelling from end to end of the province so that every player is given equal opportunity of gaining representative honours. This year players will have a twofold incentive to be seen at their best, and that means fit and well. There is the southern tour to be undertaken by the Taranaki representatives, and during the tour every player will be under the critical eye of the New Zealand selectors to be ticked off as a possibility for th e South African trip next year. THE SUB-DIVISION PROPOSAL. A proposal was brought before the Union for consideration next year to divide the province into two sub-unions, each to control its club football, with . the Taranaki Union to control inter-union gates, representative football and championship play-offs. This, no doubt, will receive consideration by clubs. It is interesting to note that in the Waikato, where they have been working for some years under a number of subunions, a proposal is on foot this year to revert to the Taranaki system of senior cup matches, that is, for each of the subunion districts to put in one senior team, and the principal town, Hamilton, two or possibly The cup competition would then be played on the town v. town basis. GETTING FIT. In view of the big programme ahead, the competition matches will be started on Saturday, April 23. so that clubs have not too much time left if they wish to take the field fit and ready to see the game out from start to finish. Many a club has lost its chance of securing championship honours through being caught unprepared

in the opening matches. When it has played itself into form, it has proved well-nigh invincible. The moral is, get into form early. Admittedly it is difficult for clubs that draw their teams from scattered districts to get into form that can only come by team practice. Still, there is no reason why every member should not see to it that he is individually fit. He owes it to his club, and to his public. It must be conceded that this year players appear to be taking on the game with enthusiasm. Some of them have been training for weeks. Last week saw most of the clubs out practising, and with two more Saturdays for friendly matches, seven-a-sidee, etc., the public should see some good expositions of the gam e on the opening day. As far as can be gathered, there will not be a great many new players from outside districts, though it is rumoured that one or two clubs have made finds. . THE VARIOUS CLUBS. Last week each, of the three town clubs had twenty-eight men in action, and Star, who were well in the forefront last year, will take the field fit and well on the opening day. They have most of their last year’s team, including Falwasser, who has improved as the result of his tour, and N. Ross, the ex-Inglewood, Clifton and Taranaki, representative, has thrown in his lot with Star. Tukapa, last year’s champions, should be about on a par with last year. ' They are unfortunate in that Jeffries, their halfback, has sustained an injured knee. Old Boys will have most of their old players and some promising young ones. They only require to improve in the forwards to be very hard. Stratford will probably be the most improved team. They have a great pack of forwards, led by Walter and Kivell, and their backs will be improved by the inclusion of Owen, the Opunake and Taranaki five-eighth, as well as others of promise. The match between Stratford and Star next Saturday should be interesting. Eltham has one or two new backs. They can always be relied on to produce a solid pack, and Saturday’s practice showed that it will be as strong as ever. They have a very promising wing three-quarter among their new material. Clifton and Inglewood have been steadily practising, but their strength at present is unknown. It is reported that Clifton may include in their pack Hazlett, and Pat Ward. If so, they will have a great pair of leaders that will be useful to Taranaki. THE SOUTHERN TEAMS. The southern champions, Okaiawa expect to be even stronger than last year. It is reported that they will not have the services of Ike, and Rangi Ruru, but they have some solid juniors who will replace them. In their backs they will still have M. Lynskey, B. Roberts, D. Johnson, Crawford, etc., and in aAlition Paterson, the Kaponga and Taranaki representative, will also wear the red and black jersey. Opunake have all last year’s -forwards, including Graham, Lusk and O’Rorke, and while they have lost Owen, they have some new material, including Sands, a fiveeighth who played against the All Blacks, and he should prove of great assistance to the Hohaia brothers. He is not the only new man, either. Pates also expect to be much stronger Their forwards have been improved, and they have some new material in their backs. Bourke has also improved, and should have a great chance for th® South African trip. Both Hawera and Athletic have been indulging in practice, and hope to do better than last year. The ex All black, Alf West, and R. Sinclair, are taking a keen interest in their respective clubs. The strength of Kaponga is not known at the time of writing, but A. Guy, the representative wing forward, will again don the Kaponga jersey. CENTRAL DIVISION MATCHES At the meeting of the executive of the Stratford Football Club on Tuesday night it was reported that arrangements were well in hand for the Central Division tournament at Victoria Park, Stratford, to-day. These matches will be the curtain-raisers of the season in the district, and it is expected that the games will be keenly contested, and will provide a good show for the onlookers and selectors. In view of the fact that after the tournament the team' will be picked to play Star at New Plymouth on Saturday, players would be well advised to be in good training for the event. Other pending fixtures are the seven-a-side tournament at Kaponga for the Casey Shield, a match on Easter- Satur-. day, and a friendly match against Inglewood at Stratford on Easter Monday. All these fixtures will be played off before the cup matches of the season begin. ALLOCATION OF GATES. STRATFORD CLUB’S OPINION. At Tuesday evening’s meeting of the executive of the Stratford Football Club a circular letter was received from the Rugby Union, asking the clubs opinion upon the suggested allocation of gate receipts in the proportion of 45 per cent, to the union, 222 per cent, to each of the two competing teams, and 11 percent. to a fund to be allotted at the discretion of the management committee to club’s having poor financial returns during the season. The matter promoted a good deal of discussion, particularly as the Stratford club is incorporated, and has recently incurred fairly heavy liabilities in the erection of the new gymnasium. Perhaps Mr. D. J. Malone voiced the sentiments of the majority, when he said he was inclined to favour the scheme as being a step to foster football, but at the same time pointing out that the management of some clubs whose balance-sheets disclosed a poorseason, evidently required tightening up. Mr. Malone referred to the surprisingly low gate receipts from centres where good support of the game was to have been expected, and said that if the club agreed to the proposed allocation of gate money, he would like an assurance that the management of some Taranaki elubs -would be improved. It was finally agreed to support the proposal -with a proviso that the ll'per cent to go to a fund for clubs needing assistance, be also used for the encouragement of junior football, and that the adoption of the scheme be conditional upon junk • gates remaining the property of individual clubs. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. FIXTURES FOR TARANAKI. The following “soccer” fixtures have been ararnged by the Taranaki Football Association. Julian Cup fixtures, in the Northern Division, are as follows:

April 9.—Watersiders v. Caledonians; N.P. Wanderers v. N.P. Rangers. April 30.—N.P. Rangers v. Watersiders; Caledonians v. N.P. W’anderers. May 14.—Waterside -s v. N.P. Wanderers; N.P. Rangers v. Caledonians. May 28. —N.P. Wanderers v. Caledonians; N.P. Rangers v. Watersiders. June 4. —Caledonians v. Watersiders; N.P. Wanderers v. N.P. Rangers. June 11. —"Watersiders v. N.P. Wanderers; Caledonians v. N.P. Rangers. It may be necessary to change some of the above. All games are ■to be played on grounds of .the first-named clubs. Representative and trial matches fixed for the first half of the season are as follow: April 23.—Seven-a-side Tournament, at , Manaia. May .7.—Northern Trial Match, at New Plyi outh; Southern Trial Match, probably at Hawera. May 21. —North v. South Match, at Stratford. May 25.—Taranaki v. Canadians, at New Plymouth. June 3.—Taranaki v. Wanganui, at Hawera. June 9.—Taranaki v. Wanganui, at New Plymouth (subject to the Wanganui association being able to send a team on this date).