FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144430, 18 July 1914, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

(By “Goal-post.”)

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. The following representative fixtures for Taranaki have been arranged;— July 23: v. Manawatu, at New Plymouth. Aug. 1: Taranaki B v. Auckland B, at Auckland. Aug. 6; Taranaki A v. Taranaki B. Aug. 13: v. Wairarapa, at Stratford. Aug. 20; v. Canterbury, at New Plymouth. Aug. 22: v, Auckland, at Auckland. Aug. 27: v. Southland, at New Plymouth. Sept. 10: v. Wellington, at Stratford. Sept. 17: v. Auckland, at New Plymouth.

[The arrangements for the matches at Auckland are as yet only tentative.]

Tho secretary of the Clifton Club explains that in regard to the fixture between his club and the High School last Thursday, the Clifton boys are quite willing to play the match later in the season. At the same time he points out that when the school first rang up and asked for a postponement he saw' tho members of the team and they expressed an unwillingness to agree to this. At the time the weather was fine there, and as some of the lads had come in from the country to play, and they had not had a match tor three weeks, they were anxious for a game. He communicated this to the High School, who again asked for a postponement, and as the Clifton team did not fool disposed to concede this the secretary intimated that the High School’s non-appearance would bo looked upon as a win by default. As the Chiton lads now slate they are willing to ulay, the best thing to be done will be for High School to seize tho first vacant Thursday and make the trip to Waitara.

The mutch between Tukapa and Star first juniors was not a very brilliant interpretation of the Rugby code. Tukapa more than held their own both in the forwards and in the backs. Tho blue pack hooked the ball in tho ’majority of scrums and this gave the nippy Tukapa backs plenty of chances, 'iho blue and white backs continually got in some good passing rushes, but the last link in the chain invariably failed to cross the line. If Stour had been changed in the second spell to tho opposite wing his pace would undoubtedly have added at least a couple more tries. The blacks lacked combination and their backs did not get a single passing rush going throughout tlie game.

On the winning side L. Whitaker shone out in his usual excellent style. His defence, attacking and tackling wore all carried out well. Stohr got through his work thoroughly, his lino kicks being a feature. IN. Lovcridge, tho half, gave a good display and ho got tho ball away hotter than he had done in tho past couple of matches. “Vest showed out well in the passing bouts in tho first spell, but when he was changed to wing three-quarter his play demonstrated that ho was out of his position. Ho has not dash enough to make a good scoring man. H. Patterson was safe at full-back. W. Whitaker is not playing as well as he did at tho beginning of tho season. The inclusion of F. Lovcridge in the Tukapa team as wing-forward has considerably strengthened the forwards. AH'through the game he was a worry to the opposing side. “Jack” Amaru played very well and when ho used his weight ho generally bowled over nearly the whole of tho Star pack. Tho remainder of tho forwards—Spence (wing-forward), Smith, O’Grady, W. Patterson, Leary, Fuller and Roebuck—all grafted well. ‘‘Pat” Tunbridge was tho Aainstay of the Star team. He wont down co tho blue forward rushes well and ho also took numerous marks and got his side out of trouble. C. Crone was responsible for some good work, his kicking being good. L. Hardgraves wa v s fairly safe at full-back in the first spell. Page, Carroll, M‘Gahey and Richards were about tho pick of the forwards.

The High School hoys put up a great fight against tho bigger Stratford men on Thursday and with a little luck would have won. They made tho pace right through, but the visitors managed to smother them with their weight and by moans of wasting-time tactics. The backs—Court, Bruce, Hamblyn and Sykes being tho shining lights—■ tried to make tho game open right from tho jump, and it was bad luck that two or threo passing rushes did not end in scores. The School forwards will make a great impression when they are pitted against boys of equal weight in the schools’ competition later on in tho year, but on Thursday the weight against them was too much. Stratford, however, will have to improve a Jot on their game to win the championship from Tukapa. On Thursday their play was very patchy, combination being sacrificed to individual brilliancy. Evidently Southland is taking its Rugby football seriously this year. In a recent issue of tho Southland Daily News a leading article is devoted to tho subject of the Ranfurly Shield, in which tho paper says that this is tho best football year that Southland has known, and the touring team sent north should bo the strongest that has has over represented tho province. Never in any season within our recollection have the selectors been confronted with such promising material, and never have players had greater confidence in the men appointed to select teams. Southland, for once, can put in the field an array of attacking backs that would do credit to any representative team in tho Dominion. This year a southern fifteen is to bo sent in pursuit of the Ranfurly Shield, the blue ribbon of football. It is possible for Southland to win that shield with the combination she can place in tho field to-day, but she must enter into tho business with thoroughness, with determination, and with confidence. Right away should our representatives bo chosen. Tho selectors have now tho measure of their men as tho result of a conscientious and careful survey of every match played during the season. Nothing can bo gained by waiting. We would suggest that tho Southland fifteen be chosen without delay, that inquiries bo prosecuted as to tho availability of these certainties, that tho emergency backs and forwards bo immediately announced, and that immediate training and tactic classes be instituted, under the control of some able exponent of tho game—Mr. W. J. Stead for choice.