FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14453, 27 May 1911, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

TODCHLLNE TOPICS. (By C.E.H.) Premiership points:— Temuka 6, Star-Pirates 5, Celtio -!,• Zingari 1. Seven-a-sido tournament next Saturday. Entries close to-night. Evans, the Hawkcs Bay rep. in the last New Zealand team, is playing this year with the League. Tie Referees' Association in DauneTtrko is on strike on account of the Kugby Union having questioned the «tatus of, the. referees' body, ou the cround that it is not affiliated to the' Kew Zealand Association. "The game to be played on No. 1 Erourid on Thursday next resulted in a draw," would seem to be a fairly safe prediction this year. Of four senior competition games played there so far not one Iras been decisive, and the teem that breaks the spell will feel as proud as though it had won tho premiership. The crowd at Temuka was fairly easily controlled on Thursday until Che last quarter of an hour, during which, it gave way to the prevailing excitement, and took charge of the touchline. A -Union official from Timaru who was assisting the Temuka captain . to maintain order had to put up with discourtesy from a couple of the more unruly ones. E. Curran, the Oamaru player who has been expected to don the Celtic Jersey, has decided after two or three we-?]-;:}' training that he baa not sufficient!*,- recovered from an injury -sits tained last year to warrant his playing yet. This is unfortunate for Celtic, as with a good man sandwiched in between l.'arcy and Lynch there would be " something doing." Tlie prevailing impression in tho Celtic mind after Thursday's game was that (I D. Scott won by 4 to 0." Thoro was something in it too; as opart from his sensational goal, ths Teinukn. custodian emerged brilliantly from half-a-dozen encounters in which a m:stake would have meant disaster to his side. Scott has not i>layod as well for many moons, and Iris punts have seldom been more powerful. Tlie' junior game Athletic v. Starpirates was fairly exciting, and each team did its best to keep the ball roIIi;:j;. The country team were always winners, and although their first'try. was an offside one, the score did not

Batter them in any way. Ono or two of their forwards have :i <lcal to learn, ' but half-a-dozen players are bordering on the senior grade. Burke (late of i Geraldine juniors) playing full back, gave evidence of real ability, and P. Gillespie and Twomey are another smart pair of backs. 1 Xext to tho ten-yards limit embodied ; in the off-side rule, whicb is apparently the least undorstood provision in tho code, the greatest raisoonception seems to prevail in regard to passing,off *tho : ground. ' Formerly when a player had been tackled and the ball had/touched "the ground it was illegal to pass it, but under the revised definition of a -"tackle" a player is not considered as tackled unless he is held so that ho cannot pass the ball. Kven though he has been brought to earth, and the ball has touched the ground, ■ he may pass it. or should lie be within ieach"mg distance of the goal or touch-line he may place the ball in touch or- scoro a try. always provided that ho does so immediately. Temuka 0, Star-Pirates 0; Temuka 33, Zingari 0; Zingari o, Star-Pirates o. These figures cover a fortnight, and yet there are people foolish enough to' bet on football matches, and even give: ''points in." Allowing for the different composition of the teams in tbo' above pames, the draw on Thursday reflects - no great credit on Star-Pirates, wjio " have a number of exp?rieneed players in their ranks against the comparative youngsters of Zingari. Even though neither Coles was playing, and Wall was injured, the combined team will require to do better than this to wrest the premiership from Temuka. Zingari, on the other hand, are to bo congratulated on nulling themselves together after their routing at Tenvuka, the more so as one or two of 13ie club officials were disposed to take that beating "lying down." Clubs know their own business best, and often have good reasons for their selection of players, but anyone not possessed of inside information can only wonder at Celtic's choice occasionally. T. Curran did all that came his way at. Irs first trial, and was then dropped till Thursday, when ihd gave a display that should make his place secure. He fielded faultlessly, though with a little embroidery, .and kicked verv well, 'ilio Greens' choice of fivo-eiskths also hasuot been particularly good, and ama,; rearrangement of the Dacks might be made, and some juniors given an ■' opening. - McGregor evidently knows as much as any back on the side,though his day "for senior football is nearly spent, but bis mate had no pretensions to warrant his inclusion before D. Hrrtnon and Kirby. Celtic have I'ouud it nay handsomely to give yi.ung blood like Lynch, Houlihan, l'itzgerald and others a chance, and some.' of their juniors are much superior to one or two of tile frosts of the present winter. A paragraph in connection with the recent presentation to' Dan Horgan has j found its way into a weekly paper which states that on several occasions -seven of his brothers had played in the Tenvuka senior team, and that on two or three occasions there had been' three of them in the backs of the South Canterbury team. The first statei% nieut is ridiculous, and the second is \iiicorrect. Seven Horgans have played, at different times in various grades in South Canterbury competitions (not all for the Temuka Ciiib, though), but so far as I can remember never more than four in a season in a senior team. Bat Don, ahd Ted, and later Dan, Ted, Mick and Tom played in the same club fifteen; three of them have been in the same rep. team, hut not all as backs. Of the seven brothers Bat had retired' before the youngest, who has just bei; gan to play in the third grade, had left ; the primary school. It has also been i stated that Dan had been in the rep. : team every year since 1599, which also j oversteps the mark. The record of the i Horgan family is remarkable enough j without any exaggeration being necesi sary.

| The news that Gillett and Francis ; had joined the Northern League to ; secure, a trip Homo with the Australian '■ team is not unexp&sted, as their names had been connected with the enterprise ; in Auckland for a week or two past. : Their selection will not be popular in j League circlos in tho northern city, the _ men who have done tho pioneering ! claiming that they are entitled to any plums that may bo forthcoming. Gii- ' let, who was a, member of the All Black • team, is not a great loss to Rugby, as I : he has not played .for two but | tho defection of Francis, who has no ! superior in Now Zealand as a forward, is a serious one for Auckland. "Boiler" has been in New Zealand teams for six or seven years, and is probably seizing the opportunity to get a trip Homo, a jaunt ho has beec looking forward to for soma time, and which in present circumstances there was very little prospect of getting in a Rugby team. Auckland has lost many prominent players to the Northern game, but not one has been drawn to it in its amateur form. Francis told the writer two or three years ago that he would never leave the Rugby fold except it were for some substantial consideration—as an amateur a man was de-

cidedly better oif under the Union. The large number of ocople who journeyed to Temuka on Thursday to sec the big game there, were amplv rewarded. The nlav was little if any less attractive than in the TeimikiiS.T. match a week before, and the old-time disposition of Celtic to stonewall for a draw against Temuka. was conspicuous by its absence. In the first quarter the home torn were seen to much greater advantage, and on one occasion Henry, who had the opposition guesving at the end of a slashing run. made the mistake of passing instead of go.'ng over hims?!f. In the other three spells there was not a

groat deal Ui choose, :m<l un their early superiority Temuka deserved their.win, .though ii "ill probably bo many a day before they get -another in 60 sensational a way. They huvo pulled off several games with potted goals, but. never one with such a kick as Scott's on Thursday. Celtic had another narrow escane in the second spoil when M. lir.rgau and T. Oldfield broke away, and Houlihan just managed to get Oldfield In- one toot asd briny him down. On, two occasions Lynch made Tomuka's supporters hold their breath, but his efforts, like two or three dashing forward rushes, made no impression <m the opposing goalkeeper. Comparing the two packs, it must be pointed out that Celtic were bra tali at the paint where their superior weight should have given thorn an easy task—scrumming. W. Oldfield and Jackson heat. O'Brieri and Niall three times in four; often Celtic , were pushed off the ball, and it was evident that there was a. passenger or , two somewhere. The weakness was ' certainly >x>t in the. lock, or, Courtney < 1.-ep his men together even when being " forced backwards. On the lino out. f too, the Celts wasted a lot; many of j Niall's throws wore to the weak pair , of Wilio were invariably j beaten, and Walton, who should b? the f Greens' best lino man, was inconspicu- f ous. 'Hiese wero their deficiencies/ and ( • against them must be placed groat ;1 dash in the loose and splendid following, when too liard kicking by the backs mirjht have excused a little slowing down. Niall was baldly as prominent as usual, but G. and T.. Eitxgerald and O'Brien played fine, games. c tlie skipner apparently having taken a. j fresh'lease of football life, though like , Leigh, who made a dashing substitute € for Hooper, he was off-side too oftau. j The Temuka pack showed fine skill in i the open, and their smartness in, get- t ting under high kicks was verv eemce- t able. M. Horaan and W. Oldfield j we're in. great form, all through.. In 0 the opening quarter tlio Temuka backs { put on two or three good rushes, but a they were not allowed too roucik in this c way afterwards, and after Darcy had k given the Celtic five-eighths two oppor- J tunities ho wisely decided to ri?t no t: 'more in the passing line. In judgment in kicking the tome backs outshone Celtic,: —many of whose Icicles, neither r found the line, nor <;ave the forwards s a chance to set under, the bail. Besides t Scott; Temuka's best backs were G. Spillane, Henry and Keeno, the Brst- : named Doing especially valuable. Maze j was in better form than in Iris other essays, and with more, power in his :kicks would l)e a good tliree-ouarter. Lynch was the best ; of the Celt rear- ■ guard,, his work being always solid, and at times brilliant. If 'he had a fault it was in feeding Scott with his kick*, instead of "sol-tin's out" Grant for h : s attentions, as it was evident that the latter, who was having h:s first kick at a ball this seasm, was oft colour. Martin Houlihan javo a fine display at full, but made the- same m:stake at. times in not niacin" Irs infield kicks well.' His lino kicking was often splendid, and he just missed a pot at goal bv a yard; or two. Darcy was not so brilliant as usual, but did an immense amount of .hard .work .in checking the opposing forward:. NEXT SATURDAY'S TOURNAMENT. The following teams will represent "the Athletic Club in the Football Tournament on June 3rd:— Junior A team—P. Sullivan, F. Twoniey, P. Skinner, G. Spillane, E. «alders, A. Scott, and R, Gillespie; emergency, Jas. Fitzgerald.' Junior B team—E. Burko, E. Fitzgerald, E, Sullivan, E. Tarrant, J. Brfren, P. D. Council, and P. Horgan • emergency, M. Sullivan The President's team will appear in Tuesday's paper. . "SOCCER" REVIVED. . At , on * t!nle ' Association football was in a fairly healthy state in Timaru, but for various reasons the old clubs became defunct, and there has been bo soccer for some seasons past. Lately tnerehns been a feeling that the <*amo should be revived, and a meeting" was called for last evening in Budd's rooms to consider the formation of a new Association club. The response was ' ■ good, about twenty plavers turning up and from what transpired it seems highly probable that ."Soccerites" will shortly be seen toeing the rounded ■leather- over the sward. Mr' W. Budd, who was voted to the chair, related the history of the game in Timaru, and told of the troubles of the early Soccerites. In the past the Otago Association had been most generous to the club, and outside matehos -would no doubt be arranged for the future. Other teams would probably be formed and local competition pro- • yoked. It was unanimously resolved to reform the Timaru Football Club. The following office-bearers were elected:—Patron. Mr J. Craigie; president, Mr A. Budd; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Emslie, J. Hole, Alex. Era- . ser,. J. W. Souter, A. Taylor, arid H. Goodwin; club captain, Mr CJ. Auty; deputy-captain, Mr W. Budd ; secretary and' treasurer, Mr E. Budd; committee. Messrs J. Thickett, A. Horwell, G. •-Pilling;. H. Welliek, T. Mealtle, W. 'Shiitt; selection committee, Messrs j. W. Soiiter, J. Thickett, E. Budd, and the captain. It was decided to apply to the Borough- Council for permission to play on ono of the spare grounds at the Park, and to offer £2 10s for the sea--1 son. , . . The annual subscription was fixed at 30s 6d for seniors arid 5s for juniers (the limit being for youths under 18 J ' years of age"). . | 1 Opening day was fixed for June 3rd, ] on whatever temporary ground can be } obtained. I