TARANAKI FOOTBALL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 50, 9 July 1891, Page 6

TARANAKI FOOTBALL GOSSIP.

(from OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

New Plymouth, July 3. On Saturday last, June 27, the first round of the Cup matches in this district was played. Clifton walked over New Plymouth by 9 points to nil at the latter place ; Hawera easily disposed of Eltham; and Waimate forfeited to Manganui (Stratford team). I was present at the game between New Plymouth and Clifton, and a more uninteresting display of football j never saw. The play was decidedly spasmodic* The former had no condition in them, the majority of them having embyro corporations of city aidermen. lam certain that lam quite within the mark when I state that the New Plymouth men never kick a ball nor play together until they meet to play in a match. Under such circumstances no team can expect to be any good, and if the local club want to be in the hunt at all this year they must go in for practice. They are the makings of a good team, for the material is in them. The Cup this year will, I think, be fought out between Clifton and Manganui. I expect the latter to come out victorious. The Auckland representatives, I understand, play our men here or at Hawera in August next. Unless the Taranaki representatives have plenty of practice together before the match I predict it, even at this early period, a victory for the Auckland boys. Should our men, however, get a month’s practice together the game 1 will be well contested. The referee and the umpires in the match’ New Plymouth v. Clifton, seemed to have a set of rules of their own. In this district the rules are interpreted in a decidedly broad sense by the referees and umpires. Tom Hempton is not playing with the New Plymouth Club this year, but I hear a rumour that he intends to play for Clifton against Manganui. I can hardly credit this, as I dontt' think Hempton is the man to desert the local club, of which he was captain for years. There is one player in the Clifton Club, and a prominent one, too, by-the-bye, who is extremely fond of striking opposing players when he is collared. Such a practice ought to be stopped by the referee, who has power to do so. They say, however, that the said player always picks his marks. His bump of caution must be fully developed; but some day he may run against a snag.

The following is the Ponsonby Football' Club’s record for the past; seasons—■ Matches played, 6; won 5, drew ,1. Tries obtained—Alf. Tanfield 4, J., Mills >3, R. Masefield 3, J. Cole 3, F.W. Edwards 2, T. Roberts 2, R. Bruce 2, F. Murray. 1, W. Rhodes Aj; - J. Breen 1, C. Brady 1, W. Hobson. > Goals from tries—J. Breen 3, R. Masefield .L The Club has played 130 matches.; they have won 24, drew 17,. and lost 19. Grafton record for the season is—(Matches played 6 ; won 4, drew 1, lost 1. Points scored —for 33, against 17. Tries scored—W. EHiott 3, W. H. Hales .2, P. Mackie 2, R. McKenzie 2, O. Stone 2, 0. Madigan 1, 0. Pennagillan 1, H. Stephenson 1, A. Smith 1. Goals from tries—Pennagillan 6, Peace 1. Goal from a penalty—Pennagillan 1. . -r .