FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5, 3 May 1912, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

STRATFORD (3) v. CLIFTON (0)

The opening match of the season was played on the Show Grounds yesterday afternoon, before a fair crowd, when Clifton tried conclusions with the local seniors, and were beaten by the narrow margin of three points, after u rather uninteresting game in which they had pretty much the worst oi things. Incidentally, it Was the only senior match played yesterday in Taranaki, Inglewood having tfailed to raised team, withdrawing their seniors from the competition. Neither 1 o'l the teams on yesterday's showing were up to senior standard; brilliancy was conspicuous by its absence. Still, there was a good solid display, and tile Stratford men will doubtless give r good account of themselves when the season is slightly older. The back? were patchy, Crawshaw, Cameron and Anderson being the only players to give any account of themselves. Tin lattei was not given many chances, hut made the most of those given him. Kivell at full was safe, while Fearon. Young. Whittington, Hancock and "Tim" Cameron were the pick of the forwards. The following were the teams:— Stratford —

Full hack, KivelJ • three-quarters Jones, Crawshaw, ar Vnderson; fiveeighths, Stewart aiv ud Cameron half, Wood; forwards saron, Young Whittington, Bonnoi James, Boon Hancock, and T. Can. on. Clifton—•

Full back, Waka; three-quarters. Fuller, Tate, and Goodwin; five eighths, Egglestone; half, Crawley, wings, Nash and Fitzsimmons; for wards, Cain,. Berndtsen, Loveridge Hicks, Thomas, Jones and Cameron. Young, the local skipper, kicked off, and even play followed, in which Strat (ford had the best. Offside play b> the greens gave Stewart a shot a' goal, but the ball was well outside the posts. From a scrum that follow ed the kick-off, Clifton got the bal clean away, but the backs holding on too long enabled Crawshaw to get the ball. He kicked, and Anderson, following up fast, secured and made ; dash for the hne. Collared, he throw back wildly and the chance was lost Subsequently Clifton were again call ed up for offside play, but Kivel again failed with his kick. From i scrum Woods picked up and sent tin ball out to Crawshaw, who gave ; nice long pass to Jones, who kickei hard. Both Crawshaw and done? followed up well, but Clifton forced In a line out, C[ fton were once mow too eager, but Kivell’s kick, though ; good one, failed to cross the bar. Athis stage “Tim” Cameron was attracting considerable notice from th< crowd for good solid collaring, his vie tims appearing to he none too ready t< get up. Still another off-side again si Clifton was given by Referee Spurdle but Clifton charged this down. Crawshaw obtained possession, and put ir a nice long kick well into the corner Nothing was doing, however., and an interchange of kicks followed, hot! sides having a difficulty in finding th( line. Stratford got in their first real passing rush from a scrum at half • way, but the backs failed to get inC their stride, and Clifton soon swamp ed them. Kivell, at full back, was conspicuous for a good piece of play, taking the ball while running at top hut then lost the oval. Crawshaw obtaining, found the line with a rattling good kick. Stewart shortly aftei secured the, ball, but, with his backs handy for a good rush, held on, anci was collared .with the ball. A line-oul a few yards from the corner looked like danger for Clifton, but the lattei managed to break away. Half-time was called shortly afterwards, with neither side having scored. Up to thb play had been of a rather uninteresting nature, and though Clifton were beating Stratford badly in the scrums they were not doing much with the advantage given them. The second spell was decidedly more lively, but Stratford continued to have muen tlie better of the game. From even play to neutral territory, Anderson found the line well down. A lineout gave the Stratford backs possession, out they faded to get into striek and the wmg (Jones) essayed to pot, the attempt failing. The game got very enthusiastic when Whin, mulled, and Anderson got to him quickly, but failed to get away with the bail. Clifton then livened up, am. for the first Lime they got well inti Stratford territory. Clifton were get ting the ball clearly from the scrum, but the red forwards generally managed break up their combination, whih the backs, notably Crawshaw, collared well. In a forward rush by Clifton, Jones appeared to be none too auxiout to get clown to things, but Anderson picking up and putting in a nice run, saved Stratford trom an ugly situation. Whittington, who had been playing a good game right through, was responsible tor getting the ball once more into the enemy's quarters. Cameron and Hancock instituted a good forward rush, but failed through lack of support. Then followed the best piece ol play of the day, The ball was kicked back from a scrum, Dud Cameron picked up, dodged two or three men, and centred. Anderson saw his chance, and cut in at a great pace. Clifton mulled, and the -speedy wing picked up the oval, ran round, and touched down under the post. Kivell’s kick was a failure. From the kick-off the reck were in difficulties, but Kivell made no mistakes. Stewart, who had been speculating freely, here missed Ins mark and let his side into difficulties, from which only gpocT work by the forwards relieved the home team. There was another ticklish situation, -shortly after, when the Clifton forwards smothered Kivell’s kick, but Anderson was again to the front, and found the line with a nice pnilt. From the lineout, Barney Fearon damped Clifton’s ' ardour with a, long kick right across the field, which found the line past-half-way. A forward scramble saw “Tim” Cameron over the line, but a force was given. Then followed a piece of work which greatly encouraged Clifton’s ban-ackers. Goodwin got the ball near reds’ twenty-five, and made a- dash for the line. It was a nice dodgy run, and he looked like scoring till Jim Fearon pulled him up with a jerk, This was a dying effort and the whistle sounded shortly afterwards, with the -scores—Stratford -3, Clifton ... nil. . Spurdle made an efficient rcferej|

JUNIOR GRADE.

CLIFTON (14) v. STRATFORD (0)

For a first game the match between the above clubs was a fairly good one, several players on both sides showing fair for™, more particularly McDavitt, Ell&t, Limmer, Stoddart, and Lawrence for Clifton, and the centre threequarters, five-eighths and half-back for Stratford. Tries were scored by I). Cunningham, E. Stoddart, and MeDavitt (2). I). George converting the last try. Mr. H. W. Elliott referee'd very satisfactorily.

INGLEWOOD (12) v. TUKAPA (3)

Inglewood took up a very heavy

team to New Plymouth, where, on the Western Park, 'they had little difficulty in overcoming the junior representatives of the Tukapa Club. Inglewood drew first blood with a penalty kicked by Jury, and about half way through, Burrows crossed the line for Tukapa, West failing to add the major points. Inglewood here livened up, and as a result of a good piece of play, K. Kennedy secured a nice try. f'lii's' was not converted, and the score at half time stood: Inglewood 6, Tukapa 3. In the second spell Nicholls and Russell scored tr'es for the southern team, while Tukapa '.'.ere unable to add to their score, tho game ending iV'ith inglewood in the lead by nine points. Mr. B. Petty wielded the whistle.

THIRD GRADE

STRATFORD 111. v. CLTFTON 111

The above teams met on Victoria Park yesterday, a good game resulting in a win for Stratford by 31 to 3. For the winners Rogers (4), Collins, Marchant, Syme, and Rogers scored tries. Syme converted two ' tries and also kicked a penalty goal. For Clifton Kink kicked a penalty goal.