FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 29, 31 May 1912, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

STRATFORD (0) v. TUKAPA (0.) Followers of the game w 'ho wont cp to tlic Sliow Grounds yesterday un'o rewarded by seeing a rattling good "go"; tlie match was exciting all the way through, and some brilliant pieces of work kept the interest of the onlookers at concert pitch. When the Tukapa backs firsl swept down the field, it looked a svre thing lor I ho northern team, but they had tiie Stratford vanguard to reckon with, and a formidable set of forwards they were, though perhaps weak in the scrum. Undoubtedly llioy won the game for Stratford, and Slohrand Irs confreres bad little chance of showing their mottle in attack, when once they had got the upper band of Tnkapa's rather '.veal; forwards. Don Cameron made his first appnaranoo this season, and was responsible for some good work. Unfortunately a <l-'im-aged shoulder, received later in the game, will probably proven* bir.i from again donning the red and Mark jersey this season. On Hie day's play Stratford were the better team, and, while the first spell was remarkably even, the second looked at times v°ry much like a rout. Yesterday war Tnkapa's forlorn hope of seeing Waimate; thev are now "out of it." The following were the t—irs:— Stratford. Full-back, Kivell: three-quarters, Don Cameron, Cvawslnw. and five-oiVhths, Dud Cameron and fitow:irl ; half. Surgoiior: win-'. Ted Ronner; Forward«. U. Foaron. 11. Fioon.

ioung. B. Fearon, Jim Fearcn, Whittinglon, anti Sullivan. Tukapa. Full-buck, Bullet; three-quarters, McGiven, Stohr, and ; fiveeighths, W. Wh'ttaker and G. Lavonoge; half, Brown; wing, F. Loveridge; forwards, Jul], Smith, Harvey, Ward, Davidson, Stool, and Blyde. ' Stratford kicked off, and in the first few minutes Tukapa lost what appeared to b? a certain try. !Jr.>>nn whipped the ball out, and the 'blue oacks swept down the field. W. boa! his man, and transferred to Stohr. but, i\ir some reason, that player, though the wing (MoGiven) was in position, tried it on us own. and was promptly collared by kivell. Immediately after, L. Wlnttakor crossed the' line, but Brown s pass was faulty. The kick considerably improved Stratford's position, but Tukapa were at it again, and an ugly situation, in which Stohr was the guiding spirit, was only dissipated by clever work by Craw'shaw, who found the line well 'up the held. Tukapa were now playing a dashing open game, and the backs wore throwing the ball about in fine style. Good collaring was conspicuous 'on both sdos The Stratford pack, who had quickly demonstrated their superiority, got the ball into northern territory, and a serum ensued under tho posts. Tukapa had forced the ball through, when Surgenor picked up and lot it out to Cameron, who sprinted for home. His dive just failed, L. Loveridge succeeding in bumping him out, the pair knocking the corner flag over as they fell. A quick change saw Woods fail to pick up, and the ball being kicked across, Stohr and Don Cameron raced for a touch-down. Cameron got there first. For throwing (Vein the ground, the Tukapa half let iiis side in, but Cameron's kick was abortive. A second offence by Brown, this time for handling, saw Cameron j make no mistakes, and, with a beau-

ul kick, he

drew first blood for

Stratford. A few seconds later, Stohr endeavoured to equalise matters, but it was not his day out, and the kick failed to reach the posts. Then Stewarc put in a dashing run, but though the ball went out to Woods, nothing was doing. From a mark by Kivell, Don Cameron made a good but resultless attempt to increase the score, and half time sounded soon after, with the ball in mid-held.

In the second spell the Stratford pack got all over the opposing vanguard, and kept them penned clown in their own twenty-hve. Ward caught the spectators' eye, as doing good solid work; a few forwards like him, and Stratford would have had

all they could manage to keep their line clear. Tukapa shortly took a hand in the game, and a good forward rush, with fast following up, saw Stratford in difficulties, till Don Cam-

eron picked up, making no mistake with his line kick. Woods, who had exchanged places with Surgener, was noticeable for good work behind the scrum, and the passing of the Stratford backs became much improved, though it was still far from brilliant. The light, which had long shown signs of failing, was quite dim, when the best piece of play of the day came off. From play in midfield the ball went out to Cameron, who passed in held. It was difficult to see exactly what followed—all that could be seen

was a phalanx of red jerseys, the ball travelling rapidly among them, being tossed up from man to man. Fearon shot out from among the others, and then the reds wore left in complete possession, Stewart, supported by several others, running round and touching down under the posts. Don Cameron failed to add the major points. , Stratford kept at it, and Tukapa looked a very much beaten team. A free-kick, however, relieved them, and from a, mark in the red's twenty-five, Stohr had another unsuccessful attempt at opening the blue's scoring account. The rest of the game looked very much like a picture slioav; in the dim light it was impossible to distinguish the players, and at times even the ball disappeared from view. Both sides were working willingly, but Tukapa never looked dangerous, while Stratford wore within an ace of scoring on several occasions. The whistle .sounded with the score unaltered—Stratford 6, Tukapa nil. The game was efficiently controlled by Mr. Spurdle.

FIRST JUNIORS. Stratford 13 v. Star 3. The Stratford Juniors journeyed to New Plymouth yesterday, where they put Star down to the tune of 13 points to three. Eltham 3 v. Ingiewood 0. Eltham proved to he three points better than Jnglewood after an interesting game. A potted goal, by Wentworth, was the only score. The referee was Mr H. Petty. Clifton 21 v. Tukapa 0. At Waitara, the Clifton Juniors proved to he too good for Tukapa, beating them by 21 points to nil.

SECOND JUNIORS. Stratford 14 v. High School G. King Edward Park was utilised by the third grade team to play New Plymouth High School. The latter did not bring their best team with thom, and suffered defeat to the extent of II to 6. In tbe'Tirst spell the scores were School 6, Stratford 3, hut in the second half the local team showed to advantage, and wiped out the deficiency with a little to spare. Mr J. Thomas refereed. TARANAKI TEAM TO PLAY WANGANUI. The following will represent Taranngi in the match against Wanganui, at Wanganui, on Monday next:— Full-back, Kivell; three-quarters, Stohr and Prince: centre, S. Cameron; five-eighths. McLeod and Roberts; half, Brown; wing forward, Coleman ; hookers, Wliittington and Cain; lock. Pini ; side, Tamu and Young: hack rank, Hawkins and Dewar. Emergencies, Taylor and Ambury. TARANAKI PRIMARY SCHOOLS' FIXTURES. * June R.—Tnglewood v. Stratford, at Inglewond ; Fitzroy v. Central, at Now ' Plymouth ; West End v. Waitara, "at Waitara. .Inn- 22. Stratford v. Central. at Stratford; lusdewood v. Waitara, at Waitara; Fitzroy v. West End, at New Plymouth. Jnlv o.—Central v. Waitara, at New ' Plymouth; Stratford v. Fitzroy, at" Fitzroy; West. End v. Inglewond. at New Plymouth. July 20.~?-West End 'v. Stratford, at ' Sh-atfard ; Central v. Inglewood, Fitzrov v. Waitara, at Waitara. Augur.f '',.- -Wesf End v. Central, at New Plymouth; Fitzroy v. Inglewood, at Inglewond; Stratford \. Waitara. at Stratford. For Chronic Chesl Conipla ; nts, Wnodc' C.voni PoptvM-nint '>J"«. Is