FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 28, 25 May 1914, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Stratford 8 v. Tukapa 6. Inglewood 3 v. Star 0. Clifton 27 v. Okato 3. STRATFORD (8), v. TUKAPA (6)

The first match in senior Saturday football was not favored with good weather. In fact, the outlook was mo bad that none of the livery stables or motor garages summed up sufficient faith to run conveyances to the ground. This in itself would account to no little extent for the poor attendance of the.public. However, now that the change of date from Thursday to Saturday has been definitely drawn attention to, there will no doubt be more catering for' public patronage in the future. The continual drizzle of rain that marked the day held off while the

line was in progress, and in this par-

fcioular there was no cause for complaint with the weather. One matte) must be referred to the authorities for correction, and that is the fact that play was not started till quite a quarter to four, by which time the shades of night were noticeable owing to the dullness of the atmosphere even at this early hour. The arrival of visiting teams by the three o'clock train, has always been a matter for discussion, and the local enthusiasts feel the position keenly owing to the circumstances that compel the Strata ford representatives to travel by the morning train and thereby lose a whole day, apart altogether from the unfairness to the -players and public alike in a shortened spell ■ being necessary and the failing light making for... an uncertain and very unsatisfactory result at times.

Coming to Saturday's match, it may be taken for granted that on the day's piny the better team won. There was not much between them, and possibly the locals owe their success to playing up to the old and reliable advice to "tret in early." By the time five minutes of the first spell of 35 minutes had gone by, Dewar, for Stratford, scored a pretty try as the result of a line rush to tiie line, and Collins, by a splendidly-directed kick, registered the major points (s—o). This put plenty of heart into the locals' supporters, but none expected that before three minutes were to go another score would be added. But such is the glorious uncertainty of Rugby that amid a \ perfect storm of applause Young scored a fine try. The play was on the grandstand side of the ground, and Kivell on the outside three-quar-ter line was pressed, when he centred with a well-judged kick, and as the result of a determined rush Young followed up and got there in the nick of time. This was.one of the occasion? on which Young; .showed that he' can "sci'.le some," ,and. the spectators were not slow toi note his "slippery" tactics on the turf. Collins ! made a good but ineffectual kick at' goal. (8 —0). For some time after, the crowd were kept busy wondering how Stohr would succeed with his kicks at goal, as he made four essays within a few minutes, eventually landing three points' 1 from a mark with n pretty kick that rose just highh enough to clear the posts. '(S—3). That it was an interesting' game up to this point is shown by the fact that only seventeen minutes had gone since the kick-off. Stratford was "forced," and was forced to run the gauntlet of several free kicks between this stage and the call of half time. It is not safe to prophesy when wtohr is concerned in the kicking, and there were many anxious moments for the local supporters, followed b\» jeers from the übiquitous small-boy when the attempts were non-resultant. These outbursts were not always in the best of taste. but, then, what can anyone do with the small boy? Half time was called with no alteration in the score.

The second spoil opened with an anxious time for the local supporters, as the visitors showed a surprising and pleasing display of dash that nearly swept Stratford off their feet, hut the change came after about five minutes of strenuous play, and thereafter the locals more than held their own, although they were not able to score again, while their line was crossed about a quarter of an hour before time was up. This was the result of a good passing rush right across the line,leaving Stohr in the scoring position, which was well towards the touch line. The same player made a splendid attempt at goal but failed. (B—6). There were great possibilities of the visitors again making enough to put them in the lead, but the Fate's were against them, and also the Black-and-Reds, the latter no doubt being the more potent factor in the result. Mr F. Spurdle (Inglewood) rofeieed satisfactorily. There is never** too much of the whistle from this member of the Referees' Association.

Of the backs, perhaps Wood was the most prominent as well as the most reliable; at any rate, lie shared the honors in these respects with Collins, whose play at full-back was very pleasing. On one occasion only did lie fail to field cleanly. It is a pity this player was not stronger in left-foot booting. Woods got the ball away well, and got his kicks in smartly. Kivell did not have much to do, but what chances went his way he carried out to the sat- | isfaction of the spectators, and that is 1 praise indeed. Between the man beI hind the scrum and the wiugs there I was some bungling during the game, but of course the leather was heavy and greasy, which would account for j some mistakes. Still, the remark v»as made on more than one occasion after I the game—"lt's only a rumor what Tnkapa would have done with the lled-and-Blacks on a dry ground with I a dry ball!" But that's a matter of "if," and as such need not be seriously considered except as a valuable hint to i bear in mind that practice in passing

and handling the ball must not be overlooked. • Among the forwards, there was no doubt of the" strength Dewar was to the team, and he was ably seconded by Smith, both these players being in the forefront of the many solid and almost irresistible forward rusnos which characterised the game throughout. it is a matter for conjecture what Tukapa would do without Jack Stoar. That his kicking powers are wonderful there is no denying, yet in the stale of the ball on Saturday he was asked to do rather too much. Outside h.'s assistance in kicking, Stohr's play was excellent. Loveridge was not tip to his usual form, it appeared to the writer, while none of the back-markers got really going with the ball. Hawkins, among the forwards, was prominent as usual.