FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 51, 22 June 1914, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE. * I Smith Island S v. North Island nil. Wellington 0, Wairarapa 3. NORTH TARANAKI RESULTS.' Clifton 3 v. Tnkapa nil. i Okato 3 \ r . Star nil. Stratford 25 v. Inglewood nil. NORTH v. SOUTH. IPbb Press Association.] Wellington, June 21. The North v. South Rugby match yesterday resulted in d win for South by 8 points to nil, after what was little better than a mud scramble. Rain fell during the afternoon, accompanied by. a cold, biting southerly wind, and the ground was already churned up by the curtain-raiser between St. Patrick’s College and Victoria University, which ended in a three-point'draw. Though it was the bleakest day on which any match has been played on the Athletic Park this season, there was a good attendance of the public. Back play was next to impossible with the greasy ball, heavy slippery ground and falling rain. Obviously the game was to kick and follow up when with the wind. South played that game and won. North attempted the passng game, and failed badly. Play, itself was not interesting. South showed better form forward, and more vigor behind the scrum. North were probably, man for man., better, and their combined work j such as there was of it was certainly more attractive than anything the South did in that line, hut back play on either side never came to much.

The game was played in four spells, and the first two were even enough, with a slight advantage to South, who got the ball more in the scrum, and were enterprising in the loose. At the opening of the tliird spell. South, playing with the wind, put hi a determined rush, and in less than five minutes ran up the only points scored in the match. These were a well deserved try by Taylor, who beat his opponent Black in a race fjpr a wind-driven rebounded ball, and a minute or two later a fine try by Pyle, who took a chance pass and got over in the corner. Graham converted the first, but Cockcroft had no chance with the second 1 kick. North were near enough to scoring in the concluding spell, but their tactics, were faulty.

The following were the teams;— North—Full hack, J. Ryan; threequarters, Steward, B. Roberts, Stolir; live-eighths, McKenzie, Weston; half, E. Roberts; wing forward, Taylor; forwards, Francis, Cain, Downing, Smith, Totter, Wilson, Bruce. South.—Full back, Scott; threequarters, Pyle, Cockcroft, Lynch; liveeighths, Black, Crawshaw; half, Taylor; wing forward, Murray; forwards, Williams, Lindsay, McNeece, Irvine, Fisher, Graham, Langford. Mr J. Francis controlled the game. f THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR. ™ Wellington, June 21. The following team >was selected last night for the tour of Australia, leaving Wellington for Sydney on July 3 : Backs.—Green (West Coast), Taylor (Canterbury),‘Weston (Auckland), McKenzie (Auckland), Black (Otago), R. Roberts (Taranaki), Lynch (South Canterbury), O’Brien (Auckland), Loveiidge (Taranaki), Jim Ryan (Wellington). ' Forwards.—H. Williams (Otago), Francis (Wellington), Cain (Taranaki). Bruce (Auckland), Irvine (Southland), Downing (Auckland), Graham (Otago), Rangi Wilson (Wellington), Carroll (South Auckland), McNeece (Southland), Fisher (Duller), Murray (Cauterlju ry). J Of these McKenzie, r l ay lor, R. Roberts, Lynch, Loveridge, Williams, Cain, Bruce, Downing, Graham, and Murray were members of the team that toured California last year.

OTHER GAMES. Carterton, June 21. Wairarapa met Wellington on Saturday in a howling southerly, and were defeated by G points to 3. With a minute to go, Wellington forwards broke away and ran the ball to \\ an - arapa’s 25. A “speculator” across the held was picked up wonderfully by F a ue, who ran in and scored a try, which was unconverted, and time was called. Play throughout was merely a mud scramble, and in this department Wairarapa outclassed their opponents. < |3 Y JGiiEOTEio Telegraph—-Copyright] [CJnitbd Pbebb Association.] Sydney, June 21. 'l-1,0 Queensland Rugby team beat Xew South' Wales by 16 points to 14. the league came. Brisbane, June 20. England defeated Queensland by 22 points to 8, after leading at halftime by 14 to 0. The weather was fine and the attendance was 12,000. The game throughout was fast and strenuous and at times rough.

STRATFORD V. INGLEWOOD. There was a very small attendance at the Showground on Saturday, when the Stratford find Inglewood teams tried conclusions. The ground was in good condition and the weather was good, through the wind blew rather strongly across the ground. The rain held off til la few minutes before the end of the game. There wede several junior players in the .Stratford team, and this no doubt accounted for the lack of cohesion among the forwards. The home three-quarter line worked well and indulged in some fine passing. As a whole the visitors’ team was not quite up to first-class football standard, but some of the individual play was excellent, In one department, how-

over—tackling—the Inglewood men showed to advantage. Soon after play started Inglewood took the hall to Stratford’s quarters, and tight play near the line looked dangerous for Stratford, hut an infdingement enabled Whittington to dear with a nice kick to half-way. Very soon again the hall got through the Stratford forwards, and what looked like a possible score for Inglewood was stopped by a good mark by Wood. From play in mid-field Kivell secured the hall, beat three or four men and scored easily in a,nice position. Brow n failed with'the kick. Play continued up and down the field for some time with honors pretty even. Then Brown got the ball and put in a nice run, then passing to Stewart, who was collared near the line. From a line-out in this vicinity Bonner secured and passed to Wood, who got over without much difficulty. Kivell added the rhhjoi points from a fair angle.—Stratfoid 8, Inglewood 0. Just before halftime was« called Inglewood was forced. Play travelled up and down the field quickly for some time after the second spell opened, neither side having much the best of the play. Stratford’s next score came from a nice passing bout between Stewart, Whittington, and Brown, the latter scoring with half a dozen Ingle Wood men clinging to him. Kivell failed with the kick. Stratford 11, Inglewood 0. Very soon afterwards Sullivan carried the hall over the line, hut lost it before he could ground it; hut Fearon had followed well and had no difficulty in scoiing. Stewart converted with a nice kick. Stratford 16, Inglewood 0. A scrum was given five yards from Inglewood’s line, from which the hall was passed across the field, Kivell scoring near the corner. Whittington made a good hut unsuccessful attempt at goal. Stratford 19, Inglewood 0. Play was now confined tp Inglewood’s territory, and from a forward rush Bonner dropped over. Kivell failed with the kick. Stratford 22, Inglewood 0. A lew moments later Stewart got over. He failed with the kick.—Stratford 25, Inglewood 0, The game ended with Inglewood attacking in Stratford’s quarters with some dash. ■* Mr F. Spurdle acted as referee.

TUKAPA V. CLIFTON. These teams met at Waitara, the game being ,a strenuous forwaid one. Both teams, were without some of their best players, who were absent in W elliugton and ofnthe Clifton men Goodwin Crowley were prevented, from playing through injuries reecived in previous matches. Five minutes after play started, 'j'ftte , kicked , & penalty goal for Clifton—the only score of the match. ■| J! . OKATO v. STAR. . f fd:£. This game was played at New 1 lymouth on a muddy ground, with a wet ball and in showers of rain. 'The only score was a try by Ryan (Okato), which was not converted.