FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 30, 5 June 1915, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

WHANGA DISTRICT V. TOKO.

On Thursday a match between the above teams was played for the Deah Cup. resulting in a win for the home team by a narrow margin. The Dean Cup was presented by Mrs A. Dean, of Whanga, in .1907, for competition between teams representing Toko, Strathmoie, and Whanga Districts. In a play-off round that year, Toko won it, and later in the same year Strathmore challenged for and took it from Toko. The conditions of the cup tire very similar to those of the RuiI'urly Shield,■allowing for local condition's. In 1908 Whanga travelled to Strathmore, and after a hard tussle, biought the Cup to Whanga, where it has remained ever since in spite of repeated efforts to gain it by Toko and Strathmore. Yesterday's match was one of the test played for the Cup. The Toko team wore amber and black, and each member wore a white band on the arm as a mark of respect to the late Trevor Marfell (killed at Whanga) and his brother Manly Marfell, whose death at the Dardanelles was recently reported, anil who, in his day, was one of Toko's best forwards. The Whanga team wore black uniforms. Whanga won the toss, and played with a ..light wind behind them in the first spi.il. Toko opened with a strong attack, but play was carried back into .-.the Toko half, and for a while :;ononis were easy. From a loose s'ctum. 1). Davis started a forward rush, which was carried on by Dean and fv'eeley, with the result that Dean sjo red a good try near the posts for Whai'ga. Little converted. Whanga o. Toko 0. Alter the kick off, Toko had .■■■-./oral free-kicks within fair distance, nut did' not succeed in goaling any of them. Tile remainder of the spell mis' fast, arrd play travelled up and down the iield.

In the second spell, Whanga continued to attack, but Toko, with good forward play, worked the game into their opponents half, and lioni a scrum Llieer secured the ball <uid scored a line Ury, which was not converted. Whanga <">, Toko ;!. ; On kicking oil', Toko charged 'he kick and were within an ace of seorb.g again but line defensive work on the. part of the Whanga backs saved the situation. Whanga then s.tt.aekod, and S. Court got over Tbko's line, but was called back for ah infringement, immediately alter, Little secured ;n a good position, but was peiuii-.ed. The game ended with Whanga *>v!l! attacking. . Of the winners, it is hard to individualise the players, but mention must be made of the Court Bros., Little and Priest, among the backs. Lees played a line defensive game, and stopped every rush that came way. The forwards one and all played magnificently, but. special mention must be made of J. E, Shewry, whose play was right up to rep. form. For the Toko men, Smith played his usual good game and was ably backed up by Mather, Cheer, Bonner, and A. Ferguson. In the evening the visitors were entertained by the borne team at a tea and social and afterwards at a dance.

Allowing for the players coining on to the ground untrained, it was plainly shown that the, Taranaki Union would be wise not to overlook the merits of some of the players in the East Road. There are two or three players in their midst who would lie a strength to any rep. team. .Mr K. Armstrong controlled the game and gave every satisfaction as referee.