STRATFORD V. STAR

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 423, 3 May 1937, Page 2

STRATFORD V. STAR

Red and Blacks’ Easy Victory Scoring six tries (four ponferZtdi, and two penalty goals, -totalling 32. against Star’s (two tries, one convert ed; 8 points, Stratford were easy winners. The match was played at New Plymouth. The- Stratford rearguard was always dangerous. Clifford-Jones proved himself a fine oppoortunist from -the loose and had a hand. in nearly all his side’s tries. Lehmann, at centre, was responsible for some bright play, but all the backs did good work. The forwards, led by Young, R. Clarke and Smith, were a fine bus-tllng pack with no passengers. The teams were: Strafford: Robson; Rolllands, Lehmann, Ross; Clifford-Jon: s, Collins; Sangster; Butcher, Young, R. Clarke; Garlick, Smith; L. Clarke, Hinton, Bird. Star: Andrews; Waswo, Nielson, McFarlane; Arnold, Fairburn; Cleaver; Sampson, C. McLean, Morris; M Goodin, J. McLean; Spence, Rutherford, J. Goodin. kick d off, but Stratford was not long in opening up an attack, the backs throwing -the- ball about .freely. Their efforts were soon rewarded, Lehmann dashing over at the corn r The kick failed. Star had. the better of affairs during the next quarter of an hour, but back came Stratford and Clifford-Jones cut through to send Young ov r underneath the posts. Clifford-Jones converted, making Stratford 8-0 at half-time. Immediately on re-sump ion Stratford attacked and from another opening by Clifford-Jones, R. Clarke forced his way over.. Clifford-Jones converted. From loose play near the half-wCy, Cliff ord-Jones broke away wi h the ball at his toe and Ross finish: d off the movement by dashing over for a good try. Clifford-Jones converted The same player added three points from a penalty shortly afterwards. Bo’li the Stnatford for wards and backs took part in a fine passing movement which culminated

in Clifford-Jon-es crossing as lie was S/ar then staged fa great ;ally, and from a forward rush J. Goodin scored. The kick failed. Immediately afterwards McFarlane- interc pied just outside his own twen-cy-five land 1 made a great run and passed «to J. McLean, who scored under he posts. Sampson converted. From scrambling play in midfield the Stratford backs set off to send Ross over under the pos-t-s. He converted himself. Just on time Ross kicked a penalty goal. Stratford 32 Star 8 Mr J. G. Leach was referee. POINTS TABLE. Northern Division.

CENTRAL DIVISION The results of matches played in the Central Division were: - First Junior. Midhirst 1G v. Eltham 3. Tdko 9, v. Stratford Old Boys 3. VVilmshurst and B-ond (2), scored for Toko, and Goodman kicked u- penality goal for United Old Boys. Stratford,' a bye. Third’ Grade. S" rat ford 11 v. Midhirst 0. Eltham 9 v. Cardiff 6. Inglewood beat Toko by default. S<l rat ford Technical High School beat Stratford Old Boys by default. Fourth Graidie. Stratford 15 v. .Stratford Technical High School 3. Eltham 10 v. Inglewood Gi.

UNITED-CLIFTON MATCH. (Notes by “Grandstand.”) With the exception of Potaka and Sangster the winner’s backs were not brilliant, though credit must be given for their safe collaring. Courtenay at centre did not get as much of the ball as should have been the case. It appeared as if Sangster had little faith in the three-quarter line to carry on the attack, and" judging by the result of the few opportunities given the wings his plan of finding the line was the right one. In defence, however, the division was a solid one. Wetton’s try was well earned. Fenton at half played a fine game, but had the pack working for him as they hooked the ball from practically all the scrums. The front-row men were veterans and were always in the thick of the fray. Calagher shone out as the scorer of the second try, which was due to the forward work. The -pack combined well. United deserved victory for the splendid revival movement in the last ten minutes, during which the whole team played their best, and surged round Clifton’s citadel seeking for a breach in the fortifications. That they found it on three occasions, even though they could not gain an advantage, was much to their credit. The luck was with the defence on the day’s operations. As a team, United inspired confidence among the spectators in the latter stages of the match, but there was weakness in the inside backs in the first spell. McCarrison lacked concentration and appeared to be more intent on what the opposition was intending to do than in securing possession of the ball and continuing the passing movement. His mistakes were due probably to nervousness, which is peculiar to players of all ages. iMcCready was also not seen at his best, consequently Richardson suffered, and the smart passing runs which distinguished the division, in the previous week’s match were comparatively rare. L. Lash gave his best display to date in the second spell, and deserved the plaudits of the crowd. His efforts to break through the opposition as a

wining spectacle inspired the team in no small measure, and the sustained attack thrilled their supporters while it terrified the defenders. Bowler, disappointed some of his admirers after he had scored United’s try, as he appeared to slacken iii enthusiasm -when his visual dasha enthusiasm when his usual dash would have been serviceable. W. Lash had a hard job behind the scrum, but sent the ball out to his backs in good style. It was not his fault that the line failed to penetrate the yellows. Of the backs, Adlam, the last line of defence, was the first ih order of merit, and compels attention as the source of United’s strength. His fielding and kicking were invaluable as tactics, and he gave the back diFor the greater part of the game he vision much support at critical times, did a wonderful amount of work, and the spell afforded by the final attack by the others must have been appreciated by him at the close of a hard match. Koefoed, it is understood, was playing his last game for United, as he departs shortly for Wellington, having joined up with the Police Force. His services will be missed greatly, as he was the leader of the forwai’ds, and gave promise of earning interprovincial honours in the future. He was popular in the team, and his fellows will wish him success in his new sphere. On the line-out, United were superior to the Clifton pack, and also in the loose, but the visitors beat them in the light work. Heath, Thomson, Bonner, and Robinson, as usual,, were most prominent, but Murphy, O’Keefe and Ries worked just as hard as any of them. INTERNATIONAL RULES. Taking Penalty Kicks. One of the most progressive changes made in the laws of Rugby for a long time ts the decision of the International Rugby Board that the offending side in the case of penalty kicks must now retire from the mark instead of, as formerly* standing on it. In the past, non-offending teams have actually been penalised territorially by having to retire some dis-

tance behind the mark in order to take the penalty kick. Pushing an Opponent. In future, a player stooping to pick up the ball cannot be pushed by an opponent. Though it has been permitted in New Zealand for the last two or three years in conformity with a ruling of the English Rugby Union it allowed all sorts of abuses. The new rule is nojv the same as that which previously operated in New Zealand. ASSOCATION MATCHES The Junior Cup Association football eompeti'ion was begun in Taranaki on Saturday. Waitara beat Albion 6 1 and, Hawera beat Auroa 2—l. The Pirates team was granted a postponement. of its match with Watersid rs owing to sickness ‘among i s members and the match was will be played later in the season.

P. W. D. L. for ag pts. Stiutford 3 3 0 0 67 22 6 Clifton . . . . 2 2 0 0 27 14 4 Tukapa .. .. 2 110 38 13 3 Inglewood 3 111 31 39 3 Stratford O,B .3012 20 31 1 N.P. Old Boys 3 0 12 22 59 1 S' ar 2 0 0 2 8 46 0 Southern Division. Kaponga ' .. 3 3 0 0 57 15 6 Ha w era .. .. 3 3 0 0 45 16 6 Opunaks 3 3 0 0 35 3 6 El-ham 3 10 2 14 36 2 A'thletic .. .. 3 10 2 14 37 2 Okaiawa .. 3 10 2 31 31 2 Pa be a .3 0 0 3 14 36 0 Wai mate 3 0 0 3 It 55 0