STRATFORD v. STAR

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 451, 7 June 1937, Page 2

STRATFORD v. STAR

Wet Ball And Ground

There was no doubt of the superiority of the Stratford! team over Star in the match played on Victoria Perk, but the Red and Black forwards were the main factor in the success; particularly in the second spell, which was punctuated with cold rain showers, the pack took charge on many occasions and swept the opposition acide. The back divisions were handicapped by the wet ball, but Stratford handled well under the unfavourable conditions, and to have scored five out of the six tries was a tribute to their work. Star gave the Striatford supporters some exciting moments while on the attack, but were not able to break through the defence, and failed to score any points. The teams were: Star (black): J. Simpson; Waswo. MacFarlcne, McKay; Simpson, M'. Goodin, J. McLean, Morris, O. Kinsella, Rutherford, J. Goodin. Stratford (red and black): Dodd; Rowland, Robso*, Tubby; Cuff, Ross; Sangster; Butcher, Young, R. Clarke, Dtavey, Smith, Fastier, ahdl L. Clarke.

stuatfordi kicked off with the sun in their eyes, and rushed to Star’s line, where Simpson luckily escaped from a tackle and found the line. Star were hard pushed on the grandstand corner, and scrums were formed on the line. Relief came with a penalty kick. Star were attacking in Stratford's 25, when a penalty kick transferred to Star’s territory. Stratford were penalised for off-side play in the line out, and another free kick went to the Blacks for further offside work, but the Red forwards worked down to Star’s 25, where Ross essJayed a long penalty kick, but failed. Simpson (Star's full-back), made a good run to Stratford's 25, where a- penalty kick brought relief, and play was quickly transferred to Star’s 25 Slangster secured behind the scrum, put in two smart dummies, and ran across ten yards from the corner. Ross's kick failed. Stratford 3, Star 0.

Waswo was instrumental in transferring play to Stratford’s' 25 with a good run and kick, and Simpson was applauded for smart fielding. There was a round of exchanges in neutral territory until Stratford attacked, but a forward ran round the scrum and: play went to Stra'tforid'’s territory. Simpson put in a splendid kick to find touch in Stratford’s 25, land , a penalty kick was returned to the 25 flag. For the first time in the game, the Stratford backs showed up in a passing rush, gaining ground at hlalfway. A similar run came to an end when Tubby missed the pass lat Star’s 25 flag. Simpson marked cleverly in face of the oncoming Red: forwards and saved in a dangerous situation. Ross broke through with the ball, and ran to the full-back, sending the ball out, and Tubby found the line near the flag. Star relieved the pressure, and after an exchange of kicks, a 1-ne-out followed at Stratford’s 25. A Red rush headed by Hinton and Butcher nearly reached the line, but again the Star backs benefitted- by Stratford’s mistakes and: shifted play to neutral territory. Dodd earned ap plause for breaking through and running down to the full-back. He had a line of Reds alongside him, but elected to kick over Simpson’s: belaid, and the ball was kicked across the line. Sangster almost got over from the scrum, but then the ball went through four pairs of hands to allow Rowland to score near the corner. Ross’s kick failed. Stratford 8, Star 0.

Tubby got away to the full-back in a dribbling turn, but Simpson beat two Reds and sent the leather out of danger. Ross did good work near the Star line, but the defence was sound. R. Clarke, Tubby and Smith hla.fi a passing run, and the latter nearly got across; Ross failed in a pot alt seal and a force resulted. Intercept ing a pass the Star backs had a good opportunity; but a pass was dropped. Half-time scores: Stratford 8, Star 0. Dodd set a passing rush going early after resumption, and play went to Star’s 25. Star repulsed the attack and transferred play to Stratford’s 25 as rain fell heavily. Stratford' had the best of the scrambling play and Star forced at the feet of the Red forwards. Sangster sent a long low kick to near Star’s corner flag, and the play went across to the opposite cor ner, where Tubby was thrown out at the finish of some smart handling by the backs. After being driven back, Sratfordt again attacked at the corner, but Star defended well, and then had Stratford in their own 25. A Red' dribbling rush to Star’s 25 followed. Picking up the ball in loose pllay, Ross fooled the opposition in a sidietracking run and scored near the posts. No change was signalled; and Ross goaled. Stratford 13, Star 0. Play continued in a shower of rlato, and the Red forwards made the game

hard for the Blacks, a force resulting from a long kick. From a line out near the corner, Star sent Stratford biack to half-way, but a penalty enabled Star to reach Stratford’s 25, Simpson .running down to Dodd, but he failed with an overhead kick. Star continued to press and Dodd was bustled, finding the line near the corner. Dodd had a bit of an innings, following up his own kick iand giving the Blacks a lot of trouble. From a long dribbling rush, Rowlands picked up ten yards from the line an-dl scored. Ross’s kick missed. Stratford 16, Star 0. ■ The Red forwards still predominated, and again Rowlands picked up in I Star's 25 and ran across. Ross failed ) with the kick. Stratford 19, Star 0. Star attacked strongly, but only | succeeded! in forcing Stratford with ■ a- kick. Another Stratford score fol- I lowed a forward rush, R. Clarke sue- ; feeding in grounding the ball. Ross’s kick failed. Final score: Stria,tford 22, Star 0. Mr A. O’Sullivan refereed.