STRATFORD’S SUCCESS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 452, 21 June 1937, Page 3

STRATFORD’S SUCCESS

Strenuous Game Stratford’s victory gives them a lead of three points over Tukapa, leaving them only one match to play in the last round (against Old Boys at Stratford) but it should be remembered that the New Plymouth team was the first to lower the Red and Black colours in the first round. On the other hand, Tukapa has yet to meet Inglewood and Clifton, the latter team having defeated the Blue and Whites In the first round.

The spectators were treated to a stern struggle, and it was admitted generally that the better team on the day was Stratford. Tukapa’s display did not please their supporters, as the backs were unable to operate freely owing to the successful tactics of Stratford in dominating the scrums. At half time the score was in favour of the Blues, being 5 points (converted try) to 3 (unconverted try). The Reds held the territorial advantage practically throughout the second spell, and added a try, tat the same time keeping their, defence intaet. The referee, Mr A. S. Dalton, kept the players strictly up to rules, and his decisions left no room for dissatisfaction among the most ardent supporters of the respective teams. The teams were: Stratford (red and black). —Dodd: Robson, Ross, Cuff; Lehmann, Collins: Cruickshanks, Butcher; Smith, R. Clarke, Davey, Ysging, L. Clarke, Hinton, Fastier. Tukapa (blue and white). — Broughton; White, Sullivan, Hanover; Wallace, Brown; Main; G. Sullivan; Bell, Ruakere, O’Dowda, Sanger, Mace, T. Sullivan, George. Tukapa kicked off from the eastern goal, with the wind and sun against them. Ross unsuccessfully essayed a penalty kick from near halfway, the ball going outside the posts. The red forwards led by Fastier reached the 25, and Wallace kicked to the 25 line. Tukapa forwards carried on to Stratford’s line, where a penalty relieved the pressure, Broughton missed fielding the second of two long kicks and found the line at the 25 flag. Ruakere was offside near his 25 flag, nullifyZing Broughton’s kick. Fastier led a fr forward rush, started by Cruickshanks, beating Broughton, and Young fell on the ball across the line. Ross’s kick missed.

STRATFORD 3. TUAKAPA 0 Stratford’s infringement in the scrum gave Tukapa a free, which went to the 25. Smith mulled an exchange and Tukapa lined out in Stratford’s 25. Brown secured from a scrum and beat the reds to ground as he was tackled under the posts. O’Dowda goaled. TUKAPA 5, STRATFORD 3. Dodd made a good but unsuccessful pot at goal. From the sernm the ball went out to Sullivan and the movement was stopped at halfway. J. Sullivan kicked well and Dodd again unsuccessfully potted. The Tukapa backs operated, and Cuff mulled Sullivan's kick at halfway. Collins kicked well to Tukapa’s 25 flag and Ross smothered the return. Cruickshanks dodged from the scrum near the line but lost possession and play went to past;'the 25 line, Dodd’s kick was knocked on by Broughton near the 25 flag. The ball was hooked by the reds but they did not penetrate. The ball went across the field through the Tukapa backs, gaining little ground. From a serum the ball went to Ross, and Cuff, who was! tackled on the line. Sullivan kicked to halfway and Dodd returned. The Stratford backs operated, but Lehmann fcas penalised lor lying on thd ball.

Ross and Robson interchanged passes, but play went to halfway. ■ A penalty kick for obstruction beat Broughton and went over the line, the ball being forced. Tukapa forced again as the result of a long kick, after R. Clarke had intercepted a pass. Stratford forwards followed a kick by Collins to near the line. Tukapa relieved the pressure, play going to halfway, and then Tukapa forced a kick centred from the 25. Smith broke away and passed to Butcher, and from a mark by Brown piny went to halfway. From a serum th? ball went across to Cuff, who passed infield to Ross, the ball going out. Hinton broke into the open and potted unsuccesfully. The red forwards crossed the line with the ball at toe, a force resulting. Ross missed a long penalty kick in a favourable position. Halftime scores:

TUKAPA 5, STRATFORD 3. Tukapa’s Defence Broken. * i Play was strenuous in neutral territory, Sullivan being prominent in keeping Stratford out of their 25. The red backs combined in passing, Ross knocking on on the line. J. Sullivan during a passing movement kicked well part halfway, and Broughton’s kick drove Stratford back to the 25 flag. Dodd earned applause by fielding Sullivan’s long kick and finding the line. Cruickshanks beat the opposition from a scrum but his pass was knocked on at Tukapa’s 25 line. Ross returned Broughton’s kick and followed up to smother the return at the 25. Smith, Fastier, and Clarke handled, and Robson could not reach the pass ten yards from the line. A penalty did not bring Tukapa much relief when Lehmann was offside. From halfway Smith started the red forwards, but Broughton speculated and found the line in front of a bunch of reds. Smith again broke away, and Clarke passed on to Robson who was pushed out at the 25 flag. Broughton was bustled and Fastier carried on close to the line. On the other wing the ball passed across the red backs, but they did not gain much ground. Clarke took a penalty kick from near the 25 flag, Ross marked near halfway ,and the return went out on Stratford’s side of halfway, the first occasion that Tukapa had been past halfway for some time. Then the red forwards broke away, and Fastier beat Broughton, racing over the line to ground near the posts. Ross goaled.

STRATFORD 8, TUKAPA 5. Blues’ Despairing Efforts. Smith went off with an injured knee and Bird went on. The red forwards carried play in a rapid movement to Tukapa’s 25 but Brown kicked to the line. A nice blue passing movement followed, and White was stopped by Dodd at the 25 flag. Stratford worked past halfway where Stratford was awarded a penalty for offside, and Ross found the line at the 25 flag. White fielded a kick by Dodd and ran down past halfway. Dodd was slow in fielding and had to find the shortest way to the line. A passing movement among the blues was almost successful, the pass to Brown being forward. Stratford forwards relieved to the 25. The blue packs passed across to Hanover, but the last pass was forward. A pass to Cuff gave him the chance to relieve and he found the line at halfway. Play was at halfway when Cuff put in a good kick to outside Tukapa’s 25. Tukapa battled back to halfway. A free helped Stratford to push into Tukapa’s half. Hinton fooled the opposition and carried play to Tukapa’s 25. A free to Tukapa did not gain any territory. Time sounded with the bail out en Stratford's side of halfway. STRATFORD 8, TUKAPA 5. Mr A. S. Dalton retsreed.