FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 92, 22 April 1904, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE OPENING MATCHES. The opeuiug cup matches of the season were played in the Recreation (Jrounds on Thursday afternoon. Owing to the heavy rain of the previous evening" the ground was under water in many places anid in a wretched state altogether. The games consequently afforded only a slight indication of the qualities of the contesting H'ums, though the display was fairly good for Jirst matcnes. The ball was in a greasy state, effectually preventing 1 an exposition of , the passing game and conlining ope- ; rations to forward rushes and kick-

STAR i- v. TUKAPA I. In the senior match Tukapa v. Star the teams proved even, no score being registered. The veterans Allen and Humphries figured in the Star ranks, ami most ol last year s players were 'included in the team. Rothery, a new man, played as wing For Tukapa Dr. Fookes again donned the jersey, and with one or two exceptions last year's lifteen lined out to 'do battle for the club. Duthie, from Wellrn'gt'O'n, was looked upon to show the value ol new men. The teams were

STAR (Black). Full-back ; S. Ilill. Threequarters : Rothcry, Callender, and Pycroft. Five-eighths : Allen, llalf-back : Humphries. Wing forward's : Kivell and Pulford. Forwards : h. Ryan, 0. Stokes, Stvroud, Weir J. Murphy, C. Allen, and J. Smith TUKAPA (Blue and White.) Full-back : Barrett. Threequarters : Smith, Dr. Fookes, and Woods. Five-eighths : JUvnolt and Duthie. Half : Frewin. Forwards: Tansey, ISalfe, Jenkins, Pryer, Dyne Fiatt, Seamark, Loveridgc.

Star kicked oil', and the ball wan quickly returned to tile line. Almost at the outset Rother.v sustained a nasty bump on the head in a collision with one of his own men. and this seemed to allect the e.x-Opuu-ake man's play for some time. Tile Stars assumed the aggressive and charged the line. Things kept busy in Tukapa territory for a while, until J)r, Fookes relieved [lie pressure by a well-judged kick into touch. Tukapu forwards then look a hand, Tanse.v showing up well, and by good ground work kept, play in the Star territory. After an exhibition of high kicking, the interchange being of little utility to either side, Ilill obtained possession and put in a smart run finishing with a good kick in to the Blues' twenty-five. For off-side play Tukapa was penalised, and Slroml made a splendid kick along the line into the Blues' territory. Shortly afterwards Tukapa forwards hooked the ball from a scrum and commenced a dribbling rush which was stopped in mid-field by Allen, and positions were soon reversed, Tukapu being forced. A few minutes later Kivell secured a mark in a good positiun, and Allen had a shot, at goal, the ball going a little wide. On kicking out play, was confined to Tukapa's twenty-live. Smith missing the ball gave Kivell a chance to rush the ball right up to (he linn but. lost, possession and Tukapas saved themselves by forcing. Some ba:d jvlny, accounted for by efforts to pick up the greasy ball, again put Ihe j'ukapa'K line in danger, Kivell and Kolhery getting within an ace of scoring, but Tukapa forced. Duflrie opened the next scene by some good line lucking, and Tukapa forwards bracea up somewhat, carrying the ball down to the half-way Hag. Sonic g'ive-amd-lake play followed, until Duthie again got possession and put in a smart run across the field, passing to Dr. i'ookes, who, however, was unable to take the ball. Mynol t filled tile bl each, and sent the ball into the Star 2."i. I'ulford' kicked high, and Stars rushing under it were too eager, Humphries being penalised for oil-side. Smith's kick at goal was short. A series of scrums lollowcd, the Stars securing the oval nearly every time, Tukapas failing to hold the scrums possibly on account of the back row pushing in without joining forces. In the line work the Stars generally got the best of it, but just before half-time they became penned in their own twenty-live and could" not get awiiy. Woods came very near scoring but lacked support. Tlven a rush ended in the bull being carried over the line, only to be returned to play by Humphries. The Blue forwards came again and again until at last a combined rush compelled the Stars to force. Willi a couple, of minutes to go Duthie, I'ookes, and Woods executed a neat passing run, the best during the match, but were unable to get to the line. The first spell ended without, score. On changing ends Hie game altered but little, though thy Tukapa forwards did much better work in the scrums, getting the ball pretty frequently. A good chance to score was lost by tile low passing of the Tukapa line, probably owing to the greasy ball. Stars were kept 'busy for fully live minutes in repelling determined lushes on their goal-line, the play 'hovering in dangerous proximity to the cornel' Hag. Scrum after scrum was funned and broken up, and it appeared thai Tukapa would drav, first blood. Hill intercepted a pass," and kicked well down the field, ami the Star supporters breathed again. I'he ball travelled merrily from one end ot Hie field to the other, neither side gaining any material advantage. On a few occasions the backs got a chance to put in a run, i'.ycroft, Itothery uii'd Puliord showing a fair amount of speed. Hill at full-back saved Star on several occasions, and I lumpliries was certainly a man that could not have been spared. His absence would have materially altered Hie result. The tackling was not all 1 hat if should have been, many players collaring too high. The' same thing characterised -t he Tukapa play, Ihougii the team improved as the game progressed. foremost among 'he bucks was lUynolt, who played perhaps the best game on the. field, doing wonders with only one wingferwaid to support him. Thithie. who played fivi-eighth with Mynott, showed gxjocl form, and put in splendid work, following up smartly ami kicking well. The forwards wcro all on I heir mettle, aivd the state of the game at the conclusion (no score) Wat a true criterion of the merits of Hie teams on the heavy field. Mr I''. Si'urdle had charge of live whistle, anil Messrs Street and Oiddy, of luglewoml, were the line umpires.

STKATfomi i. v. ci.ikto.y j. I'his mulch was plavcd on the Stratinrd gt-ouiul, which was in very fair order. The. game was stubbornly I'ouglil throughout, and till' scares do not represent the true difference between (he opposing teams. Stratford showed better condition than the visitors. In I he lirsl. spell Cleaver scored for SI raf ford, hut, the kick at, goal failed. There was no further scare in the lirsl spell, and until Hearing the call of time it appeared thai t lie game would finish with the score;; to nil. Then Young kicked and Cleaver followed op \ery fust,. The Clifton full bar'; didn't seem in any girea I, hurry, not reckoning on Cleaver's lion ot speed, and was unable to obtain possession, the Stratford man scoring between the posts. Young converted— Straitford 8, Ciifton nil. Amongst, the local men Forsyth, wing-forward, and Young, in the pack, played a spltiidid game. The veteran senior Masters was perhaps the most consistent of .the

forwards, though never very nolicaljle. The backs wore nothing brilliant, but will have to he reckoned Willi us tliey get into form. Tocker was a most useful man on Uio defence, lAiti has a tendency of hanging to the hall too lone, alter he is grounded. Otherwise his display was most promising' for a newly-promoted player. The Clifton team played a solid game, hut owing to lack of com- j Inflation and to handling the hall I in the scrum threw away several good chances "of scoring. Their line work at times was brilliant, and with a little more combination In the open will have to he taken info serious consideration as the season advumces. The Hacks include some good men, except that romeLitues a player in possession of the hall played too much 011 his own, forgetting the fact the lie had others in the team who could liiu't done a little at least to help the game along. The line umpires were Messrs T. Buchanan (Clifton) and liarland (Stratford). Mr 0. (Irilliths was the referee.

The whole of the game, though willing and fast, was contested in a friendly and gentlemanly spirit.

TIIKAPA 11. v. INGLEWOOD 11. Tin's match was played at Inglewood and resulted in a win for Tll- - by six points (two tries) to three points (one try). The ground was in good order and there was a good attendance of spectators. Canncll scored a try for Tuknpa from a loase rush, and More.v from a pass sent to him by McLean when close to the line Hustling scored for the home team. Tukapn had more combination than tho lugiewooil team who had agh'nt habit of every man for himself," and there is no doubt tlmf they will have to play with more combination if they want to win any niatches this season. For the winners all the forwards played a good llfilweU and ]>a,vid»im i.{eing prominent. McLean was about the pick of the backs. Wilkinson Stimpson, and A. .Julian (forwards') and McLean, 11, Julian, and A. Lake (blacks) played best for the losers.

Mr Hopkins was referee, and Messrs Clow and Taylor acted as line umpires.

STOAT FOR I) JI. v. CLII'TON [l. This mutch eventuated at Waitara, Stratford winning by five points (a try and a goal) to nil. IC. Kivell scored l'or the visitors, and T. Collins converted. Mr I'rod or refereed.

STAIt 111. v. TliKAl'A HI. The second juniors of the two town clubs met in the Kecreation Grounds prior to the senior match, and after an hour and an half of rushing aJiout in the mud and water retired without having registered a score. The Stars had rather the belter of the game, though Tukapa possessed some gliod individual players. Air Mclsaacs acted a referee and Messrs Way (Star,) and llullot (Tukapa) were the line umpires. As showing the stale of the ground il may be mentioned that many of the players threw themselves into some of the pools to clean their jerseys a little after the finish of the game.

STHATFOIU) III", v. INGLEWOOD 111. These trains should have met at Strutford, but lnglewood forfeited. NOTES. (By "Centre-Half.") Humphries and Allen did not exhibit'the s-u|nie i'liltnriwy as usual in yesterday's match. It is something new to see these plavers looking for one another. (Joer, one of Clifton's backs, had his nip badly cut, at Stratford yesterday. L. Alien captained the Star .seniors on Thursday. Tuku'pai's capUiin.s are ; Seniors, S, My no It- ; first juniors, L. HoneyHeld : second juniors, L. Hullot.

Tukapu only had thirteen of their picked team at In#ewood yesterday. Moverley and Cunnell were commandeered, ami both played well. Tukapa played two live-eighUis and one wing-forward in the senior match. The innovation did not suit the forward game, that was Inevitable on t:hu wretched lield.

It is sa'id that Humphries has definitely decided not to play again this season, llis loss will be a serious one, hut footballers are not like the brook that can " go j>a for «vcr."