FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 104, 6 May 1904, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

CLIFTON 11. v. TUKAPA 11. Tho Clifton first juniors met the Tukapa team on the Recreation Grounds yesterday, and after a good game were defeated by 16 points to J!, the scores being two goals from tries and two tries to a try. i'irani, Howell, and Morey m'oi-iml for Tukapu, and Mortensen lor Clifton. Th.' game all through was fust, and I lie exposition of football good for junior teams at such an early stage of the season's play. About ten "minutes after the start I'irani, after scoring Tukapa's first try from a clever run, sustained a fractured rib in falling on the ball probably from impact with his Clifton opponent, and Tukapa played one man short for the remainder of the game. Moth teams played a good forward game, and occasionally there was good work amongst the backs, but these were not. fed sufllciently, though the ground was in a lit condition (or the passing game. The line-kicking o( both teams wns good. Mr Hopkins carried the whistle, and Messrs Richards and Trigger acted as lino umpires. As both teams were without the services of some of their best men their next meeting should prove interesting. The town team showed the better condition.

TUKAPA 111. v. STRATFORD 111. This match was played at Stratford yesterday and resulted in a win for the home team by 11 to 8. Stratford scored two tries, one of which was converted. Tukapa scored a penalty goal. Mr 0. Griffiths had charge of the whistle.

The Association game is "catching on." About twenty-live members have joined the club, and several may be seen practising hard in the Recreation (Irounds at an early hour every morning. The opening match, against Omati, will be played in the Recreation Grounds next Thursday.

Footballers will regret to learn that O'Sullivnn.tho crack young Okaiawa forward who secured rep. honours last year, will be unable to play again this season, owing to an injury to his hand, sustained last year, giving him further trouble. His enforced retirement will be ft great blow to his Club. In reporting the junior match Wainiato 11. v. Eltham 11., the Eltham paper remarks :—"A regrettable feature was the large amount of horseplay Indulged in by two or three of the Waimate players, in one or two instances what were nothing more or less than deliberate attempts to " maim " being very apparent, which fortunately for the players concerned were evidently not witnessed by the referee, Joyce, a Manaia player,was ordered oil the field in the second spell for striking an opponent, and it is understood he will bo reported to the Union along with a spectator who kept up a running commentary on the referee during the whole of the game.