FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7850, 16 June 1905, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

FIRST GRADE.! j STAK DEFEAT CLIFTON. The Star met the Clifton team for- the second time this season at J the racecourse ground on Thursday j afternoon, where they repeated their success of the first round. The weather was most unpropiilious, and rniix ! fell continuously throughout tho i match. The attendance was fair in the circumstances, and despite the) fact that the downpour increasod in .vigour after tho first spoil, the speci tutors showed Considerable enthusiasm by seeing the play to a concUM sion.

In spite of the adverse conditions; the game was a hard fought one, and, in the first half especially, the exhibition was fairly good, though afterwards it deteriorated into a> scramble in the rain and slush, while tho finish took place in semi-dark-ness.

The first half was fast, and the play willing. Stars were the Hr*t to force matters. Rothery foroKo away, and an almost certain try was lost through his being accorded no eupIport. Clifton smartly relieved the tension, and a (Juick transference of piny led to a try on the part of Poticr, who held a pass from Sampson, and dashed over the line In good style. He failed to convert, however, while a free kr.ck directly alter also went wide. Klvcll carried \ha tiall welt down for Stars, bu*| slipped when travelling close to the lino. Clifton were hard pressed for some minutes, but Stars failed to score, missing ono good chance when MoGee mulled a pass to Alujbott. Clifton, who- played a sounder game than their opponents in the first half, were attacking when the whistle sounded, with scores/:- ... Clifton ..„■ 3 Stars ... «., 0 At tia change of ends Stars settled down, and their work was much more effective* For some lime their efforts to equalise raatterr weri frustrated. A puss from Ladncr and

McGee to Abbott complctcfy changed matterr, tho Stars' skipper beating his opponent for speed and scoring o meritorious try. Stroud failed, to Convert. Clifton got a rush on, but tho defence was safe, and the play was soon transferred by a good rush by tho Star forwards. Stars kept attacking for some time. From a lino out the ball was secured by Abbott, who, amidst enthusiasm, put Stars in a lead of three points, by registering a second try for his side. Clifton made a bold bid in the last few minutes, and had the ball in a dangerous position when time was called. Scores :

Stars 6 Clifton .... 8 The match was marked by the prepoHjd'erfcince oil forftvfcrd play, tuuid there was a good deal of close work with numerous srrums and lino outs. For the Stars, Abbott was a shining light, being Conspicuous even when the trend of piny was not in, favour of the back-markers. McLean and Rothery,. on tho Uirce-tjuarters, l-aiJner and ITulfptd on' tho wifigy Ryan, Stroud and KiveU forwards, all did very good work. Potier was the foremost one for Clifton, whose forwards did excellent work. Mr G. Griffiths was an able referee.

TUKAPA v. INGLEWOOD

Tukapas journeyed to Inglewood on Thursday afternoon, and decisively boat the Inglewood team by I<3 points to 3. For the victors tries were scored by Mynotl„ HardgreaveSiMcLean and Fitzherbci't, two of these being converted by Hardgreaves., For &iglew o od Lawson kickod a poOJalty goal.

SECOND GRADE. Stratford v. Star :—These teams met on the racecourse ground prior to the senior, matcbij The; visitors,, playing a good game, were too good for the Stars and won by six points to- nil. ICameron sctiurcd two tries, which were unconverted, Mr Bowers w a s referee. Inglewood .forfeited to Tukapa.

I THIRD GRADE. Star A t. Star B.—This match I was contested on the Recreation [Ground, which w«a in a saturated state. A scrambling, loose game resulted in a win for the A's \fcr, six poinds to three. SRifijrdon and Pierce gained tries for the victors',! and Freethy scored for the B team. At Inglewood the fixture was Inglewood v. Stratford. The match rosultedf in a victory for Stratford, by eleven points to nil.

The Committees appointed in connection with the smoke social to be tendered to H. Mynott, the Taranaki rep. in the New Zealand team, have consolidated, wUh Mr Hi. G. Pardy ns chairman, Mr A. It. Standish hon. secretary, and Mr Clem Webster hon. treasurer. SfijUsijajstjory progress is reported. A further meeting of tho committee will behold on Wednesday evening next.

NEW ZEALANDERS IN SYDNEY.

(Received June 15, 10.40 p.m.) SYDNEY. June 15. Tho Lord Mayor and a large gathering officially welcome* the Now Zealand Assoc ation footballers. Tho first match will be played on Sat* urday against a Metropolitan team.