FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7872, 14 July 1905, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Play Off for O'Brien Shield.

TUKAPA DEFEATS STAR. The play-off for the Dan O'Brion shield -ljctween Tuknpa and Sfy\r Seniors was M'eeided on thu Hccrcati:m '(irounds on Thnrs;lay, Jwfore a largo numlicr of interested spectators. Though overcast, the weather kept fine, aiwl the tittle wind blowing did not affajt either the. players or on looker?.

]>ospile their previous 'defeat, Tu-1-apas proved 100 strong for the Stars, though t'wre can Ije no doubl that on the n crits of the piny the toiler loam wutf. Owing to tho leavy ground there was none of that liWML.mt passing so dear to 'ti'iq cnihiiKmst. the game proving hut a ~ii..l of -Anight and animal strength. Tlie toaiiis wore ••

Tuknpu Hidland, McLean, llarde reave*, Stai»!*'ring, Morcy, Frewjn, Smith. Finis, Half.', Staii'dish, Pyne, Flnt.t, Seamark. Perry, Fitzherbert. Slurs—Tlichards, Uothery, Abbott, .Joes, McLean, Laidner, Pulford, McAlpinft Wall, ■ Alien, Stokes Murphy. Kyan, Aroa, and Drown.

Frcwin captained Tukapu and Abbott the Stars. Mr Hopkins was referee.

Kicking off towards town. Tukapa sit once attacked, AJihotl ami Morey being conspicuous on I heir respective sides. Shortly afterwards MarMgraivcs missed a tlilticult attempt at (jual from a trip. hick. Stars' attempts to li.reak away were re.|ieatisl> ly stopped, ,l " liI Hothery got away, cnly to be grassed hy Slannorinj;. | An' enlivening feature of the. j»l»y nt this stajge was a fine passing nish by i Hardgreaves, More.V, and Kitaherliort, tH» outcome of which was that Stars were forced- by ti kick by Hardgreaves. After rlva and fake play, the same backs, with Smith, got another rush on, this bi'ing unproductive. Again Stars' 2.1 was invaded. Starts resenting this got up n return rally, 'but failed to gain any material advantage, until a most determined effort put them almost over, a scrum live yards out, however, spoiling their chance. Play worked up to half, Abbott putting ~,n end to this by •> -timely kick to 'he line at Tuknpa's 2.1. W. Mcl,-an defeated what appeared to he a promising attack, and play agnin centred. Abbott here gained more ground by his kick. McLean. I'ulI'ord, and: "Murphy then got away, Rutland managing to intercept a pass in his own -2">. A fierce struggle took pfnee on tlhc i'l'uklfrai line, Morey ultnmvk-l.v relieving. Ohi'tred, ■ilnv s«on hriglvicnod up, ■Hid McLean getting down to the !!luC'\s' goal line, the funnor losing he ball just as In- got. <>ver. Standish, hy pouncing «(wn it, scored the first try. Bai<dgreaves foiled to convert.

Tukapa .'. " Star ... " Soon after. Lndner. Abbott, and Hothcry wnt the ball across the liold by a creditable hit of passinff, Star '•ontiiuiing the attack by a dribbling rally. On resuming after lilulf-liiiK 1 . Stars begun hostilities, Abbott putting in good work, though he failed in a kick from a mark. Tukapa, by jneaiis of lincs-oul, and a Dorics of scrums, refrained their lost ground, and i|i Star half Abbott attempted n run, spoiled, however, by Hardgreaves. Tukapa continued to attack imtil-Arb-liott relieved, llichards silso put in a service to his side by adroitly stopping Tukapa's forwards. A scrum on 'star line enabled Frcwm to lodge round the blind sidu and register another try for Tukupu. Hardgreaves again failed. Tukapa <5 Star 0 Richards, by a, mark on the goal lino, gave some respite to his side. A pass started by Smith and Abbott was mulled, anil Hardgreaves overrunning himself cnused Tukapa to

force. Aron joined Ahliott in « rush to t"ic Tuknpa Kotil lini.-. Riclland marked, then Klins relieved, and Holhcry "kicked ovev the corner, Tu.kapa being forced. Tiny shortly after centred, and' kicks between the backs willed the game. For Tukflpa Hidland played a safe game at back. Storey was certainly the best back on (.lie ground, his passing and quick dashes serving his side in good stead. Hardgreavcs was also marked out for reference, his strong kicking often saving his team. Stnndish, Dyne, and Seamark were hard-working amongst a good lot of forwards. KtanneriMtg, a, new jsenior, waß certainly well worth his I place. I The Star back line was weak, a'Ali their passing was defective. Abbott was taking care of himself owing to his suffering from the offeci.i of „ knot* at the tet match. I.mlner, half.' played a nice game. Wall. Ilyan. and Stokes were conspicuous in the forward division.