FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8113, 18 May 1906, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TUKAPA I. v. CLIFTON I.

The meeting of the above combinations attracted a large number of enthusiast s to the Becrcation Ground, ■ where they were regailed with probably the best game played in the not t iu'rn division so far this season. L'rom the kick off it soon was realised thab (here was little to choose between the teams, ami as time wore on it was demonstrated that Hip little that there was to chose, was in the visitors' favor luka'pa s .plan of play was evidently to make as much of the hacks as possible, Clifton wisely deciding to make the utmost use of their forwards, the backs making their own opportunities, as occasion offered. On the whole the forwards were evenly matched, but in ; the looso Clifton wore easily superior. s Tukipa forced the play from the first, I and Clifton were soon forced from long kicking. Play of a froe and easy des- ! cription continued in Clifton territory i for a long time, but the passing of the , home backs at this stage was primitive , to a degree, and any opportunities they might have had were nipped in the bud by the alert defenders. Play was, all the same, fast and interesting, but the element of dash appeared to be wanting Clifton were again forced from a long kick, after which Hardgraves had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Mynol.t shortly afterwards missed a pass in a good position, and Clifton forced, repeating the performance almost immediately afterwards, through injudicious kicking by Hardgraves. Play continued in the visitors' i territory, although the home team were ! never dangerous. Potier was responsible for shifting the scene of operations to Tukapa's end. Shortly afterwards a brilliant forward rush by the Clifton forwards carried play from one end of the field to the other, where Potier and Abbott made several-dashes for the line, but the passing was poor, and the Tukapa s defence sound. Play gradually shifted, and first Abbott, and then Hardgraves and Mynott distinguished themselves, but to no purpose. Hardgraves came in for some hostile " barrack " for what appeared to be deliberate blocking of Grossman, tho visiting wing forward, who was playing a dashing game in the open. Clifton were now making vigorous onslaughts on the home team s line, and were eventually rewarded, Potier scoring after a good feinting run. He took the kick hiru- | self, and registered a fine goal. | Clifton 5, Tukapa 0. Following the kick. out Frewin got the ball, and, beating a man, passed high to Hardgraves, who missed the ball, but kicked hard along the ground. McLean came up fast and dribbed over the line, the Clifton players unwisely endeavoring to pick up a ball that could easily at any stage have been kicked into touch. Hardgraves added the major points amidst excitement. Clifton 5, Tukapa S.

from the kick out, Clifton attacked, Poticr aiid Abbott being prominent, but though a bad mull on the part of the visitors' full back, their line wift soon in danger, Potior saving on the lihe. Half-time sounded with tho play near the Cliflon line. From the kickoff play continued for a time in neutral territery, the spoiling of both sides being very deadly. Kicking by Frewin shifted Dlayto the visitors' line, where Mynott make a dash, and transferred to Hardgraves, the latter losing the ball. Tukapa continued to press, but the collaring was yer.y sure, Abbott carrying play to the other end, where there were several unnecessarily severe instances of charging on the part of some of the Clifton forwards, two or three Tukapa backs bciug temporarily disabled. Dashes by the Clifton backs were spoilt by faulty passing, but all the same the visitors were now pi • ■ - -

laying much the hotter game, and 'ukapa's hands wore kept full. Tile Tukapa bitclo could not get going. I'otier had two unsuccessful shots at g»al, iYctrin shortly afterwards clearing the line by a well-judged kick. Good passing by Mynott and Honeyfield took play almost to the other end, where Potier saved only in time, fukapa kept up the attack, but it was

short lived, tlie visiting forwards in a coiccrted rusli transferring the b ill to Tukapa quarters. Potior again became prominent, his all-round exhibition at this time being superior to anything on the ground. A free kick to Clifton in a handy position was placed for Potier, and he easily piloted the ball across.

Clifton 8, Tukapa 5,

Fast play followed, but Tukapa's effort was not sustained, and Tukapa were sliortly afterwards forced. Clifton still continued t> l ave the best of the play, a big run by the native Isaacs being the next incident. It was recognised that only a fluke could now give the blue and whites' the game, but no fluke turned up and the country players won a well earned yictory by 3 points.

For the winners, Potior stood out by himself as the best back, oil the day's play, on the ground, Abbott also playlug a very good game. Of the forwards, Crossman, Davidson, J. Loveridge, Old and Lash were probably the most prominent in a hard working vanguard. Tho Tukapa forwards played a hard game, but were out-weighed in the pack. The backs failed to shine, and were considerably knocked about by the energetic rushes of their opponents. Jlynott played a splendid ga'ue at times, but he tailed to take a number of passes. The line kicking on both sides was very fair.

STAB I. v. [STRATFORD I, The btar seniors, who journeyed to Stratford on Thursday afternoon, were unfortunate in beii} o ' without fie services of T. Smith, at three-quarler, mid Rothery, wing-forward. These vacancies were filled at the last moment, tho veteran Humphries being requisitioned as the only alternative to play one man short. Stratford's team was at full strength, and was a far superior combination to that which defeated Tukapa a fortnight previously. A splendid pack of weighty forwards played in front of sterling backs, but, as in the Tukapa match, the connection was lacking, the half-back failing to feed his colleagues. The forwards' weight told greatly when it came to a question of shoving, and the visitors were completely outclassed in the liuc-outs, but in tho scrum their lock man refused to let the ball through even after the " hookers" had secured it, and it was generally the Star half who secured the oval from tbe scrummage. Stars were quite outweightrd, and, though nimble, then' light backs fared badly at the hands of the dashing Red and Blacks. Their lack of weight, however, was partly balanced by indomitable pluck, and time and again their game tackling saved them. Star kicked off, and the ball was boosted about for some time without

any great advantage to fitlier s ; de, until Harkness sent it over the line, and Star was forced. After the ball

name out Stratford pressed hard .and, McLean mailing, Don Camerun piloted I lie ball across the line in daugcrous proximity to the posts, and Stars forced again. The ball seemed to hang in the Blacks' twenty-lives, and Stratford forwards kept pegging away, until McLean failed again lo pick up the ball, and fell on it. For lying oil the ball lie was penalised, and Cameron kicked a splendid goal. Stratford 3, Star 0.

The re-commencement showed Stars to better advantage, a passing rush taking play into Stratford territory, They seemed to lack combination, however, Ryan and Bruce doing most of the vanguard work, whilst Potior was the only back playing with dasli. Inch by inch Stratford rco'-cred lust ground, Osborne, James, and Wilson towering high and taking the ball in the numerous line-outs. From a scrum the I all was kicked along to Stohr, and the well-known sprin':er ran round l his opponents and notched tlio first try after a brilliant run, The kick-at-goal failed. Stratford 6, Star 0.

Star forced tw'ce in the next, five minutes, and it looko.l as though Slrat-

ford would pile up a big score. Humphries found plenty to 'do, and performed fairly well, considering his want of condition. On ono occasion, however, he was unablo to reach the bail when it came spinning down towards his goal. Randrup and Marchant were chasing it, and the '.atter scored. Stratford 9, Star 0.

The two Brownes, at half, and threequarter, though almost feather-weights, got the Stars out of many a difficulty by plucky tackling, and at this stage Thomas seemed to reach form. The latter and Potier put in some useful work, and on several occasions worked the play so that Stratford hud a little hard practice at defence. It was on one of these occasions, early in the second spoil, that Potier was " within an ace" of scoring, and would, apparently, have added the points had a pass from Thomas beon better directed. Stars put up a bigger fight in the second spell, and disputed every minute, every inch. The Stratford weight and dash was met by a sturdy and effective resistance, At times, Humphries took a turn behind the scrum, and directed operations. Taking his advice, Stars opened out a little, and made the game more interesting, Kwell made a fine run for a try, but Brown prevented his score, and Potier treated Stohr similarly. Pycroft had several chances, but the ball seemed too hot for him—he could not hold it —and Potier made a few brilliant runs. Thomas got on some good dribbling. It looked as if Star must score, but the weight and combination of the home forwards, though somewhat nullified by selfishness among the backs, prevailed, and the game ended—Stratford 9, Star 0.

STAR 11. v. STRATFORD 11.

This match was played oti the Racecourse, and was controlled by Mr Proctor efficiently. Star kicked off, and after give and take play for a few minutes were awarded a free kick. The shot at goal was unsuccessful. A poor return by Stratford a little later was marked, and a good attempt was made, the ball falling just under the bar. From a scrum Stratford obtained possession, and gained a good deal of ?round; shortly after Star were forced. For a time Stratford were kfept well in their own territory, finally breaking away to Star's 25, but a good lick by a Star back sent play to half-way. Stratford worked tho ball diwu to tile opposing 25, where a good opening was spoiled by a breach of the rules. Several good openings were, likewise, spoiled by throwing on. Stratford worked the ball back to Star territory, whero they got a mark, and a good' attempt saw the ball go outside the post. Half-time was called with no score. The second half was practically a repetition of the first, and the game lesulted in a pointless draw. The visitors had the advantage in weight, but the home forwards mako up for it in pace The younger Pearec, Boulton anil G'utlield were tbcpiik of the backs, and Whifcaker and Wellcr showed up well in the forwards.

TUKAPA 11. v. CLIFTON 11. The above match, played at Waitara, resulted m a win for the home team by three to nil. The score consisted of atry, which was gained by Preston, the ga,mc was the be&t junior one seen in| Waitara, and was hard fought out. Clifton had the advantage of tho play! The behaviour of tlio visiting team was all that could be (lesired.

STAB A 111. v. INGLEWOOD 111,

The Star A third grade team had to accept defeat at the hands of the Inglewood thirds. The game was played on the Inglewood ground, and was a very interesting one to watch. The Star had no chance against the heavy Inglewood men, who included a 17-stone forward. Kennedy scored one try and Gyles two tries for the home team, King convert* 'if-? I"" 0 ' Tho game ended Inglewood 13, Star 0. Mr Bowers was referee.

STAE 111. B v. CLIFTON 111.

This game was played on tho Racecourse, and resulted in a draw, noither side scoring. Mr Martin was 111 charge of the eamn