FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8124, 1 June 1906, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

I CLIFTON v. hTRATFORD. A large amount of interest was taken n the senior game at Waitara yesterlay, consequent on the position occupied by tho Clubs engaged in the Cup ■ontosts. Spectators were rewarded by seeing one of the best exhibitions •f the season, not so much on account )f sustained good back play, but by 'he vim the forwards put into it, the elling rushes, the occasional clean passing along the Stratford threeluarter line, and the excellence of the ackling. The first try, obtained by Jlifton, bad its origin in clean heeling >ut by Clifton, a smart pick up by the ialf, a transfer to Williams, then on to Isaacs, the latter scoring after a fairly ong run. It was a good piece of work hroughout, completed by a very fine ?oal kicked by Potier The spell :nded with the points standing

Chiton 5 Stratford 0 )n resuming, Stratford worked into Jlifton territory, when a mark was ibtained. The ball was punted high. ind the pack followed up, Fearon securing the ball and dashing over. B. Fearon took the goal, but failed to nake the major points. The game proceeded in a veiy willing manner, ind the visitors appeared to tire somewhat. Anyhow Clifton had them nostly on the defensive for the remainder of the game, though only mother three points were added, this gam being secured through Old, who waß right in the van in a loose rush, ind getting down on the line the player named put in a big effort, and cheering announced that the aim was achieved. Potier's kick this time failed. There were several pieces of good play thereafter, but the points wero unaltered. •Clifton 8 Stratford 3 Mr Hopkins'* gave every satisfaction as referee. NEW PLYMOUTH MATCHES. Those who attended at the Recreation Grounds on Thursday afternoon in the expectation of Beeing some exciting mud scrambles had no reason to complain of the bill-of-fare provided* But to the people who have not yet become accustomed to the quagmire in which the various teams meet from week to week, and who thought there was a chance of a fair exposition of the national game, as is given by most of the junior teams under ordinary conditions, had a severe disappointment. The ground was unfit for football, though this statement, of course, is utterly inadequate to convey any idea of the depth of water and slush through which had to forge their way. Under the circumstances, of course, good football was out of the question. The ball was as greasy as could be, and it was a matter of great difficulty to pick up the hail, and almost an impossible feat to hold it. There was only a small attendance of spectators. IN6LEWOOD B. v. TUKAPA 11. The first match contested was the second grade fixture.lnglewood v. Tukapa, Mr Geo. Griffiths handling the whistle. Tukapa seemed to hare all the best of it, and their failure to secure victory was mdre attributable to [heir want of knowledge and their bad play at times than to any great skill shown by the visitors. Time after time a good piece of individual play brought .the Tukapas within an ace of scoring, and the chance was as often thrown away by want of combination, a fumble, or an inexcusable breach of the rules. The play was willing, and at times somewhat rough, whilst instances of off-side play were as thick ' as berries on a hedge. There was no score in the first spell, and it was not until late in the second spell that Inglewood registered the first points, S. Thrush kicking a neat goal. Play : livened up then, and the home team 'kept the visitors on the defence. An Inglewood man w..s hurt, and started . to leave the field when the whistle sounded to resume play, and he charged ' into the thick of it again. Howell kicked the ball nearly to the posts, the : Inglewood full back missed his speculating kick, and McDonald scored. The kick at goal was a failure. Inglewood was forced, and Tukapa still ! kept on the attack, failing to add to their score simply because of clumsy ' handling. Then Glynes broke through the defence and crossed the line, losing ; the ball when a try seemed inevitable. ' Then Tukapa was given a chance to show its knowledge of defence. The Inglewood forwards charged with great dash, and found the home team out of their places, Harkness' scoring a wcljearne<|' try. The yisitors aggresseil during the remainder of the game, anil seemed likely to increase their majority, l)ut the defence improved, and the game ended—lnglewood 6, Tukapa 3. TUKAPA lIL~y. STAR A. 111. The field was even worse for this match than for tlje previous fixture. The game commenced inauspiciously for Stars, Tukapa soon setting up a determined siege of the western goal. Rough play was frequent, even in the early stages of the match. McNiycn, for Tii 1 ! pa, got in some beady work, and the opposing full-back, in returning one of his kicks, sent the ball almost into the arms of Ward, the Tukapa three-quarter, but he failed to grasp this opportnnity in the same manner in which he failed on almost every occasion that any important work caino his way. Whilst possessing undoubted speed, he was lacking in a liking for a close encounter. The Stars kept defending the line until Ambury, who was about the best forward on the ground, broke away with a dribbling rush, and relieved the tension. The Mar forwards forced Tukapa back to their own territory, and the fullback had to boost the ball out of play to prevent a soore. Momentary relief came from an excellent piece of work byLoveridge, Tukapa half-baok, but C. Bellringer got the ball at his toe, and, dribbling it through the Tukapa ranks, looked an easy score when he slipped and fell in the mud. Ambury again put in some excellent work, and , his colleagues backing him well, P. Eva scored. The kick at goal was a failure. Tukapa grew more aggressive, ' and the forwards transferred play to ' Star territory. The defenders were I penalised for ott-side, and, Tukapa kicking hard, Stars were forced. Another free kick just afterwards resulted in a goal, making the score 3 all. McGiven continued to show brilliant dribbling and short runs, ami on many occasions saved his side by his energy and thinking powers. On I one occasion he kicked the ball over

the line just a little too hard, the leather being " dead " before he reached it. It was hard luck. Drake, the Star full-back, had to retire with an injured leg. Play continued in the Star 25, Loveridge, J. Ballot, and McGiven getting in excellent work. Ambury again relieved for a while, but Tukapa returned and the Stars foree(] again. Ward kicked the ball over the line near the posts, and raced up to touch down when he was obstructed by Bellringcr, and the score prevented. Tho referee very rightly awarded the

ry to Ward. There was no further score, and the game ended Tukapa 0, Star 3. Mr Bowers was referee.

CLIFTON 111. v. STAR 111. Clifton Thirds beat Star Thirds by 20 points to 3 (penalty goal). Owiiifr to a Star man being ordered off the deld and thence off the ground, the team made up its mind to retire from the ;ontest, but ten of thorn, however, nought better of it and returned STHATFOttD v 11. CLIFTON II The match between the Clifton and ; tratford first juniors, eventuated at Htratford, and resulted in a win for the local team by 8 points lo nil. Clifton 111. beat Star 111 B by 20 points to 3 ut Waitara.

Inglewood seniors forfeited to Star I. Tlio local team did not receive intimation of the forfeiture until late in the afternoon.

Some of the costumes worn by local players are not a great credit to their [ designers. If a man ventured to bathe on the open beach clad as they are, the police would probably " tale his name," and not in vain. A local team, the Kia Oras, met and defeated the High School juniors by 3 to nil. Crocket landed a fine goal from a free kick. The game was well contested.

At a meeting of the T.R.U. Manage ment Committee at Stratford on Tues day night, a Waimate player nam< d Jurd was disqualified for a year for misbehaviour and insulting language ; and Bellringer of the Star (New Plymouth) juniors was-cautioncd for trip. ping, as reported by Mr T. Petty. The Tukapa Club's protest against Stratford was dismissed, the Club failing to send any evidence in support of its allegation that Osborne lived outside the Stratford distriot, The fee will be forfeited. "

The Tukapa-Clifton senior match will be played over again. This was due to the Clifton Club having failed to comply with Rule 10. This provides that a club must forward to the Union the name of any player within three days of his joining the club, and that the ckb cannot apply for permission tor such member to' play until he has resided in the district for fourteen days. Thus, Abbott, who played for Inglewood on May 3rd at Waitara, and for Clifton on May 17th at New Plymouth was ineligible to play in the latter game The inquiry into the alleged misconduct on the train and at Stratford on the occasion of the Tukapa-Stratf ord match was continued, but the evidence adduced was so contradictory that the committee will hear further evidence at New Plymouth, probably on Monday night next.