FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8135, 15 June 1906, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

STAR I v CLIFTON I.

There was a big crowd at the New Plymouth Racecourse on Thursday afternoon, when the Star and Ciil ton seniors played their second round fixlure. A keen contest \v,is expected, and a keen contest was witnessed, The ground was line and dry, and the weal her conditions good, except for a wind that gave a little trouble when the ball was kicked high. Clifton played their best combination. Sar played McLean instead of Richards t lull, and B. O'Driscoll instoad of ijadner at half, the picked men being uuable to obtain leave The team played fourteen men for a while, pending the arrival of Joe Thomas, fiveeiglilh.

The game was a willing one, aud slubhornly contested throughout in a friendly spirit. If there was one thing that was notice i'o.o more than another, it was that I lie lighter town forwards more than held their own with the heavy Clifton men, and played with more ■ lash and determination. The Star backs were also superior as a whole, though C. Potier (Clifton) stood right out as the best back on the field.

Clifton kicked off, defending the 11 northern goal, and for some lime the ' play was even. Then the Star backs seized an opportunity, and Potior took play into the visitors' territory. Rome fast work by Courtney made Clifton very careful, but Abbott relieved. O'priscoll hud not yet " got into Lis stride ' at half, and Clifton managed to bustle him, so that Stars were given some defensive work. C. Potior initiated a good passing rush among the Clifton backs, and Sampson was just prevented from crossing the line by the determined tackling of J. Potier, Play surged back and forward for a few moments, still in Star territory, and C. Potior passed the ball out to Sampson. It never reached him, however, for J, Potior (Star) cleverly intercepted, and atter a good run, kicked out of touch well down the field. Clifton was in difficulty for somo time, but Sampson and Potier played strenuously in the rear division, and kept the blacks off the line. It was by their instrumentality that Abbott was given an opportunity to break for the line, but he missed a fine chance by kicking hard-touch-in-goal resulting. Kivell showed out prominently on resuming one of his determined rushes putting Clifton on the defence again, but offside play among the backs gave a free kick, which enabled the visitors to clear. Pike essayed a shot at goal from half, but no score resulted. Thomas, Courtney, and J. Potier made a lot of ground in a passing rush, and Courtney looked a certain scorer, when he was grassed by a Clifton player who was lying on the ground. Eothery and Eyan chimed in, however, and tho latter scored. Tho kick at goal failed. Star 3 Clifton 0 Kivell again livened matters up, and assisted by Potier, Courtney, and Eothery, worked the bill up to the Clifton line. Pycroft dashed in, and took a pass from Eivell, falling collared oyer the line. Acain the kick failed, the wind spoiling a splendid attempt. Star 0 Clifton 0 The resumption of hostilities was marked by- a splendid run by Abbott, but J. Potier chased and collared hiin, Pycroft secured possession, but kicked to hard, and Clifton force I. A similar hard kick by Eothery resulted similarly a minute later. At this stage [he Stars seemed to have the visitors easily beaten, and two more forces resulted from injudicious kicking. Then followed a fine exhibition of kicking and catching, all the backs taking part Star-, however, failed to find the liuc, and Clifton's tactics were " centreing." Hoskin's work was responsible for the opening which enabled Eothery to scramble over the line, and another try was scored on call of half time. Again the kick failed, and the spell ended Star !) Clifton ... ... 0 In the second spell Clifton made a better fight, and Stars were very lucky in clearing on several occasions. At one time play hovered under the Star 1 posts for some minutes, and but for " handling in the scrum," Clifton must have got over the line. They roturncd the free kick, and once more endangered | the safety of the Star citadel. Prom | Abbott to Potier, then to Sampson, and ] back to Potier the ball (lew, and the " latter forced his way over, but lost the i ball. Then Clifton's effort lost its dash, and Stars pressed hard. "Toucher" JCivell exerted all his force and sailed through, ably, seconded by Courtcuay, Eothery , Thomas, and Pike. AH efforts to score, however, were frustrated by the defensive tactics of C. Potier and Lash, and the hard work of the Clifton pack, ami a long kick put Stars in trouble again A magnificent run by C. Potier ended in a score, Potier falling with three or four opponents vainly endeavoring to hold him back. His try was loudly applauded. The attempt at goal was a failure, Star ... ... ... 0 Clifton ;i Tho Clifton pack woke up considerably, and put more "g>" mlo their work, but, failed to get fie ball clean from the scrums. PurJie and Old made things lively, and the home fullback had to do some smart kicking. He (McLean) was equal to the occasion. Then Pike, intercepting a pass, made a sensational run. He seemed to have a try for the asking, but Abbott gave about his best exhibition of speed, and collared Pike just as he began to look round for support which was not forthcoming. Abbott put in some good kicking, using the line to advantage. In the last few minutes C. Potier (Clifton) had several shots at goal from the field, but the wind ballled him, and play ceased with the score Star !) Clifton :S For the winners the most prominent backs were J. Potier, Pike, and Thomas. O'Driseoll at half acquitted 'linnelf creditably after the first few minutes, an I McLoan was safo at full. Courtney, Tuvell, Eyan, Hoskin and Selford were the best forwards. The best Clifton man was C. Potier. Mr Grrifliths was the referee TUKAPA I. v. INGLEWOOD I. These teams mot at luglewood, the 'ionic team suffering defeat by M to nil. Rpeakman, of .the Inglewood three-quarter lino, had his leg broken, ; and Stuart, one of the forwards in the : «anie te im, retired with a fracture of 1 i small bone in his leg.

TPKATA 11. v. STAR 11. AVrm.by Tukopa by 14 to 6, STRATFORD 111. v, CLIFTON HI. Won by the former by 20 lo nil. STAB A. 111. v, STAR B. 111. Resulted in a draw, each side scorjing three tries, D points.

" Tiie teams remind me of a pack of villi beasts, and l.lie sweat and saliva Irippeil From their jaws till they looked like slavering wolves hunting their prey ; and as they Hew at one another, and hurled I heir opponents crashing to -arlli, they yelped tlioir delight, while ill the time (lie crowd howled in glee, m;l cheered its teams to further deeds jf infamy and blood. —Description of a fool ball match by a correspondent ill " N Z. Times."