UNKNOWN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8166, 27 July 1906, Page 3

UNKNOWN

L'lLLlil) GKAIJE CHAMPIONSHIP. ELTIIAM AND STIIATFOUD DII.YW. The Eltham and Stratford second junior tennis, for the second year ill succession, met at Kitliani yesterday to play oIT for the Tarauaki iingby Union third grade premiership. The weather, though somewhat cold, was not uninviting and the grcund was m very good order. The teams were very evenly matched, and the game was the hardest and most determined played on the local ground this season. The forwards on either side stuck to their work with bulldog tenacity, and there was little to choose between them except that iiltham more often secured the ball from the scrum. Mich side possessed some clever backs, also some of very medium quality, and to these may be attributed the failure of cither side to record several scores. LJotii back teams indulged in a j>ood amount of passing, but mistakes ■vcre lrcijuent, and the collaring was very deadly Oil the whole the Jiltkam players probably held control of the game the longer, and certainly the Stratford line was the more frequently in danger. This was due wholly to the excellent and well-judged kicks of some of the Eitliam backs, which in nearly every instance were so placed as to enable their forwards to get up in time to smother Stratford returns. During the lirst spell the play was mostly conlincd to mid-field, with occasional interchanges of kicks amongst the backs, in the second spell, however, both teams opened up the game, which was a great deal more interesting to watch than many of the higher grade lixtureu played during the present season. The best back rush of the day was made in a combined Stratford back movement, which was only checked on the line, The balance of the plav, however, was in Elthaui's favor, and at one stage the ball was grounded on the Stratford line three times within live minutes. The play during the last few minutes was exciting, but no score was recorded, ' the game ending in a draw. Thomson (the Eltham half) played the best game , on the ground, and promises, on his exhibition yesterday, to develop into a c top-noteher. Mr Urwmrefcreed most impartially. STAIt v. TUKAPA. The poor turn out of the members of the town clubs, to take part in Thursday's Star-Tukapa match, in aid of the .Referees' Association funds, taken m conjunction with the small attendance of spectators, seemed to indicate how little the efforts of the Association are appreciated by the general public, and players. At the proposed time of starting, the Stars uad managed to get together fourteen , men, senior and junior, inclusive of a Clifton back, and a visitor from Wei- 1 nngton. Tukapa managed to press into service enough players to make a decent showing, but had to take the elli'Jgtou man fruiu the opposing iide. Even then they played short, and m all sorts of jerseys. No one .vould have thought, from the team, | t':at Star seniors are in the iinal cup , '••jutest, for only Pike and I'oticr, of , the backs, and Kivell, Courtney, Allen, | Sell'ord and .Rowan, of the forwards, ] stripped lor practice. Tukapa's detectums were even greater. Mi- il. | Martin controlled a somewhat poor display of the national game, which j ended in favor of Stars by 17 to 5. , The winners' tries were scored by J. i'oticr, Kivcll, Allen, and Hopkins, and luvell I ckc.l agoal. Eor Tulriip;t . Bethune scored. JUNIOR it El'. TEAM, The junior trial match. Xurl.li v. South Tarauaki, to assist the selectors in their task of choosing the juuior representative team tu play Wangium l , took place ;it Si rat ford yesterday. After the game, whie., n;u of a hard but uninteresting description, tile following team Has pi.-ked ; Full-hack : Collins ,Stratford) ; three-quarters: Campbell iWaimate), Stonr (Tukapa), Hooker (Tukapa); liye-cigluks: Wlntaker (Star); half: bpratt (llawera); wmgs: Iverr tlnglewood), Kothery (Opunake); forwards: Pukcre (Chiton), Young (Wainiaiei, Boon (Stratford I, Baud (kaponga), Ainbury iSlar), Villers (Waiuiate), Davidson (Falca). Emergency ; Syme (Hawer.i\ On Saturday two teams from the Stratford ihstriet High School will visit .New i'lyiiiuiith io play against the local Jilgli - School. The junior Miaicii will be played ill liic morning at 11 a.id tile senior match at i.30 in the ahei'iioon. ll;e following-will represent the seniors; Hawkins, Bailey, Ellis, Smith, llriui, Sahvay, Whitakcr, Sinclair, 1 'i.ey. licklt. C-'kcr, k'rluii,TunbnJgc, Cull's, 1.2 ii 11 ii ;i in. ihe ;!ih)i.i's »ill be represented by: ijaiiig,-dur.-v, Uivy, ifluiie, Ainbury, Blydc, Lcpper, (■erntiucler, Olicy, Mcisa .cs. ASSOCIATION GAME. ELTIIAM WIN TAH VNAK.I riiKMlERsnJI'. The New I'lyiuoulli and Elthain . soccer teams, winners rcs))Cetively ol the northern and southern divisions, met at _inglcuuud yesterday to play ; oil' for the premiership. A splendidly contested game resulted in a win for the southern tenia by 3 goals to 1. > The Ellham Club is deserving of hearty congratulations, having at ilie lirst tune of a-ki: g carried oil ihe principal competition in the pruiince. i lie ' ■ lul', vwlli al llauel'a ami ! .lint tlie su.-cc-- of lt,c I'.itliam I i-alii inn i!u 'luiiiH li.ee a wry miiuii ial lug i licet uu 1 lie g.iuif .a Suiitii iaranalii.