FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81849, 21 September 1906, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE TAKANAKI CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY STRATFORD. There was a fair attendance of the public at Lltham on Thursday afternoon, when the unduly belated fixture, Stratford v. Okaiawa, to decide the fcotball championship of Tarnnaki was played. Taumata Park was in excellent condition. The game was interesting only on account of its importance, for the display of football was poor in the extreme, more particularly on the part of the Southern men. This, it is generalally conceded, was due to want of condition. As a country team, whose members live miles apart, the Okaiawa combination has not had a chance of gc'.ting the regu'ar practices necessary to keep them in condition for such a match, and the Rugby Union will be exceedingly illadvised in future if it does not so arrange the matches that there will be no necessity for a country team to keep fit for nearly a couple of months without playing a single game. The town teams in such a case have a distinct advantage. By the fault of someone in authority, both teams took the field in red and black jerseys, Okaiawa endeavouring to avoid complication by using as many black and white jerseys as they could lay hands on in'E.tham. This made things awkward for both players and spectators.

From the kick-off Stratford pressed, and the Southern men had to de fend their goal. Several infringements by the defenders gave Stohr chances at the goal, but his kicking was not up to his usual mark. Cameron, Tucker, Kivell, and Fearon made repeated attempts to score, but their passing runs ended fruitlessly. Roberts, O'Sullivan, and the two Crowleys showing up on the defence. A long kick by Stohr forced Okaiawa, and another force was made after an attempt by the same player to kick a penalty goal. Masters, \oung, and darkness kept up the attack, and worked play down the line. From a throw-in De:ler slipped over, and notched first score. Stohr's kick at goal was fruitless! The ball was hardlv in play again before the Stratford forwards charged the line again. Okaiawa men mulled badly, and Osborne scored. Stohr added the major points The southern men rallied, and briskly attacked for a while, but could not penetrate the defence. Then they were seen to tire, and except for patches of freshness now and again seemed more or less "out of pu ff» r j ght through the game. Play was shifted to the Okaiawa end, where White was penalised for offside, and Stohr registered another goal, bringing the btratford score to n paints. The kick-off was merely the signal for another Stratford onrush, but from a scrum near the line O'Sullivan cleared, and, assisted by Cleaver and Capel, burst through. The latter transferred too late to Toro, who was grassed before he could get moving Masters snapped up the ball and passed to Cameron, who gave it to Kivell. He made a clever dodgy run to close quarters, but lost the ball, White kicking out. The re spue was temporary. Fumbling among the Okaiawa's let llarkness over, but ho lost the ball, and Okaiawai forcd again. Just before "halftime R. -Masters elbowed his wav through, and Kivell marked. Stohr had a long shot, but the ball missed by a foot or so; an excellent attempt.

1 he second spell opened bad'v for the Okaiawa men, Capel failing to return. O'Sullivan broke away kicking hard to the Stratford full buck, who booted upheld. Capel took the ball at full, and galloved into Stratford's 25, passing to Cleaver who di.dged along the line. King! marked, and J. Johnston narrowly missed pacing a goal to Okaiawa's credit. A good piece of passing iiom an opening made bv Roberts gave (J Suluvan the simplest chance or scoring, but J. Crowley dashed in and took the ball offside, and the opportunity was lost. Again they bore down the opposition, but Con. Crowley put too much force into his kick and Cameron forced. Resuming! Crowley Bros, broke right away, Uuvson kicking out. Roberts spoil ed by kicking too hard, and Stohr just beat Crowley, for the ball behind the posts, Stohr forcing. Cameron made a dart for the line, but Kingi 8-rassod him> and Val , ance was £_ cipally responsible for stopping a series of short passing rushes among the Stratford backs. Then the Okatau'a's burst of energy suddenly subsided, and Stohr slipped over, scoring behind the posts, adding the major points himself. About fifteen minutes from the close of the game Crowley, by hard plav, forced his way we,- Stratford's line and scored t'.r Okaiawa. Johnstone's kick at goal failed. Give and take pl av then ensued. Toro marked for Okaiawa right ra the goal line, when pressed. On taking l,i s kick, the ball was in return marked by Deller. Stohr t o ok the kick at goal, and sent jie bal over the bar. Shortly after standing SOunded > w ± th the'scores Stratford Okaiawa ......,;' : " ■ " Mr N. A'Court was referee 3 and was strict and impartial in his w.ork. Hie gate takings totalled £iS 4/ '