FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 24 May 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

FIRST GRADE. CUFTOX (3) v. TUKAPA (3). These teams met at Western Park oil Thursday, and provided a fast, open game, plenty of shoe-leather being used, whilst the ball was not handled to the usual extent. The Clifton*, whilst playing a number of substitutes, placed in the field a rattling team of fast forwards, evidently liard as nails, and a back team solid in defence, though not brilliant in attack. Tukapas played their full team, a fairly fast lot. but lacking combination in the forwards, whilst there were a couple of weak spots in the rear division Mr. Griffiths handled the whistle.

From the kick-off the Tukapa backs commenced throwing the ball about, Frewin securing a mark in a handy position. The Clifton forwards then began to put their weight in, and, using the line to advantage, fairly "bullocked" the play down until Tukapa forced. The Tukapa forwards theti commenced to get round the ball better atfd-the game improved. From a scrum the ball beat Frewin, evidently kicked through by a Clifton forward. It whisked past Mynott. and the Clifton backs seemed to have an easy try within reach, but fleorge was there. A few minutes later the Reds got the ball out of the ruck, Ilnthery Hashed through, transferring in the nick of time to Jury, who scored. A poor attempt was made at goal. Clifton 3 Tukapa 0 Resuming, the visitors assumed the upper hand again, Tukapas changing the scene for short spells occasionally. CrowIcy and Storey were doing great work for the lHues. but the backs seemed all at sea, Mynott and Frewin's tricks proving unavailing principally on account of the failure to feed McLean. A forward rush placed Clifton's stronghold in imminent danger, concerted work by Frewin and Mynott failing at the critical moment in a mull by Stannering. A minute later he saved his reputation by marking well right in front of goal, and Hardgraves placed an easy goal, equalising the score. Clifton 3 Tukapa 3 Tukapas attacked, - but a tor" by Schofield relieved. McLean made a fine* run along the line, but the Reds were collaring well, and he was thrown out near the corner. A minute later an opening was spoiled by Mynott aiming a pass at his feet, but. the ball returning to Mynott, he placed it in safety out of touch. From a penalty, Hardgraves made an unsuccessful attempt at goal. After half-time the Clifton team underwent alteration, Pulford playing wingforward and Rothery wing three-quart-teer. Tukapas was put oil the defensive for some time,, line play giving Clifton every advantage. Despite the loss of Rothery. who had been th* 1 most prominent In the forward division, the Clifton vanguard more than held its own, ear-

:ving nearly every -onnn. The vUilnvs ,vere following up splendidly, and by

lint of hard play smothered the Blues' nicks repeatedly, whilst their tackling ■vas nisei good. The ball travelled from •ml to end without any startling pieces

of play, plenty of "boot"' being used. Quite a feature was the certainty of Scholelield's speculators. The best run of the clay was by McLean, but he had no chance of passing ISuthery. Playing on the defence. Tukapa let llii ball through to llardgraves. who kicked

about' half the length of the field, the luill binding in hi* opponent*' 23, where o three Clifton backs. on the linos of "too many cooks," let it into touch. • The I'lues weie unable, on account of Iloneviiehl's failure to take a pass, to follow up the advantage, and 0. Sampson, PukM'il, ami Loverid«je carried the play back t" the home team's territory. Frewin. Myimlt. McLean, and Slannering put in -Dim' clever defensive work, and had all they rnuld do to stave olf a sen re. an broach by Clifton giving them a respite. From a lot of loose piny the 'J'nkapa forwards, headed by Crowley. Johnston, and Storey, made a rush, and put the Waitara men hard defending their own poul. It was all tn no purpose, Williams at full relieving by a splendid line kick. Shortly afterwards time was called. On the whole, the visitors deserved to win. Their best men were Williams. Scholpfhdd. and Sampson in the back?-, ami C. Sampson. Ivoverdige. Rothery, and Andrews in the forward division. FoiTukapa, Hardj-raves played a slashing game at full, and McLean was the nntv reliable threeuiiarter. Frewiu got in some sii)'>i't. work, ami M\nott was the key of tii" Tukapa position. In u useful but seemingly disorganised forward rank Crowley. Storey, and Seamark \ worked very hard. { STIiATFoK!) (21) v. (XCfJ-WOd!), j The abuvc It-am- played at tin* hi? fawned ground yesterday afternoon. The. prfeediim* tin* match was damp. ; : -king the leather ami turf nitlier grca-y- "Never!lilies-, a very wilHn;.; go vr-suUed. and, although the <-<-o''es d(ii"le a boil-over, for Stratford, the home team made a good fight, and were almost as often aggressive as they were on the defensive. Inglewood played a very gr.r:d forward gain*. but. with the excei>fimi of C. Potier. L. de Lauunv and Ire'-naway, the back division was a v."-ik one. both in attack and defence. Slrntford. on the other hand, played villi rwiilmntinn. The forwards are. a f !iv i-Mvbig set. and when they bn>ke tl>v<unr!i, as they did oil many occasions, t!ie hom<« tfiirn seemed <o be nonplussed, "•'id the iieiVnee w is not snlfieiently com* i'ined. This aO'ordetl good opportunities for Stratford Tfcieks, opportunities whirh were Hfcon full advantage of, eivperiallv b;> I>in Cameron and Stohr, Gie former crossing the line on no less tftan

three occasions. In the lirst spell tin home forwards made the pace, and had if anything, the boiler of the tussel. It was, however, the quick, clever work ot the Stratford backs that rattled up tlie score. Inglcwooil won the toss, and bad a Blight benefit of a still' cross breeze. On Pl ' the ball being set in motion, play cen- '!'■ trod. Slratford forwards came through ic with the leather, and their backs sccurls infi'. a passing bout ensued, which look- !'■ ed dangerous. The ball, however, was kicked too hard, ami Inglewood forced, i- The home forwards quickly bad play ill v Stratford's iVs, where a deal of scrum II "ill line work was the order, Stratford iv!it vbig temporarily with a long kick. 1, inglewood forwards dashed down again, i- From a throw in, Inglewood obtained o possession. but hard-kicking spoiled a d likely chance, and Stratford forced, (live .1 and take play followed in neutral territory. O'Carroll for Inglewood markiu;:. Potier took tlie kick from ball-way. The effort- was a splendid one. but the bail i. went .'ide by about two feel. All inleri> change of kicking gave the visitors the advantage for a short, spell. (Ireemway, ' who played a very line game at half for high wood. got a good liuc-lbiding kick, transferring play to Stratford's '2, Vs. ? liie Stratford vanguard rallied and - cleared, their rushes being well stayed . by the smart wci'. id' I'otier and (Ireenawav. For a while the home forwards . strove hard to get over, t'ear.n. Slrat- - ford's full back, relieving, by serviceable . kicking on several occasions. The vi-it- . iug forwards here look charge, and turned the tables, ami had their oppo- - ivuts hard pre.-scd on (he corner. Potior relieved to mid-lield by a good line kick. . A scrum ensued at midlieid, from which . Cameron secured; and, cleverly dodging half-a-dozen men, drew first blood for Stratford between the posts. Cameron added the major points. Stratford 5 1 nglewood 0 With a taste of victory Stratford for- , wards made the play very fast, but the | Inglewood defence was sound for a time, fane work followed, from which the Stratford backs secured the leather, and, from a passing bout. Cameron again got possession and dashed over. Stohr took the kick with success. Stratford 10 Inglewood 0 Shorty after the visitors again got the ; ball from the ruck, and, Stohr, putting in a gooil run, placed another try for Stratford on the corner. The angle was . extremely awkward, but Stohr placed a , very fine goal. Stratford 15 Inglewood tl Play eased for a while. Then the visitors became aggressive, and a passing rush was frustrated by Potier intercepting, and finding the line with a serviceable kick. The visitors returned, and soon had their opponents hard pressed. A serum ensued five yards from the goal posts, (ircenawav saving with a useful kick. The half-time whistle sounded with Inglewood in difficulties at the corner. The second spell was productive" of play of a very fast order, and the ball travelled continually from end to end of the field. A loose forward rush pu the part of Stratford, and the ball once more was in Cameron's grasp, and he set out for the coveted ground. Dodging and feinting, he crossed the line at the corner. The kick failed. Stratford 18 Inglewood 0 Stratford came down again, and Inglewood relieved by a mark. Shortly after Oreenaway secured, and passed out to Potier. who took the oval right through to Stratford's 2o's before he was grassed. The home team rallied, and what looked like a sure score was spoiled by kicking too hard, and Stratford forced Inglewood still continued aggressive, and from a loose rush de Launay secured, and, dodging smartly in front of the posts, potted a pretty goal. Stratford IS Inglewood 4 For the rest of the game the pace was very warm, there being some good Hashes of play from either side. Time after time Inglewood fruitlessly essayed to tear their way through. Just on "call of time Stratford had the ball in the home 25's. The ball was kicked, too - hard, and the Inglewood backs followed it up to force. The oval, however, struck the cross-bar, and rebounded. Marchant, for Stratford, caught the ball, and obtained an easy try, Cameron kicking a goal.

Stratford 23 Tnglewood 4 Mr. George Hopkins gave entire satisfation as referee. SECOND GRADE. The Stiti" and Fltham first juniors met on the racecourse yesterday afternoon, and a well-contested game resulted in a win for the home team by nine points to nil. The packs were very evenly matched. but the Elthani backs, up till the list twenty minutes, were altogether wanting in combination. Tries were scored for Tukapa by Dixon and Brown, and Walters kicked a goal from a penalty. Mr. Mart in gave satisfaction with the whistle. Tli<> lirst junior match, Stratford v. Tnglewood. was played at Stratford yesterday afternoon, the home team wining by points to nil. At Waitara, Clifton and Tukapa met. the latter winning by 10 to nil ]>. Hooker scored two tries and Douglas and (leorge kicked a goal apiece. The Star senior team is keenly appreciative of the sjjortsmanlike action of the Eltham Club in arranging for the senior match to be played at a later date on account of the inability of the Star players to got away.