FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 31 May 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SEHIOR GRADE. STRATFORD <23) v. STAR (8).

It was generally expected that Star 3 would succumb to the superior forces of ; J the conquering Stratfordites, ami this ex- j peetation, as the scores show, was veri- I tied. The game, despite the heavy scor- ! ing, was a tame affair., neither team j playing up to form, and from a spec- j tator s point of view was devoid of that ! interest generally associated with the ! meeting of senior teams of the standard of the contestants in this match. There ; was little life or dash about the play—none of that "devil" that goes to make ' games interesting and attractive to ' watch. Stratford won bv a handsome ' margin. 23 to 8. but' had the home learn j availed themselves of the hertp of chitnces i of scoring by try or goal-kicking that | occurred they would have almost topped the big score of their adversaries. . An ; outstanding feature of the game was the line kicking of Stohv (Stratford) who piloted the leather between the ins- '

rights <'ii four successive occasions, tivi. * from fairly diliicult angles. Had th« ; Stars a man of Stolu-s kicking ability" I the scores would have been malerialiv i altered. * J

Stratford, with the wind behiud and the sim in front, kicked olf. and play was taken down to Star's quarters, from whence it was cleared by .some smart work of C'ourtenay, Thomson and McLean and shifted to Stratford's terri- ! torv. Here from a mark. Black (Star) ! took a shot at goal, but the ball was i grassed Wore the kicker was ready, j and. rebuilding;, the Stratford phlanx j of forwards tore down the field, lmt Osborne kicked too hard, and Stars j forced. When the ball was kicked out. ! Stratford assumed possession and would i have got over but for the intervention : of the local men's full-back and Stratford ma iked, and Stohr made an unsuccessful attempt at goal. An interchange of kicking and some line work followed. Stratford were successful in their scrum work, and from one of the serums the visitors' backs got moving with the ball in their possession, but Black upset their work by opportunely intercepting and punting ahead. But the wind was too strong, and the ball made no headway, playing continually in Star's quarters, where Stratford attacked with vigor. The Star forwards gradually worked the play further up the field, but just when they appeared to be making headway their opponents, securing possession, made up for the lost ground, and recommenced their attack on Star's line with even more energy than before. From a throw-in, the visitors' backs, who were playing with combination, started a passing rush which almost culminated in a score for Kivell, and, just a littlo while afterwards another likely chance was lost through Cameron crowding his men on to the line before transferring. Play, at this stage, was right in front of the goal, where Smith, through ofl'side play, gave a free kick to Stratford. Cameron drawing first blood by booting the ball over the cross-bar. After uninteresting line, and forward play, Cameron got the ball from one of his confreres and made a dash for the line. He completely beat the opposing backs, efforts to stop his progress were verv feeble, and he crossed the line. Stoli'r placed a goal. Stratford 8. Star 0. De-

sultory play, mostly in Stars' 25, followed the kick-out. The Stratford backs got going again, and swept through the blacks, Kivell scoring. Sfcohr added the necessary. Stratford 13, Star 0. The Star forwards, who were doing good work in the loose, later transferred the scene of operations to the visitors' end, but the defence was too solid, and the spell ended without further score.

Shortly after the opening of the second spell the sensational feature of the match occurred. Black intercepted a pass and streaked for Stratford's line, and when but a short distance from his goal, passed to Anibury, and just when it looked like a certain thing, the latter was collared. The ball came out of the ruck right away. Cameron snapped it up, evaded the Star backs, ran almost the length of, the field, and grounded the ball between the posts. It was a smart piece of work. Stohr did his duty again, making the scores—Stratford 18, Star 0. The Stratford men continued to press and harry their opponents. Kivell once almost getting over. Black, who was playing a paticularly good game, pulled his side out of a tight hole by intercepting and racing down to Stratford's 25: Stratford forced, but just afterwards Cameron missed a ball and Black was down on it like a hawk and carried the oval to the enemy's lino.

where Allan grabbed it and scored. Black was unsuccessful with the kick. Stratford 18, Star 3. The play was up and down the field after this, both sides going near scoring on one or two occasions. Then Pike obtained the ball from Smith and made a bee-line for the line, which he reached, touching down behind the posts. Bcllringer converted. Star 8, Stratford 18. Stars were playing much better at this period, and their two scores put heart into them and caused their supporters to believe that even at the eleventh hour they would be able to pull the game out of the fire, and they might have done so, too, had they a man who could place-kick, they having shot after shot from easy distances at the posts without avail. A fine passing rush by the Stratford backs enabled Stohr to cross, this player again being entrusted with the kick and again being successful. The game thus stood— Stratford 23, Star 8, and the subsequent play, which does not require description, did not alter the score. Mr Proctor refereed. For the winners J. Young and Osborne were the best of the forwards, and Cameron was the most successful of a good set of backs. Black, of the Stars, played the hardest, and was probably the best back on the field. Pike was the next best back for Stars, while of the forwards Ryan shone out most conspicuously.

ELTHAM v. CLIFTON'. It was generally expected that the meeting of the above teams would provide a close finish, and so it proved, neither side managing to .score. 'The game was very fast—a contest between Eltham backs and Clifton forwards. The Clifton forwards were apparently heavier than the opposing pack, and consequently were able to use their weight in the scrums to secure the ball, leaving Eltham without the opportunity of indulging in their desired and most effective style of play, open passing rushes from the back of the scrum. The forwards were evenly matched on the line-out, but in fast following up and smothering play the home team were superior. Tlir Eltham back play was cleverer all round .than their opponents, but they- had to make their own opportunities. The defence all round was solid, the respective fullbacks, Moir (Eltham) and Williams (Clifton) putting in some line work. Dive did not seem to be playing with his usual dash; probably in view of the North v. South Island match, he was taking no risks. The best all-round back on the ground was Morse, the Eltham five-eight, who ran. kicked, tackM. and made openings in splendid style, and should be heard of before the season closes. Brown, the Eltham half-back, came in for considerable gruelling, but stood up to the fast Clifton forwards in fine style. Clillet was Ihe best of the home backs, who sadly want a scoring three-quarter. The game needs little description; it was fast, but not exciting, the defence and spoiling tactics being its most prominent characteristics. Waitara kicked nil". Eltham by a series of rushes

gradually working the ball to the Reds" nuarters. The Clifton forward- cune away with a big rush, the visitors' backs oti • after another missing tin' rolling ball tiir l a M-nii's was formed five yards from 'he F.Uham line. Elthnm cleared tem- : ];riV;irih'. but OillvU sent tile b.ill with a big line Some hard play followed in Kltlmm's 25. the ball going to SeholoHeld. who to pot, but tli? boll wenl wide. * After some /live and take piny in neutral territory, Lhe Kltbam back* brok" away with a pood pacing rus ' l - marking -md refuming to I'.Uhnm s *25. \wi l nvouiiiK'Ut in a nish bv the Clifton forward*. Morse savin?, r»?t* n-.»xt broke awav from the side of the >eru*>i and dribhled the ball to Williams, who wns net found wanting. McCraeken was pp'nali&ed for off-side plav. and Waitara 1v.,1 n shot, but the ball failed to Waitara were penalised twice in succes-sion-for off-side play by the wing-for-wards. Gillett set up a passing ruch. but the support was slow, and Morse intei ■ cepted. Dive finding the line well down the field. After some tight line play, Morse secured and started a passing rush, but Dive sent a poor one to GJentworth at the critical moment, and the m.iroon fnrvaids came away, and soon ' had Kb ham hard nt work defending. ' A hug pass was sent out to Seholefield, 5 who liad a clear run in. but he waited to I lake the h;->ll on the bounce, and a eer- [ tain score was lost to Waitara, Glent'wojth and MeCracken clearing to half-'

: way. Morse. Dive and Lewis came away | with a rush, Williams marking near the line. Long kicking by e<illcll shifted i |<! ly to Eltham's end, where Clifton essaved a passing rush, which was speedily ] j broken up ami the ball tarried to the I Clifton full-back, who cleared, and halt' I j time was called with play iu Clifton's i territory.

Oil resuming, Eltliam immediately en- ! deavored to open up the play, and indulg- ] ed ill these fast passing rushes in suc- : cession. Clifton securing the ball, es- | sayed to keep it amongst their forwards ! as much as possible, screwing scrums and breaking away ill solid rushes that took some stopping, Moir, the Eltliam mli-back, terminated a succession of

these rushes in brilliant style, getting ill some line kicks from seemingly impossible positions. Seliolelield made a dash, but kicked too hard, and Hltham forced. The Clifton forwards kept tip a persistent attack for some time, Dive and Lewis eventually clearing. T latter and MeCraeken. following up fa#l, smothered Williams' return. The Eltliam forwards assumed the upper band for a time, and Weir broke away and dribbled to the line, but kicked too hard, and

Clifton forced. Hard line play succeeded the kick-out, Clifton gradually working play to the visitors' territory. Sehnlc[i -ld marked from a high kick by Dive, and (-illett's return was badly mulled by

( t!u? tilt Imm rearguard. Clifton next cn- ' deavored to break down the defence by ; p:issing, Iml their efforts were e\A\y 1 nullified. Burke was prominent a rush by Eltham forwards, uhich was ' spoilt by an infringement. Gillett had | a shot but tlu' ball fell short, Moir j kicking out well down the field. El- | tham backs essayed a passing rush ini- ! tiated by Morse, but the tackling was ! very sure, and but. little headway was i made. The game, was at this stage very i fast and hard, but confined mostly to the ; forwards. Morse got away with Dive land covered over half the length of the field, but instead of sending the ball out ! to Glentworth on the wing a miskiek gave, the ball to Clifton, fiillett getting in a long kick which Eltham forced. Clifton returned to the attack, a dangerous rush being stopped by an Eltham forward marking, and Dive cleared. From on line play predominated, Rothery being particularly prominent, but neither goal line was again in serious danger, and the whistle went without score. Mr Spurdlc gave general satisfaction with the whistle, although a section of the barrackers took some exception to his overruling an improper decision of one of the line umpires.

TUKAPA (0) v. INGLEWOOD (3). The weather was fine, and the ground dry for the Inglewood-Tukapa fixture at Inglewood yesterday. There was a (airly strong breeze from the south-east, blowing well along the field, and the spin of the coin gave the home team this advantage in the first spell. The game was an intersting one to wateh, but the attendance of the public was small. To speak generally the contest was between the Tnglewood forwards and the Tukapa backs, though the home team had an exceptionally clever five-eight in their captain, 0. Potier, who directed operations. The visiting forwards were too light, probably the lightest pack in the province, _ and certainly the lightest in this division. The Inglewood men were heavy and fairly fleet, and almost overran the Tukapa vanguard, who, nevertheless, played a very plucky game. The referee, 111 1 T. Julian, wass too lenient in the matter of off-side play, which was frequent and deliberate. The scores hardly indicate the relative merits of the two teams, for the visitors seemed to have had hard luck in not scoring 011 more than one occasion. Their winning kick, however, was the result of a very flukey mark by Frewin, so perhaps they liad little to complain of. The local officials would do well to take some steps to prevent the spectators encroaching on the field of plav. Tukapa was without the services of Hardgraves, Storey and Seamark, and as substitutes played Hooker. Walsh and Tiekner. From the kick-off the visitors assumed the aggressive, and soon had play in the Inglewood base, but a mark by I'otier centred operations. In the first scrum Tukapa got an advantage, but off-side play nullified their work. Inglewood. playing with the wind, used the line a good deal—too much, perhaps, when the weight, pace and skill of their forwards were taken into consideration. De Launay made ran into the blues' 25, and play remained there for some time, Potier making a skilful run almost to the line. Then from a forward scramble Hooker gathered in smartly, and made a brilliant, dodgy ran through his opponents, but Potier called up his lioni turn of speed and pulled him down. The Inglewood backs essayed a passing rush at full gallop, Potier, O'Carroll and De Launay taking part. Then followed •i lot of line play. Mynott's kicking into touch saving Tukapa repeatedly. As Hie result of several infringements the visitors were placed severely on the defensive. Jlynott got his side out of langer by a succession of advantageous deks into touch, and brought play to nidlield. The reds were now given a ,urn at defending their base. McLean liiide a good run. and passed to George, vho transferred to Steele. Steele sent t back to George, who came near scorns:. From a scrum near th(> line the nglewood forwards made a vigorous itsli, and Tukapa failed to stem it until George punted into safety. De Launay Licked over the line, and Tukapa forced, i'he visitors attacked again, but I'otier aved by marking. Hulling among the Jacks lost Tukapa's advantage, and hortly afterwards Potier had another msuccessful shot at goal. Tukapa forcng. Marking the return from the kicltiff, Potier tried again at goal, without nccess, and Tukapa forced again. Hoteyfield, who up to this time had been 'laying a safe game at full, allowed the all to run through his legs, and Tukapa vas lucky in forcing. A minute later )e Launay kicked 100 hard over the line, nd again Tukapa forced. From a scrum iear the 25 line, Greemvay took the lall, and in a fine passing run, in which Vitier. O'Carroll and De Launay handled, lie latter scored a good try, the Tukapa lacks missing by tackling high. Potier'l :ick did not increase the score.

Ingle wood 3 Tnkapa 0 From this to half-time Inglewood had the better of the game, breaking up the scrums and pestering the Tukapa backs, but the defence was good, and there was no further score.

Changing ends, Ihe wind died away. The game being close to midfield for some time, Burkitt, Johnston and l.uke did some great work in the home forwards. Then 'J'ukapa assumed the upper hand. Mynott sent a light kick to the goal, and Hooker, who as usual was following up closely, chased and got posssesiou across the line, badly beating the Inglewood backs, and touching down. But the referee held the ball was aver the. dead ball line, anil Tukapa lost a well-deserved score. The blues attacked again, and [nglewood forced. The Tukapa back's were now thro\vin<> the ball about with some accuracy, but somehow or other the crucial pass always failed to reach its billet. From a mark by Iloneyfield Frewin made a fruitless attempt at goal. (Irecnway made an opening for the Inglewood forwards. Taylor dashed throu"ii, and brought the struggle close up to the Tukapa line, but they secured a free kick for otl'-side play close to the posts at a very convenient juncture. I'lay travelled right away to the other end of the Held, where Julian prevented a good scoring attempt by Hooker. Here followed a somewhat monotonous interchange of kicks, ending in Inglewood being forced. High kicks into touch. marks', and so forth, showed Hint

was merely playing on the defensive. Pntier tried again tu kiek a goal, but the ball rebounded from Crowl' i v. and the blues chased the leather •'own Ihe full length of the field to the front of the pnsf-->, Play was close and billing. On' l ot 4 h.e hrdewood forwards was eaught play-ng the ball with his hand* on the ground, and from the penally Frewin placed a goal, making the score—

Tnglewood H Tnkapa ?> Except for occasional breaks, beaded by .bdnistun. P.urkilt and Taylor. and yenernlly engineered by Folic- or (Jreenway. the Im/lewood feam was now kepi in defence. Things looked. *erinu> f.'V Inirh'wood when Polier a ball ■ ;>nd Thomas was smothered, bu* -Tiilnni sihvnb'led. and saved. Johnston seemed frequently to be th° principal ])layer in keeping back the Tukapa rushes. George j ran well in. and parsed to Tfoneyflnltl, who was collared under the posts. Then Tnglewood went away. The visitors were not ready, and failed to stem the headlong rush. A try looked a dead certainty, but IToneyfield got his head and shoulders down to the rush, and others gathered round, and in a twinkling the reds were defending a r faiu. Frewin had another shot, at goal, and missed. An Tnglewood player booted the ball nut of the serum. Frewin caught it at his knee, .marked, and landed the winning goal. Tukapa fi Tnglewood ~ 3

1 Time was called a few minutes later, iwitli play near midfiield. The winners made a good stand 'again-,', their bulky opponents. Iheir 'team had been considerably altered in the back division, Iloneylield, usually wing three-quarter, going back to full, and Hooker playing emergency wing. He deserved bis place, and will probably not 1» retired to junior fixtures. Stannering was iu fair form, but (ieorge was hardly up lo his usual mark. Mynott was ill splendid form, and Krewin's rushstopping was perhaps the salvation of his fide. Crowley's superior weight and dash made him conspicuous among the forwards, but Steele and Jull were, also prominent. McLean played a sterling game at wing-forward. For inglewood, the full-back, li. Thomas, played his lirst game (bis season, and acipiilted himself well. O'C'iirroll was the best of the (lire: -(planer line, and Potior at liveeight played a good ''heady" game. Creenway, at half, was hardly a match for Frcwin. Amongst a good pack the shining lights were Luke. Johnston, Taylor and Olseii.

JUNIOR GRADE. STRATFORD (3) v. STAR (0). Star 11. travelled to Stratford, and after a very fast and trying game had to accept- defeat by 3 points (a try by H, Cameron) to nil. Mr Martin i'eferecd.

Tl'e match between Inglewood ff. and Tukapa 11. resulted in a win for the former by a penalty goal (placed by 11. Julian) to nil. The game, which took place at Western Park, was a fairly even one, the town players having if anything the advantage and should have scored more than once. The rural forwards are a formidable lot, and the team as a whole show much improvement. Mr Kivell controlled the game. Clifton forfeited to Eltliam.

THIRD GRADE. The Clifton "ITT. v. Tukapa TIT. contest. played on the latter's ground, near Western Park, resulted in a win for the eountryteam by three (o nil. Wie game, which was very evenly contested, was only won during the last few minutes, when IT. Cole notched a try. Mr Way refereed. During the course of the game 11. Preston (Clifton) was put off for alleged scragging. Stratford heat Star at Stratford by 3 to nil.

THE ENGLISH TEAM'S VISIT. LETTER FROM SOUTH AFRICA. Per Press Association. Wellington, May 30. Mnting the New Zealand Rugby tnion, the Union's representative in LnglanJ says that with reference io the visit of ail English team to New /['aland, tlie matter is well on the way, being discussed at a committee meeting of the Union. An announcement will he mail;' at the annual meeting of the Union at the end of June. I think you can take it that a team will visit .*ou during the coming year. A letter lias been received by the New Zealand Rugby Union from the South African Union stilting that it was not thought advisable to send a- team to New Zealand, as the next few years should be devoted to improving local football.

A DISCLAIMER. Per Press Association. Wellington, May 30. The New Zealand Rugby Union has cabled to the English Rugby Union disclaiming any connection with the proposed visit of a professional team to the Northern Counties.

' IS IT "SWELLED" HEAD? Per Press Association. Westport, May 30. D. Donnelly, the representative iro'n the Duller Rugby Union picked as emergency for the South Island foothill team, lias declined the position, considering himself unfairly dealt with, seeing that he already represented the South Island List year, and is this year playing in the best of form. Members of the Buller Rugby Union characterise Ihe action of the selectors as strangely inconsistent".

The following have Jieen selected to represent the Ohura Football Club in their match against Toko on the Whangamomona ground on Monday, June 3vd, at 2 p.m.:—Full-back, J. Davis; Ihive<|iiavters, Archer, G'lehnd, Anderson; live-eighths, Tockcr; half, Robertson; Armstrong and Ronowdon; forwards, A'. Klee, S. White, W. lleid, F. llradley, Dmilnp, Quinncy, and Boxhead; emergencies, D. Davis, Revell and others.

"Playing the Game" writes:—"Sir,— All lovers of a clean game of foot lull must have been somewhat disgusW with the exhibition of rough play which took place at the match held on 'he racecourse between Star and Stratford seniors, one player in particular actually resorting to scragging, punching, anil kicking to the detriment of life, and limb. We would ask in all fairness, is this "playing the game"; are we degenerating into the barbaric ideas of sport of the Roman glhdiators, or are we to keep up our reputation as Britishers of fair play?"