FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 4 June 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

XOHTII v. SOUTH ISLAND. WIN FUR THE NOUTHKUNI*:US. Per l>iv>s i-ssoi ial ion. Chri.nrhuK-li, .lime 3. The match between the .Xoiih and South Maud-- was played at Lanca.-ler Park this afternoon in line weather, and before a irowd numbering between six and seven thousand. The frame wa> strenuously contested throughout, bul once play had settled down, it was apparent that the North Island were the betfer team, and the South Island never looked like winning. The Northern backs had much the better combination and played with more dash tlian their opponents, whose efforts were more or le*s spasmodic-. The South Inland forwards did some «jood work, hut thev were not well supported by their backs, and though they were more successful in their hooking than the Northerners, they gained no advantage from this, for the smartness of the North Island backs quickly retrieved the position. and defence was turned into attack with lightning rapidity. The opening stages of the game were indecisive, but the North Island quickly got to work, and a very strong attack was *et up. Deans intercepted a pass, and passed to Dansev. who was well tackled by Mitehinson. From a shot a goal by Turtil, the North Islanders were forced, but from this out the Northerners had much the better of the game. Their passing was. however, very frequently forward, and this fact alone prevented the score from being considerably larger. Finally, a brilliant passing rush in which practically all the North backs had a hand, saw Hunter go over at the corner. 0. Spencer failing with the kick at goal. This was the only score at ' half time.

In the second spell, North still held the upper hand, and it was rarely that the ball reached, their twenty-five. The only occasions in which the South looked really dangerous was when Fryer kicked high and Spencer failed to take the ball. A Canterbury player had followed up fast, but over-ran the ball, and liu"ter relieved the situation.

Sound kicking by the North backs took the play to the South goal line, and after a hard-fought struggle, Bailey scored. Wallace converting the try.

In the closing stages of the game, the South backs had one or two chances, but the handling of the ball was faulty, dust on call of time, the North were attacking again, and Roberts made an opening for Wilson, who scored an easy try. Wallace failed with the kick at goal; and time was called with the North winners by eleven points to nil.

WELLINGTON 13, WAIRARAPA 3. Per Press Association. Wellington, June 3. The Wellington and Wairarapa representative teams met on the Athletic Park to-day, Wellington winning by thirteen points to three. Forward, the teams were fairly even, but the Wellington backs were much the better, individually and in combination. Wairarapa's only score was a goal kicked from a penalty by Wrigley. The Wellington men scored ten of their points in the first half. Their score was made up bv Twohitl and G.vme each getting tries, which were not converted; Gilchrist kicking a goal from a murk: mid Bogle (jutling one from the field of play.

.MID- WE UK R E I'll ESENT'AT IVES Per Press Association. Wellington. June The match between the Wellington Wednesday representative.., and the Wairarapa Thursday team, ended in the defeat of the visitors by six points to three. The play was a general scramble. in which the floundering attempts of some players to secure the ball furnished the public with cause for hilarity.

STRATFORD (24) v. CLIFTON (0). The mooting of tho Stratford ami Clifton senior teams had been looked forward to for some time, and it was genet • ally anticipated that if the Clifton forwards could keep the ball away from the speedy Stratford backs, they would stand a good chance of checking the victorious career of the Red and Blacks. They failed, however, to do so, and Cameron, Kivell. Stohr and Co.*had a day out. piling up the respectable score of 24 points to Cliftons nil. On the day's play that alwut represented the difference in tho attacking and scoring abilities of the two rearguards, the ability of the one over the other to push an advantage home. The forwards were evenly matched, and fought a hard game. The defence of both back divisions was sound, but the Clifton men were not fast enough to check the sudden concerted movement* of their opponents. Stohr's kicking abilities again were responsible for the major portion of the score.

Stratford kicked off. S-holelield returning to mid-field. Williams was almost immediately called on target his side out of danger. Hard line play followed for some time, being relieved by a succession of fr-ee-kicks against Stratford for oti'-sido play. Plav first opened out by IJullot sending the ball out to Cameron. who made-an opening and transf erred to Kivell. The latter kicked lightly over his opponents and Williams marked. McMiisters marked the Clifton kick, and Stohr had a shot, but Ihe ball failed to rise. Immediately afterwards Tucker secured and assayed to "pot.*' but the ball went wide, and Clifton forced. Cameron was responsible for the initiation of a dangerous passing rush. Stohr being well stopped by Williams. Stratford kept up the attack, but penalty after ; penalty was given against them, principally for oll'-sido play by Joe Young and Marchant, and several good rushes were thus spoiled. Samson being' enabled, bv big kicks, to neutralise much of the lied and IMaeks' attack. After soin;> tight play, a miskick by a Clifton player sent the ball to Kivell. who made a splendid run down tho line, brushing aside opposition. and scoring a well deserved try. Ktohr's kick failed. Stratford 3: Clifton 0.

The C lit'toii forwards made the pair willing from the kick-out liut long kicks by Stohr and Kivell .-50111 the ball back to Clifton's territory, where Clifton were penalised. and Stohr landed a goal.

Stratford 0; Clifton 0. The Clifton forwards rushed play to Slratf<»rd's end. where Sampson hud an im-uccessfnl shot at goal from a penally. Clever line play and judicious line kick-

soon >aw Clifton in dillicull ies. From a throw-in. the ball \\a- pa—e.i back to Cameron, who !y "polled" ;; pretty

Si rai ion! !n ; < liit^.ll 0. Two pi'U:i III; - in -t!e,-e--iolt agjiin-l Marehant. who plavim.r well, bill overeair"rlv a train enaU.M Clifton to *Mft play to thr. home team's Some hot plav followed. thr* a lvania'ie of a SI ratford bie;M;-:i"' ;iy being ' lo„( through V<mi!!<•■'■ poini iii'.' propeu.sitv. Kventnailv Kivcll !i<-.I a long ki.-k to Seholeiield. ' who a Midden hur-.t of speed and made a dash. Kicking 1o the Stratford's line, he f<d!owed up i'a-i and again secured, but was unfovlunale in losing the ball on the line, and Stratford forced. Cive-and-take play followed in neutral territory until the half-lime whistle sounded. The light was failing badly when the ball was again set in motion, I'or some time the Clifton forwards managed to keep the game tight, but at the first opporhinifv the Stratford rearguard was .et in motion, the ball going from the vide of i> -erum to Bui lot, who transf. v!f f l t ) Cameron, and Cameron to Slobr. The ViM.-r t one man beautifully and 1 h -n --ni ih-> ball ba'-k to Cameron, who w.:s over in a twinkling. Stolir convened. S. .mi i\,rd 15; Clil'ion 0. Stratford kept up.the attack, hot play

- I ensuing for some time close to Cliflon'i c , line, until .UciUster,, picked up iron , ' the ruck and scrambled across. StohrV j kick failed, r Stratford lii; Clifton 0. Clifton cleared the next attack 01: , their line with some success, (Samson I and Scholeiield hacking up their forward:- . and carrying play right to their oppou- . I cut's goal line. In the loose ground . play following, (Stratford cleared, and . charged to Clifton's end, where (Stohr , marked and landed a beautiful m, a l ■Stratford 21; Clifton (1. A tier sonic more or less exciting play Samson, with a long kick, transferred ■ play to the Stratford line and some h:rd hue play ensued at the corner Iki" during the course of which two plavera were accidentally knocked out, 'joe W,, receiving a nasty smack on the lead, and lsivcll spraining his ankle, and huing to he carried oil' the Held. It was now almost too dark to sec aco-s the held. The hall travelled up and down the held, Sfralford havoc the noper hand. Stohr had two or three shots nt goal, eventually getting a good one over j,..,t „n the call of time, ami the game ended— Stratford 11: Clifton 0. I'Vr the winners Camerou played a very line game, ami was well sup'porled by Stohr, but parlicularlv bv Kivcll (If the forwards. Kivcll, Alc.Vr.isiers an,l March ml were the mo.-,! prominent in a hiirdworking pack. i)f (|„. Clifton backs. Williams was no! so reliable a, asual Inn Cillett Samson and Scholeiield we're -afe. A substitute from the forwards on one of Hie wing! also helped to weaken their nrver-100-l.rillinnt attacking abilities, i'ukerc. I.ovwidge and Samson seemed to be working hardest in a line lorward division. In eoniH'clion with liie matches plaved at Stratford, referees should insist'on teams taking the field at the appointed time. In this respect the homo team are the worst offenders, ami yesterday the Clifton men wore on the' ground nearly ten minutes before Stratford lined out. Mv Spurdle gave satisfaction with the whistle, but some of the decisions of ihe Stratford line umpire seemed to the reporters on the line, to be scarcely in strict accordance with the line of the ball on the touch line.

OPUNAItH v. WAIMATE. Our Opunake correspondent writes:— A football match took place here on ■Saturday between Waimale 1. and Opunake 1. The day was perfect, and the ground was in fair order, consequently a good game was expected. There was a very fair attendance., and their expectations of a good game were more than realised until well in the second spell. During the first spell the game was very fast and willing, one Opunake player having his jersey torn oil', while another had to retire for a few minutes. Some tine forward rushes were got on by both sides, whilst Wiimate indulged in a few good passing rushes, which were neutralised by the excellent collaring of the Opimake backs, Martin and Forsyth getting in some fine work. Towards the end of the first spell, the ball was kicked up the ground and the Opimake backs mulling, enabled Franklyn to secure and score, although he was well grassed by Anderson, but fell on the line. His kick at goal was unsuccessful but good. No further score resulted before half time.. On resuming. Opunake made strenuous efforts to score and pressed Waimate hard, until a Waimate player struck an Opimake forward in the eye a resounding blow, which was heard all over the field, but which was unfortunately not seen by the 'referee. Soon after an Opunake player was ordered off for slmfllng, and later a Waimate player _ had to ertire with a broken jaw, the result of a deliberate blow. Opunake afterwards appeared disorganised at losing Forsyth, who was playing one of the best games on tlii! ground, and Franklyn kicked a penalty goal for Waimate. Sullivan (Opunake) and l'ini (Waimate) were then ordered off. but came on again shortly after, Pini scoring a try, which Franklin converted. The game ended— Waimate 11, Opunake nil. Mr'Jas Young acted as referee, and ably controlled a game which must have been extremely difficult to direct, as there were instances of brutal play which he could not see. He called a meeting of line umpires (.Messrs W. Lanibic and A. Good) and. as a result, several players will be reported to the Union,-and it is to be hoped an example will be made, of some of them. The game was certainly not a credit to football.

Opunake juniors met Waimate juniors at Manaia. and suffered defeat by 42 [mints to niL

JUNIOR' GRADE. At Waitiiva yesterday, Stratford 11. delated Clifton 11. by II points to 0 and Stratford 111. defeated Clifton 111, by .") points to nil.

'1 he following is the team to represent Tukapa first juniors against Kltliam on Thursday at New I'lymouth:—liullot, Webster, Stobr, Morey. George. Glvnes, Walsii. Perry. Sturnicv, Hooker. M"A!lum. Morris and t 'oker.

Tukapa 111. v. Elllnim 11!. Team: Smith, Hitrtlett, Sinclair, Hall, AValsii, Tickner, Woods. Light, Eliot. Ihillot, Mackio. Oakes. (iivi'ii, McOiven. Kinehain. The Wellington senior matches on Saturday resulted ;is follows:—Petone boat Poneke 14 to 8: Melrose beat Si. -lames 10 to o; Oriental beat Wellington 15 to (5: Athletic beat Victoria College 2!) to 0.