FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 21 June 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SENIOR GRADE. TUKAPA (21) v. STAR (2). [ Despite the cold, inhospitable weather, there was quite it, large attendance at the Recreation Grounds yesterday to watch the game between the town clubs' senior fifteens. The high southerly wind prevailing militated against a firstclass exposition of football, the play for nine-tenths of the time being confined to the bottom 25' < and being characterised j by close, forward work, relieved occasionally by a vanguard rush or passing bout, with more or less effectiveness. Thc Stars had the benelit of the wind in the first half, but failed to make the best of their opportunities, and only registered, a try. The result was a foro-

I gone conclusion before the second hull opened, 'ilic tricky Tukapa backs "made no race of it," rattling up lhe"rcsi>uclabli score of 21 points. Myncitt won the toss, but elected to do battle against the wind. Stars kicked oil', the leather being kicked out, and by line play and smart work on Hie part of the Tukapa forwards the game was taken to the middle of the, field, where l*ikc got possession and punted high, [looker taking it and finding the line near the 25 Hug. Allan marked, and Hie kicker shot flu> ball over the line, where it was forced. The ball was no sooner in motion again before it went over (he, line, and forced down again, the Star men not using enough judgment in their kicking. Hard ami willing play ensued. Tukapa got the ball in the serums in the majority of eases, and this was a great advantage. Had the opposite been the ease, the Stars might have done a good deal of mischief. ..Once Star did obtain t'he ball from the ruck, but it was tossed about amongst the backs without care or skill, and concnuently they got no "forrader." The Tukapa defence was very .sound, and took a lot of breaking through. The blue forwards rushed up the field with the ball at their feet, but Pike stopped the rush, and got a useful kick in. Hardgravcs took the ball cleanly, and tried to find the line, but the wind carried the ball back, and shortly after Pike marked, Bellringer making an unsuccessful attempt at goal. Tukapa followed the kick out, and reached neutral territory, but the blacks, aided by the wind, set sail again for the blue's line. Uoneyfield saved by kicking out. A penalty to Stars, gave Pycroft a kick at goal, which, however, proved fruitless, for the next few minutes Tukapa were hard pressed on their line, but by dint af hard bnlloeking on part of the for- , wards, the scene of operations was I •hanged to a less dangerous position. > I'he Star forwards soon after came swooping down the field. Their progress ' >vas temporarily checked, but in a min- ' lie the ball was again on the move, and ! Ivivell, who was playing a hard game, ' mapped up the oval in capital style, and' ' irushing aside two or three of his ml- ' rersaries, dashed over the line, and ' lotched the first score of the game. Bell- ' ingcr did not add the major points, liy ! smart foot work on the part of'Aitken ' md Mynott, assisted by George and ' )ther forwards, the blues invaded their ' ipponents' quarters, for the first time in ' -he game, but the advantage was not i iustained for long, the ball coming back l md Margraves kicking out in his own !5. Later, play was transferred to halfvay, where Aitken, the smart little Tn<apa half, secured the ball from the scram, and shot it out to Mynott, who lasscd to Hardgraves, and the latter to Hooker, who was grounded a few yards Tom the Star;,' line. A free kick was

just afterwards given to Tukapa, Hardgraves making an unsuccessful attempt at goal. At tins stage Bellringcr (Stars) was ordered off field for using alleged insulting language to the referee after the latter had warned him against lifting his feet in the serum. Thomas brought the ball down the field again, and for a time Stars unsuccessfully assaulted Tukapa's position. A smart passing rush amongst the Tukapa backs, looked like a good tiling for Hooker, but the latter was grounded. Stars marked, and Kivell essayed an unfruitful shot at goal. Stars attacked, and for a time play hovered around Tukapa's line. For aii infringement a .free kick was given against Tukapa. Thomas did not improve things with his kick at goal. For the remainder of tlie spell Stars continued their attack without result.

_ Tukapa made the pace merry from the kick-off. Stars were forced twice in ■puck succession. Mynott tried a pot at goal without effect. Tukapa continued their attack, but -hard-kicking robbed them of chances of crossing the line Hardgraves, later on, failed with a place kick at goal, ami n few minutes later a similar effort shared the same fate. From the ruck Mynott gained possession, and passed to Hardgraves, who fought ns way through to the line, but lost the ball, Stole, however, touching down Hardgraves: kicked a goal. Tukapa g , »««■ •• ::-3 A brief period afterwards McLean neatly picked up, and dashed over, Hardgraves converting. 10—3. Not long afterwards, Aitken, getting the leather From the scrum, passed out to Mynott, who whipped out to Hardgraves, tile latter transferring to Hooker, who got over ami ran behind the posts, Hardgraves bringing the score up to 15. Hooker, a little later, repeated the performance, getting over, and dragging with him two of his opponents. Hardgraves did not good witli the kick, which was from a difficult angle. A free kick to Tukapa gave Hardgraves another opportunity of demonstrating his goal-kicking ability, the game thus ending— Tukapa 21 Stars '.'.*' 3 Mr. Proctor made a very satisfactory referee.

STRATFORD (13) v. ELTHAM (0). 'The second meeting of this season of these senior teams eventuated yesterday at Eltham. and provided one of*the most wretched displays of football seen in the northern division this year. The Stratford team won, not by any scientific game, but by a few Hashes of mediocre play for which the Elthamites were unprepared. The home team was decidedly below senior form, and plaved only fourteen men, Brown (half-back) being disabled in the opening of the game. Had Dive and Morse been in the Eltham ranks Stratford ninst have suffered defeat. The best forwards on the ground were Kivell for Stratford and MeXab for Eltham, whilst Marchant, foils, and McCruckeii were next best' None Of the hacks played decent football, miles they were Lewis, Cameron, and SloUv, (he lalter's kicking being good. Stolir scored a try and goaled; I hen kicked a penalty goal; and Toeker I scored. Slohr converting. Mr. F. Spurdle I was referee.

CT.TFTOX (.)) IXfiLEWOOD (0). These learns met at Inglcwood yesterday afternoon. 'J'lie day was piercingly cold, but a good number of spectators were present. A strong wind blew from the south directly up the field. This militated against anything in the wav of (rood football, as' the bal) was earned hither ami :Ml her in the Hnes-out It wa« ' .1. lor well nigh S0 ) l" v c'lecde. ••;•.. ~: , imi,,] „,,, ir , II he wind :; :.-o ~ . .. '„v|, ilI1( , sU .

tliiit it was worse ilian unless to tlu li'iim lilK.viiif; with it.

Clifton defended (ho southern end ami "noil had the reds penned. As the result 01 tin- wind the 1,.,]) (ravelled over the me several times, Tnglewood forcing !'i«;l I lie visitors -played with as a,,,,! judginenl in (he lirst spell as thev did ill (he 5,.,.„n,|. ,||,. n . „,.„,.,, „„ |sl hAy ' iv mn »P rapullv |.'r„„i a lino „ut Ihe Clifton ''•"' ks «" l , U "' ' "<''■• iin<l hy rniick, elever work got right on to the goal Ij n ,. where liotliory was grassed. A serum ensued, iron, (he ruck of wliieli McAlpine got possession and dodged nomas near the posts. Sampson plaeed the

Clifton 5 I nglowood (I fnglowood's vanguard made (lie plav willing for a term, and held the game at mid. Clifton broke through, and a good rush was stayed by Thompson going down to it. A free kick to the home (earn relieved the tension for a short term., hut Hie scene of play soon returned and the defensive tactics of the reds called iulo indent requisition half-a-dozen yards from their linos. Croonway eased with a useful kick up (ho line which was followed up by- the rod forwards, and Hie play taken well up. The rush was frustrated, and a couple of Cliftonians broke through with the oval, l)« Launay intercepting anil finding the lino. Tu the series of scrums whieh.followed the rapid tactics of the red forwards in breaking up nnrt dashing through, and smothering the visitors half, were the only incidents of note.! JTalf-time wont with the hall at centre. The second spell was disappointing from a spectator's, point of view. The wnd, whfclrimd gained. !» force, U.&

the effect of disorganising both teams, It was expected that lnglcwood would more than equalise the score. For the first few minutes they wore down, and kept their opponents cornered, but no score resulted. Whenever the visitors secured they kicked low, and found the line, thus saving the situation time and again. Several times the Clifton forwards were very vigorous in attack, but the work of Greenway, De Launay, and Cleave ivas sure in defending. The remainder of the game was of a last and roving nature, without any relieving incident excepting the aggressive tactics of the visitors, and the game ended— Clifton 5 lnglcwood 0 ' Mr. Martin refcrecd. JUNIOR GRADE. The Star-lukapa first junior match re-

sulted in a win for the latter by five points (a try by Stohr, converted by Morcy) to nil. Stratfonl 11. beat Milium 11. by fl " (tries scored by Bonner and 11. Cameron) to 3(a try scored by Darkness). The game was uninteresting. N,Z. RUGBY UNION. MANAGEMENT "COMMITTEE MEETING. Per Press Association. l< Wellington, June 20. V

The Management Committee of the New Zealand Kugby Union decided tonight that the New Zealand team, on arrival in Australia, to put up at the Oxford Hotel, Sydney. Several cases in which players have been suspended were reported from Oaiaaru, Napier and Wellington, all being upheld by the committee. A statement of the financial results of the North v. South Island match showed total receipts to have been £34S, of which the New Zealand Union receives two-thirds; after deducting expenses £174 remains, but the players' tra< veiling expenses have to be deducted from this. Members* of the team for Australia must reach Wellington by July 4. ..There, was evidence of some ill-feeling between a Clifton player and an Inglewood player at the match played at Inglewood yesterday, in the course of which the. feeling vented itself in some i lunging on one side and at least one straight hit oa the other. The referee immediately culled a halt, and after a parley the two offenders shook hands, and were allowed to remain on the ground and finish the game. While allowing that, under the circumstances, the referee was perhaps justified in taking a « lenient view of the incident in not or- ' dering the men off, offenders must be taught not to forget thmeselves so far '< as to make a public exhibition of their nastiness. We believe in a man having a bit of fight in him when occasion d<° mands, but that sort of thing should not be allowed to sliow itself on the football field. Differences of the kind should be settled either in a loose-box or else be- - hind a secluded hedge. This incident was not of sufficient gravity to call for ' action by the Rugby Union,'but is mere ' ly mentioned as a warning to players ; that a repetition of conduct of the kind should be sternly discountenanced. '