FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 117, 8 May 1908, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

m 6ENIOK GRADE. |> STAR (3) t. STRATFORD (i). | Iha weather in New Plymouth was !t the rtT«»f of favorable for foothalL i jtfourday, very heavy rain falling about ■ me time for tlxe games commencing. •Numithntanding thu fact, however, x very fair crowd witnessed the iitarbtmtfoni Motor match on the race cuurie, which commenced shortly before t udock. The ground wae in very lair condition, but naturally 4tippy, and Hie ball wae difficult to handle. Star toot, the field with 12 men, but picked up iwo substitute* on the ground, playing tue lint apetl one player short. A runaway victory wa* anticipated tor btratford, but Owing primarily to Hie •matt followmg-up and tackling of the Black forwards the Stratford back division was able to do little in the way of attack, and the visitors were fortunate, in the «econd spell, at least, in making a dra». the game did not lend itoelf to much description, being principally a series of ground rushes, at times not devoid of interest. from the kick-oil Stratford worked down on to the Star line. Smith missed a good pa«* aud Stratford continued the attack, Mayne forcing. Stroud sent the ball into play again and Stratford •gain worked down on their opponents line. From a -*rum t It*- Reds obtained the ball, and what looked like a store was spoiled by Kirkwood inuliing. Star returned to the half-war flag aud a forward rush by Stratford was stopped by Thompson kicking into touch. Stratford again pressed hard and worked on to the Star line, the Slacks having ■gain to force. From the kick-out the Mratford lacks got on a good passing rush, but ilaskitl intercepted a pa-> and sent the leather well down the field. Star worked into the Reds' tcrritur.. and Stratford were relieved from a dan gcrous position by a good kick, \vliich Thompson returned iuto touch. Kicking among the forwards endued, and Kirkwood marked. Tiehbon attempted a shot at goal, but the ball went wide. On resuming, Stratford again attacked, and got dangerously near the Blacks' line. Pfaakuch obtained possession and ran out. On the line out, Stratford gained possession, and transferred play so in front of the Star goal, where from a scrum one of the Red followers crossed the line, but lost the ball, and Stars again forced. Stroud kicked well into the .Stratford territory, and the ball wa-» returned to Excell, who mulled an.l booted the ball into touch. From the line-out, the Stratford backs started a smart passing run which ended in Kirkwood crossing the line. Tiehbon's attempt at goal went wide. Stratford 3 Star 0 Shortly afterwards the Star forwardtook the leather on to the Stratford line, where they were awarded a free kick for off-side play. Stroud took the shot and landed a splendid goal. Halftime was ailed shortly afterwards with the scores: Star » Stratford 3 (JuilUam, a Hipi School hoy, came un for Star at tlie commencement of tin- second spell, and played a sterling »iiue. The rain had practically tcaseu. and the local pack infused much more dasli into their work. Dixon beaded J tine rush and took the leather mto the feds' ii, where Star continued to proshard. From a throw-in, a passing rush initiated by Ilankueh was spoiled by Smith punting when close ou the Stratlord line. The Reds worked well »'to tl* Blacks' territory, aud Haskell again spoiled a rush by the Stratford backs, ilie hall being carried by him into th» Red's 25. Give-and-take play mincipally among the forwards, the ban the length of the held in ■■■■ick time on numerous occasions, tatii 'de went clow to scoring ou a number u, occasions, but on Hie whole - _ " Blacks tad the better of the pla>. The same ended without further score, lbj nudes the conditions afforded no criterion of the merits of individual player-, 111 of whom worked hard. Mr Hopkins controlled the game.

TUKAPA (11) *• INGLEWOOD (3)Tukapa and Inglewood seniors met on the Uiglewood ground yesterday. A' l ' ground wis very slippery and along one Sf the touchlinea *M prictically uud.r water. Rain fell during almost tnwbule of the second spell. Both teams were ibort of full senior 4>mpleiui®t, the visitors being the more uniortunateIv situated in this respect on account of the absence of Hardgraves, HooU-i,

and UeUan froni the three-tjuarter line

Both sides played several substitutes in * the forward division. Before the mauii tbe general opinion was that the New Plymouth combination wuutd have a soft win, but although the Tukapa men could dobutlew have increased tticir margin, the Inglewood m«m played «iui great determination, and at times considerably bothered the defence. t.ie home team possesses some excellent matrial, but the more prominnt lack support, the want of combination being due to lack of practice. Myu ,,! -t captained tbe visitors, and Lte Uiunay the home team, which took the field three men short. Two more came on during the first spell and the vet> r..!i Walter Matthews donned the jerSvy ami played full-back in the second »[«■!!. It is but due to the home forward- to Ural, but the more prominent held their own with the Tukapa \.tnguard, apart from the high wind u.nch favored them in the first spell. Ah. r. spurdlc controlled th« game, which «• 01 a very friendly nature. Inglewood won the toss and elected to play with the wind at tlieir Iwl.-. Tukapa taking the kick-off. IV Uiua ay returned the ball to centre, ami mere ensued a good deal of line and -.-nui. work near the half-way flag. Jm i, L-uinay opened up the play with -"=:«• splendid kicking, and Tukapa wa. pin--ed on the defensive. Krewin, h«»wrwr. nimbly screwed through th»* foremo-t of hi* opponent, and. pacing to Mynott, had the complexion of atfair- altered, Mynott being graced n ar (If goal. CurtU and Boldt headed A ({<-d rush in Tukapa'* 2->, and iloneyfield. at full, failed to effectually stop the ru-h, „ Boldt booting out of play in the victors* quarters. See-saw play Mloe.H. the only noteworthy feature- Imihl' !><■ smart gathering-ill and kirk in?, and a couple 0 f splendid breaks by j Balfe and Seamark. To the-.- K-n----i»*dy. Olm-u, and J-nkv giun*ly. ami broke through the Tilue rank-, biihtling Shields, and making tiling. ;t bit interesting. The veteran darted back. and pulled the Rin - n:n Of the difficulty. Kennedy. im-uppori ed, made several charge with tin- lull at foot, but failed to fit,- visits defence. From a serum Frewin and the ball, though wet ami >lippery. was accurately transferred to Mvimit. thence to .Shields and Webster. Tii ■ latter failed to take the hall, but m.>V dashed in and snapped up tbe bother, and. dodging the lacks, eroded »h<- line The attempt at goal wa« futile. Tukapa Inglewood n Resuming, Tukapa took the upp-i hand. Mynott early securing a chance to "core, a chance that was lost by hN pagtin/ to Shield*. who held tlong and wa* grassed, Inglewood forcing. A forward rash ajain placed the home team In difficulties, and a h.trd ki<-i M ] ffimark enabled thein to force. .-'.-r-im- j Ww became frequent. a of i'-h, ' eventuating in a pool of w;i;.r ' ■ix inches deep near Inglewood*- -2'* il ii-. gtTe Tukapa the adwidiiy. ? h»- } hall usually going out to Krewin. "11 | one occasion hp whipped the b.iH <"• "t , a to Mynott, who beat hi-» man :tnd \ on to Shields. Stohr had a ratht-r <l ; Tt | enlt to «eize. but h*» gathered the , l«all in and scored. Krewin nddiiiL' ,!l -' major points. f Tnkapa S Tnglewtjod ft j Half-time wa* noiinded without j tion in the score.

Inglewood started the second spell with a lull team, ami quickly gut to buaiik';3. it waa evident, however, that the lJluc'3 were not o\er-exerung themselves. A ii»tie i-ari'k'Msncis gave the uppusiug for;vanla an opportunity which they were not -low to seize, ami Hie ball was tukeii into Tukapa'3 danger zone. iuiriiigeiueuU were 1 4 ctjat-nL. Theu the Ued forward-, pn—and from a determined ru?li (iiLuiiueii'r scored, the kiek at goal being tniMlr-s. Tukapa $ lnglewood :t

Tukapa responded with some -ni;u't pssing among the backs, tin- lull pasSirg through the hands uf Frewin, ,\ly-n-'tt, and Stolar, ami landing over 1:e in the care uf the latter. Honeyd kicked a poster. | Tukapa j, inglewood ■;

The remainder of the speli v ( uninteresting nature. An ca»v mark )•_> ilyuott upon call of tim t . J , , lD ■vsult in the score, and the game eud-

Xukapa jj Inglewood 3 For the winners the hest hack, were hr> Frewin, and Mvnntt, Frewin be>ng particularly useful in going down to rushes, whilst Stohr phued one oi best games. I„ t | lo i;,j, Vilrd , "ark and & If,, were easily singled out. Ingietraod's best back was IJ, Uuimv. who sC smart catching ,i m l kickiti" we.'e of the greatest u,, to j.i, side. Xk-h----aurf ri three quarter), aud Cleave (lull) also palvcd lir,t-rate SToUT

El,mill ,io, v. CUFTOX (!>,. Ai,hough rain fell heavily duriii- the above match, played at Waitara yesterday afternoon, a right willing contest k'athernjiVtl S ° J>k ' lU ' U tuH ««>! n*, r ""de the going heavy; neverthe pace was a cracker. The t tarns were both strong and lit, altho U "n the score * not a true criterion of their KspecUve merits. The home team were the aggressive during the "renter £ »»«l bad theliiuon ii Uiadc , tlit ' i' la > as open in the lirst spell a, they aid u, the hist hall, the Liiance n - are 11,.u tney would have put up a good score, tin,am „ rt , u dlvi^oJl Has at times le.spousihle lor smart work, but the tries seured bv them were both gained mote by chance tiian as the result of concerted attack. The home Bv . rt ' w 'tbout the bervices ot nirt SOUJ ' 1 ' liUJt '- 1,1 " l<; ™ r| V part ot the second spell one of the home iorwards allowed an obscene remark to ITm I*"' 1 *"' was ordered od the f f 1 " 3 Uuton without the services of one of their be,l lront-rankers. Uvendge ~t the oval going tor Clifton, and play centred with i„,e work, i lay was vigorous aud mostly oi a torward nature. Lltttou's trout division soon broke through their opponents anil a line rush up tv licld was spoil,.j in kicking too hard, and Dive Jiad to force to save. IJive-aud-take phiv lollowed. 1-rom a mark l'otier luid a shot at mai from hallway. I„it the lull l(lu heavy. A passing ni-n by the Kliham tacks took t1,.. ball to the corner line the home team tin,ling ,-eliet from a free Mck. the advantage wa, lollowed un and Lash, the full-back, instituted a rush that looked dangerous, and the visitors were forced again. From a lineout the ball went back to Eggleston at the home three-quarter line, lie "ot in his kick, but l'otier intercepted smart I v and, cleverly snapping up the oval, raced' for the line with little or no opposition. A good race ensued, hut l'otier maua»ej to touch down ju»t as lie was gra-sed Potier took the kiek, placing a goal - tltham 3, Clifton o. I'lav remained at centre lor a term. Then the Clifton vanguard got to it, and plav was earned to Kltham's a e . From' a line-out l.othery threw m to his nearest man the latter transferring kick to liothery, ttho was run out on the corner. From tin.- hit of play the ball went back to Sampson. He had a very fair chance or a pot at goal or to pass, but lo,t the chance through hesitating. Fast phiv ensued, Clifton being eager to ('ipialtee the score. Over-anxiety'ruined then effort, and kltham forced. Th" attack was renewed, S. George gettii," in a .serviceable kick that went out near the corner tlag. A despite tight en sued, the dele,'ice of the visitors, tlioiH, solid (especially in the back division"), being inadequate, and McAlpino touched down. The angle was awkward, and ,S. i.eorge- kick went wide. Half-time -oiinded With the 5. C lit ton 3.

111.- -e.ond !l;tll wa- very willing. < !:lluii forwards ,1|.in,.,! t|„. L , ail „, M|l capita] -pie. !-. ' li;t m" - -uvmi.m- el '-'"U "iil v k.-.-p ||„ leather in lln-ir ~u 11 i", territory. ;iii,i a I"t. 01 - rum work ten' V ar,|s lr.,m their goat line. The home 't,. ; i m were awarded a free kick. bill Kg..),n|l, n " k, ck did not rise. ami play went to neutral "round. Kltham's vanguard here showed out iu a couuie of their work lieing nuililied l>v -OM'-nmt work 011 tlx- part of L a -ii and Tail, the former l>ein" conspicuous right through the match. "l-'rom a free kick Saii]]i~uii found the line at the corner, hut on the line-out Eltham cleared to centre. where the leather was thrown acro-fc' and luck in hrisk sMe. D. fieorge changing the vcuue by a line kick. Elthain cleared their lines, and with a good upheld rush h.itl the home team defending vigorously. The visitors carried the play More them, and a strong kick put the hall over the line. A race ensued |„ touch down, and Clurti-ris manage,l to get in Jir»t. I'utier placed the goal.—Kltliam II). Clifton :i. Clifton immediately assumed the aggressive, and pressed their opponent hard, I'otier leapt in the air and took a pretty mark, the kick clearing to midlicld. The home vanguard swooped down again, and a lot of scrum work endued in Kit ham's 23's, hut a good kick to the line eased the tension. An Eltham rush was well stopped 1., v i'ait getting down to it, and Sampson's lung kicking resulted iu his forward, again invading. L>. (ieorge secured from the nick and pa-sed out, the lull going through the hands ot Sampson, Egglestoru and 011 to Seholefield, who got on a lot of pace and ju-t managed to get over as he was gra-scd. The kick was futile.—Elthain l'i. Clifton li. From this out Clifton strove hard to get over, hut could li'it hreak through. When almost iu front 01 the posts they were awarded a free kick through I'otier pl.ning oll'-ide. S. i«-orge was entrusted with the kick, and placed a very neat goal, and the s,. I)lv , rea.l--KHls.im In. Clifton 'J. The con' • hiding- part of the game consisted of a vrie- or ~-ninv in front of Klth.im's goal. A -n.re -ee:ned inevitable. and ii:n,. and again a -crtim live yard- out "a- the ruling. The defenders evelltnally r.ise with a ki. k to the lin *. Thi- w.is only momentary, however. I'ait got w--e-.ioii and came right tin-,.ugh with the ball at his toe. hut I'otier rorccd. tin the Jcaiher In-iug put iii motion the |>!av continued in dangerous tenitorv. and the hopes of the home team ro-e high when Sid Ccorge market within kicking distance. The hall went wide, however, and a very willing and exciting match terminated without further s t ,,re.

Mr. tH-org*- I'liilitin r«'ien<eil. A iv*L'Ul'.aMr i.-aisiif id tbe pa me '\a> tin unoim? (»f \i»-i<hi- lurrokjn;: ix -iirur t

»>n I fat- lvl.-ler l'> ,1 -'•'•tinll Ml tint M'ji'r a!l« r the Clifton [davrr wappi[»erly <»r<ienil utl lor an )in[>n,in''diratt -I indi-'-n'tion. A repetition mi -m li Tt' a ! llii'jilt [r t nl tu i'<'lnrrto U[li< LU'- "11 I lit* .lilouild. ;il|i! ill iui'- M\vn intere-t- tlie club and >upporters should -ee to it th,»t -ueh • « \lu bitiou-" are not allowrd to occur a^ain.

JUNIOR CRADK. [ ELTIIAM r>o) v. CLUIOX 101. Ihe abov game wa> played a! i.l 'tham ye-terday afternoon, and r»-- ill 1 »'«1 in a hollow victory for Kltliam. A few miiLiile- after "lie kiek-oIV dohn>ton <-r«»"M'd the Clifton line and -cored lii>i I.! I'm- Klthaiu. The ki f 'l< ai goal u,i- a failure. Williants next aeored tor Kithain, Cl«-!it worth ing. Il»-iler followed with two tl''e->. one ot winch (jlcntwortU added the major pointy to. In the -econd sjH'll .To!»n-t'»n t«ie»--/<.rrd. <«lentworth convertrui: one. ||;ol Kltliam played a really good game, iln--<-on* wmld have been considerably more. Clifton never once eroded Kirii.im'- line. Mr. Kivell refcrCcfl. Elthani 2-3; Clifton 0.

STAR 11. (4) v. STRATFORD 11. (0). This game wa s played on the Stratford ground. It resolved itself into a contest between the two sets of willing forwards, the home team having the advantage uf weight. No score was made until within about live minutes of the linal whistle, when I,owe [lotted a »iml and gained the victory for the I bt.Hs by 1 points to nil. TIlIRl) GRADE. ELTIIAJI (0) v. CLII'TOX (tl). This match was played at Waitara, the visitors winning by (j points to nil. A try each was Scored by McSweelley and N. Reardon. Clifton wily had men for a good part of the game. Two Eltliam players were ordered ( >IV the field, Thomas for questioning 1 lie ruling of the referee, and Limnier for rougu play. Mr. Proctor refereed. STAR fti) v. STRATFORD (3). This match wars played <>u Western I'ilk yesterday, ami resulted in a win for Star by six points to three, skipper aud Atua obtained trie- fur 111" •Stars, and Marchant scored lor Mintford. Mr. Way refereed. HIGH SCHOOL v. KiA OKA. The High School seniors met and defeated Kia Ora, on the racecourse ground .yesterday, by 14 points to :t. ; West scored for Kia Ora, niter a brilJliant run from half-wav. Sinclair scared four trios for High School, and (Irey ' kicked a goal. The following will represent the Okato , seniors against Opumike at Okato on Saturday next:—E. Keeiloni. L, Andrews, O. Adlam. Sullivan. A. f.'uv. li. j Anderson, -I. Doyle, P. Care v. K. Larking, T. Carey, ]!. Andrews,' L>. Julian. CI. Julian. 1!. .Inlian, 0. Voysey, Eiiier- " gene v. X. Andrew's. Okato juniors play Opunake at Opumike. Okato team:—ll. Corbett, .). r Power, Harrison, V. Allium, Eustace. U'arburton, Richards, F. Wooldridge. Rua. \V. Clarke. 1.. Carey. Kcogh. I'car-

—ill. Haw, I!. C'orkill. Kmcrgencics: F. f'Mier, Webbv. Jinikc leavcukato at 12 o'clock sluirji. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. The eight-a-sidc tournament which u';i - to have boon played yc-trr(Uy wa ■- postponed owing to (lie bad state of (lie weather. It is probable that the match will be played next Thursday. In spite of the rough weather, a few enthusiasts turned up and had a praetice yesterday. The eup fixtures will be to hand shortly, the first match probably commencing about May 21st.

SATURDAY'S MATCHES. SENIORS. Okaiawa—lla wera, at Okaiawa, at «'); Mr. Urwin. Patea—lvapongn. at Kaponga, at 12; Mr. J. O'Dea. JUNIORS. Okaiawa—Uawera, at Uawera; .Mr. Lees. Patea—Kaponga, at Eltham; Mr. X. A'Court. THIRDS. Okaiawa—Hawcra, at Okaiawa; Mr. Ilajland. FaU'ii A.—Kaponga. at Eltham j Rev. Scott. Patea 13.—Waimale, at Patea; Mr. CftHwa.