FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 165, 3 July 1908, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

FIRST GRADE CLII'XO.V (10) v. STRATFORD (3). There was more thau ordinary inlerest centred in the Clifton v. Stratford uiatcb at N'aitara yesterday, not that the issue would have affected the result of the cup, but there existed ii sfrong, good-natured rivalry between the contestants, the supporters of the i team representing each club feeling cun- ! fideut that their own colors could gain victory. There was a large attendance, and the weather conditions were perfect. The proved an interesting one, play being vigorous throughout. The only time the line was crossed was when Stratford's score was registered. Clifton's score was made up from two penalty kicks and a potted goal. The latter • was a very fine kick by Reholefield, whose play right through the game was an outstanding feature. "Schoe" is an old "soccer" player, and his splendid foot-work was the admiration of all followers of the game. Kicks that would be pure speculation by a man who did not know footwork as this player does would be decidedly danger-1 ous, but 011 each occasion "Scho'e's" boot- I ing always piloted the leather to safety I or to the advantage of his own side\ Don Cameron—the Stratlord "streaker 1 1 —was not conspicuous with his usual dash in creating openings for his side, but his splendid cutting-in and saving frequently pulled the visitors out ot I awkward situations. I Stratford set the leather going, defending the north goal. From the start the pace was rapid. I). George got tne oval from the scrum at centre arm a "dean bit of passing between Scholefield, Eggleson, and Tait ensued. Sure collaring by the visitors settled the rush, and play went to the line in Stratford's 25. Scrum and line work lollowed, Stratford getting ease from a free kick, i which took the scene of action to neutral ground. Clifton returned, Schole- , field breaking through with the leather at his toe, but was stopped when dangerously near the visitors' line. A scKum ensued and Stratford were penalised, S. George placing a neat goal. Wilton 3 Stratford .. .. ".. 0 Just after the ball was again put in motion, D. George secured and sent out a wild pass to Kggleston, the latter be- - ing smothered before he could operate. Tne visitors secured, Bonuor touching down. The kick failed. I Clifton 3 Stratford 3

The visiting forwards assumed Hie aggressive, and-a good rush saw Clifton defonding all they knew how. Cameron got the ball and attempted to pot, but "was unsuccessful, and Clifton forced. Stratford continued to press hard. Builot, the visitors' half, secured and sent the hall to Cameron, .Eggleston smartly intercepted and eased to centre with a line iinuing kick. The visiting pack were eager, however, and swooped down again, Sckolefield saving with one of his "soecer' boosts. Give-and-take play loilowed. Clifton then took a hand at attack, and a passing rush by the back division transferred play to Stratford's ground, a free kick easing the tension The visitors worked play down the fie.',o but Sampson, who played a line game at full, found the line in a safe plac*;. On the line-out Clifton made good headway and Stratiord had great difficulty] in staving off a score. On two or three occasions the home team were penalised when within on ace of the coveted liuu. The penalties gave the visit-is breathing space and play settled at cenlTfo" The visiting rear division here took a turn and a dangerous rush was stemmed iu the home 25. Kirkwood. Cameron, Bullot, and Tocker wire coii-picuous in the rush. The tackling of tue home team was equal to the occasion, and play again eased to mid-field. Pulling themselves together, the Clifton forwards nude things warm. Pulford, huheridge, and Cain being conspicuous, Tail got the oval and found the Hue near the corner flag, where serum-work ensued. Stratford getting relief from a free kick. Clifton became very determined. and the visitors (Cameron being conspicuous) -had a deal of solid defending to do to slave off the attacks. From a serum in Stratford's 25 D. George whipped the oval out by a long pass to Scholeh'cld. The latter cleverly eluded attack, and, coolly taking his bearing, dropped a very pretty goal, amidst considerable excitement. Just after halttime sounded. Clifton 7 Stratford 3

The second spell opened with giveand- take play. Stratford wore dofl* and kept their opponents busy defending for a term, ClHtou securing a respitefrom a free kick, which found the lino mid-way. Clifton attacked and a passing rush between the brothers George, Eggleston, and 'fait was instituted. These players were well grassed i!;i succession. Play hovered iu Stratford's territory, where the home team were awarded a free kick. IS. George kicked' a splendid goal from an acute angle. Clifton .. .. ~ lo Stratford 3 On the ball being apain put in motion, Clifton immedately became aggressive. Several passing* rushes by the backs were promptly settled by the collaring of the Stratford men. Caineron broke through with a dribbling rush, getting well into the home 25 before being stopped by D. George, who saved by a line kick. Stratford strove hard to get over, but were penalised in close vicinity to the line. Sampson's kick centred. Give-and-take play was now the order. Then Cameron cut in anUi cleverly screw-kicked to the line in the home territory. Putting every effort into their work, the visitors fought hard for a score, but Scholeiield secured and placed play at inidlield by a judicious line-kiek. Cameron secured from the ruck aud put in a dodgy rsu. He „ U a grassed, however, and scrum work succeeded in Clifton ground, Sampson kicking back to the line at centre. Clifton *ere here penalised. Cameron kicked, ST. 1 '? , t ? e Win S aml followed fast,.. Seliolehcld was almost smothered before the ball came down, but got in a splen, d d bit at booting which transferrin play momentarily to the visitors' domain. Stratford, headed by Cameron, s?t up a good rush, which landed itov near the corner ilag. Clifton had a verv anxious time, but Eggleston got tfc' leather and eased to the line. g frit scrum-play at midlield the Clifton forviids screwed the pack and invaded, wute | .;-- oeor =' ;sk went, a triflß nulled T't "I* t HP resSnr « ma iked. ,-.. i JC orge had another shot «"eu^v b ;; tUiL ' diata:icc P"^^ great. ior tll( , mu . und ». Umon had rather the bettor of 'tie, Jll. G. Griffiths refereed.

STAR (14, v. IXCiLEWuOIJ (5). Ti'we teams met un a verv sli„„mground at I f g lwo od vested. There as a fair attendance of spectator., ,nd bey w.tuessed an interesting The S,| W6od ," itn ' i««-"'.-»iySl.e fjkevoft" T '\ at fi « l,l > lut tto„ g U tuc often got in among the opposing he'v* wer "TV"™ " me "'5 tluj ueie unable generally to nres, borne their advantage. The wiuS scores were made witbin a few mima i vglcwood won the toss and Star iickH off, inglewood playing with the , u „ in tucir ..yc, lur the first spell. Star kciit Inglewood in their nvn ij« f or s0 , time, and h.d the advantage L Z greater part of the spell. Play Wlia loose, Stars' backs opening up the .r am , in good #ylc. Towards the latter" end of the hrst spell Inglewood played up. and the ball travelled rapidly from end to cud of the field, the game now bdninteresting to watch. But there was no score in the first spell, though there were several narrow escapes, 'Thomas Urown, and Dixon (Star) heading some dangerous loose rushes. Inglewood was also unfortunate in losing what seemed to be a sure try, De Lnmiav being grassed In- Hill within a few cards of the line. The second spell was also of an open nature. Star was uiiluckv in losing the services of C. Brown for a time owing to his receiving a knock on the head. Kennedy (Inglcwoodj was { peiialhpi' for offside, and gave Stars I some "ground. Play was gradually worked into Ingiewood territory, where) a clever little bit of passing between Dixon, Thomas. Hill, and C. McLean'

I gave the latter a chance to pot, and lie notched first score. Star 4 lnglewood 0 Inglewood rushed down into the Blacks' 25, but sound line-kicking by Thomas relieved. Hill dashed through the Red vanguard, but lost the ball, and De Launay secured it and ran upheld, passing to Drown, but he failed to hold it. Thomas cut ill like a flash and passed to T. Smith, who sprinted and passed to Haskill, who scored a try alter a good dodgy run. Stroud failed to add the major points. Star 7 lnglewood 0 Stars were attacking, but oll'side piny gave Inglewood momentary relief. l)c Launay took flic ball from a loose rush and dodged through, scoring lnglcwood's first and only try, near the posts. Curtis "kicked a good goal. Star 7' Inglewood 5 After a lot of indecisive play, To Atua marked and the ball went up near Inglewood's goal, but was returned by Kennedy. Evison got in a serviceable linokick. The bull came out of a scrum to O'Driseoll, who had played a sound halfback game throughout, and he passed to Thomas, thence it went to Ilill, and to McLean, who had a hard run for his try. Hill's kick failed to find the uprights. ! Star . Inglewood .. •• ■■ After some interesting work Hnl potted a goal from halfway, * splendid effort. Star " . j Inglewood 5 The leather was again sent along to Hill, who took the pass very cleverly, but lie lost the ball almost on the line, this being attributable to the slippery around. Thomas marked handy to the goal, but the kick failed, and De Launay kicked the ball out near the corner just at call of time, and the game ended— Star Inglewood 3 Joe Thomas and Hill, among the Stars, stood out as the best backs on the field, but O'Driseoll, McLean, and Evison (at full) played well. Among the forwards, C. Brown, Dixon, Haskill, Lowe, Stroud, anil McKoy put in solid work. English I was responsible for a couple of dashes. For Inglewood De Launay was quite a I feature, and staved off a dozen points. He was right on form in all his work. Cleave, at full, saved cleverly, and played a good game, and Curtis was also prominent. In the forwards Miles was noticeable, especially for clean handling. Olsen and Boldt were generally in the. thick of it, the latter making some dashin" rushes at times. Brown, at fiveeighths, also did excellent work, his kicking being well judged. Tlopkiuson, at wing-forward, played solidly, though he was handicapped by being one "winger" against two. Mr. J. nay as referee gave full satisfaction. I SECOND GRADE.

TUKAPA (3) v. ELTHAM (3). The Eltham-Tnkapa first junior match eventuated at Eltham yesterday, and ended in a draw, 3 points each. Tukapa kicked a goal from a mark, and Eltham scored a try just on the call of tune.

THIRD GRADE.

ELTHAM (27) v. TCKAPA (3)

Owing to some misunderstanding Tukapa thirds mustered poorly yesterday, and lost to Eitliam by 27 to ">, the latter team thus winning the championship of the Northern division. Pu'lla A won the shampionship at (he southern end, and these two trams will meet for Hie premiership of their grade.

Tukapa leads the northern division teams in the lirst and second grades, and Ellhani in the third grade, at the end of the division cup fixtures.

SCHOOLS MATCH. OI'I'XAKE (!)) v. WEST END (0). One of the fastest junior games of the season was played 011 the racecourse ground yesterday between the above teams. There was a large attendance, aud excitement throughout the game ■was very keen. The play was full of dash throughout, and was interesting to witness alter some of the very du ! l games which have been played by the club teams this season. The Opimake team showed a marked improvement on their play against Central, the backs playing with good combination, while the forwards worked together splendidly. The Wesi End team proved quite a dark horse, and put vim into their work, although their combination was .not quite equal to that of their opponent-!. A splendidly-contested game ended in a win for Opunake by fl points In nil. TV Waku scored first blood. Securing the ball on the home 25, he sprinted in great style, and scored near the corner. Wallace failed to convert. Shortly after ])cs Forges placed a neat goal from .1 penalty kick. Early in the second spell Tc AVaka again secured on the home 23, and scored the second try after another preltv run. The kick was again a failure. All worked hard, and it is needless to single out anyone for special mention. School football has been a little dull of late, but yesterday's inspiring battle was quite the reverse.

The Opnnake boys return home this morning. .