FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 80, 30 April 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

SEVEN-ASIDE TOURNAMENT. There was a very small attendance yesterday afternoon at' the IScrrcalicro Sports Ground to witness the »cven-a-side football tournament in aid of the sports ground funds. The ground was ia perfect condition for football. Nine teams had entered, but Waverley and Ellhiim did not put in an ap|>earaiico, reducing the contestants to seven teams of seven men, who played iwo-spell matches of seven minutes a spell. Tuey were Star,-three, teams: Tnk.ipa. two teams; Stratford and Manga lokl. each a team. The southern visitor- looked for a close finish between Manga mki and Stratford in the final, but a surprise •was effected, neither of these teams teams qualifying for the final game, which was played between Tukapa A and Star A, the former winning. The sports ground committee will not benefit very much, if at all, from the fixture, for the prize-money was fairly substantial. Some of the players in the town teams were heard to remark, however," that the prizes would probably be refunded to the committee, the town clubs thus recognising the efforts of those 'old " sports" in removing the long-standing reproach to New Plymouth that there was no really good football field here. As far as we can gather, the matter has not been formally discussed by the players. The referees during the afternoon were Messrs. Geo. Hopkins and James Way. Mr. George Griffiths acted as timekeeper, Mr. James Clarke as secretary, and Mr. H. Stocker as teams steward. Other members of the committee took the gates and assisted generally in the management. On the whole the public was treated to an afternoon's interesting football. There were some flashes of really good play, with much of that mediocre description which must be expected in the first matches of the season. Most of the players seemed to be in fairly good "nick," Stratford being perhaps the worst-conditioned of them. The pace set throughout should be of incalculable benefit to the men in preparing them for the cup fixtures, which commence next Thursday afternoon. In the first round Tukapa B beat Star C; Star A beat Mangatoki; and Stratford beat Star B; Tukapa A had a bye, playing a "breather" wit(li the defeated Mangatoki team. In the second round, Star A beat Tukapa I!, and Tukapa A. bent Stratford. The final was won by Tukapa A against Star A. TUKAPA B v..STAR C. Tukapa B met Star C.' Tukapa kicked off, and took play to Star's line, wflere T. Jones soon notched a try under the posts, and kicked a goal (s—o). B. Clarke next ran in and planted the ball behind the goal, the kick ai goal failing. The score stood Tukapa 8, Star I). Changing ends, Clarke was soon given another opportunity, but lost through looking behind. Mason gave him toe ball again, and he scored another try. Ward converting. Score, 11—0. Tukapas were the" superior team hi every way, showing' better combination and condition. MANGATOKI v. STAR A. The next game created more interest and gave better football. Stars made the running, and after several rebuffs secured a score, as the result ot Kyans strong following up. So goal. The second spell was made open from the start, and this favored the Stars, Brown adding a well-earned three points, no goal following. . o—o. flrom a scrum the ball beat Star's half, but Pike gathered iu and dodged through at the corner. So goal. The game ended in favor of the Stars by 9 points to nil. STRATFORD v. STAR B. This looked a good thing for Stratford, especially when Cameron got the return from the kick-off and waltzed through the Star lines across the line, kicking his own goal. The Stars rose to the occasion, and Mayne got over from a lineout, but the score was disallowed. There was no further score at half-time. Stratford pressed, and Star forced several times. Cameron completely outgeneralled his opponents, drawing them to one side of the field and then cutting across to the other with the ball, scoring and converting. 10—0. The match was more interesting than had been expected, the Star juniors putting up a good tight and showing fine condition. Tukapa A had drawn a bye, and played a match against Mangatoki. SEMI-FINALS. STAR A v. TUKAPA B. These teams opened the second round. Star drew first Wood, Ryan scoring a try as the result of his own hard work. Whitaker converted. Tukapa responded gamely, and carried play up to the other end. From this time on to the finish! the game was fast, but no further score resulted. STRATFORD v. TUKAPA A. There was an uninteresting opening. From a line-out Mynott picked the ball and passed to Stohr. He raced from ;half-way and scored, Cameron just failing to reach him. Stohr added his own two points, 50. Opening the second half Tukapa kicked down to the corner, and the ball went out. A couple of liueouts occurred, and then Steele burst through and scored at the corner Hag. Stohr failed to convert. »—o. In another few minutes one of the Tukapas sent a long kick towards the goal line. Stohr set out hi pursuit. Unless Caiuer-1 on could catch him he must seurct ( Stohr picked up the ball a yard or two ■ from the line, and Cameron threw him I out. Tukapa, however, was not to be denied. A movement initiated by Mynott resulted in a score by .full, Stohr | failing with the kick. The whistle sounded shortly afterwards, ending the best game so far. Tukapa 11, Stratford 0. . THE FINAL. TUKAPA A v. STAR A. Tukapa assumed aggressive tactics from the .start, and threw the ball about freely. In Star's 25 Mynott sent a short pa'ss.to MeAlluin, who passed at the psychological moment to Stohr, and it score resulted. Stohr added the major points. s— l)'. The blacks made tilings lively, and penned Tukapa in the corner for a time. Stohr relieved with a kick to centre, froin which Pike aud Hill tried to score, but were grassed. Tukapa forced, with a fraction of a second to spare." In the'second spell (low, playing full for Star, gave the ball a boost. Mynott grabbed it before it and travelled a yard, and scored on his own, the result if the following up. "M.oiir goaled. Just before time was called . Stars were penalised for a man playing the bail on the ground, and Stohr !;i kod .a goal. Tukapa thus won lh ■..match by 13 to nil, and won the tournament. On the racecourse ground yesterday the Kia Oras and High School played a drawn game, each side scoring six points. For Kia Ora West and Fincham scored tries, and for the school Clarke scored a try and Malouo kicked a goal from a mark.