FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 86, 7 May 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL

" at YESTERDAY'S MATCHES. RESULTS AX A ■'GLANCE. SENIORS. j,, Eltoam .. 14 Tukapa .. 0 t) Star .. 23 Inglewood .. 0 ~ Clifton .. 0 Stratford .. u j FIRST JUNIORS, w ataj 11 ..17 Inglewood II « ft Eltham II .. 26 Tukapa II .. 0 n Stratford. II 0 Clifton II .. 0 Ii SECOND JUNIORS. »1 Eltham 111. U Tukapa 111 0 °! Inirlewood 111 15 Star 111 .. 0 a ss*«ord 111 5 Clifton HI 3 * FIRST GRADE f ELTHAM r. TUKAPA. The rugby football season opened yesterday in warm but unfavourable * weather. The heavy rain of Wednes- * day night, left •'the local grounds very slippery. Sharp showers ulso fell during the progress of the senior game, mak- ' ing accurate football impossible. The - teams took the field as follows: ' Tukapa:—Full: Clarke; three-quar-ters: J. Stohr, Barker, A. Stohr; live- ! i eigths: A. Mynott: half-back: D. ' Hason; forwards: Ward, Jull, F. Jones, ' Steele, Smith,. Perry, MeAlluzu and T. : Jones. . EUham:—vfull: L. Jloir; three quarters: Fitzgerald, Dive, Potier; liveeights: Daisly; half-back: Lewis; forwards: Smith, Osborne, J, W. Smith, Hill, Levick, Partridge; wings: Burke and Gibson. The'superior weight of the visitors' vanguard was at once evident. Tukapa won., the toss,., and Eltham kicked off against a light shower. A • minute lator J. Stohr got close to Eltharn's line with a good run and kick, and from a mark immediately after had an ineffectual shot at goal, Eltham forcing in the nick of time. Scrambling play ensued in Eltham territory, B. Stohr making a poor attempt Urpot." Good play by Potier removed the scene of operations to midfield, Burgess and Dive further improving into TukapaY 25. The Eltham vanguard, backing up admirably, swarmed on to the local line, Clarke having to run back over his line to save. From the ensuing serum, Slynott secured and being well supported by his forwards temporarily relieved the pressure. Elthanv's responding rush compelled Clarke to force down. Fast hut scrambling play followed slightly to the advantage of the visitors; whose forwards were keeping Mynott's rearguard busy. J. W. Smit.i essayed- to improve a mark by Potier, but) failed. Dive endeavoured to break through with his backs, but though the passing was accurate and well-timed, little* ground was gained. A moment later Barker snapped up smartly and breaking through sent a long kick out close to Eltharn's goal line. Lewis emartly kicked, lout from toehind _ the scram, and" removed the danger. From the following scrum, Mason sent the ball out smartly to Mynott, who set J. Stohr and-Barker in motion. The latter .smartly beat his man but &nt (aq erratic pass to Bert Stohr, losing a splendid opportunity to score a well- ■'" earned try. Pulling themselves together, the Magpie vanguard swept down the field With the ball at toe, Dive dashing and endeavouring to snap up the leather when close to the line, but missing'. Hard play ensued within a yard of Tukapa's line. Osliorne eventually forging )iis way across, Smith made a ' good attempt to convert. Eltham 3, Tukapa 0. A weak return by Moir let Tukapa within striking distance, but Smith, Burgess, Osborne and Partridge heading a strong rush brought the ball » . right back. An infringement by Burgess enabled J. Stohr to clear well past centre. Potier snapped up a kick from B. Stohr and with Dive made a good dash, which was promptly replied to by Mynott and Mason to neutral territory. ; Ward, Steele and McAllum were prom-i inent in hard play which penned the visitors on their goal line. Playing with dash, and aided by judicious little line kicks by their backs, the local forwards held the upper hand for some minutes, but the defence was very solid. .1. Stohr had an abortive shot at goal. From the kick-outl Eltham cleared, but Mynott and Co. returned. A momeat later Mynott initiated a pretty movement, in wliich Mason, Barker, J. Stohr and' B. Stohr participated, the latter knocking on a difficult pass at the critical moment. Eltham rallied and their forwards swept down the field in a body, being pulled up with a force on the local line as half-time sounded. Playing now with the rain and breeze V at their backs, the Magpie forwards, using their weight and pace to advantage, set up a determined attack. From I a Jong kick by Potier, followed up by the forwards, the ball was lost on tin* line. From the following scrum, Lewis passed smartly to Potier on the blind side r.nd he dived over at the corner, Smfeli landed a splendid goal. Mynott I was mainly instrumental in setting up] an attackon Eltham, but weight again > told, and surely Tukapa were driven back and compelled to force. Some hard play followed' at centre, and Bert Stohr missing a difficult, low catch, Eltham got away, kicking •the ball across the field and enabling Dive to beat Clark in the race ' for it and scored. Smith missed the goal. Elthnin 11, Tuka|>a 0. Even play followed for some minutes, the local backs doing their best under difficulties to hold the visitors, who showed the better condition, in check. Their superior strength on the lines-out, however, enabled them time after time to neutralise every advantage gained by Mynott and Co. A long kick saw a serum formed on the Tukapa line, and from a quick heel-out, Lewis secured and dived through the serum, notching Eltharn's fourth Irv. Potier failed with kick. Eltham 14, Tukapa ». Tukapa set up an attack and playing with more cohesion, the forwards showed to more advantage than at any previous stage of the game. 3. Stohr just missed a magnificent kick at goal from a penalty. Keeping up the pace, Eltham were compelled to force. Two

minutes later Tukapa did likewise. I -J Scrambling play ensued, enlivened by a I strong run by Jack Stohr, covering nearly half the length of the field. MelAllum and Steele tlien Headed a good dribbling rush, the ball going out at Eltham's corner. Dive broke away, hut '! . Clarke, was equal to the occasion; and Mynott and- Mason brought play hackto" centre. Dive secured from a throw- ; in, and forged through at top speed to '" the full back, when lie sent a foolishly bad pass to Potier, enabling Clark to , ' avert a certain score. Shortly after Tukapa forced, but Mynott, Darker and Stohr came away from the kick out. /Mason and Mynott got their backs going, 'but a knock-on spoilt the effort. Mclillum, Ward, and McGiven broke away on a good dribbling rush, but an overhard kick enabled Eltham to force. Time was sounded shortly after with play in Eltham territory. Mr. Hopkins' decisions were never questioned. Tlie game was, considering the state of the ground, a fast one for the opening of the season, but the winners wire easily the better conditioned team. Thcii> tfi rwards are a fast, dashing and weighty lot, and the day suited the them to a nicety. The Tukapa backs were heavily handicapped behind a pack that, while ])laving hard and pluckily, was ontneighted. Clarke at full played a satisfactory game, but flardgreaves' great line finders were badly missed. The local backs, however, showed that given opportunities, on a dry day, they will be a difficult proposition to keep in check. ' Two or three bigger forwards are badly wanted for the line-out work. The Eltham backs are a very safe lot, not

wanting in dash, and behind the pack they possess should render an excellent account of themselves this season. STAR I. v. IXGLEWOOD I. The opening match between these teams, played ut Inglewood yesterday afternoon,"proved rather disastrous to the home team. The Inglewood pack is a sturdy lot and played well together. The rear division, however, showed weakness, and could not stem the brisk flushes of play of the visiting backs, wiio rattled up the score as they liked. The Inglewood ground has been laid down afresh during the recess and is in better order than last season. It is regrettable that the turf was left in so rough a condition, the ground being rather bumpy. The match was played in very dirty weather, driving rain storms being frequent.

The following were the teams:— Star: L. Clow, R. Pike, b. Hill, M. Julian, W. Whitnker, 0. Brown, A. Dixon, 6. Hawkins, T. Hopkins, 31. McKoy, A. Richards, A. Gray, L. B.yan,,W Davidson, W. Woods.

Inglewood: Knoekflock, Julian, T. jl Brown, Stanley, \V. Brown, Reynor, < Miles, Hopkinson, Parli, Uerben, Chap- 1 man, Utigcr, Stimpson, Boldt, Burkett. Inglewood kicked off, Star having the ; advantage o{ a gusty wind. Play bad only just commenced when Star worked down and Jl. Julian securing from the ruck, dodged over at the comer. The kick failed. Star 3, Inglewood 0. -Maintaining the pressure the visitors were awarded a free kick in the home territorv, Hill landing a pretty goal. Star C. Inglewood 0. Tie home vanguard here took a hand and a good rush put Star* defending. A kick to mid eased the tension. The blacks wore along the line, where from u line-out a rapid interchange of passes by the visiting backs resulted in Pike getting over. Hill ailded the major points. Star 11, Inglewood 0. Give and take play ensued for a space, but the Blacks were now out for a big score and Inglewood bad a difficult task to defend their lines. Prom a mark secured by MeKoy, a fine goal was shot by Hill. Star 14. inglewood 0. The liome team settled once more to steady work, the forwards keep- . ing the ball well in play and making good headway. Star secured a mark and lined at centre. Following up smartlv, Whitaker got the oval and started out for the line. Being tackled he sent the ball on to Pike, who, however, could not get round at the corner. He returned to Whitaker, the latter vetting across and notching anoth-r score."Hill, wlio was kicking faultlessly, piloted the leather safely, and the score . read: Star 19, Inglewood 0. Still undaunted the home front section battled vigorously, momentarily shifting play ' into Star territory. Then Brown, Hill, ! Pike and Whitaker took a hand, th, latter running right round the home ' team ami scoring behind the posts.. i Wliitaker failed with the kick. Halftime was called with the tally at Star ' 22, Inglewood 0. [ On resuming, Inglewood made a much \ better showing, with the result that the i plav was more even. They strove vigorous'lv to get a score and had several '. shots at the goal. Xo luck, however, attended their efforts. Star added two ' tries to their score, Hill and Pike both 1 getting across. The kicks at goal were uji9ue«essful. The final score was: Star !1 28, Inglewood nil. , Mr. J. Way had charge of the match. I STRATFORD I. v. CLIFTOX I. ' Yesterday'* game at Waitara had been looked forward to as the meeting 1 of the two strongest packs in the divi- ,' sion, each aided by a few clever backs • lifted with paw. <>u a dry ground there would doubtless have been an at- " tractive exhibition, but with the Held I soddened by heavy rains and a ball rcn- ' dered all too slippery by the ground and ' a few heavy showers which fell during II the progress of the match, the backs ' were unable t» get in motion, and the f game was fought out between the for- : wards. Clifton, it was plainly seen, had • been doing some solid work, whilst many ' of the.visitors'looked big and "green.'' 1 The locals, who sported their now green ? and gold jerseys, more than held the 1 Beds in the close play, and were partB ally superior in the loose forward rushes. . Tile sprinters, Cameron and Kirkwood, i. were unable to get away from Scholet field and Tate. Stratfrod made the t pace warm tor a few minutes, but very • soon had to defend their goal. They r were forced in the first three minutes, r and had to touch down behind their line ; seven or eight times in the first half. 1 They were trying to open the play out, l but the home .pack was' working on i different lines, keeping the ball on tne ground and booting for all they were f worth. There was a lot of obstruction, and one player was seen to strike a . Stratford opponent across the face. In j the second spell Stratford played up het- ,, ter, but Clifton liad the lietter of the , game, which endvd in a draw, no score. s The Clifton player mentioned above 1 (Paltridge) was again guilty of striking an opponent, and was ordered off the I field. Mr. P. Spurdle was referee. J SECOND GRADE. J STAR 11. v. INGLEWOOD 11. , This game was played at the Xcw Ply. a mouth Recreation Grounds yesterday '_ afternoon and resulted in a victory for the Stars by 17 to 0. The game was of a vigorous nature, the winners having ; the better of the contest in the first I spell. In the second spell the game was more even. Tries were scored for Star '' by Lowe, Maine, Pearcc, Back (2). iJealand kicked the goal. Mr. A. Smart , referccd. I STRATFORD 11. v. CLIFTOX 11. 1 This match was played at Stratford in heavy rain. The ground was very f wet, making the ground heavy. The play was mostly conlined to the for- ; wards, with an occasional Hash of good J piny by the rearguards. The game was . particularly even all through. Cliftoa j. was unfortunate in not scoring a goal I from a mark, the ball striking one of the uprights. There was no score. Mr. ,' J. Clark refereed. I KLTHAM 11. v. TUKAPA 11. ! . Tukapa 11. met Eltham 11. at Kltham I yesterday, the honie team gaining all I easy victory by 20 points' to nil. \ THIRD GRADE. ! STRATFORD 111. v. CLIFTOX 111. ! .Stratford 111. defeated Clifton HI. ' by 5 points (a try scored by Brown and r converted by Kivell) to '.l (a penalty I goal |. It was a flukey win, Rcrtranil getting over the line but running too far back to the ''dead" line. i KLTHAM v. TCTCAI'A. These teams met on Hie Tukapa ' ground yesterday. The Kltham team , were heavier all round than tne Tukapa. A very willing game resulted in a win for the black and whites, by 14 points to nil. Tries were scored by Daiblev (2). Heyward, and Whiting, one ' of which was converted by Glentworth. IXGLFAYOOD Hi. v. STAU 111. At Inglewood yesterday afternoon Star 111. were vanquished by Inglewood 111. by 1.") points tn nil. Thelnglcwool " team is verv hcavv for third grade men. and won oil an overwhelming superior- . ily of weight.