FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 120, 18 June 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS. FIRST GRADE. Tukapa .. 0 Stars .. 0 Stratlord .. l'J Eltliam .. 8 Clifton .. 13 Inglewood .. 0 SECOND GRADE. Clifton .. I) Inglewood .. 3 Tukapa .. li Star .. 0 Elthani .. (i Stratford .. 0 THIRD GRADE. Tukapa .. 20 Star .. U Stratiord .. (i Eltliam .. 3 inglewood .. U Uifton , ..0 FIRST GRADE TUKAPA v. STAR. One of tthp most interesting and fiercely contested games of the season was that between the old rivals, Star and Tukapa, on the Recreation Grounds yesterday afternoon. The "in-and-out"' play of Stars this season lent an clement of uncertainty regarding the result, and while it was felt that Star mightly be easily defeated, there was always' the possibility that they might "come to light" and make things merry. And so it happened. Sta'r had one of their "in" days, and made the pace a merry one during the closing stages of the game, the issue being in doubt up to the last moment. On the whole, perhaps, Tukapa's win by 0 points to 3 about .represented the difference between the teams on the day. Anything, however, might have happemd. That the game was so comparatively even was principally due to the condition of the Star forwards,-enabling them to put tile speedy Tukapa. rearguard at a disadvantage at the critical stages of the game. Star kicked off against the sun, and a minute later Clow made a poor attempt at goal from a penalty. The Tukapa backs immediately got to ivork and a ' pretty passing rush in which Mason, 1 Mynott, B. Stohr, J. Stohr and Barker took part, hemmed Star on their line, Hill bringing relief eventually with a timely kick. Charging Mynott's return, Bolton took play to centre, but -the blu'i backs again and again got under weigh, Pike stopping Bert Stohr in time. After some loose play, Barker, fast following a kick of J. Stohr's, misa'ed the ball close to the line and Clow found safety, Hill gaining a further advantage with a good line kick. Barker returned, and Tukapa were penalised, Hill having an abortive pot at goal at long range. Back came the 'blue and J. Stohr essayed a shot from half-way, play settling in Star's 25. From a scrum on the 25 line Jlason sent to J. Stohr. and the latter to Bert, who crossed despite the efforts' of three or four Star backs to sto-p him by high tackling. An easy shot at goal was missed. Tukapa 3, Star 0. Star forced a minute later from a drop-kick by Jack Stohr. Line play succeeded for a time, till the blue rearguard again got in motion, Grant repelling J. Stohr. Tukapa were now attacking hard, but judicious line-kick-ing by Clow kept them out. TJic Tukapa pack was getting the ball smartly in the scrum and the backs were getting under way quickly, liut the blacks' tackling was improving also, and man-

iigeu io siave ou aitacKS. rauav jiyun ■ eventually raised the siege and Pike,! with a good kick, took play into the blues' territory, where Brawn and Whitaker got away, but a throw forward stopped the attack. Mynott eased the tension, but Grant, intercepting a pass, found the line near the blue corner. Big line kicks sent Star back, and a lot of even play at midfield followed. Eventually a long kick by Mynott penned Star in on their line, and the Tukapa rearguard set up a fast passing rush, Barker knocking on his pass ut the critical moment. Hill marked and cleared, to centre, but the return kick, along the ground, bounced off Clow i-j----to the arms of T. Jones, who was following fast, and he crossed unopposed. Again an easy kick, was resultless Tukapa 8, Star 0. Star again forced a too hard kick by a blue forward. Tukapa now had the upper hand, and the backs got to work on a likely movement, but Bert Stohr essayed "a pot when an almost certain try was ahead of J. Stohr and Barker on his flank, and Star forced. Star, rallying, swept down the field, and P: Ryan and McKoy beat Ridland- at full back, but Bert Stohr came to the rescue. For the next five minutes' play was waged on Tllkapa's side of half-way, Grant on one occasion almost crossing after a smart -piece of passing. Just before lialf-time sounded the Star forwards rushed the ball over the line, but Tn-k-finn fnTVPrI

Star opened the second spell with plenty of dash, and Tukapa was quickly penned on their line. Brown, cutting around a scrum was grassed dangerously close to the line, which Tukapa cleared from a penalty kick. Thence nippy line kicking by* the blue backs gradually worked play into the blacks' ground, -where Star were soon hard at work defending. A sweeping rush, headed by Kyan, and a long kick fiom a mark by Hill hurled Tukapa back, but Loveridgo, dribbling nicely, replied to some purpose. Over eagerness, however, and too hard kicking by a blue forward ena'bled Star to force dowa. The Star forwards seemed to be nowinfusing more dash into their play, and the apparent superiority' of the blue vanguard evidenced during the first spell, did not again assert itself. Keeping close together with the ball on the ground, the blacks carried the ball into Tukapa's end, Hill lining at the corner with a nicely-placed kick. From an ensuing scrum, the ball was sent over Tukapa's Jine, Bolton falling on it. The kick at goal was not allowed, owing to Clow re-handling the ball after no charge had been awarded. Tukapa Star 3. The game now livened up considerably, and thenceforward the spectators iwere treated to an intensely interest, if not over reientilic, game. Both teams decided to make it, open, and the ball travelled up and down the field at a merry pace, Tukapa set up a hot attack, but were penalised, enabling Star to again infest their territory. Jlynott was mainly instrumental in neutralising this advantage, and a miskiok by Pike saw hostilities renewed at Star's 25 Hag. The Star forwards, however, were having the better of the line play, and Clow's safe handling and kicking was keeping "the high kick ani follow" : j)lan of attack adopted by tin blue backs tof the danger zon°. Eventually Mason got the ball away quickly to ilyncjtt, wl<o "fooled" a couple of Star backs and s'ent to Bert Stohr, the latter being thrown out near the The same pair were associated in a Mijgj't dash a moment later, but a penalty eaaltled Star to clear their threatened line. A long pass, Brown to hitaker to Grant, to Pike, saiw the latter send the leather out in Tukapa's quarter. Thenceforward for nearly twenty minutes Tukapa had a fairly anxious time of it. A fast Star forward rush found the blue vanguard at "sixes and sevens," foolish attempts to speculate on the part of tlie Stolir brothers and Kidland giving the attackers almost, a clear field. Tukapa were lucky to force. Plav continued to be furious] v waged in dangerous proximity to the blues' line, till Mynott and his backs, with a fine rally, .sent Star back. A free kick, however, saw Star again invade, and Pike, getting away with the leather at toe. enablrij Grant, who wis hacking him up fast, to *efld the leather out close to the corner flag. An anxious moment followed, J. Stolir being taken with the ball right under his own goal, but he shook off his taeklprs and cleared iwitli a big 'kick to centre. Again the Star pack, by fast following, swarmed on to tlie blues' three-quarter lino, who were bard ipressed for elbow room. 'At every opportunity, however,

Mynott and Slulir brothers utilised the line to tlie fullest advantage. A lately Star rush, headed by llaiwkins, was 1 stopped by Mynott marking, anil a long kick went past Cow, tile Star fulUback, with Bert Stohr in hot pursuit. Grant, however, got round in tiuie, and Cue Star backs initiated a fast passing movement, which ended in Pike finding the line at Tukapa's corner Hag as time sounded. For the winners Mynott was in fine form, Stolir Bros, and Barker pluying up'to form. Mason showed improvement. Amongst the forwards Allen and Loveridge were }>rolba-bly most' prominent. 01 the losers, the backs' played consistently Cloiw especially excelling himself. The forwards played hard, honest games, Kyan being always prominent. Sir. G. Griffiths refereed.

STRATFORD I v. ELTHAM I. The game in which the greatest interest was centred yesterday was tiie meeting of the Eltliam and Stratford senior fifteens at Stratford. There was a large attendance of spectators, including a considerable sprinkling of the magpies. The day was cold, but dry, and the ground was in very fair condition considering the excessive rain of late. The game was an interesting one to watch, haa'd and willing, and not as rough as might have been expected from the meeting of these heavy teams. The packs muse oe considered to have ueen lairiy well matched, although Stratford had the best, individual players. Cameron's inclusion in the home team put their backs in a class above the visitors'. They also played with greater combination, and it was their superiority, coupled n'iwi a considerable amount of luck in sccurh-g the advantage of sun and win in tie first spell, which gave .Stratford its second victory this season over the Eltliamites. In the latter stages of the game the tactics were not of the mildest, and a couple of players on each side may consider themselves fortunate in being allowed to play out time. Mr. Hopkins was the referee.

At the outset Eitliam was placed on the defensive, and it was seen tiiat the sun was bothering them a bit, several easy balls being missed. Stnuloin ju-pt up a hot attack, and presently Cameron placed a penalty goal. 3—o. ' The visiting forwards livened tip, and brought the ball across the half-way line. Lewis was badly beaten at the hack of a scrum, and the Stratford lorv>araa made tilings interesting. Offside play brought Eltliam relief. Stratford wag playing on the "kick liigh and follow up"* lines, thus taking full advantage of the wind. Ertham was forced several times in rapid succession, and 011 three occasions the kick-out was marked. Stratford kept the visitors penned down. Now and again Lcvick, Charters, Burgess or 1). Moir would break out from their 2a, but every time some silly mistake or lack of concerted effort spoiled the attempt. Tocker spoiled a couple of chances to score_by kicking too hard. Gibson was penalised for offside right in front of the posts, and Cameron added another three points to the score. Potier, tirtni* of waiting for the ball to come out to him from Lewis, cut in 011 his own account and looked like scoring, but lost the ball. Another long kick put Elthaui 011 the defence again. The ball alighted on a greasy spot, as did the magpie who went to take it. Cameron, following the j kick like a streak, scored, but failed with the kick at goal. 9—o. Shortly afterwards Comeron repeated the experiment, with like success, Marchant getting over with the ball. Cameron registered a pretty goal. 14—0. Half-time sounded just afterwards.

■The resumption play was delayed for some minutes whilst the referee, .usurp- s ing the functions of the local club, clear-' ' ed tile line of spectators. The wind ' dropped until just about half-way through the spell, when it strengthened. 1 The sun disappeared just after the commencement, and the climate became very ' wintry. The Elthani team opened the 1 spell with a passing attack, but Dive : lost the ball, which went out. Gradu- ■ ally they worked play into the reds' end, and Fearon liad to kick behind the line to save. A serum five yards from the line occurred, and Elthani got tile ball, but thi passing was wretched. Scarcely anyone could have been expected to take those sent out to Potier, and two capital chances to score were missed. Hay settled down in this end of the held, until a pass from Potier to Moir was intercepted by Dixon, who quickly changed the scene with a line dribbling rush, Dive being fortunate in getting tile ball out after missing once. Offside play neutralised the advantage, Levick breaking clean through the home forwards and putting the lionie team on the defensive. Giiison, who hail been playing a fine game on the wing ail through, repeatedly got away with the ball, but the opposing backs managed to check his onrush. The Elthani forwards made " well-organised rush down the centre of the field to the mouth of the goal, where a scrum was given for an infringement. L. .Moir afterwards kicking to the line. From the line-out tlie ball went out to Eltnniu. L. Moir secured, and cut ■through, passing at the right moment to Potier, who scored. Smith's kick at goal failed. 3—14. They, kept up the attack, and another score looked certain, but Bonner and Kivel] upset the plan and Tocker kicked out. From a line-out Cameron gathered in and made for the line, but Smith compelled liim to kick. Joe Thomas carried on tne rush single-handed, but lacked the pace to score. The reds were not to be denied and Cameron soon got over, lifting a fine goal, lfl—3. The wind was now giving the visitors the advantage, and by r aigh kicking and fast following up Burgess and L. Moir beat the defence, Moir scoring. J. Smith kicked a fine goal from a difficult angle. The only incident worth noting in the balance of t'ie game was a 'passing rush in which most of the Stratford team took part. There was no further score and the game ended in favor of Stratford by IK points to 8. There was scarcely eleven points' difference between the two teams. Stratford playing witii a good deal-of luck in the first spell. Of the winners Cameron was in a class by himself. He was right up to form, and was the life of his back-*. Bullot, at half, also played one of his best games, using good judgment in most of his work. Fearon, at full, made no mistakes, and Dixon was a very dangerous man on the attack. Of the forwards Marchant was as prominent as any, and his opposing wing ell'eotually prevented any indulgence of his oil-side tendencies. Bonner, Kivell, and Melville were about the best workers. For Elthani the display of the backs was pool-, with tlie exception of Potier. 1). Moir, and J. Smith (full back). Dive played wretehed football, and Lewis could hardly ever have given a worse exhibition at half. The passing amongst the backs was erratic and thoughtless, for the most part. The forwards were a fine lot, Levick, Charters, Osborne and Gibson (wing) being the best.

CMI'TOX, v. JiNGI,EWPO]j. Till' game. between, the above seniors, of yesterday afternoon, was not looked forward to with any degree of interest, consequently 110 one was disappointed with the poor display resulting from the fixture. Tnglewood started with twelve men, then picked up another from t'nc ranks of their barrackers, putting him full-back, and thus they played throughout the spell, Clifton were minus fcne services of Hicks and V. Tate, but they had two substitutes in 0. and L. Andrews, who rendered great service. They ■played with the vanguard, one being on the wing and the c.Jier in the pack. Pnlford, who is usually on the wing for Clifton, was in the three-quarter line. Hie game was essentially a forward one, anil Clifton had the best of if throughout, the only time fnglewood being at all dangerous was when for a short period in the latter part of the contest, tin; team having then their full complement with two niPi] from the thirds. 'flic ultima tv result was a win for Clifton by 13 points to nil. The first score was obtained liy 1). Andrews, with a tr,after a forward rush. S. George failed to add the major points. Xcholcficld was responsible for the mxt addition to the figures through the agency of a potted goal, kicked from a considerable distance down field, and with the I'-ft foot, dust before the call of time Ciif 'on were awarded a penalty in a liandv liosition. and K. George placed a goal. The score at half-time thus stood: Clifton 10 points, Inglewood nil. About half-way through the second spell, when play was in Clifton 25, the hall was kicked across the field. 'j|i° hacks failed to do anything with it, and

the forwards {jot to work, Bernstep pouncing over idle muruon's line, Tae kick at goal failed, and the gajne end-d without any further incident worth chronicling. Under the circuinsUtncei the visitors' forwards showed good form. For the winners, Pukjere, De Blois, and M. Cain were the most conspicuous, Mr. way was satisfactory in Ills refereeing.—Waitara Mail.

SECOND GRADE. i CLIFTON v. IXGLIiWOOD. ; These teams met at Inglewood yest'er- i day, and a hard-fougiit game resulted : in a win for Clifton by li points to 3. ! The game was a forward one, the heavy ground and greasy ball preventing an,.' back play. For the winners Lash and Excell scored tries; White Smith kicked a penalty goal for Inglewood. In the second spell H. Kerr (Inglewood) was ordered off the field for striking an opponent. TUKAPA v. STAR. Tukapa defeated Star after an uninteresting scramble by li points to nil, tries being scored by Webster and Fairbrother. ELTHAM II v. STRATFORD 11. Eltliam II beat Stratford II by 0 points to 3. THIRD GRADE. STRATFORD 111 v. ELTHAM 111. Stratford and Eltliam second juniors met yesterday at Stratford, and the home won by G points to 3. INGLEWOOD 111 v. CLIFTON 111. Inglewood HI defeated Clifton 111! by G points to nil, tries being scored by L. Julian and 11. Curtis. TUKAPA v. STAR. Tukapa defeated Star by 20 points to nil. An interested spectator at yesterday's match on the Recreation Ground was Mr. " Soot" McKay, the well-known Waimate and ' Tanmaki representative player. " Soot" lias joined the ranks ot the benedicts, and is on his way to llotorua for his honeymoon.