FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 16, 25 June 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

FIRST GRADE. STRATFORD v. TCKAPA.

A hard game, fought to a finish, was witnessed on the Recreation Ground yesterday afternoon, wjieu tu e biratiord and Tukapa semois tried coiiclusio-Js lor tie second time mis season. 'Hie play was noi ol a brilliant order, although a littie above the average ol games seen litre tn.s year, m marked lOulraat to biratiords mated against iumaiu i.ist ween the tackling ou tiie whole was poor. Line-kicking, with a lew exceptions, was faulty. ihe most interesting feature was the grim determination of the players, who made tne pace a cracker Iroai start to finish. Another outstanding teaturu was the liniure to detect and punish the tripping and deliberately obstructive tactics ol Harkness, one of the .Stratford pacK. -No apology is needed for making the matter thus prominent. Stratford was by far tne heavier side, and tile home forwards looked mere lads in comparison. But what they lacked in weight they endeavored to make up by pace and condition. The visitors were witnout the services of Cameron, tor whic.i the home players were doubtless duly thankful, liullot, although selected and present on the ground, was not in t:ie team, Bonner taking his place at half. llie ground, considering the quantity of coid water resulting iroiii the '"Tommy Taylor" visiiatiuii, was in good order, but more in lavor of the visitors' forward game tiian the pick-up-and-pass tactics of the Tukapas. Nevertheless, the ball was handled a good deal, audi with more or hiss accuracy. The after- ] noon was an ideal one for football. The result of the game, a win for Stratford by three points to nil, fairly represents the merits of the teams on the day's play, and the win places btrattord unquestionably iu the lead for the northern division premiership. .Mr. F. Spurdle was the referee.

Tukapa kicked off, and after an e. change of kicks, a line-out or two, an a scrum, play settled down in mid-fieh A long line-kick of Fcaron's, returning one of Jack Stohr's, gave the reds : temporary advantage, but t'ne tean seemed disorganised, and failed to pu the usual vim into, the work of th forwards. Mynott and the Stohrs occa sionally set up a passing attack, Du the opposing forwards generally man aged to break up their plan of opera tions. Fearon's sound judgment in And ing the line placed the blues on th defence, and I:oung, Bonner, and Kivel brought the play dangerously close t< Tukapa's line, Mynott relieving. Xlie: the game opened up for a while, am Harkness, Dixon, locker, and Dixoi again, took part in a passing rush tha Wade tie chances of the home tear, luoK very blue. Jack Stohr snapped uj tha ball near the line, and put a higi punt into touch, relieving the situation Allen improved matters further, bu Mason spoiled the chance. The red charged again—they were doing the bull of the attacking—but Mynott got pos session from Mason at the Duck 01 i scrum. The Stohrs and Webster too! a hand, but the' last pass was an ugl; one, and was intercepted near the hall way flag. Close foot-work followed, a:i the blues gained further grounu. i» glaring acts of tripping and interferes by a Stratford forward were noticed a this stage. The visitors could not <> kept very long out of Tukapa's territory and a rattling good passing run by Dix on, Tocker, and Kirkwood brought pla; down to the corner, where Tocker wa just stopped in time. Stratford wa now walking away with the serumcrs and things became interesting for Tn kapa. Presently the reds came wit! a rush, Young and Marchant in the lead One crossed the line, but Jack Stohr ii[: ended him, and he lost the ball, I Stohr forcing. Stratford was now having the »3s of the game, easily out-classing the loca forwards in the close work. Desperat situations required desperate, remedies and Mynott and Co.' set out on a pass Ing rush from in front of the goa finishing up with an equally dangerou ,high kick that Kirkwood, fortunatel, for the blues, failed to take. War rushed the play to centre, and Mynot helped the ball on the journey with speculator, from which Tukapas set u a brisk attack at the northern enc They could not pierce the defence, j mistake by -Mason, and a succession o mulls by others, let Marchant righ away, until Webster blocked him. l'n kapn's spurt had ended, and althoug Ward and Allen made some desperat rushes it was some time before they go away again. The visiting forwards Amongst whom Marchant, Kivell Smith and Harkness were always prom inent, came down with some solid rushes but the backs were lacking. A few line outs gave Tukapa a temporary advan tage, and Jack Stohr hajl a fine shot a goal. Shortly afterwards Tocker am Dixon got the ball from the heels o their forwards, and dodged to the lint wiiere Tocker had hard luck in losin; the ball. Tukapn forced again just be fore half-time. Straightway from the kick-olf the red forwards dashed through and Tukapa had the utmost difficulty in keeping them out. Mynott and Ward eventually 1 cleared, but the big red men came again, Kirkwood scoring a fine try. The kick at goal failed. Stratford 3, Tukapa 0. A lot of scrambling play followed,

and once more the Tukapas were lot off luckily, forcing uador the posts. Midland was anything but reliable at tins stage. Combined work on the part of the local backs carried the attack

again into Stratford's end, where the two packs were closely engaged. Stohr again had an unsuccessful shot at goal. A fine movement was spoiled by a slightly forward pass from Mynott to J. Stohr, and what looked like an in-

evitable score was lost, the resultant scrum giving the visitors the upper hand again. Bradley was prominent in some forward rushes, but both picks were tiring visibly, and the sting of the first spell was missing. The home backs, however, improved, but their linefinding tactics were not successful. Centring play was telling in every instance, hut they were using tile line too much.

Once Walsh, Ward and Jones broke away. Dixon was the only man in the way, and he was cijual to the occasion, falling and gathering in the, ball under him. It cost liim a free kick, but saved his side. The hall now rapidly travelled to and fro without adducing much incident, and the game ended with play on Stratford's side of the field. Stratford won by 3 points to nil. Of the winners' back division, Fearon. Tocker, Bmrner and Dixon played sound games, but 't was seen that back phiwas not the programme. Of the loi wards, Smith, .Mnreljaiit, Bradley ami Kivcll worked like Trojans. Tlie Tukapa backs, with the exception of Mason and Itidland, were in good form, i-iH Mynott was not at his best until the game had been going for some time. Mason was quite nonplussed at halfback. Walsh stood out as the fastest and most resourceful forward on the field. Allan, Steele, and -Jones were perhaps the best of the remainder.

CLIPTOX v. STAR. ' These teams tried conclusions on the W-.iitara ground yesterday afternoon. There was a good sprinkling of spectators. The ground was in good order despite Hie recent heavy rain. Moth teams were anore or less weak, the 1 services of second and oven third grade men being utilised. The game was fast, but from a spectator's point of view there was very little iplay that could be classed senior grade. Tlie home pack worked well together, 'but did not re-

ceive enough backing, otherwise their victory may hare been lai-»Ji*. Scholelield, 'i'ait and Waka, the latter at full, showed good form. In the Star vanguard Kyan stood out conspicuously. McKoy also did good work. The rear division seemed to be quite disorganised. Hill at five-eighths was not a success. Urowu at half and the threequarter line were conspicuous at times. Whitaker, who played wing forward, uliowed a strong inclination for off-side play. Clifton kicked off and play hung fire on the line at midlield for some time. From a scrum the ball came out to D. George, who passed to Scholefield. Tait was handy and took a good pass, .but was well grassed before he had made much headway. Ryan headed a rush which changed the scene of hostilities to the home '2.'), where an interchange of kicks left the ball at centre. Clifton backs tried to open the game on two or three occasions, but were checked by good collaring. The visitors invaded and kept their opponents pinned for a while, but a kick to the line cased. Star returned with a good rush, but were forced back to neutral territory. Pilcc got the leather from the ruck and set off up the line. To prevent being forced out, he kicked high to the centre of the field, where .loe Arabury grabbed the ball and ran over the line, beating several men. Clow's kick at goal missed. Star 3, Clifton 0. Keeping up the pressure, the visitors indulged in some passing work, Pike, Maine and Hill showing out. In one of these rushes Pike unfortunately slipped, nullifying a good opening. The pace con- ] thmed fast, but the lack of concerted play was- most marked. Eventually the ' leather cnnie out of the ruck to the ! home 'backs, who set off on a good passing rush which terminated in Scholefield almost getting across the coveted : line. , Just after Tait got away and 1 wriggled right through to the posts, 1 but was held up. A scrum five yards '' out succeeded, the visitors finding the • line in their own 25. A fine struggle » ensued, and the line was at last crossed ; by Limnier. Sid. George placed a nice goal, just on half-time. Clifton 5, Star

Tlie second spell opened smartly. Tlie Clifton, forwards repeatedly broke through with vigorous iriishcs. Star hacks nullified these rushes by using plenty of hoot in finding the line. Richards, who played n sound game at wing three-quarter, had a ionjr pot at goal', the ball going wide. The home forwards continued to aggress. A dribbling rush, headed by Cain, was stopped only just in time, "Richards getting in a long kick to neutral territory. Loose, , scrambling, aimless' play ensued. Tait secured from the ruck' in his own 2i>, and made a very pretty run. Feinting and dodging in and out in rare style, lie beat almost nil the visitors before he was graced. He sent the leather back, but the pass was missed. One of the home team booted too vigorously, resulting in Clifton being forced. Another bout of long kicks gave Star the advantage. Pike secured and kicked high to mid-field, but Clifton marked and sent play to safety. The Clifton pack romped through in good style. By high kicking and smart following they were dangerous time and again. Clow, who played a very safe game at full, always got his kick aiwav in time a-nd cased the pressure. Star recognised that it was now time "to put in"their run," and fast plav was' the order. The black rearguard got the ball from a scrum and a passing rush, in which Whitaker, Hill, .Maine and Pike took part, looked hopeful, .but Maine was run out at the 25 flag. A series of long kicks gave breathing space to the packs. Then Brown, Pike and Richards tried a passing bout. The latter kicked high and followed the ball on the full, . but unfortunately knocked on. For the last ten minutes) Star maintained the pressure, but the sound work of \\aka and Scholefield held them safe Star were forced .just on call of time. . | JW. J. Way refereed.

ELTHAM v. IXGLEWOOD.

Eltham journeyed to .Inglcwood yesterday afternoon and defeated the home team by 14 points to 8. -

SECOND GRADE. STAR v. COTTON. Star and Clifton second grade teams met on the Racecourse ground, and Star won by a big margin. Some clever in-' dividual football was witnessed.' and dirty individual tactics were not un common. Steele and one of the visitors were at lloggorheads /frequently, nml at length the referee caught the' Clifton' man in the act of striking and ordered him oil. Steele's remark.' "All ri»liT meet, me afterwards," as his opponent walked off passed unnoticed liy the referee. Both men should have' gone off long before. Tli,. Stars put up !) pints in the first spell, against Clifton's (i. In the second spell the visitors played without any luck and without much combination, and another 14 points went, up against them. W. Lash and K. duller scored Clifton's two tries,and Copostake, Bollinger, Steele, and Ross, with a potted goal by Bullot and another goal or two, made up the Star score. Mr. Woods acted as referee.

THIRD GRADE. Star 111 forfeited to Clifton 111 Football—Third Grade. The Tukapa-Stratford match, played on the Racecourse ground, resulted in a draw, each side scoring (i points. TARAXAKI KUGIiY UXJOX. Tile management committee of th? Taranaki Rubby Union met last alight at, Stratford, when the following fixtures were drawn up:— CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYS-OFF. Winners South division !\\ winners West division—July 10 Winners Xorth division v. winners of above—July 15 or 17. Xorth v. South match at StratfordJuly 22. IXTEK-PROVINGTAL. Versus Wimganui, at Wanganui, August 7. Versus Manawatu, at Palmerston North, August 11. Versus Wellington, at Wellington, August 14. Versus Auckland, at Auckland, August

Versus Auckland, at New Plymouth September 2.