FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 138, 9 July 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

FIRST GRADE t STAR v. STRATFORD. ' Contrary to expectations the game played on the Recreation Sports Ground 1 yesterday afternoon between the Star and Stratford produced some good football. Torrential rain fell during the morning, and it was thought tile state of the ground would be such as to make decent football impossible. And the ground was bad; there was 110 doubt of that, although it was perfection as compared with the same ground in wet weather four years ago. It was very soft in the slightly sunken places, but there were other areas where decent foothold was obtainable. Of course the ball was greasy, yet in the lirst spel'l the backs handled it with a precision that would have been praiseworthy even on dry ground, and the backs were galloping about now and again in great style. Of course, on such a greasy ground there were numerous laughable incidents, and at times the exhibition was more like a circus than a football match. Men took a twenty-foot slide with the greatest of ease, whether t'ney would or not. Collisions were trcquent, and cramps still more so. At one time there were two men receiving ambulance attention simultaneously.. The score in the match was 110 criterion of the play. Stratford won by 12 points to 3, yet Stars had by far the better of the game, taking the upper hand early in the lirst spell and maintaining it right to half-time, with one or two dangerous exceptions. In the second spell the local men seemed to fall to pieces, and Stratford registered the whole of its score. 'Hey had noi the best of things, however, to that extent. Dive, the Elthain 'three-quarter, figured in the Stratford ranks, but not very prominently, except for the fact that he wore a distinctive jersey, me . Stars played three substitutes. Mr. George Hopkins was the referee, and was inclined to be lax with regard to off-side tactics and playing the ball on the ground. Of course, he had not the same chance of detecting breaches as I had the critics on the terraces.

Right at the outset Stratford set up a solid attack on the home citadel, the heavy forwards seeming to take charge. Repeatedly they came to within striking distance, and Grant, Pike, Whitaker and Brown had many narrow escapes. But the defending backs were gathering in the ball like clockwork, and it was seen that the Reds would have to open out play before they could pierce the line. And tliis they resolutely refused to do. Stars, on the other hand, were playing the open game, using the backs. Despite their light weight they quite held their own in the scrums, Bullock hooking the ball time after time. About' ten minutes after the start Dixon let tli e Stars up into the Stratford end, where Hill secured the ball in front of the goal. The opportunity was lost on account of the treacherous nature of the gTOund. Each side registered a force down in the next few minutes. From a scrum in the home 2d Pike and Grant put in a nice passing run which changed tlie scene. A free kick relieved for Stratford, but Richards returned nicely, and following up his kick smartly, upset his opponents' defence. Steele came with him and got over. Tlie kick at goal failed. Star 3, Stratford 0. "Circus" play followed, spills and slides foeing frequent. The ball continued to comti to Brown from the serums, and 3ie generally pade good use of it. Whitaker, Pike and Grant made some clever sprints, but the impossibility of feinting or dodging frequently robbed them of the chance to score. Grant was playing splendidly, often tackling two or three men in succession, and eventually turning the defence into attack. Now and again that old headpiece of Pike's alone averted a score, and he showed himself as full of tricks as his boots were of water. Play was at mid-field when half time sounded.

Stratford opened up play in the second half, and soon had the locals in difficulties. Cameron was earlv in the field with a clever run, beating seven men before he was downed by Richards at the 25 line. Silly play followed before the goal-posts, and eventually Harkness got over. The kick at goal did not add to the score. 3—3. Star still lacked cohesion for a time, until at length Cameron and Dive cut clean through to Grant, who threw Dive out. AlcCoy broke away with Hill, and got across tile line just after Tocker had forced. Star kept up the attack, and presently Fearon was compelled to kick behind the line. From a five-yards scrum the ball came to the Star backs, and Richards | seemed to have a certain try, but I dropped the ball. The blacks kept up the pressure and forced their way over but, although four or five of thein dived at the ball, they were late, and Stratford forced. The red forwards then got going with the ball at the toe, Melville, Bradley and Harkness heading the rush. Harkness kicked too hard, and reached the dead ball line. Upon resuming, Hill had the misfortune to miss the ball when his colleagues were out of position. Clow missed it too, and Cameron got down on it at top. Grant followed, and was overhauling him when Cameron touched the ball down before it reached the dead ball scoring Stratford's second try. Dixon's kick was unsuccessful. Jiust after this Cameron was out of action for some five minutes, owing to illness. His absence weakened .Stratford's; defence, and Stars again came near scoring. A couple of red forwards got the ball through the ruck, and another rush caught the black 9 and the referee napping, Bradley scoring from off-side play. No goal resulted. "Circus play" in the mud kept the crowd amused for a few minutes, and the play lost its dash, the heavy ground telling on the men. Then the Star men tumbled, to right and left as they strove to grab a ball that came skidding along the mud. Dive and Melville came after it, and Clow for once was beaten in his. attempt to lie on th e ball. Melville J scored. The kick at goal was agah a failure. Time was called shortly after-1 wards, with tli e Bcore Stratford J2,l Star 3.

For the winners, Marchant, Melville and Ivivell were the most prominent of the forwards, and Cameron and Fearon tile best backs. Dive was not a success on the wet ground. Of the Stars, Grant, Brown and Whitaker were ihe most reliable of the backs 011 the attack, Pike and Richards also doing devcr work, Bullock, Steele and McCoy were the most prominent forwards.

was lying on the touch-line, temporarily incapacitated, wet, muddy, and neglected. Presently the secretary of the opposing club, Mr. J. A. Clark, came along and wrapped the shivering player in his overcoat. This little act of thoughtful■ness was not unnoticed by the peopie present. " Off-side Mac," one of the best known of New Zealand football writers, watched the Inglewood-Tukapa senior match yesterday at Inglcwood. He is reported to have stated that lie liked Jack Stohr's chance of getting away with I the next New Zealand rugby team for | England.