FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 159, 30 July 1909, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. WAIJIA'TE WINS BY A (JOAL.

Weather conditions were not over- | favorable for the second contest between Hie Stratford and Wahnatc senior teams lor the championship at Stratford yesterday. Xhc grounu was slippery and tile weather overcast, but, with the exception of on two occasions, the rain held oil'. The game ended in a win for annate by 3 points (a goal from a 'narkj to nil. riie game might easily have ended in a draw, a result that oil tile day's play would have satislied e\ eryone Playing ,lown hill, aid with a slight breeze, Stratford held the upper ..I' '""."g the lirst spell; on revel sing n,v? hil(1 t " l ' ilL ' lu ''' °f the -t »pell. Stratford were unfortinate in losing Brown, full i„,, U) - jMi llft|M . I s V tO "- . sl ' opened, and thereafter 1 laved iv,th tomtccn men. About ISUU witnessed the match, the gate nettinc Ki!,, , refere «l- -Marciiant, lvlull and Kilputrick were notable abtutees from the red-and-blacks, t «.r Brown. '' by XUomM . uo "

in) bill PI 6S und kk ' kea oll ' X 1.,.1 J conteste d at mid-field , " umUt ' s < tm t-'ameron kicked high, and enabled the reds tu a 1111 u " ll 'c I'lues' backs, rue waimate men were using their strength to f- e l' 116 g lllue dose, Stratford on the otner hand, endeavoring to open it up. Umeion put in a good run with Dixon, ; but was Hemmed in, and Kyan Kicked of da.iger. Cameron was again prominent and hud a pot at goal hon, ' f. 1 , 'J' ■ lamu returning wiih a bi" ' kick. Ihe Stratford backs, kicking with : kept the blues strictly Sn the tnt" h U '' 110111 il P assm g rush Dixon suit the leather on to Cameron, who, alter a good run, crossed the line locked ill 'Ryan a and X'rice's arms, touch in MI'L'TP - An l ' xcllan ß tt "f kicks folio , ending m Stratford's favor, and the lattei s forwards playing well together, kept Waimate in tneir otv~j 25. Opportunities of opening out were few, however. At length Price, following hard on one of his kicks, caught Bonnor iiith the ball, and play for the first tune was m Stratford's end. llarkness was instrumental in removing play but a mark by Burchell gave Tamil a pot at goal, a big but resultiess kick being the outcome. Cameron and Dixou ivere mainly responsible for rejuovi;i<r niay past centre where Smith, Thomas, mikness und Fearon were prominent J"i a loose rush in Waimate's 25. Stratford endeavored to penetrate tlic defence with a passing rush, but Cameron was too well marked. Still the local forwards pressed, the Waimate backs not relishing getting down to tile "ground" ball, which was badly missed several times. A penalty kick taken by rmi eventually brought them relief. A smart shower of rain now made handling of the ball difficult, but it was Tamu's opportunity, and with a line lone-handed dribble he took play to centre. yj Tocker secured and made a good run, but his kick crossed, and liyau forced just ahead of Dixon, From the kit-k----out Cameron sent back a good return, and once again AVaimate were hemmeu in close to the corner. Pini and Franklin made strenuous efforts to raise the ' siege, but only momentary relief was' ' obtained. The defence, however, seem- i ed impenetrable, the blues' forwards j shielding their hard-pressed backs in line style. Eventually, however, l'rinee iniss- '• ed a rolling ball, and Joe Thomas sent / it over the line, but Kyan was on hand i and forced. Dixon, who was playiii" a sound game, witli a good kick sent Waimate back again on defence, till Tamil, well backed by Jlotfatt and Young, broke through the attack and dribbled out to half-way. Joe Thomas sent back a fine kick to the blue 25, where Dixon later secured and kicked over the line, Kyan again foxing in the nick of time. Half-time sounded a minute later. Waimate now had the advantage of the ground and breene, against which Cameron set the ball in motion, An interchange of kicks ended in Cameron's favor, the line being found in Waiiuat? territory. Hard play followed, witn little advantage on either side. At this stage Brown, who had injured his knee in the first spell, left the ground, and Fearon, -\Vlio had been playing a dashing game at wing forward, we.it back to full. Fast following up let the red forwards almost on to the Waimate line, but with a splendid rally Tamil headed

tin' blue forwards in a rnsli that iiurlcil Stratford back to their goal line. For a couple of niimites the bli\es ■jee.med to be getting all oyer 'the Stratford phiyers, wljo seemed unable for the nonce to get ii|tp their positions. Keepi»g up the pace the southern fonvards at leiigth crossed the line, hut Fearon reai'iied the ball lirst and forced. Following ail exchange "f kicks, the W-.ii-mate fprwards charged down under a high kick by Prince, and swarming i|l| oyer the <|(>reu«e when Cameron suddenly emerged ami' found the line at his quarter Hag. Spine desperately contested scrums followed, from one (it which tJie Stratford backs got going, i> Tocki'r put i:i a fqst feinting run and triinsferriid tp (jainevciu, who kk'kfil Imrd along the ground, but, was beaten for tile ball by Kviiil, who forced. The Miniate forwards were now opening out, and Patterson headed a good Waimatc rush past centre, vhmi Stratford were penalised. l'ini made a poor attempt at goal, but L. Tockt'r failing to field

the ball nearly let the invader* across. A minute Inter 0. looker missed the ball.Almost under his goal, but Dixon came to the rescue and found the line with a cleverly manipulated kick. The Waimate backs now attempted passing, ; hut their work was erratic, and quickly by the r<'\\ forwards, enabling the latter to clear their lines. Or, Burke and Franklin got' going fast along the line," and Stratfo.rd 'agaiu forced. Waimate still kept pressing,' 1.(11 J Thomas, Bradley and Smith hVftlvthrough to niiiMUihl, Thomas again broke'away, 'ami play was curried to the blues' quarter. Dixon made a dasn, hut was unset, and Waimato got possession of the ball, and Pini, Franklin and Prince following fast afior a high kick compelled Stratford to force down. A minute later Stratford again forced a kick by Tamu. Not to be denied, however. the blues set up a hot attack ! the Stratford line. Davis to i di\y over, hut wa* held up, and through j CJijibtie endeavoring tp pick the ball I out pf the succeeding scrum, OameTo;'! I cleaved with a kick, 0, and Bradley were prominent in carrying play further towards Waimate's end, but Prince si'nt tllem back with a good kickout. Loose play followed, aud Pini snapped a mark almost off Cameron's toe. Jlarkness was over-eager, and "no charge" was awarded. Franklin made no mistake with the kick, landing a goal amidst wild excitement. Wjjimatej llj Stratford U. The succeeding* j>lay to fust and furious and at nb time wanting i:i excitement. Dixon sent j'hiy to \Vaimat<'\ quarter, BurcheU and Franklin iimup.iliately returning close to but L. iyith a good reply centred. From a mark Pini sent the ball close 1 to the line, but Melville, Tockcr and Thomas were equal to the occasion, and

curried play to mid-field, where they were penalised. Stratford held their own for a time, principally through Cameron and Dixon's nsefnl kicks. \t length Burke secured, qnfl Sj MlHiVd were sent Cf«ri<»tiis A "au'curiiig from a loose rush, set his backs going in a likely position. He passed to Pini, who gave Franklin a splendid pass, but the latter, instead of giving Prince a chance, foolishly <ind fruitlessly potted. Time was called a minute later, leaving Wai- | mate the victors of the hardest gam? contested in Taramiki this soayvfy Kor the winner*, *t*a»uu stood out us the best all-round player on the ground, and whs' in the thickest of the fight all afternoon. Young and Molfatt were the best of the others in a hard-working set of forwards. Christie al halt *v-jlr only mediocre, fini a{ "wa* out of position, *h.owed his stamina. Kranklih improved as the game progressed and was often troublesome. Vriiy-e

put in a lot (if work, his only rcii,', \m*k- j ncss being his iviiut ul eeitumty in lidding the foiling ball in 1 lie first sjH'lf. The play' did not come KuvkiOs \y»y,, but lu* rarely was foiled waiting when it did. iiyan was a very safe, custodian of tile go,a|. For Stratford, Smith was easily tin' best of the forwards, although he appeared to tire towards the end «f tile game. Melville and llarkness were always promment, but the forwards every one worked splendidly. Kearny ami Thomas on the wings, tlic (alter- (k\vticularty played with nmc(i i(as;i In tbe loos". Cameron fame 111 for the major share of the work amongst the backs, and was always a source of anxiety to his opponents. Dixon gave a splendil exhibition mi the wing, especially iii defence. (lis only wea.kiieti was his want of pace, Tocker brothers played useful gainer, Ilrown, at full, was a cripple almost from tile commencement of the game. TRIAL HATCH. The following team lias heen selected to represent North against, South Taralinki, at Hawera next Wednesday: Pull back, Dixon; three-quarter, ft. Stchr, j. Stohr, Dive; fivc-eignt, Camoi-

Minis, Allen, Lovmdge, Charters, Melville. The "ami! will probably be played iu two halt-hour spells, the representative team to be picked immediately and play the remuining players for 'half an hour. 1 I TAHA.VAKI RUGBY UNION.

An informal meeting of the management committee was held at Stratford yesterday, when there were present Messrs. Cargill (chairman), Powdre'l, Garcia, O'Sullivan, McLcod and Scoglimd.

The Wanganui Union wrote that they would send a junior team to Tarannki at the conclusion of their cup fixtures in August. It was resolved to play a junior trial match at Eltham on Thursday, 12th August. Arrangements were completed for the representative tour. An invitation to play Hawke's Ilay at Napier was accept, ed," and the match will be played on August 18th. The team will leave ,on Saturday, August 7th, and play Wanganui the'same afternoon, Jlanawatii on the 11th, and Wellington on 14tii. It was decided to send 19 players on tour, and Mr. J. O'Sullivan was appoint- ( ed manager. /

XKW ZEALAND CMOX. By Telegraph.—l'ress Association. Wellington, Last Xight. The management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union met to night. In reply to a communication from the Auckland Union re alterations to tales, it. was decided to adhere to the former resolution that stleli amendments were not permissible. It was decided to inform the Auckland Union that the New Zealand Union had no power to authorise Ponsonby (Auckland) and Ponekc (Wellington)' clubs to nlay a match for the 'benelit of G. Oil - lett.

.Six players, reported by the Auckland Union to have taken part in a Northern Union game, were given one month to explain. The Wellington Union reported two members of the Tramway Club for pro- , fessionalism. It was decided to give them a fortnight to explain, and to suspend them meanwhile. The committee deferred action, so flint members might peruse the evidence, in connection witiilhe five years' suspension imposed by the Hawke's Bay Union on a player for using bad language and insulting and striking a referee.

The City Club ' (Gisbornc) appealed again6t the decision of the Poverty Bay Union in dismissing a protest against the result of the City-Gisbonie club mn tch. The matter was referred to the Appeal Council. It was decided that the North v. South Island match be played at Wellington on August 25th. An appeal of a player against his suspension by the South Canterbury Union was dismissed. ■ F. P. Kitehing (Nelson) was reinstate ed as an amateur.