FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 370, 22 April 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

CLIFTON v. TUKAPA SENIORS. •Tin' Ciifton and Tukiipa seniors ■played a friendly match on the Recreation Sports Uroiaid yesterday afternoon. It was more like a summer's afternoon than a football day. but notwithstanding this the attendance was limited to a few hundred enthusiasts. The ground was in splendid order for the match. As usual in the opening match after the summer recess, many of the players were out of condition, but others were fairly well wound up. The pace set in the first spell was very fast, too fast, as it proved, to last, and the concluding stages were very sober, with one or two notable exceptions. It was not a highly interesting match, but it showed one thing out prominently—that Myuofct is the "recognised "hoss" of the Tukapas, and Cain the directing genius of the Clifton forwards. The absence of "talk" i was a pleasing feature, and the town I team were brilliant in this respect, lor| with very few exceptions the only voice! heard in their ranks was the whip-like j command of our old friend '"Simon," and; his "Weil played, So and So," when his men did properly what ought to be done.| Another moral derivable from the match! is that the town team wants a couple j of big-limbed, powerful forwards fori line work. It is a very light combination indeed. The Clifton boys were not fully represented, and "Dan" George was harnessed up again, despite uis edict that he was not to he considered on the active list this season. Notable absentees were Loveridge and "Giilett" S.iunpson, but they'll both be there when the cup fixtures commence. The teams were as follow: —

■Clifton: Full-back, Parker; threequarters, V. Tate, Eggleston and Goodi\\\\\; -five-eighths, Bond; half, S. George; whists, D. George and Kyle; forwards, Cain. Berndsten, Heke, W. Du Blois, R. Thomas, P. Jones, L. Birdlin'g.

Tukapa: Furl-back, B. Clarke; tlll'Soquarters, G. Webster, J, Scohr, A Addison,' five-eighths, Mynott; half, McGiven; wing.?, F. Loveridge and T. Jones; forwards, McAlhun, Mathieson, Fail-brother, Mclsaacs, E. Steele, Jul] and Perry.

The game does not lend itself to much description. The players had not hecome a team—that is, there was an absence of combination, although there seemed to be a. .pretty fair understanding between the scrum backs and the. three-quarter Ohio. But the knack oi| "being there" at the critical moment to ' receive a pass can only come with more practice than the footballers have had| this season on the match field. Nevertheless, there were some interesting snatches of play, some surprisingly good runs, and now and again some very sensible and effective tackling, Mynott probably putting up the best performance in this department and giving a splendid lesson upon the art and value of collaring low. Clifton kicked off, and the kick was smartly returned. Play hovered albout the half-way line for si bit, and then settled down in the visitors' end, where the wearers of the green and gold were kept pretty busy in repulsing the at-1 tacks of Mynott, Stohr and Co. The scrums were unconvincing, but McGiven was very convincing in the manner in which he got round upon the opposing half occasionally when the ball went the greens' way. A smart passing ran amongst the Blue backs was nipped in .the bud .when Cain intercepted the pass back from Sto.hr- to Mynott. Things would have been interesting had the pass "come off." J. Stohr missed a couple of easy goals from penalties, one of these being given against the Clifton half for cuddling the ball on the ground. The dose was 'Tubbed in," for be got a severe kick on the head whilst lying on the field. Mulling amongst the Blues let Cain and Berndsten through, and the Waitara forwards were carrying all before them when Addison cleverly picked up and punted to safety. A few seconds later they came again, and this time Addison mis-kicked, but he made up for it by Chasing and grounding the man who had profited by it. Off-side pirny relieved Clifton when the Blues were hammering hard at their citadel. S. George kicked up field, and the ball went to centre, where Jack Stohr, who had gauged the opposing full back's powers, sent down a long one, chased hard, and completely bothered Parker., There was a grand scoring chance for another man with a cool head, but he wasn't available at the moment, and Kyle lined well up field. Tukapa then! had to retire to their own end, where the Clifton forwards were making some! strenuous rushes. Just when they ap-j peared to have turned the tide, Bond; dropped a lovely goal from the field,; hearty applause greeting the achievement! Clifton 4, Tukapa 0. , Stohr J Mathieson and Addison each narrowly missed scoring for the Blues, the lastnamed being thrown out at the corner flag. Clifton pressed hard, but unsuccessfully, just before half-time. Another weak exhibition by the visiv tors' full, who kicked at a rolling ball, ended in Clifton forcing. Again he was bustled, and Mynott, getting possession, made for the line. He was blocked, and Mclsaac was the only man handy. He gripped the pass and strode in. Stohr converted the try. Tukapa 5, Clifton 4; Stohr had another futile attempt at goal from a long range. The Greens continued on the defence. Mclsaac again got loose with the ball, and ran in almost unopposed, grounding near the posts. Stohr made a long kick of it, and missed the direction. B—4. Now the Clifton men woke up, and the evidently tiring forces put another spasm of vigor into the play. Kyle, at the head "of a rash, was beaten by a rebound. Goodwin got possession, and he galloped, but was blocked. For a few seconds the ball was bandied "from one to the other, and matters fairly buzzed. From the thick of a scramble came clear and plain in angry tones. "It's only a friendly game, old man,' but it didn't look iike it. Matheson was hurt, but resumed after a short rest. Addison reached after the ball with one hand, missed, band-balled it twice, and landed the leather in P. Jones' hands. He scored a try for Clifton, but S. George failed with the kick. B—7. Stohr beat the opposing rearguard twice was tripped the first -time, and Clifton forced in the next. He had his revenge, for a little later on a free kick was given against Clifton, and he placed a splendid^goal from near half-way. There was no further score.

Mr. W. W.oods was the referee, and was fairly prompt with the whistle.

TXGLEWOOD v. STRATFORD. Intflewnod played a drawn game a«ninst Stratford yesterday on the former's "round. Each side scored six points. Neither team was represented hy its full strength. For Stratford Brown and Boon" scored tries, as did Priest and Eaynor for Inwlewood.