FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 394, 20 May 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

FIRST GRADE. TUKAPA 2.1 v. STAR 3. i The two New Plymouth .senior icams met yesterday on frlie Western Park : ground. The weather was perfect, and ! ■the playing field dry. It is, however, ( still very bunipy, and the man wiho ; waited yesterday for a .twill to bounce . was generally beiaten, for it bounced m all directions. The result was a de cisive -victory for Tdka-pas, the outcome i of better generalship and a superior back division. Taken on the wiliole, the . display of football was nothing to boast about. Tu'kapa kicked off, and, despite the fact that offside pliay (gave tile Stars >a free kick, the Blues were soon hammering .hard at the goal. Webster should Jiavc got over, but wanted a little more pace. From the line-out titoe tall went to centre, in frort of the posts, where Steele marked, and Jack Stohr placed a goal. Tukapa 3. The Star forwards returned the compliment, and invaded the other end, where the Blues gave away a free kic'k for off-side, and Hawkins equalised tihe scores with a welldirected: kick from about 40 yards. Four minutes fluid gone, and the score stood at 3—3. From the kick-out Tukapa forwards got amongst the opposing backs. Grant misfieldcd, and Hill was lucky in forcing. The next score was not long in ! coming. Mynott secutfed the ball from a line-out, and passed/to Jones on the wing. He was grassed, but passed to Stohir in time, land Jhe scored near the corner. His kick at goal was unsuccessful. Tukapa 6, Star 3. Play at centre tried the mettle of tihe forwards. Inthe serums they were fairly evenly matched, but the ball came out badly. Stars seemed to be trying to make the game close, and Mynott and Loveridjge directed their efforts towards opening it up for their galloping three-quarter line. From a line-out the ball was parsed to Stohr, who nan across and p?.sse<.l on to Webster, who scored unopposed. Stoihir again failed with the kick.' Tukapa !), k .Star 3. Hand .play in midfield followed, incidents being a. "Stover" line-kick by Stohr and a smart kick, follow, and" tackle by Hill, but Mynott had claimed his mark before Hill arrived. G. Loveridge was unlucky in missing a mark in front of the goal, and the 'ball camie out. He was more fortunate with the next one, in a tandv position, the Star full back mulling having let Tukapa .in again.' otohr goaled. Tukapa 12, Star 3. An interchange of kicks gave Hill a emflnce to line at Tukiapa's'corner ting, and for a few minutes play was at that end. .Brown and Whitiaker each failed to stem a rush, unci the pressure eased, T. Jones kicking to the northern end, and, me Star forwards again beaten, Mynott lined in the corner. Stohr secured the ball from the line-out, and .his opponents madje the mistake of trying to taiKe him high. He crossed the line with three men clinging to 'his loins and shoulders, nis.l kick failed. Tukapa 15, Star 3. A nice! rush by the .atar forwards in the Tukapa end was spoiled by Whitaker cutting in from an off-side position. From • a line-out near halfway Robertson broke away,;but was thrown out. Whitaker., failed to hold tilue ball, and presently it was sent by Stohr to Grant on the wing, a lon» kick, iwihich flue missed, and the toll went out. The advantage was lost in the line-out. (Play was suspended for a space, owing to Brown receiving a nasty kick on the head. The game wi;v§ now mostly among the.. iorWardSj t ailU vei'v willing. MalOiie, AVIIO like Clarke on "the other side, was waiting for the bounce, was caught napping, and tarown ■ by.Jones near .his goal line, but owing to lack of a support the effort was resultless, the ball.going out. Then liautime was sourided. Early in t'lie second spell Star was given a free kick; land Hawkins made a good bill ttniSuteksiUl attempt at goal, from near halfway. Ross Wst.= .penalised for waiting offside. -lan Grant was pfiU' j alised for offside in ibis own 25, and Stohr brought the score to 18—3. Stonrj made a fine run through the Black lor- ■ wards, but held too long, although he was well followed up. Just afterwards ihe narrowly missed a goal from a mark. Mynott made an opening from the ruck and piassed to Webster, and he transferred to Stohr.- T. Jones galloped with •him, and taking a nice pass, crossed the line, tackled by Copestake as he grounded the ball'. Stohr missed the goal. Tukapa 21, Star 3. Loveridge had a chance of initiating a scoring movement from a serum, but held too long. Jones made a good attempt to pot. Tukapa now kept the Blacks continuously on the defensive. Ragged play, however, let them out, and here followed the best piece of football in the match, a nice / movement by Brown, and a fast dodgy run by Hill deserving a score. But the latter' sent a difficult pass to Ross, ana ihe missed. The ball was kicked oiit. Wihiitaker made la poor kick at goal just afterwards from a nice position. Then he made a good dodgy dasih for the line, being grassed just in time. A long kick relieved the hot pressure to which the Blues were subjected for «• brief spell, ■and the Blues took a turn at attacic. The Blacks, however, had the better condition, and forced them back. For the last ten minutes the Stars were keep-, iny up a strenuous pressure, generally inside the 25 line, but lacked scoring opportunities. Brown, however, tad verv hard luck in missing a try just on the*call of time. The game ended without further score, jir. F. Spuu-dle was the referee. STRATFORD v. ELTHAM. Considerable interest was taken in the match between these two teams, which took place at Stratford yesterday, and despite the fact that it was not a halfholiday in the inland centre there was a very fair attendance. Both teams were represented by almost their full strength. Cameron again took the field for Stratford, though it could !bc seen that he was saving himself, as he played at full-back during most of tho first spell, only going up to five-eighths during the second spell, wben it was feared that as Eltham would have the advantage of down hill Stratford's lead of six points might not be sufficient. Marchant was an absentee from the Stratford forwards. The game started twenty minutes late, the local team bein" the principal offenders, as the visitors were lined out for a few minutes to play. The game was of a very interesting nature, the play being fast anil fairly open,,while at times some excel- j lent passing was indulged in. The El-' / tham hookers obtained possession of the ball on almost every occasion, but Dive,; Moir. Potier and Co. did not seem aWe to take full advantage of their opportunities. Had Stratford forwards been able to get the ball the score would pos- j sibly have been much greater, as the | Stratford backs (handled the ball nicely. Cameron won the toss, and decided to take advantage of the slope in the ground. Levick kicked off for Eltham. and Burgess fumbling a scrum ensued in Stratwd's twenty-five, the ball go in" out. From the line-out Onarteris

passed to Moir, who handed on to Dive,' the latter making ft fine attempt to. pot. The Stratford forwards, headed 'by Smith and Harknuss, brought play Into Klthani's twenty-five, Potier nicKing out. From the tlirow-in Tocker passed to Dixon, u'li.re a kick found the line, near haii-way. Levick and Osborne were then prominent in an Eitham forward rush, which Bonnor stopped very lU'.itly. After an interchange of kicks between Bonnor and Potior, the bail was centred by Burgess. Bergen secured, but a bad pass to Tocker spoilt a nice chance of Stratford scoring, the ball going out. The home team still kept the Dull near their opponents' goal line, 'but over eagerness on the part of a lor-! ward gave Eitham a free kick and tc.n •porary relief. Bergen, however, almost immediately kicked the bah over the line, but he put too muc'li boot in, the Eitham full-back forcing just as Tocker, who followed up fast, reached him. From the kick-off the 'backs exchanged kicks, the ball seldom getting out of Eltham's twenty-five. The Stratford forwards then took a liajid, and from a loose rush Murphy .picked up and dashed over the line, drawing first blood for Stratford after twenty minutes' play. Cameron failed to convert. From the kick-1 oil' Stratford forwards continued to press,! and matters looked dangerous till Le-J vick and Narbey broke away, 'but the former was penalised for a breach of the rules, and Tichbon, making no mistake with the kick at goal, brought Stratford's total to G. Whiting kicked oil' for the visitors, and after some open ■play Cooper .passed out to Potier, who kicked over the line, and Stratford were compelled to force. Eitham now began to make matters interesting, and as the result of a nice passing bout between Cooper, Moir and Dive, the home team were again compelled to seek relief by forcing. Gibson then obtained a mark for Eitham. Potier made a beautiful shot at goal, thei ball striking the post and rebounding into the field of .play, eventually being forced. Stratford forwards now livened up and 'brought the ball back to half-way, and a passing rush between Bonner, Tocker and Dixon was intercepted ibv Dive, who was brought down by Harkness before he had gone far, the whistle sounding halftime without any further score. On resuming Cameron kicked off, and the game at once .became very fast, both teams getting in some nice passing, Cameron, Dixon, Tocker and Bergen being conspicuous for the home team, and Cooper, Moir, Dive and Potier for the visitors, the ball going out at hafl-way. Smith and Young headed another Stratford rush, which was responded to by Levick and Osborne. Then followed the prettiest passing of the match from a throw-in near centre. Dixon secured and passed to Cameron, who ran and transferred to Tocker. This player drew the defence cleverly, and at the right moment transferred to Bergen, who got over at the corner. Tichbon made a .poor attempt. Stratford 9, Eitham nil. Levfefs kick off was a poor one. Narbey headed an 'Eitham rush, which •brought the ball into his opponent's territory for the first time this spell, , but Dixon relieved with a nice kick io . the line. From the throw-in the hall travelled from Bonnor to Bergen, Cameron, but t!he latter was rtn d a free kick was awarded E'ltV&m. From this Tocker failed to up the ball. . cleanly, and levick jitifi pliart'eris , instrumental in bviftghig play , Stratford's -gqaj line. Dixon, however., : was 011 tlie hppt and forced. A passing. ; rush between Dive, Potier and again tft ' Dive, "t}is not gain much ground for the , magpies, the ball travelling across the i flew and the latter kicking out. Moir. I lUld .Gibson were then prominent. The : latter marked and kicked high. The El- ! than! forwards followed up well, sniotlii ering Cameron's return. Dixon, how- ;■ ever, again saved by kicking up the ■ field; and a nice .passing rush by Cooper, ■ Moir, Dive and Glentwortli was checked by Bergen, bringing the latter do'\Vll> Arid i tiie ball went out well in Stratford's , twenty-five. Soon after, Gibson picked up from ji loose forward rush And passed to Potier, who beat two or tiire&i . men and literally forced his way across' with about half a dozen men hanging I on to Mfni His attempt at goal was a ( good one, biit Unsuccessful. Stratford 9, Eitham 3. On the kick-off the magpies endeavored to repeat the dose. 'Potier put in a good kick. Bergen returned to Glentwortli, who centred, and Eitham were penalised for off-side play. Tocker followed up the kick, and the ball went out near Eltham's goal line. Several scrums ensued, but the magpies managed to clear their lines until, from a throw-in, Dixon secured at the line-out, and with a nice run scored a simple and at the same time a clever try. Cameron's kick was successful, and the whistle went, -leaving Stratford successful by 14 points to 3. Mr. J. Rock was referee. CLIFTON v. INGLEWiOOD. Clifton seniors defeated Ing'lewood at Waitara iby 23 points to nil. Tries were scored 'by P. Jones, v. Tate (2), Goodwin, Kyle and S. Jones (2), -only one oi' the seven tries being converted. The goal kicking was wretched. Clifton nad the best of the game throughout, and in the second spell evidently took matters easy, as only one try was scored. Several tries were missed in the second spell through the live-eighth hanging on to the ba'il. Ing.ewood played a plucky game throughout, 'but lacked combination. Mr. J. Way gave every satisfaction as referee. SECOND GKADE TI'KAPA 14, v. STAR 3. Star and Tu'kapa first juniors met on the Western Park ground, the latter team winning .by 14 to 3. Julian scored two tries, and Dines and Stunney a try each for Tukapiii-, Addison converting one. Whitaker scored for Star. IN.GLEWOOiD v. CLIFTON. The above match was contested at Inglewood yesterday, and after a keen struggle finished in a draw, the scores being 12 all. There were a fair crowd of decidedly enthusiastic spectators. The Inglewood men started playing •with the sun at their 'backs. Scoring honors for the teams were divided as follows; For Clifton, B. Fuller scored a try, which W. Fuller converted, and Win. Fuller drop-kicked a' goal from tihe field and kicked a- penalty goal. It was largely owing to W. Fuller's goal-kicking that Clifti'ii were enabled to hold their opponents. For Inglewood Ivaralus secured I iwo ; res and Savwell one, while Mc- : "u: ..ild kicked a penalty goal. Both i.ams were out to win from the kickoli'; and the match proved exciting and strenuous. Without about twenty minutes to play and the score 12.3 in favor of Clifton, Inglewood supporters "wore a worried look." However, in answer to frenzied exhortations from spectators Inglewood "bucked-np," and in irresistible rushes equalised matters. Try as they would, however, they were unable to score the winning ipoints, and tlieir superior condition alone enabled them to secure the draw. During the game an Inglewood player was ordered off the

field for rough play, and from then on the loL-al team played one short. The jiame was ably controlled by Mr. Johnston. KLTIIAM 11. v. STRATFORD 11. These teams met at, Eltham yesterday, ami a hard fought game ended in a win for the home team 'by 14 points to (i. The plnv was confined to the forwards, the backs on both sides putting up a very poor performance. For the winners, Fake (2), Rrtbinson and Glentworfli scored tries, the hitter converting one, wliile for Stratford James scored a try and Kivcll kicked penalty goal, Mr. 0. West was referee. THIRD GrtADE. TUKAPA (i. v. STAK 3. On t:he Tuikajia jrrounrt the Tukam team won by 6 points to 3. STRATFORD 111. v. ELTIIAM HI. [ This match was -played at Stratford yesterday, and resulted in a win for | Stratford bv 9 points to nil. For the

winners tries wore scored by Jones (2) and Tichbon, neither of which was eon-] verted. Mr. J. Roch was referee. j CLIFTON v. INGLEWOOD. The Clifton second juniors defeated Inglewood on the local ground l>y 23 points to nil. Mr. Smart refereed.