FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 64, 24 June 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

FIRST GRADE. i TUKAPA (1C) v. ELTHAM (3). The meeting'of the Tukapa and Eltliam senior teams should have provided a more attractive game. It was hard, and at times interesting, but the attacks of the backs on either side were not at ail brilliant. Passing runs were few. On the whole, the defensive work was creditable, and the tackling good. There was the usual tendency to play the man, and the penalties for obstruction should have been more frequent, one or two very glaring instances escaping the referee's notice. There was a strong breeze towards the northern goal, and visitors had to face this in the first spell. Tukapas played against a glaring sun. The scores do not fairly indicate the comparative merits of the two combinations.

Playing with the wind, Tukapa soon invaded the northern end, and Eltham was lucky in forcing on severa.l occasions, the Blues arriving just too late to score. One or two splendid chances were spoiled by hard kicking in their opponents' twenty-five. Pairbrother missed a couple of handy shots at goal. Scrums were frequent, and the Magpies were hooking nearly every time, but Loveridge smothered the ball before the backs got going. On one of the few occasions when the Blues received from the crum, Mulvey made a nice opening, but was too slow in getting the ball out to Webster, who had drawn the attack before obtaining possession. It was a nice chance for a quick passing line. Mulvey made better use of the next opening, transferring to Thompson, who passed nicely to Jones, and the latter dashed over, G. Loveridge making a good, but unsuccessful kick at goal. Tukapa 3, Eltham 0. The resumption of play was marked by some willing interchanges amongst the forwards, and a glaring piece of obstruction by Charteris, who was a frequent offender in this regard. On this occasion he held G. Loveridge and swung him round when the ball *was nowhere in the vicinity. The local forwards, with McAllum, Steele and Ward in the van, carried play up to the Eltham end. F. Loveridge struck out for the line, but Dive took the ball from him. Coming through again from the back he snapped up the ball and just got over., He appeared to be off-side, which probably accounts for the Elthamites Jetting him psss. B. Clarke placed a goal. Tukapa 8, Eltham 0.

Up to this time Eltham had only momentarily crossed half-way, but now: they made a determined rush down the' field, forward and back divisions cooperating well. Dive, Fitzgerald and Potier carried on, the latter being badly. missel, and 'the Blacks were within striking distance. Play hung closg to J the lino, and the Blues seemed &U *rt| sixes and sevens on the defence. Theft) could be but one ending, D. Moir scoring' smartly against the goal-post. The kick i at goal was poor. Tukapa 8, Eltham 3. A good deal of line play resulted, but) without tony great advantage to either side. A passing rush amongst the El-] ttoam-backs was nipped in the bud when 1 , McAllum downed Moir, and Dive put in a long kick. Clarke fiielding splendidly! and returning to Fitzgerald, who was' grassed, and the ball went out. Eltham j

attacked again, the forwards going down' in a body, but Horan kicked too hard, and Tiikapa forced. Just afterwards Gibson, one of the visiting pack, made a fine dodgy run down the line, squirming, away from the high tacklers and hurd-. ling the others, until F. Loveridge threw '. him out. Matters were uninteresting' up to half-time. Resuming, Eltham was in trouble at' once. The home backs penned them in; the corner, where Loveridge got the ball! from the ruck, and passed out to Web-'j ster, who scored. No goal. Tukapa 11,1 Eltham 3. | Potier set the ball in motion. There, was a scrum in mklfiekl for a knock-on, I and the ball came out to the Tukapa I backs. Mulvey cut in and passed toj Webster, who put in' a nice run, kicked! over Fitzgerald's head when he came at him, followed smartly and again secured' the ball, passing to Steele, who hurled himself through and over the line a splendidly worked score. Webster booted a fine goal. The Blues continued to attack, and Moir did fine defensive work by his short kicks to touch. A nice rush amongst the forwards was spoiled by F. Loveridge obstructing. From a longi • throw-in the spectators were treated to some exciting times, the ball travelling 'about very rapidly, and Eltham getting an advantage. Osborne picked up in the. loose and passed quickly to Dive, but Webster beat him and brought about a (change, he and Perry charging right up to the goal before they lost the ball. The Hast incident of a brisk five minutes was a race between Potier and Jones 1 for the ball, but the touchline beat them both. Mulvey had to retire temporarily as the result of a nasty kick. Fairbrother, who had been putting in a lot of work, got out by himself. He passed j yards forward to McAllum when the ! road to goal was practically clear. The Ifailure of T. Jones to grab the ball, apparently due to listlessuess, made things look serious for Tukapa, who, bavin" secured a substantial lead, were [playing below form, one or two of the forwards waiting for chances. Eltham was attacking hotly, and had a shot at goal from a penalty against Thompson for plving the ball on the ground. The kick failed. The Blacks kept up the pressure, and should have scored, but Potier kicked the ball back into the ruck, and Ward brought it away at his toe. In the serums Tukapa was now doing better. A passing run by Charteris to Dive, to Potier, back to Dive and to Potier a'oain, was the finest incident in the game, but the field wasn't wide enough. There was no further score. The winners' most prominent forwards were Ward, Steele and McAllum. Webster played the best back game on the field. For Eltham, Dive and Fitzgerald were the pick of the backs, but Workman and Cooper did their full share. Osborne. Gibson, Horan and Narbey appeared to be the best of a willing but not too skilful pack. Mr. W. Woods was the referee. STAR (21) v. INGLEWOOD (8). Perfect weather conditions prevailed ■for the above match at Inglewood yesterday. The score put on by Star does not fully represent the merits, of tire two teams. The better team won, it is true, but it was the nippy, elusive tactics of the visiting backs that rattled o<n the score. The home pack was the better of the two vanguards and, considering the pace (which was amongst jthe hottest of the season), they showed good condition. * Star kicked off, and immediately set, up a strong attack, the hacks getting; early to work. Inglewood were forced | to the corner. From the scrum the

leather came to the black backs, and N. Grant registered the first try within six minutes >of starting. Hawkins just! missed a goal. Star 3, Inglewood 0. The home forwards set out to equalise matters, and swarmed Tapidly up the field, Geo. Nicholls snatched up the oval and got over. Brown landed a pretty goal. Inglewood 5, Star 3. Lively play followed in Inglewood territory, a nice passing rush in which. Whitaker, Hill and Malone took part, being spoiled by ulie latter player unfortunately slipping. Just afterwards Inglewood were penalised, and Hawkins shot a goal. Star 0, Inglewood 5. The next score came from a nippy bit .of play started by VVlvitaJcer and taken up by Dixon and C. Brown, the latter getting across. Hawkins failed to goal. Star 9, Inglewood o. Give-and-taKe played followed. Hill secured from the and, eluding several players, got through to the line. Being hotly tackled, he sent a long pass to Dixion, who had followed smartly. Dixon secured and fell over. Brown failed to goal. Star 12, Inglewood 5. Inglewood invaded, Russell heading a soiitt msli which Whittaker only stopped near the goal line, and lined at centre. The liome pack continued the pressure, but kicked too hard, Star forcing to save. The Reds returned to the charge and gave Star a not time defending their lines. Russell marked for Inglewood at, an acute angle, Brown just missing a pretty goal. From a high kick Malone made a bad mull, and Smith, snapping the leather, dived over the line' at the corner. Brown failed with the kick. On resuming, Stars invaded, and 'Hill came near to getting over after a dodgy run. He transferred to Malone, who was grassed on the line, Inglewood forcing, uust afterwards Pearoe secured from the inelae and registered a try. Hill failed to add the major points. Star 15, Inglewood 8. Half-time sounded with the Reds hard on the defensive. On, resuming, the 'home team came up fresh, and a fast game ensued. The Red forwards showed good aggressive tactics and invaded, but the visiting backs cut in and transferred play into Inglewood's lines, where a free kick eased the pressure. A lively passing bout, in which Brown, Whittaker, Hill, A. Grant and Dixon all took a hand, gave promise of a score, but the Inglewood collaring was. of the sudden kind that made the ejwrt. futile. The play evened up for a, spell. From the central zone Hill goft the leather aad made the run of wfi day. He •uccessfully eluded all the' opposing backs and, putting on the pacQ % xm right round and under the posts. Whittaker missed an easy kick. Star 18, Tngiewood i ; . Loose play ensued at centre, where Kussel. marked. Jury made a fine effort to goal the oval, going wide. Just afterwards Jury attempted a pot from the half-way mark, and a splendid kick only missed scoring by a couple of feet. Pearce, who- played a weak game throughout as wing-forward for Star, was penalised. Brown had a shot at goal; but failed. In the final, stages of the game, rapid pace was maintained all oyer the field., Hawkins picked the ball from ihe ruck and registered a further try -for the -visitors, which was not converted'; fctar 21, Inglewood 8. Before tiffifi wis called, Star was forced or. two occasions. ■ * \ Mr. W. Roch refereed. ,-i- ---•*"■• ' i a; &;4 , ; , CLIFTON (6) v. STRATFORD (3). These two teams met at Waitara yesterday and, for the first time this season, the Red and Blacks had to lower their colors, as the Clifton team revenged themselves for their defeat in the first round. Clifton played the same line as last week, whilst Stratford were minus the services of Cameron and Burgham (backs) and Melville and Marchant (forwards). The loss of the former was very noticeable. Stratford won the toss and played with the sun at their backs. From the kick-off Stratford started a passing rush and brought play into Clif- ; ton's territory, and from a 1 scrum Hark-' ! ness broke away and got across the line, | but a force resulted; a little later SampI son fumbled a return. Campbell smoth- i I ered him before he could recover, but over-eagerness on the part of Stratford forwards spoilt a good chance, and a j serum ensued. Kyle relieved the >iresi sure by marking nicely and kicking high. Tait got up to Burgess bciore J the latter could take the ball, which went out at about' half-way. The same thing happened a little later, a scrum ensuing in Stratford's twenty-five. 'Clifton backs now took a hand in attack, and a passing fun between Lash, Kyle and Jones ended in the latter being grassed when he looked dangerous. Smit/h and Young headed a Stratford | forward rush and brought the ball back to neutral ground. Then Campbell, Boon, Murphy and Masters were prominent, and Stratford were awarded v a free 1 kick, from which Burgess made a fine attempt, the ball striking the post and rebounding into the field. 'Crowley secured and kicked to Dixon, who punted high. Campbell followed up hard and smothered Tait's return, enabling Harkness to pick up and pass to Smith, who dashed for the line and got across. Dixon failed with the kick. Shortly after the kick-off Toekt.r made a dash for the line, but was up-ended by Goodwin. Play then became very fast, travelling all over the field, until it settled in the Stratford twenty-five, where the Clifton backs were throwing the ball about nicely and giving Stratford a very anxious time. Tait, Jones and Kyle made several, dashes for the line, but were nicely 'taken by Tichbon, Dixon and Co., and on one occasion ■Goodwin missed a nice chance by attempting to pot instead of dashing for the line. Just on the call of time Sampson kicked a nice goal from a free kick. The spell ended 3 points all. On resuming, Clifton attacked strong- 1 ly, hut Tichbon saved by finding the line. Crowley and Cain were then prominent in a forward rush, from which a scrum ensued, and several free kicks were awarded each team, from one of which Sampson made a, poer attempt at goal. Burgess mulled the ball, but Tichbon saved. Goodwin returned over the line, and a force resulted. From the kick-off Tait made a fine run, but Tocker brought him down. Clifton continued to press, and forced Stratford. Then Tichbon, who was not fielding the ball at all well, fumbled badly, but luckily extricated himself with a speculator which found the line well in Stratford's twentyfive. From the throw-in Lush passed to Berntsen, who ran and dived across the line. Sampson's kick at goal failed. Clifton continued to press, and a touch in goal relieved the strain. Clifton forwards at this stage were getting all over Stratford, until Bonnor intercepted opass and cut down the field, but was not supported, and the ball went out in Clifton's twenty-five. Sampson, with a long kick, brought play to half-way, where Stratford forwards headed a rush, in which Abbott, Smith and H'arkness were prominent, and the ball went out. Play hung about mid-field for some time, until Berntsen and Du Blois broke away, only to be brought back by Dickson. Sampson had two unsuccessful shots at goal. The ball then travelled rapidly from one end of the field to the other,

Jones missing a likely chance by" not passing. Xo further score resulted.' and the game ended as above. Mr. F. Spurdle made a capable referee. SECOND GRADE. INGLEWOOD (3) v. STAR (3). The Star-Inglewood second grade match on the Recreation Grounds was Very interesting. Star should have won, but they were absolutely out of form, and could not take advantage of th<jir fiiany opportunities. Their backs were wretched, and on one occasion three of them, taking the ball out on the wing, with no one between them and the line, a few yards away, passed the ball aimleslly about, and lost the chance. The game ended in a draw, each side scoring a try. Lealand scored for the local men. Mr. P. Petty was the referee.

CLIFTON (4) v. STRATFORD (0). J These teams played at Stratford yesterday, and the result was a win for the visitors by 4 points (a potted goal by Waka) to nil/ The game, though not of a brilliant nature, was strenuously contested, the home team playing a much better game than they have yet played this season. ELTHAM (C) v. TUKAPA (0). This match was played at Eltham, and resulted in a win for the home team , by points (two tries) to nil. Both tries were scored when the light had become very bad, and Tukapa were,playing with fourteen men, one of them having to retire through receiving a bump on the head, Mr. A. Smart was the referee. THIRD GRADE. Eltham and Tukapa, second juniors, met on the Tukapa ground, and Eltham won by 6 to nil. The home team had neglected to flag the ground, and thus lost three points, the referee (Mr.»D. George) not being sufficiently certain of the position to award a try. The game between Inglewood 111. and Star 111., played at Inglewood yesterday, was won by the home team by 6 rwints to 5. At Waitara yesterday the local thirds defeated Stratford by 19 points to 5. Owing to some misunderstanding about the time of play, Mr. Johnson, the appointed referee, only arrived in time to take the second spell. Mr. Elliott officiated during the first half, "Snip" Allen, the darling of the football crowds in the past, the finest fiveeighths that the Star Club ever had, and perhaps the cleverest in the Dominion, is on a visit to New Plymouth, owing to the serious illness of his mother. "Snip" has given the game best now, and he looks it. The following will represent Civil Service a Pirates on the Sports Ground on Saturday:—Knrunmgi, Copestake, Honeyfield, Chamberlain, Pfankuch, Loveridge, L. Mclsaac, Tushey, Ken*, Boyd, Kilgour, Harwell, Slmpso<n,J Broadmore, Simpson, Marcuseen. The following will represent Warehouses in their match against .Rovers on the Racecourse on Saturday:: Doughty, . Ward, Burns, Crockett, Stannering, Jensen, Hawkins, Roberts, Arthur, Johnson, Simmers, Boucher, Richards, Crockett, HcAHum. I