FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 76, 8 July 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

FIRST GRADE. STRATFORD (5) v. TUKAPA (0)

Keen interest was taken in this match at Stratford yesterday, and there was accordingly a large attendance, a number journeying from New Plymouth. After the recent rains it was only to be expected that the going ~ would be heavy. A very interesting game was witnessed, and the result of the match was justified, as on the day's play Stratford were superior. Mynott and Stohr, '■All Blacks," were playing, but tneir journey from Australia and the allnight trip from Wellington per motor, foot and train, must have militated against their performance. Abbott, of "All Black" fame, appeared for Stratford, and justified his inclusion. Tukapa -won the toss and defended the western goal, giving Stratford the benefit of the down grade and a nice breeze during the first spell, tukapa had rather the best of this spell, and! Stratford supporters looked dubious on changing ends. Stratford, however, appeared a different team in the second spell and, putting more vim into their play, 'had all the best of it. Mr. bpurdle ably controlled the game.

K. Abbott set the ball rolling tor Stratford. ' Clark returned to centre. | The Stratford forwards, headed by Smith! and Harkness, immediately invaded Tu-j kapa's territory, Loveridge saving by kicking out. Still' the Stratford tor-! wards pressed, and the Tukapa iull-j back was smothered on the line. From the resultant scrum, Loveridge forced.l Stohr kicked' off, and from an interchange of kicks between the backs Mynott marked almost beneath the Tukapa goal. Tocker found the line close to the corner. A free kick against Marchant the pressure, and Jones, following up with a nice kick, removed! play to half-way. Soon aiterwards Stratford were awarded a free kick in a handy position, and no charge being awarded, Cameron made a good but unsuccessful shot at goal. Tukapa forced. Loveridge headed a nice rush to naifway. Bonner picked up and passed'to Cameron. A slow pass to Dixon, liow-| ever, allowed McAllum and Fairbrother j to obtain possession and initiate a nica forward rush, which was stopped by H. L. Abbott, who ran and kicked high, following up well. Stohr, however, got •there in time to force. From the kickoff, McAllum and Ward were instrumental in a forward movement that earned the ball into the locals' twenty-five, where play remained for a little wnile. Murphy and Abbott headed a forward rush that brought play back to neutral ground. Tukapa backs now got, going, and Loveridge, Mynott, Stohr, Jones and Mynott handled the ball nicely in a rush that put Stratford's citadel in danger. Cameron* however, took the last-named nicely, and a useful kick by Anderson relieved matters for a little while. Tukapa forwards, who were playing much better, than the local 1 team, brought it back, aided by judicious kicks by Mynott and Loveridge. Ward and Fairbrother headed a Blue rush, but Ander-i son was there, and a nice kick brought play ho midfield. Clarke returned to Abbott, who put in a nice run and, kicking well, Tukapa were again placed on the defensive. Off-side play by Young brought relief from a dangerous position. Play was now.very fast, and Tukapa were,having the tJest ot matters. Free fcgksj to both teams for breaches werO:requent. Ward, McAllum and Blyde were, prominent in a forward rush. Cameron failed badly in h;s attempt to stop, but Smith saved. Stratford forwards now roused themselves, and Smith, Murphy, Young and | Abbott were prominent. Mathieson, in return, mode a lone-handed rush, and soon afterwards Stohr had a shot from a free kick. The hearts of local sup-| porters went down, but Stohr failed. Cameron kicked off. Jones was beaten by the bounce, and the ball went out at the visitors' twenty-five. Interchange of 'kicks between Clark and Dixon, resulted in the latter kicking high and following up. Abbott tried to pot', but the ball did not rise; and a scrum ensued on Tukapa's line. A misjudged kick Cameron enabled Mynott to force. Soon afterwards, from the line out, Murphy opened up play by passing to Bonner, who transferred to Cameron. The: latter did not accept, and McAllum, Ward and Loveridge were the eause of Stratford having a taste at defence. 'Dixon, however, relieved. Stratford carried the ball back, but Cameron, with too hard a kick, spoilt the good work, and Clark forced. From the kick-off the ball quickly travelled to Stratford territory; 'and Anderson, for hanging on to Loveridge, was penalised. Stohr had hard luck, the'ball striking the post and rebounding into plajr. Tukapa were not prepared for this, and Abbott secured and carried play to neutral ground. Smith made a nice opening for Cameron, who passed to Abbott, and play was in Tukapa's twenty-five. A hard kick by Cameron resulted in another force. From the kick-off Abbott secured and kicked high. Harkness followed up hard, but Mynott was just before him, and forced. Soon afterwards off-side play by McAllum gave Stratford a lree kick in a nice position. Cameron tailed. Half-time was called with no score.

On resuming, play hung in the centre for a while, but a forward rush by Smith, Harkness and Abbott carried the ball into Tukapa's twenty-live, where Clark ran out. Loveridge got i away with the ball at his feet, but picked up, and was collared. Webster, failing to take cleanly, March-ant, Harkness and James indulged in passing tactics that looked ominous for Tukapa, but the last named knocked-on close to the line. Stratford forwards were now playing with much more vim, and Smith made another nice opening for Cameron,; who made a feeble pass to Abbott, and) the latter was collared by Webster before he ?ot soing. From a scrum, Mynott passed to Jones, who found the line atj half-way. Pace was now very warm. Cameron beat two or three opponents and passed to Abbott, who failed to secure, and a.chance was losjt. Cameron, goon afterwards lucked the ball well up I the-field. Clark and Jones waited forj ithe bounce, which never came, the ball roUiwr out well m Tukapa's twenty-five. From" a scrum, in which the ball came out on Tukapa's side, James secured and passed to Bonner, who was taken low on the lme by Jones, but fell across and scored amidst great excitement. Abbott took the kick and landed.a beautiful goal. Stratford .'-..... 5 - Tukapa . .'.. °

This reverse roused Tukapa, whOj carried the ball at) once into Stratford; territory, where scrums ensued. Stratford however, broke away, and scramble. ' resulted, from which toneron vteked up, but was taken by Stohr. My--5 passed the ball lout, tat no one S» present, wi found the line

well over half way. From the throw-in Bonner secured a nice mark, Abbottls kiek falling short. Tukapa forwards roused their supporters' hopes, but it was brief, Dixon saving. From a passing rush between Loveridge, Mynott and Stohr the latter streaked for the line, but Tocker grassed him. Stohr had another unsuccessful shot at goal. Smith and (Melville cleared the line, the former smothering Clark. A passing rush participated in by Loveridge, Myniott, Stolir and Jones, was ended by Harkness upending the latter. An attempt at a pot by Cameron was again! resultant in a force. McAllum and Ward were prominent in a rush, but | Dixon and Anderson defended well.! Tocker, received a kick on the head, and had to retire, Stratford continuing with •fourteen men. From this out Stratford continued to press, and Tukapa were hard put to it to keep their lines intact, but though two or three forces resulted there was nio further score. I

CLIFTON (6) v. STAR (0). The match in the Recreation Grounds yesterday afternoon between the Star and Clifton seniors drew a lair crowd of spectators. The ground was heavy and slippery, with some very boggy patches. Showers fell throughout the match. Under the conditions good football was hardly to be expected, the Dall behaving in alarmingly erratic fashion, defying the majority of effoi'ts to propel it in any given direction. It was a day on which muscle and brawn might be expected to prevail, and they aid. The Clifton men were far the heavier, and they were able to use their weight. At the same time the Stars were a pretty hard nut to crack. The Waitara men had the upper hand for the greater part of the game, Crowley, in tlie lorwards, and Goodwin, in the backs, being principally responsible. Tate scored the first and only try of the match, the result of a splendid run through a nonplussed set of Star backs. Cain failed with the kick at goal. The second score came in the second spell when Sampson goaled from a mark by Crowley, scoring opportunities were not particularly frequent, but at the same time there 1 were several excellent chances missed on both sides. On the whole the Stars seemed not to throw away so many as their opponents', but then they hadn't so many to miss. The, Stars played a hard game, striving every minute, but the ground and the weight of the Olifton players were too great a handicap. Hill plaved a fine game at centre, and the two Whitakers played cleverly. Avery was prominent on the wing, and the forwards were an even lot. Mr. W. Roch was the referee.

Inglewood seniors forfeited to Eltham seniors. t SECOND GRADE. STAR 16) v. CLIFTON (30). The match, Star 11. v. Clifton 11., played at Waitara yesterday, resulted in a win for the home team by 30 to 6, Burroughs, who played a hard game' throughout, scoring for Star. Sfcar played with ten men." Mr. B. Petty was referee. TUKAPA (12) v. STRATFORD (0). These teams met yesterday at Western Park. The Stratford men came in witli only thirteen men, and at one stage it seemed that Tukapas would be still scarcer. The local men won by 12 points to nil. Sturmey, Honeyfield, Coker and McGiven each seored a try. INGLEWOOD (6) v. ELTHAM (0). Inglewood and Eltham first juniors played at Inglewood, and the game ended in a draw, both teams scoring six points. For the home team Stimpson scored a try, and McDonald kicked a goal from a penal tv. Fake and Robinson scored tries for Eltham. The game resolved itself into a strenuous tussle between the Inglewood forwards and the Eltham ' backs. Mr. W. Woods was the referee.

THIRD GRADE. Clifton second juniors had an easy win against the Stars. Cartwright and Monkly scored two tries, and Adlam scored'one. Stars failed to notch a single point. Clifton won by 15 to nil. Mr. D. George was the referee. s Inglewood thirds forfeited to Eltham thirds yesterday. At Stratford, Tukapa were defeated by 27 points to 3. For the winners, tries were scored by Jones (3), Bowler (2) and Till. Cameron converted two*, Tichborn converted and kicked a penalty goal. Mr. A. Smart was referee.