FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 329, 16 June 1911, Page 7

FOOTBALL

FIRST GRADE. TUKAPA (28) v. INGLEWOOD (0). Ideal weather prevailed yesterday afternoon for the concluding matches of the first round, when Inglewood met. Tukapa at Western Park on a perfect ground and before an attendance of over 500. Mynott made his first appearance on the field this season in the ranks of the Blue and Whites, and his play shows that his absence has not dimmed his lustre. He made a marvellous difference to the team, playing with his old time dash and skill, whilst his knowledge of the game was invaluable. Inglewood were beaten by 28 points to nil, but take Mynott out of the Tukapa team and put him into Inglewood's ranks, and there would not be much difference between the teamß. Within ten minutes of the opening the Blues had piled up the points and a huge score loked inevitable, but the Reds played up pluckily, and defended well, especially in the second spell, in which the Blues could only score three tries. The tackling of the Reds showed si vast' improvement in the second spell on that of the first half. Inglewood have'some good individual players, but combination is lacking. Mr. G. Hopkins had control of the game, and refereed most impartially. Free kicks were very frequent, the majority of which were against the local team for off-side play, lifting the foot in the scrum, etc.

Inglewood won the toss, and played with the sun at their backs. Tukapa kicked off and scored within two minutes of the start. Brown picked up from a loose scrum and passed to Stohr, who beat several men and then transferred to G. Loveridgc, and the latter got over at the comer. Stohr converted with a fine kick. From the kick-

off Inglewood carried the ball down the field, where Brown had a shot at goal from a free kick. The ball fell short, and Stohr marked, finding the line well down. A little later Stohr kicked infield. Brown secured and passed to Mynott, who sent it on to G. Loveridge, the latter again scoring. Stohr converted. Inglewood then, for a very short time, pressed. Mynott, however, opened up the game, and with the rearguard removed the scene of operation. Stohr next scored from a scrambling nish, in which C. Webster kicked over the line. The kick failed. Inglewood were ,| awarded several free kicks as the result j of off-side play and other breaches by I Tukapa. Russell and Karalus next headed a forward rush by Reds which brought play to Tukapa's line, where Honeyfield saved with a nice kick. • Tukapa were soon back at Inglewood's line, and from an opening by Mynott, F. Loveridge got over. Stohr's kick failed. Another nice passing rush by the Blues was checked by F." Nicholls, and play hung at half-way.' Tukapa J were again penalised for lifting in the scrum. From the kick Tukapa again made an assault on the Red's citadel, but Inglewood defended well, and were assisted, by off-side play on the part of the Blues which' was detected by the j ( referee. From a nicely judged cross j kick, G. Loveridge just failed to score, ! Inglewood forcing. A nice machine-like piece of passing between Brown, Mynott, Stohr, and G. Loveridgc saw the latter ~ score his third try. His kick hit the cross-bar and rebounded into the field. From a line-out resulting on the kickoff, F. Nicholls secured and kicked hard, to Ward, who found touch. Fast play' by Inglewood forwards removed the scene of play to Tukapa's 25, from which it was soon shifted, and a dangerous rush by the Blues was only stemmed by a mark by R. Nicholls. A fine piece of play by .Mynott. curried the bull across : the line where two or three members of

each team attempted to touch down, the Reds ultimately being successful. A fren kick to Inglewood saw Tukapa force. Inglewood forwards spoilt a fine chance to score by kicking too hard, enabling Webster to secure and kickwell down the field. Stohr next made a fine run, beating several men, but was well taken by R. Xicholls near the line. Had he passed to some of his attendants a score must have ensued. TJie Blues kept up the attack. " Allen, however, intercepted a pass, and the Reds got going, Webster failing to stem the rush. Stohr, however, got around in time, and secured a nice mark. Half-time was called soon after with the scores as follows: Tukapa 19, Inglewood 0. From the kick-off Inglewood got close to Tukapa's line, and F. Nicholls almost

got over, but the Blues cleared. Smith next put in a nice centre, kick. Stohr

secured, ran and centred, but no advantage resulted. Loose play then ensued under Inglcwood's goal, where Brown secured a nice mark and removed plav to centre. A rush by Kerr and Orr gained ground 'for Inglewood, A mark by Loveridge was responsible for carrying p'av back, and once again Inglcwood's line was in danger, but overanxiety on the part of the Blue backs spoilt a score, Stohr being pushed out into touch-in-goal. Plav was principally in Tuglewood's territory, relieved occasionally by a spasmodic rush bv one or other of the Red forwards. Stohr had a shot at goal from near half-way, the ball going under the bar and being forced. Inglewood were also .vain forced in a few minutes. The Reds now played much better. (}. Niehoils here, got hurt and had to retire. Tukapa's backs started an attack, but Francis got off-side and a free kick was awarded to Inglewood. Smith followed it lip, took the ball on the full ,and set sail for tlie line. lie was, well taken by Loveridge, and the ball went out. The Reds still pressed, but Tnkapa soon set up a counter-attack. Stohr kicked to G. Loveridge, who made for the line, but was well taken bv Ilopkinson. From the ensuing scrum Stohr secured and passed to Webster, who got over at the corner. Webster made a poor attempt to convert. From the kick-off Mynott set his men in motion, and they attacked hotly. Miles saving with a nice kick to the line. The Reds next took a turn and carried the ball to Tukapa's 25, where Honeyfield got possession. A little later Honeyfield was in difficulties, but Webster came round and cleared. From a scrum Ifynott passed to Stohr, who, after beating two men, passed to Webster, and the latter outpaced the opposition and scored his second try right behind the posts. Brown

did not convert. The next score resulted from Brown, who picked up and passed to Charteris. The latter put in :i useful run and handed the ball bark to Brown, who scored. Stohr's kick failed. Soon after the whistle went with Tnkapa still attacking.

EF/THAM v. CLIFTON. Eltham seniors forfeited to Clifton. The forfeiture was most unfavorably commented on by footballers generally, it being thought that the Eltham men might have travelled to Waitarn. even short-handed, to give the Clifton men a run. SECOND GRADE. STRATFORD (10) v. STAR (S). Stratford juniors scored nnolhev victory yesterday afternoon at the Recreation C!rounds, prevnilinnr over (he S!ar team by 1!) points to S. The local team was three men short of its last fifteen, but- the visitors were at f*ll

aU'cngtli. Ti)D game was more stubbornly contested than is indicated by the scores, but there csuld be no doubt that the better team won. There was a good deal of off-side play, and the contestants said unkind things about the referee for his severity, whereas three times the amount of free kicks might fairly have been awarded. The weak . spot of the Star defence was Bell, and Cyril Bellringer also failed to stem rushes. They profited a good deal by the mistakes of Woods, wing threequarter on the other side. Stratford was by far the heavier, and probably the more experienced side, but, like the local men, should be taught to talk less, to run straight, and to collar low. Their side includes two or three men who will shape well in senior ranks before long, young Cameron possessing much of his brother's pace and skill, and a great love for a hard game. The first spell was very even. Star attacked hotly, and then Stratford, hsaded by Hancock, who played prominently | throughout, swept the full length of the field, keeping up a persistent assault on the Star goal-line for about ten minutes. Woods spoiled three good scoring chances, and it was noticeable that after this the Reds trusted more to the other ! wing. Three good line kicks by Stockman brought Stars to the other end, and. Page scored a good try. McDonald equalised matters almost immediately, and although there were some narrow mistakes in attempting goals from penalties the score was unaltered at halftime. Cleaver scored Stratford's second try, as the outcome of a good passing rush. The local men continued in difficulties until C. Bellringer kicked hard downfield, and by dint of-hard following, up crossed the line with the ball in his possession, Stockman goaling. • The visitors were making some fine passing runs now, often initiated by Goldup, and although the Star forwards were playing better than ever it was evident that they would be outpaced. A rebound saved Star right' in the mouth of the goal, and they forced. McDonald s«on afterwards scored a try and kicked a doubtful goal. Cleaver passed to Mcdonald, having secured from the back of a scrum, and McDonald scored again. Cleaver's try in front of the posts was well desorved, and lie kicked a goal, making- the scores Stratford 19. Star 8, which was the position when time was I called, with Stars on the attack. Mr. i J. Johnson was referee. I

CLIFTON (fi) v. ELTJIAM (3)

Lltham had a strong team on paper, no less than seven seniors being included, which was made possible by the secession of the first grade fifteen in the Clifton-Eltham match at Waitara. The game was willingly contested and productive of much interest to a fair gathering of spectators. In the first spell both sides scored three points. The Yellow and Greens kicked a goal from an infringement during the first quarter of an hour, and as the result of a passing bout towards the end of the first half, Robinson, for Eltham, scored ■i good try. The additional points were registered for Clifton by Limmer, as the outcome of mulling on the part of the home backs. Mr. A. Smart pleased the crowd with his refeering.

INGLEWOOD («) v. TUKAPA (0)

These teams met at Inglewood, and a hard clean game ended in a win for the home team by six points to nil. Tukapa won the toss and played with the sun at their backs. Inglewood kicked off, and at once carried play to Tukapa's 25, where Tukapa were penalised. Allen had a shot at goal, but the ball [ailed to rise. Tukapa returned play to half-Hay. Play travelled up and down the field for some time until Kennedy broke away, and beating the Tukapa backs scored a good try. Half-time was called without further score. In the second spell play .was very even. Nicholson picked the ball up at half-way, ran right round the Tukapa backs, and scored Inglewood's second try. Tukapa, who played two men short, put up a really good fight. Mr. 11. Petty was referee,'

THIRD GRADE. CLIFTOX (17) v. ELTIIAM (0). Clifton fpcond juniors defeated EV tham by 17 points to nil. The score was composed of live trios, one being converted. Mr. 0. West was referee.