FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 5, 30 June 1911, Page 7

FOOTBALL

THE DAN O'BRIEN SHIELD,

TUKAPA (5) v. STAR (3)

The meeting of the old rivals, Star and Tukapa, at the Recreation Sports Ground yesterday provided a game full of incident and productive of excitement, such a match m had hardly been expected by even sanguine supporters of the Star team, who proved perhaps the nut that Tukapa has had to cjPk this season. The game was generally conceded to be the best match played this season in New Plymouth, and some went further, claiming that it was the finest tussle seen in the northern division this year. About a. thousand people witnessed the which was played as a benefit to the widow and family of the late Mr. James Way, for many years a staunch supporter of the game. The ticket sales and gate receipts were good. The ground was dry. By an arrangement made at the beginning of the season Brown and Whitaker returned to the ranks of the Stars, and McAllum rejoined Tukapa. The first two, being Thursday players, had to leave the Star Club when it entered the Saturday competition, and McAllum went over to Star because of his inability to play on Thursdays. It will be seen that Stars had the best of the deal, for the all;«cnce of Brown (who was replaced at half-back by McGivcn) weakened the combination "of the Tukapa backs, though they were still superior to theii opponents' rearguard. The Star forwards were the better for the greater part of the game, but the Blues held them fairly safe towards the end. Tukapa was fortunate in having Mynott back in the team. His skill and generalship alone gave them the two points' lead. Mr. George Hopkins controlled a •fast and willing game most satisfactorily.

Tu'kapa kicked off, and after a few minutes' struggling in mid-field the Stars were forced. They retaliated, and a mis-kick by Honeyfield let them in to Tukapa's 25, but Jull changed the scene by kicking upfield from the ruck. Stohr followed on with a' fine kick to Lovcridge, who was grassed near the goal line, Pfankuch clearing cleverly. Tne Black forwards gathered in a solid nush, but Mcdivcn relieved, and, Fred Loveridge following up smartly, play settled on the Star line. Some good | kicking amongst the backs followed, j Honeyfield finding the line with some I good' long kicks. For some minutes Stars had'tihe better of things. Mynott w.as penalised for oll'-'-.ide play in his own 2!>, but Hawkina' shot at goal from a /good position was poor. Then Tukapa , woke up, McAllum showing at the head of .a fine rush, which swept into Star's end, Unit Dewar, who was playing a heady game, cleared his line, and . and Hill handled in a fine run .to the Tukapa end, a murk coming ns a welcome relief to the Blues. Dewar [ came through at the dribble, beating i \yebster on Tukapa's wing, and Hill j followed. A score was imminent as the i res,ult of a nice bit of play by L. Whit- '' ajcer, but Geo. Loveridge saved. Then .followed some exciting rushes, both backs and forwards taking part, and the foams securing advantage in turn. A "ne kick by L. Whitaker took Stars to ~the comer again, where Hawkins made ']a poor shot at goal from a mark. Stars . '\yere forced three times in as many ; 'grlnute.s by ill-judged Tukapa. kicks, and once 3iad a very narrow escape, Bain, Vjlb was evidently out of form and suf/'teiiing with a bad knee, just being in "ffme to nullify some fine footwork by ; piynott. Okey, Brown. Hill and Daly !? wcre associated in a fine passing run, but Daly made the mistake of cutting 'in,, and a good chance was lost, Jull, McAllum and Ward forcimr the Blacks feck fo their own territory, where s 's?{ohr narrowly missed n goal from the Jficld. Half-time saw no score on either £side; ! r 'the second spell opened vigorously, ' Ward setting up a rush, afterwards ! {-be.ip2 helped by dull and Mvnott. the : 'latter being thrown over the line nlorig- ; 'side, the . posts, Stohr goaling nicely. Tiiknpa '?>, Star 0. Things got brisker ' J .?til!,, and for some time there was a '"series of exciting rushes from end to '■ end. generally marked by the 25 (lags. ■ : Hill made a couple of fine runs, but F.

Loveridgc got liim each tunc The | Blues were k«'v>t busy in repelling the j ■Star forwards' (lashes, aml nt length Wallv Wliitaker eluded the defence, and scored near the corner. The kick at ' goal was at ' too difficult nil angle. Tukapa 5. Star 3. Stohr's long kicks were proving o' great value to Tukapa, TSuin being slow at taking them. Brown,) L. Wliitaker arid Dewar were working like heroes, and Hawkins and Woods • were also prominent. Oharlcris. who joined in the attack spasmodically, 'broke away, F. Loveridgc following smartlv until tackled by IT 111, and Stars got a hot time in the corner. More accurate passing among, the Blue hacks must have added to their score, hut it! was very wild, and Pfankuch inter : oepting the pressure was relieved. Ward, dull, Francis, and Morshead eamb again, however, and Stars secured a very lucky force..... Bain was again badly Jiea'len by a long kicif h(fm Stohr. Pfankuch"tried to retrieve the situation, hut was off-side.. Stohr missed an easy shot at goiji,,,. It was now that the Star forwards were seen to be losing their sting, a couple of the fleshy ones particularly so. Dewar, who was perhaps the pick of the pack, was held up in a. great effort to get through. A mark bv L. Wliitaker in a good position seemed likelv to produce points for Star, hut Hawkins had hard luck with his kick. There was ~ lot of hard fast plav in the last quarter of an hour, hut M'vnott and Co. were playing foi safetv. and there was no further score.

FIRST GRADE. C'LTFTOX (2!)) v. IXCLF.WOOD (3). The above ma toll at Waitara yesterdiiy was not of a very high grade of pliiv. hut Clifton showed their superioritv' with a win of 21) points to # Neither Column nor Crowley played. For some time the game was an interchange of kicks. Inglewood were awarded a free kick for C. Tate holding the hall. A few minutes' plav resulted in the home team being given a free kick, and for a. time free kicks were the order of the day. both sides infringing. A good hont of passing was shown'by the home team. C. Tate securing and passing to Fggleston, to V. Tate, who scored! George, failing with the kick. From the kick-out Fggleston secured and punted well down the fiettl. and bv fast following up C. Tate got possession and passed to Kyle, to I Fi/glcslon. to Goodwin, to V. Tate, but | the" latter lost the ball, and an Tngle- ' wood man tackling him, Clifton were awarded a free kick, from which George placed a fine goal. Foon after the kickon t Tnglewood were awarded a free kick. Plav centred for some time, scrums predominating. From a line-out Kyle got the -ball and passed to Fggleston. who sent it on to Goodwin, and the latter scored. George failed to convert from a, good position. After give and take play, during which Tnglewood were awarded several free kicks, Clifton were elso awarded a free kick, from which George made a good but ineffectual shot at "onl. Plav was momentarily in Clifton's 25, when V. Tate made a ftae^'un,

but was collared in Jnglewood's 25. The ball returned and Inglewood pressed, and were awarded a free kick, but Clifton forwards stopped the ball in its flight. From a scrum Allen scored for Inglewood, but no goal resulted. Inglewood kept play in Clifton's 25, and were again awarded a free kick, but the shot at goal failed, Fast following up from the kick-out soon had Inglewood in difficulties, and a force resulted. From the kick-out there was another good bout of passing. C. Tate passed to Kyle, to Eggleston, to V. Tate, who was collared on the line and lost the ball, but Fairley felJ on it and scored. George made a good attempt to convert, the ball falling short. Inglewood attacked from the kick-out, the bail going to George, who found the line. Inglewood were soon afterwards in trouble and were forced. Play moved up and down the field, and at half-time was just outside Clifton's 25.

From the kick-out Clifton invaded the visitors' territory and looked like scoring, but Brown saved nicely. Give aad take play took the oval into Clifton's 25, but George relieved with a good kick. Inglewood were again on the attack, Eggleston saving. From a hard kick by Hicks and fast following up V. Tate secured, and beating two men by his dodgy run, scored between the posts. George converted. The visitors were again on the attack, but Eggleston relieved. Fairley started a line passing bout, but the ball went out. Inglewood were given si free kick, but lost the advantage by some one being in front. From the kick Kyle secured and passed to Goodwin, who was thrown out. From the line-out, Eggleston secured and potted a nice goal. Play travelled up and down, Inglewood attacking strongly,' from which Clifton were forced. Froni> the kick-out Clifton attacked, but Inglewood obtained relief from a free kiclo V. Tate secured later on, and after another fine run scored another try, George, converting. Soon afteT the kickout C. Tate got possession and made agood run, and finding the line. Aftersome interesting play Kyle secured and) passed V. Tate, who made a long run. and found the line. Inglewood soon after were forced. From some pressing: work Kyle secured, and beating several men, scored. George's kick was a good one, but struck the post. Inglewood were soon afterwards forced. From this to the end of the game play was uninteresting, and there was no further score. Mr. F. Spurdle was referee.

STRATFORD (30) v. ELTHAM (8). The above game at Stratford yesterday proved very one-sided. Eltham arrived at the convincing ground with only eleven men, three of whom were Kaponga juniors, four Stratford juniors who were on the scene being played as substitutes in order to make up a team. Playing against the wind the Magpies were soon in trouble and after having been forced a couple of times, first blood was registered against them by R. Anderson, who scored behind the posts. Cameron's kick at goal failed. Three minutes later Anderson got. over again at the corner, the kick once more failing to add the major points. Within a couple. of minutes from the kick-out Boon sent the ball' to Wood, who transferred to Cameron, the last-named scoring and converting his' own try. For a brief interval thereafter play' remained on the Red side of mid-field, where Eltham had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a -mark. An Eltham back mishandling fi kick gave Melville possession, and passing to Cameron; (Tie latter got over, the kick once more failing. Then in quick succession Stewart thrice got over, converting two of the tries. The first spell ended by Cameron chasing a rolling !i>all over the line and scoring, but the kick failed.

On changing ends, the Reds once more acted as aggressors, Cameron following ii]) a kick and scoring within a minute of the kick-oil'. A considerable interval of give and take play ensued, until Potier, obtaining from a scrum, potted a goal for Eltham, his performance being followed lifter wards by Ryan, who with a clever left foot, pot registered a second goal for the. -.Magpies. The closing incident of the game was another try i-cored for Stratford hy Cameron, who, picking up from a loose rush, got across. Mr. Roch had charge of the game

SECOND GRADE. STAR C>l) v. TUKAPA (3). Star juniors won the Carbine shield yesterday, defeating Tukapa by 21 points to 3. The winners won by their pace, but the football displayed was a feeble exposition. For the Stars, two tries were scored by Bell, and one each by T. Hopkins, Main, and W. Crockett, stockman converting three. West kicked a>penalty goal for Tukapa. Mr. 11. Petty was the referee. ' THIRD GRADE. Eltham second juniors forfeited to Stratford.