FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 275, 17 May 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL

SENIOR GRADE. CLIFTON 3 v. TUKAPA 0. Tukapa went under to Clifton, at Waitara, to the tune of three points to nil, the result of a try scored by Cliff Peat. The match was very evenly contested.

JUNIOR GRADE. CLIFTON 10 v. STAR 0. Clifton v. Star, a first junior fixture, was the only game set down for decision at New Plymouth, The match took place on the Eecreation Ground. Play for the first half-hour was dull, stodgy, and uninteresting, and was largely of a give and take nature. The ball was mostly confined to the forwards, and at the outset Stars looked likely winners. The Black pack had the upper hand while the game was kept close. With about fifteen minutes, of the first half to go, however, Clifton changed their tactics and endeavored to pen up the game. This gave their backs a chance. Their first passing rush saw K. Lawrence gain possession, and, running through the opposing hacks, score with a splendid effort. The try was unconverted. Clifton continued to press, and Lawrence again touched down after a pretty passing rush. Clifton (S, Star 0. After this came half-time. Resuming, the visiting team made the game still more open, enabling its backs to give a really good exhibition. They played with good combination, and handled the greasy ball with commendable precision. Their third try was secured by Parr, from a line-out, after he had twice had hard luck in not scoring. G-eorge added the major points. Just on the call of time, Lash, from another passing rush, feinted and scored between the posts. 'George .again converted. The game thus.ended: 'Clifton 10, Star 0. The losing backs were of the poorest quality, lacked combination, and displayed a lamentable lack of anything in the shape of coaching. Both fifteens frequently had to be penalised for minor infringements of the rules. The serum work was also | weak on both sides. For juniors, Clifj ton possess a fine back combination, and had the ground been loss heavy, they would have simply walked over the opposition. As it was, there was. as the scores indicate, no question as to which" .was the superior team. Mr. H. Petty [gave every satisfaction with the whistle.

STRATFORD 23 v. IXGLEYVOOD 0. „ Stratford juniors proved much too good for Inglewood at Stratford yesterday. The match, which was witnessed by a fair-sized audience, proved very interesting, the local hacks executing some nice passing movements, Bowler, Sur.gerior, Loveridge and Sheehan being par-' tictilarly good. Collins, at.fujl. b(*k, alsb_ ..played soundly. Early in the first spell" Inglewood were prominent, and Stra,t-' for,d were compelled to force several times, whilst the visitors' narrowly missed goaling from free kicks,on two occasions. Stratford, however, then took control, and their first, score came byi Bowler picking up from a forward rush and passing to Surgenor, who diyed over., j Collins failed to goal. A. few minutes' I after, Loveridge, with a nice kick, landed l,a penalty goal. Rayner set the Ingle-. ' wqpd backs in motion, and Surgenor;. by* intercepting a, pass, saved what looked' .like a certain score. efforts were only a flash in the pan, as Strat-' fof,d came again, and Brown secured from a scrum close to. the line and scared, Loveridge converting. The spell, ended: Stratford 11. Inglewood 0. The opening stages of the secorjd Sp'eTT saw a ,few 7ninut.es' even play, and then Stratford kept. Inglewood penned, tire ball only getting.beyond hj/- ,-;-i'{?-o. occasions. Stratford added twelve more points. Loveridge obtained from a rebound and scored. He failed at goal,.the, ball hitting the bar. Two minutes later, he. landed a fine goal from a mark. Sur[gchor and Bowler also' scored additional tries, which were not concerted..and the I gaime ended as above. .lfr v ',E." B. Stblir was an efficient referee/

ELTHAM 20 v. TUk'APA 0. Playing at K'thit'm, the local jun'io'r's defeated Tukapa by 20 points to niC' _'"';

THIRD GRADE. "' IXGLEWOOD 9 v. STRATFORD 0. The above teams met at Inglewood, the former fifteen winning by niue points to nil. For the winners, tries were scored by Tichborne, Kern, and Fowler. The Stratford team was four men short. Mr. L. De Launay was referee.

HIGH SCHOOL v. IXGLEWOOD CADETS. Inglewood was the first of the cadet companies to form a football club, and they played their opening match yesterday against the local High School, being defeated by 17 points to nil. New Plymouth, Waitara and Stratford have all formed teams, and a cadet football competition may be held.