FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 281, 24 May 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL

SENIOR GRADE. CLIFTON 3 v. STRATFORD 0. A rattling game took place at Waitara when Clifton met and defeated Stratford by three points to nil. It was a hardfought game, but the better team undoubtedly won. Play was very fast and there were aome good bouts of passing, but on' the whole, although exciting from start to finish, it could not be described as a wonderfully scientific exhibition. Stratford kicked off, with a strong wind somewhat in their favor. Clifton failed to return the kick, with the result that several scrums/ immedintely took place in their'2s. Faulty handling in the ecrum gave Clifton a free-kick, which nearly materialised. Brown found the line, and from the line-out Clifton forwards went down the field with a rush, and for a few seconds looked dangerous. Stratford were checked in their retaliation by a free-kick to Clifton, which saw Eggleston make a bold bid for a try, only to be pushed out on the touch-line. Goodwin followed this up by jumping into a breach and sprinting some distance up the line before he was collared. Stratford then transferred play to the opposing twenty-five by a dribbling rush. Whatever chance they had of scoring, however, was effectually spoiled by D. Cameron misguidedly punting the ball right over the line. For Clifton, George initiated a good forward rush, which was nipped in the bud by offside plav. Crowley marked in a good position, but Goodwin failed to secure the desired end. Further give and take play saw Stratford also have an unsuccessful but good attempt at goaling. Relief came for Clifton when Eggleston found the line well up. Kupe opened a dashing passing rush, the leather eventually finding its way into Goodwin's possession. The latter, however, had too many men to beat. Play hovered in the vicinity of the half-way line for some time, and, in the several scrums, Clifton generally managed to get the ball. Once when the Reds (Stratford) had manoeuvred into a promising position one of their backs foolishly kicked behind. Stratford backs also nullified several other good efforts by wild and inaccurate passing. All things considered, it was just as well for them that they were playing with the wind behind them. At this stage McDavitt had to retire owing to his collapsing. Well into the.first'spell., Goodwin mulled in front of the goal, en-' abling Stratford to mark. It was lucky for Clifton that D; Cameron's kick did not come up to expectations. When'• half-time was sounded play hung amidfield. Clifton opened up the second half with every prospect of a win, having now the wind ■ behind them. From the start they attacked vigorously, and a timely mark saved Stratford on hvo occasions. When Stratford broke the siege Eggleston nearly let his side down by bungling. Once, when Clifton were in difficulties. Stratford marked right in front of the goal, but the player who took the kick , threw ( away a certain chance of .opening a scoring account. ..tit, was left for Eggleston to relieve -the pressure, which he did with a magnifi-. cent line-kick. .This • gained much. ground, but Eggleston• spoilt things by' fruitlessly kicking behind the line. The Yellows were now out for. a score, which would probably have,eventuated had nojt Fuller essayed a silly drop-kick at goal. Immediately afterwards, however, he won himself into, f/ivor again by ; .some good line-kicking... Eggleston also did the wrong thing by spoiling a . pretty piece of combined work by steering far too far across the' field. Clifton still held sway, and their efforts were rewarded with a shot at goal from some distance back, but nothing came of the kick. So far, Clifton were easily having the bigger "say." The tide eventually turned in Stratford's fn.v"\ h-> L ''Vy were not very dangerous. The Clifton forwards broke up the attack, and .the visitors were once more penned up. A prettv piece of work came when Kupe set his backs in motion. Goodwin was the last man to handle the leather, but he made the foolish error of cutting in instead of going round on the blind side. Fulle'r found 'the line near 'the corner flag with a' splendidly, judged kick Stratford, however, staved off the resultant sally, and carried the ball into foreign territory. Cameron Started a passing rush, but BboTrVas found ing at the crucial inoment, and Goodwin 1 , stepping into .the'breach. saved the. situation. It was a' very' luiky )save; ;, the Reds being within an ace of scoring. Clifton now seemed to be able to do everything but score. In streaking for "home," Brown was run to earth- just in time, being pushed out of touch, and, incidentally, thrown quite unnecessarily against a fencing post. The long-looked for came at last, when Cain, who was playing a sterling game, burst through the defence and tumbled over the line. Fuller ••failed i. r to_- .flanv*»t.f-*Clifton >"3, Stratford 0. Play was now very strenuous, the forwards on both sides-indulg-ing in some pretty vigorous handling'of their fellows. A'temporary excursion on the part of Stratford was spoilt by Boon throwing forward. The Yellows signalised their return to the attack with a long shot at goal from a free-kick. Goodwin tookr the kick, but the ball rolled. At the call of no side, Stratford were besieging their opponents' citadel: Mr. F. Spurdle gave every satisfactiom with the whistle. JUNIOR GRADE. INGLEWOOD 17 v. f'TAR 0. At Inglewood, the local juniors beat Star by 17 points to nil. won the toss and played with the wind, but failed to score. The game was confined to the forwards, and just before halftime B. Stimpson crossed the line for Inglewood. Jury failed with the kick. On changing sides, Inglewood made the game more open and scored fourteen more points, tries being obtained by B. Stimpson, Karalus,-. Russell and F. Nicholls, one of which was converted by B. Nicholls. TUKAPA G v. STRATFORD 6. Tukapa juniors met Stratford juniors at Western Park, a drawn game resulting. Tukapa had easily the better of the first spell, being six points in the lead. On resuming, they had the wind against them, and in consequence "tailed off" somewhat. Stratford, although continually hard pressed, succeeded in equalising their opponent's score. On the whole Tukapa, whose backs were superior to those of the visitors, were perhaps the better team. All the points were the result of tries. Mr. T. Petty was referee.