FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 293, 7 June 1912, Page 3

FOOTBALL

NORTH TARANAKI 14 v. W AIM ATE 0. About 1200 spectators witnessed the match on the Recreation Grounds yesterday afternoon, between Waimate, the Southern Division champions, and a team from the Northern Division. They were rewarded with a bright display, considering the greasy nature of the ball. The game was very fast and keenly contested, some good flashes of back play being -witnessed. The local forwards were able to hold their redoubtable opponents, and, in fact, in the loose and on the line-out, had the better of the game. It was, however, in the backs that the Northerners showed their superiority. For the first few moments Waimate had the upper hand, and looked like winning easily, but thereafter matters were more even, and the Northerners asserted their superiority, winning by 14 points to nil. The teams as picked took the field, save that Young played for Waimate in place of Gunn, and Carey took Fearon's place in the Northern team.

Waimate attacked from the opening, and Meuli, intercepting a pass, streaked for the line, but was grassed' by McAllum. The Northerners retaliated, and C. Brown, following up a high kick by Stohr, made a nice run, but passed too hig'.i to enable Loveridge to get up. [Play hovered near Waimate's line, but [ the burly forwards soon cleared, and Brown miskicking saw them in good attacking position. Brown, however, with a neat mark, retrieved himself. Franklin and Burgess were p'rbminent in an attacking movement which a free kick nullified. The next interesting movement occured when Thurston "secured from a scrum and passed to Meuli. who kicked high and followed up, Kupe marking in the nick of time. A little later Meuli centred, but kicked rather hard and Kiveil forced. On resuming, Carey passed to Loveridge, who kicked well, but S. George with a powerful return equalised matters. Waimate backs now opened up the game and threw the bail about, but their passing lacked finish A Yellow movement in which Brown, Puke, Stohr and Loveridge participated carried play to the Waimate twenty-five. Here Carey again started a passing rusli, but S. George, at full-back, was very solid. A little later Meuli just failed in intercepting a pass that would have made matters interesting. Waim;ate now removed the venue, but Loveridge and McAllum by dodgy play' returned operations to Waimate's 25. Here Young and Dewar headed a forward rush, which Franklin checked with a nice kick to touch. Carey, Dewar, Ward and Hawkins carried play to the line, where Brown picked up. Kupe missed the pass, but Stohr gathered up nicely and sailed for the line, tripping just as the goal was in sight. Pini and Tamu broke away, but the Yellows came again, and tossed the ball about nicely. McAllum was always prominent, and Brown, backing up the .former, was rewarded with a nice try after a short ,dash. Stohr kicked a beautiful goal. On resuming, Waimate invaded for, a brief spell, but Loveridge with a nice kick found the line at the centre. Wells returned, and Kivell failing to find the line gave his forwards a lot of needless work. McAllum next headed a lonehanded rush, beating several men, and was stopped by George close to the line. Burgess came through the scrum and found safety in touch. A pass from Brown to Kupe, to Cameron, who failed to take the ball but speculated, saw Cameron and Goodwin hard after a scot?, but Prince gallantly stopped. Pini was leader in a counter rush, which Cameron stopped. An interchange of kicks followed, the Yellows gaining the advantage. With fast play McAllum, Brown, Kupe and Stohr brought the bell back to near the line, where Kupe gained possession and streaked across. Stohr's kick failed. This reverse spurred and Burke, Young, Mackay, and Pini made matters lively, but Goodwin saved cleverly, and the spell ended with North Taranaki leading bv 8 points to nil.

An interchange of kicks marked the opening of the second spell, but ultimately Young broke away and was not checked by Kupe till he had travelled ha.f the length of the field. Loveridge gathered up and beat several men with a fine dodgy run, unselfishly passing to St oh- when he might have gone on himself. A free kick gave the Blues relief, and followed up by a long kick from a mark saw play in the Yellows' territory. Burgess, Wells and Franklin by clever play carried the attack close to the line, but offside play nullified the effect, and the Yellows were back, McAllum being the moving spirit. Carey checked George's return, and the Yellows opened up a passing rush, Kupe, Cameron and Stohr participating.' The latter failed to accept the ball, and a free kick resulted. Carey picking up again passed to Stohr, who transferred to Cameron, to Goodwin, to Kupe, and the latter dashed over the line after a fine concerted piece of play. ' Stohr'# kick, though a, good effort, failed. Kupe was almost immediately prominent in another movement, which was ..only checked by Ryan forcing'. A passing movement among the Yellows was spoilt by Goodwin failing to take the [ hall, enabling Prince to intercept and find the line near the corner. Pini, Burke, Mackay and Tamu pressed hard to score, but the defence was equal to the strain, and Stohr picking up trans-' ft wed defence into attack, being just : pullpd down when almost clear. Prince nrxt cleverly beat two men arid centred, but Kivell marked. Burgess next dashed across, only to_ be recalled by the line umpire, and a little later Loveridge was lucky to clesir by kicking 'across the field. Play was confined to the Yellows' twenty-five, and a free kick gave Ryan a si. ot, which fell short. A dashy run by Goodwin, who kicked high and then i followed up, placed Waimate on the deI fence, George kicking into touch. Kupe, | however, snapped up a clever mark, which gave Stohr a chance, of which he availed himself, to add three points to the score. From this to the finish, the local team had the better of the game, narrowly failing to score'on one occasion, and when the whistle sounded the score was: North Taranaki 14, Waimate nil. Mr. Geo. Hopkins ably controlled the I game.

THIRD GRADE. At the Racecourse yesterday Clifton deteated High School by 9 points to 3. Yesterday morning comment was made concerning the football authorities' want, of consideration for employers. In the afternoon fifteen Stratford boys obtained their second holiday for the week in order to enable them to play an Elthain team. But the Elthamites came not. Further comment would be superfluous.—Stratford correspondent.