FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 52, 19 July 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

SENIOR GRADE. CLIFTON WINS THE THURSDAY COMPETITION. CLIFTON (7) v. STRATFORD (0). The play-off between Clifton and Strat- , forcl provided great excitement, and the I crowd who faced the cold to witness the game were well rewarded. The Inglewood Club had made perfect arrangements for all but the weather, which was cold with a sleety drizzle that the sun could be seen vainly endeavoring to disperse. The ground was dry and in fine order. Stratford in the first spell had the advantage of a fair breeze, and had slightly the better of the mix-up, but could only score three points, a lucky try. Tn the second spell Clifton pressed, and had their opponents penned nearly all the time. The Clifton forwards \ played a great game, but their backs ■ showed no finish; otherwise they must have put up a decent score, though it must not be forgotten that Stratford defended well. Half-way through the spell Goodwin potted a neat goal. With several minutes to go, Whittington increased Stratford's score to six, and Stratford were leading by two points until the last minute, when Clifton scored, thus winning after stubborn attack upon attack had been repulsed. Cain kicked off, Kivell returning to the centre. The first few moments were devoted to give-and-take play. From a scrum in mid-field C. Crowley secured, but Smith came through quickly and smothered him. A nice rush by Dud Cameron, who picked lip and kicked down field, saw play in Clifton's territory, where, from a smart mark by Stewart, Surgenor had a good but fruitless shot at goal. Oil resuming, the Clifton forwards asserted themselves, but Sheehan checked them with a nice line-kick. The Yellow forwards set up a hot rush, but Sheehan gathered up nicely and, running through, kicked well down-field. A long kick by Kupi again transferred play to neutral ground, where some tight work look place. From a scrum, Stewart tried to sat his backs in motion, but Dud Cameron failed to take the pass, and the Clifton forwards, headed by Cain and Thomas, looked dangerous. Anderson, however, came to the rescue, but off-side play by a Stratford back gave Clifton another free-kick, which Kivell returned J to Clifton's twenty-five. A powerful kick by Fuller retrieved matters, but Young and Smith came again, and Egglestone was lucky to save with a high kick to line. Stratford still pressed, but a free kick by Cain, which Wood failed to mark, let the ball out at the centre. From thej throw-in, Crowley got in a nice left-foot kick. The Yellow backs now tried to make the game open, but the wind spoilt their efforts. Smith. Osborne and Fearon were next very prominent, and beating the full-back reached Clifton's line, where Berndsten fortunately saved. Keeping up the pressure, Stratford compelled the Yellows to force. A kick by Kupi, which rebounded, let Stratford back again, and J a nice opening was nipped in the bud by Cain intercepting a pass and lining well | down the field. Stratford were having all the better of the game, but like a flash the scene changed. Egglestone ; passed the ball out to Bertram!, who beat several men and kicked, finding the line at the Stratford corner. From the thrown-in, Clifton tried hard to score, but a breach of the rules right on the line gave their opponents relief. Stewart intercepted a pass from Kupi, and i streaked down the field, but was well j taken by Cain, and Bertrand again found the line. From a scrum in mid-field, Crow- j ley worked the blind side nicely, gaining some ground, but Stratford secured from the throw-in and nullified the-advantage.: | Two Red men went after a high kick from Bertrand, enabling the latter to smother them. A bad pass by Kupi to Goodwin spoilt a likely score, and Wood found the line well down the field. A forward rush by Crowley, Cain and Thomas was checked by the Stratford forwards, who set up a solid counter rush. Eg^leston secured near the line, but his kick rebound:<l, enabling Wood to scorn a simple try. Surgenor failed with the kick. Almost immediately afterwards Wood nearly scored in a similar way. but the ball was over the dead-line. The Stratford forwards swept down the field again. Young at the head, but Bertram! got his kick away nlaly. Cain, Thomas ail.l I.ovcridge. with a powerful rush, sailed up the field, hit Stewart gamely eh.'eked v.iih a kick to J the line. From the throw-o'.it. Kivell I made a nice opening, but his pas-s was • wild, arid Cain was able to get to the ball. Give-and-take play ensued, until Surgenor, with a nice dash, invaded Clifton's territory, where Bertrand centred with a strong run, and Cain and others taking a hand, play for a brief space was near Stratford's line. Failure by Goodwill to get in his kick saw Stratford in the ascendancy. A little later Stewart got round the serum and passed to Woods, who rail straight for the line, but was well collared by Fuller, and play continued fast to the end of the spell, Clifton having the advantage in the last two or three minutes.

With the -wind more in their favor, Clifton supporters did not consider three points much of a handicap, but 011 resuming Stratford gradually gained ground in a tight forward struggle, from which Smith broke away. Crowley checked him gamely, and passed to Kupi, who kicked well down the field. Sheehan mulled the hall, and as Bcrtrand was following up strongly matters looked

awkward for Stratford, but he recovered in lime, floodwin was to the fore with a dash and kick, but Wood lined well down the field. The Yellow forwards kept the Stratford team penned, and Crowley opened out the game, passing to Kit pi, who out straight in, but having on too long, and Surgenor collared him, setting up a counter passing attack, in whieh Stewart, Kivell and Cameron participated. Off-side play brought it to a sudden end. J. Crowley got a knock

whieh necessitated a temporary stoppage, and on resuming lie signalised his recov-

ery by putting in a strong dash, which Shcehan stopped. The latter was playing finely, taking and kicking well, but a fumble by Kivell let Clil'lon close to t lie goal line. Here Crowley secured, but Stewart intercepted his pass to Kupi ant! streaked down the field. I'ast play followed. Stewart, and Smith being prominent for the Keds. and r l luuuas ami

liertrand fjir the Yellows. The la Iter's kick found the line at the corner, I-rom the throw-in Stratford forced. Whitling! on followed up the kick-oil, and

Fuller's kick k bounding from him found the line inside Clifton's twenty-live. The I Yellows were playing with great dash, | and soon carried play back. Kupi marked in a nice position, but elected to kick high instead of having a shot, In the resulting play Crowley, the Clifton wing,] was showing great dash, and his e(forts, backed up by his fellows, put them in a nice scoring position. C. Crowley passed to Kupi. but the hitter's pass was again intercepted by Stewart, and the citadel was cleared, but only temporarily. as the Yellows came again. The ball came out to Goodwin, who was elevated on to Wood's shoulders in his efforts to )cross, but a moment later picking up from the ruck he potted a brilliant goal, and Clifton were a point ahead. This roused Clifton, and for the next few minutes Stratford were closely penned,

,and despite a desperate sortie by Smith ' were forced and compelled to seek refuge |in tlie dead-ball line. C. Crowley, Clifton's half, was almost over, being heid up by two opponents as he was falling on the ball. Soon afterwards Dud Cameron got the ball, and running down the field kicked high. Goodwin secured, and running back miskieked, finding touch near his opponents' line and from a loose rush ensuing on the throw-in Whittington scored. Surgenor failed with the" kick. With seven minutes to go Clifton made frantic efforts to score, and at once invaded the Reds' goal-line, but despite dashes by Bertrand and Goodwin nothing but a force resulted. Surgenor intercepting a pass from Goodwin transferred play to half-way, but back it came again, and an exciting finish resulted. From a loose rush, Egglestone broke away, ball at foot, and dribbling nicely picked up the ball, which bounced from him, and dashed over the line amidst the frantic applause of Clifton's supporters. It was just in time, and immediately after Goodwin's kick, which failed, the whistle sounded, and Stratford were defeated by a point.

JUNIOR GRADE. The Star v. Tukapa play-off for the Dan O'Brien Shield was postponed till next Thursday. . Clifton forfeited to Eltham. THIRD GRADE. Stratford forfeited to Eltham, Inglewood Thirds forfeited to High School. The lpcal boys were not informed of this until they reached Inglewood. so I'.iey witnessed the CliftonStraLfoid match. TARANAKI REI'RESENTATIVES. The following team has been chosen by the selectors (Messrs. H. J. Mynott, D. J. Malone and A. Hunter) to represent Taranaki against the South Island touring team at Strafford on Thursday next: Full-hack: Coleman (Waimatc). Three-quarters: D. Cameron (Stratford). McLeod (Okaiawa), Stoln- (Tukapa). Five-eighths: Roberts (Okaiawa), >S. Cameron (Tatea). lklf: Brown (Tukapa). Wing-forward: Taylor (Waimatc). Forwards: Front row, Cain (Clifton), Osborne (Stratford); lock, Pini (Waimatc); supports, Hawkins (Star), Jack Kisaiek (Kaponga); back row, Dewar (Star), Whittington (Hawora). Emergencies: Back, Franklin (Waimate), ilunt (Ilawera); forwards, Berndsten (Clifton), and Jas. Kissic-k (Kaponga).