FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 5, 6 June 1913, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

.SENIOR^ STRATFORD (6) v. CLIFTON (3). Owing to Eltham forfeiting to Tukapa, the only senior game set down for decision was that between Clifton and Stratford, at Waitara. In the game at Stratford, in the first round, Stratford ran all over the Clifton team. Clifton supporters were confident of turning the tables yesterday, and when Stratford arrived with thirteen men and Dewar absent, it looked very much as though they ,would succeed. However, they did not make the most of their opportunities, and, with the wind behind them in the first spell, during which they had the better of the game, could only score three points. Stratford had a full team during the final half, and with the wind behind them made things willing. Clifton, too, played a much better game than in the first half, and were dangerous on several occasions, missing two chances. Stratford; also missed opportunities, but succeeded' in scoring two tries, which gave them the match. The game was strenuous and willing, too willing at times. There were several cases of obstruction, too, mostly on the part of the Yellows, which escaped the referee's eye. Mr. F. Spurdle refereed 1 very impartially, though at times a section of the crowd were not .pleased. , Stratford kicked off, and a hefty Clifton rush at once had them defending, and a long kick just Went too far; enabling Dobson' to force. For the next .few minutes Stratford held their own,/but gradually tlie Greens worked the ball back, and a powerful rush by Cain and Runa gave Dobson an anxious moment, but he cleared with a nice kick. ,The Yellow backs now opened the game, but the passing was erratic, and Tocker was enabled to intercept. His kick, which failed to find the line, was well marked by Goodwin, wlio had a shot at goal which, just fell short. Clifton still pressed, and looked like scoring, but Stewart and Sullivan headed a rush which carried play to mid-wing, whei-e Whaka. was smothered. Clifton, however, were soon back to the attack, and a long kick by Goodwin found the dead ball line. Offside play by Runa spoilt another promising rush. Olliver and Boon then carried play back to mid-field, but a long boost by Goodwin beat the full-back and found touch right at the corner. From the line-out, Crowley passed to Kupe, who cut in and forced his way over, I with three men hanging on, and scored amidst great applause. He took, a risk, as he had a fine chance of passing to Tate. Tate's kick went wide. Du Blois and Cain led Clifton to the attack again, and Crowley secured from a scrum in a handy position, but passed wild, and Tocker cutting in kicked well down field. Cameron & Co. followed up fast and smothered Whaka again, but the Clifton ■ forwards came in a solid phalanx, and 1 Dobson, instead of going down, elected to speculate, luckily finding the line.> Boon, Sullivan, Bonnor and Fearon re- •. moved play to midway, when a wild pass went to half a dozen of the Yellows, who J evidently thought they were off-side, as I they waited instead of taking the ball. J It would have been a grand chance, as • only the full-back was between them and the goal. Gradually the locals worked play down field, and Crowley secured, cutting on the blind side, but no one was with him, and another chance went. The Reds now livened up, and Cameron beating Goodwin shut his teeth and sailed for the line. Just inside his own twenty-five he was crowded into touch, and tried to centre, the ball going out. Still Stratford pressed, and sustaining their efforts Clifton were forced for the first time in this spell. Fast and furious was now the order of play, the nippy Red backs making things interesting. A passing rush, in which all the Red backs took a hand, was nullified by a forward pass, just on the line. Clifton folfowed up the free kick, and Cain & Co. pressed hotly for the next few minutes, but - could .not score, Dobson forcing on one occasion, whilst a mark also gave relief. Stratford cleared their citadel temporarily, but a moment later a free kick gave V. Tate a shot in a nice, position. The kick, a good one, put the leather over the post. Immediately afterwards the half-time whistle went, with the score Clifton 3 Stratford 0

Dewar and Anderson came on in the ' second spell, the latter going full back, and Dobson five-eighths. With the wind behind them Stratford at once invaded Clifton's territory, where Cameron secured and was just downed in time by Kupe, who caught him by the toe, and ' within the next two minutes Clifton were forced twice. Du Blois, Cain and Hicks removed play to Stratford's twenty-live, where Crowley secured and cut in on the blind side once again. No one was with him. Goodwin next dashed for the line, but was up-ended by Cameron, and Stratford cleared. Crowley broke away again, but was downed. From the serum, he set his backs moving, the ball passing through the hands of Kupe and C. and V. Tate, the latter knocking on. Off-side play by Hicks let the. Beds flew, Goodwill gained a Jot of ground with a dashy run, but was well} collared. Fcaron made an opening for the Stratford backs, who threw the ball about splendidly, and carried play to Clifton's twenty-five, where a piece of obstruction by Cain missed the referee's eye. A mark by Tocker gave Dobson a shot at goal, but the ball was charged down. Stratford secured the ball, and, taking a pass from a Clifton player, 01liver got over the line, but was called back. The Red backs were still handling the ball finely, but the Greens were tackling gamely. Dewar made a beautiful opening, and with five menwith him, and only two to beat, a try looked certain. The ball passed through the hands of Tocker, Dobson and Olliver, and came to Brown, who hung on too long and was collared. Dobson kicked high, but the wind carried the ball to the dead-ball line. From the kick-off the Greens rushed down, and Goodwin, smothering the return, had a nice opening, but a knock-on spoilt it. Dewar made another great opening, and the ball coming to Cameron the Stratford three-qnarter put in a neat run and centred, and from a scramble Stewart secured and scored in the corner, though it was said he was pushed into touch in goal. Dobson failed with the kick, which was a simple one. Clifton 3 Stratford 3 From the kick-off the ball was returned to the corner, where, from the line-out, Dewar secured and dived over the line. Cameron's kick failed, after being awarded "No charge." Stratford fi Clifton 3 Stratford were now having the better of allairs. Dewar playing a great game, and in the next few moments Clifton were forced three times, and on one occasion unobserved obstruction saved the posit inn. Tate was the means of removing play to halt-way, and this neemed to put fresh life into the Clifton forwards who strenuously attacked. The l!eds. however, gut moving to some purpose. and returned to Clifton's twentvlive, wli'-re Hrown smothered Tate, who passed lo \\ haka. The latter was slow in gel i in*f in his and Mvov/n dowu'd !: too. Dobson followed up f over i ■!'■ lino, 1,1,1 ]f! u , (njl. Oov>y Cur-cu'. Clifton's oihUe! v.v.

• still besieged, two touch in goals coming in quick succession. A nice kick by Tocket found the line close to the flag, but Kupe secured from the throw-in- and cleared his lines, and the whistle sounded soon afterwards, with the score Stratford 6 Clifton 3 JUNIORS CLIFTON v. ELTHAM. Eltham Seniors having forfeited two match in succession, their Juniors had to drop out of the competition, and accordingly CliftOn won by default.* At Stratford yesterday Stratford Juniors defeated Star Juniors by 11 points to 6. SECOND JUNIORS CLIFTON (9) v. STAR (3); Star Thirds journeyed to Waitara with nine men. \Vitli the assistance of their opponents the number was raised to ten in the first spell and eleven in the second. Stavs played up very well, Hook being especially noticeable. Clifton won by U points to 3. For the winners, tries were scored by Fulton; Manu and Trim, and for the losers by Hardgraves. Mr. D. George refereed. STRATFORD (11) v. TECHNICAL COLLEGE (4).. Flaying on the Recreation Ground, the Stratford 111. beat Technical College by 11 points to 4. The first spell ended in favour of Technical College, for whom Harvey potted a' goal, Syme scoring a nice try for Stratford. A strong wind was blowing, and the second spell saw Stratford put up a good fight against the wind. Syme scored another try, and Vickers also crossed the home team's line, Syme converting one. Technical College, however, failed to increase their score. Mr. Roch was referee. #

New Plymouth High School defeated Stratford District High School by 9 points to 3. New Plymouth 'played against the wind in the first spell, during which no score was registered. In the second spell, Ewing, Sykes and Bruce scored tries, none of which were converted, whilst towards the end of the game Jobson scored for Stratford. WORTH v. SOUTH. THE NORTH TEAM. The following team has been cho:lpn by the selectors—Messrs. Mynott, Masters, Buchanan. De Launay and Garcia — to represent North Taranaki in the match v. South Taranaki, at New Plymouth, on Thursdav next:—Full-back, Stohr (Tukapa): three-quarters, Bertrand (Star), Tocker (Stratford), Loveridge (Tukapa); five-eighths, Cade (Tukapa), Dobs'on (Stratford); half, Brown (Tukapa); wing forward, Nicholls (Inglewood); forwards, Cain (Clifton), Bernsten (Clifton). Hawkins (Tukapa), Carey (Okato). Sullivan (Stratford), Ward (Tukapa) and Dewar (Stratford). Emergencies: backs, Crowley (Clifton), Thomson (Rovers); forwards, Stewart (Stratford) and Thomas (Clifton). TEAMS FOR SATURDAY.

Rovers will be represented by the following in their match against Star on Saturday:—Stewart, Stohr, Webster, Grant. Thompson, Reid, Loveridee, Cargo, Newell, Jennings, Brown, Brooks, Drake, Lusk.and Quilliam; emergency, W. Foote and R. Learv.

The Okato team to plav Tnglewood, at Okato. on Saturday, will be:—Corbett, M'alone, Sursjenor, Rua, Andrews, Turner, Burrows, Eustp"fi, Andrews, Hawkins, O'Sullivan (2), Whitu, Ngaia, Carey.