Football

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 296, 18 May 1914, Page 7

Football

THE SENIOR COMPETITION. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Tukapa 3 v. Clifton 3. Okato !) v. Star 8. Stratford It v. Inglewood 0. THE OPENING HATCHES. 'SOME INTERESTING GAMES. The senior competition for the 1!)14 season was set in motion on Saturday in weather, which if it were not ideal for football, was certainly seasonable, and more suited to players than spectators, of whom there were a fair number at the various matches. The play shown in the opening games was distinctly good, and augurs well for a very interesting competition. OKATO 9 v. STAR 8.

This match, played on a dry ground and in dull but windy weather, proved very interesting and at times exciting, and for an opening match some good play was shown. Okato proved superior in the forward division, and Star in the backs. The local team's superiority in the pack, however, enabled them to win by a point a match which had been anyone's game up to the finish. Okato had all the better of the .first spell, in which they had the advantage of the wind, but tliey could only score two tries. With the wind behind them in the second spell, Star were expected to have an easy' win. Playing a fine open game, they early notched two tries from passing rushes, and, converting one, were two points in the lead. The local team, howev.er, shook matters up and managed to gain another try, giving them the lead, which they held to the finish. From the kick-off Okato set up strong rushes, and Star were forced twice in quick succession, i Narbey, Hill, O'Sullivan, Julian and Burrows were prominent in forward work, whilst Ma mi, Skipper, Tito and Carroll busily defended, the ball ultimately going to touch in goal. From a scrum in Star's twenty-five, Gordge obtained the leather, and a passing rush between Corbett, Eustace and Aylward saw the latter dive over and register the first try. Narbev failed to goal. Further forces ensued, until Eustace headed a rush which culminated in 0. Julian gathering up the ball and forcing his way over the line. Eustace failed with the kick. After being again forced, Star were awarded several free kicks, and fast following up by Skipper saw the latter carry play with a dodgy run pa.st half-way. Mulling by Okato backs let Manu, Skipper, Tito, Carroll and Grey out, and Star looked dangerous until cheeked by K. Andrews and R. Julian. Okato forwards again tfiok a hand and Star found safety by kicking to thi! dead ball line. Eustace also had two shots at goal from marks, one of which went under the bar, and both were forced. Half-time was called with the score —Okato C, Star 0. Changing over, Star at Slice attacked, Stanley, Richards, Tamatai and McKay being prominent. Their' backs also opened out, and Okato were forced twice in quick succession. From a scrum, Stanley, who had been playing a great game, gathered up tlie ball, and, beating the opposition, scored under the posts. McKav made no mistake with the kick. Hardly had tliey resumed when skipper nearly dodgeif? across, being collared by Eustace in the nick of time. Soon after, Stanley made a great opening, and from a pass by Tito to Skipper, the latter scored. McKay failed to goal. Twice in succession Star were nearly over, but the Okato defence was good, and forces resulted. The wind here dropped a little, and the Okato forwards set up a hot and determined attack, which lasted for several minutes right on Star's line. Ultimately the ball was kicked across to Aylward, who picked it up and forced his way across, scoring his second try. Eustace failed to- goat. Okato still pressed, but the visitors set up a hot counter attack, in which Manu, McKay, Stanley, Tito and Skipper were prominent, and compelled Okato to force. Play hovered about mid-field, neither side having the advantage until close on call of time, wl\en Stanley, with a fine dash, nearly got over. Julian just forcing in time. Stanley received an injury to his eye and had to retire. Soon after, time was called without any further score. Mr. Snell ably controlled the game, giving general satisfaction.

CLIFTON 3 v. TCKAPA 3. The match between Tukajia and Clifton, which was played 011 the Western Park, was, considering the weather, a very good game, closely contested and willing. The Clifton team had the bet•tor of the game in the forward division, and showed better combination than their opponents, but Tnkapa's defence was .solid, and individual Hashes among the backs kept the game lively, and lacked only the finishing touch which spells achievement. .Several stoppages were made for temporary disablements, the most serious ease being Brown's twisted knee, which thereafter weakened his good work at half, which was unfortunate for Tnknpa. Neither side crossed the line, the only points notched being by penalty goals. Mr. W. Koch controlled the game. Clifton won the toss, and the green and yellow forwards opened with a strong- rush to Tukapa's twenty-five, which Stohr rebutted with, good linekicking. After give-and-take play, Stohr snapped the ball from the scrum under Clifton's goal and just missed potting a goal. A moment afterwards the home team was penalised, and narrowly escaped a penalty goal against them. Davidson, of the vanguard, re-" lieved a tight position, and Tnkapa made matters interesting for Clifton. Stohr made a. mess of one shot from a mark, but a penaly kick oil' Taylor gave him another chance, and he landed a beautiful goal from luilf-way.—Tnkapa I 3, Clifton 0. A strong Clifton rush ensued, but oIT-side play spoiled the chance. Tight play took place in the Tnkapa territory, and the yellow and green backs handled the ball, Coodwiit, tlie wing t.hree-qnar-ter, making a short sprint without a partner. Loveridge . defended solidly, but the Clifton rushes were Inrd to stem. Davidson was given off-side and Abbott had a futile shot at goal. Then a. fine Tnkapa rush put Clifton 011 the defence, Stohr snapping up from the ruck and havinu; a "pot," which failed. Tnkapa had « hot time with the Clifton rushes. Th"n Tnkapa took a hand. Tocker snapped sip from the ruck and passed to Stohr. to Webster, but the latter was thrown out at the corner. Play hung under the goal, and Brown literally crawled through to a force. The plav swung buck and forth, with most of the advantage to the Clifton forwards. Then Morshead relieved in

the ruck, and up swept the blue nm 1 white vanguard. The bucks h;\ihUcm 1 close to Clifton's goal, ami a siors sciucil imminent, but the bounce boat Loveridge, play returning to liaii-ira.v. Tukapa backs nearly scored several times. Till the, end of tlie spell Tukapa held tlie advantage, but the score remained unaltered, and the spell ended— Tukapa 3, Clifton 0. The second spell opened with a bout of brisk give-and-take play, and then a Tukapa rush. Kupe stemmed, bul play hung round Clifton's territory. At half-way, Brown travelled and passed to Webster, who dropped the ball and spoilt a good opening, Clifton then attacking. Over-eagerness baulked a

score by the' country team more than once. Give-and-take play and ineffectual short dashes by the Tukapa threequarter line predominated. After a sultry few minutes for Clifton, the country team took a hand, and off-side play by Davidson gave Abbott a shot, which he landed, and evened up the score. From then on, the play swung back and forth, Tukapa being several times near a score, and on one occasion being extremely lucky in forcing a tine auompt from the Clifton forward division. Lovcridge and Stohr handled well, but Webster was the weak link in the' threequarter line. Goodwin, his opponent on the field, was erratic, and frequently lost ground. An evenly-contested game ended with the score unaltered.

J STRATFORD 14 v. INGLEWOOD 0. In atrocious weather and on a sodden ground, the above match was played at Inglewood on Saturday, and in spite of the persistent rain and wind there was a fairly good attendance of enthusiasts. From the start it was evident that the local players had a bigger row than they could hoe. Eager and willing as they were, they were crude, and lacked that accuracy and combination which their opponents possessed. Stratford's superiority was manifested right from the start, but the ball was so greasy that they were not seen to that advantage which more favorable conditions would have permitted. As the game progressed, they did not even seem to take their opponents seriously. Their forwards possess plenty of dash, but in tlie scrum work there was plenty of room for improvement. Under the' circumstances, the game was neither interesting nor edifying, the chief centre of attraction for the ball being the swamp. The score fairly accurately represents the difference between the teams.

Inglewood started with a vigorous assault, but Stratford secured a mark, and Dud. Cameron at once began to show his form. In the passing rush an infraction of the rule nipped a probable score in the bud, but very soon after Cameron came to light out of a bunch, and, beating Inglewood's rearguard, scored a try, which Young easily converted.—Stratford 5, Inglewood 0. Inglewood vigorously footed t!■ :> ball down the field, but it went out of Again they attacked, but \Vhit(iii-;t.',n saved with a fine punt. Stratford again pressed, but were penali.-cd several times. A.ll Inglewood player sent the ball right into fivown's hand*, and he accepted the opportunity of scoring a try. The effort to convert failed.— Stratford H, Inglewood 0. There was practically no interval, onlv ■ a minute or .so for breathing. Stratford again assumed the offensive and from a throw-in Young whipped over the line, but Reid failed to register the major points.—Stratford 11, Inglewood (I. Very soon after, Stratford secured from a scrum near the line, and Young again scored, and, taking the kick, just failed to land the ball between the posts.—Stratford 14, Inglewood 0. For the remainder of the play Inglewood were kept, on the defensive, but no alteration in the score took place, the result being as above. I Mr. F, Spun]le controlled the game with his usual ability,