FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 11, 1 June 1914, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Clifton 3 v. Stratford nil. Tuikapa 9 v. Star nil. Otoato 9 v. Inglewood 6. WET WEATHER CONDITIONS. Tho championship fixtures wore continued on Saturday under wet weather conditions. Despite .this fchbne w very ftiir attendances at all of the matches, yMck were very keenly contested'. STAR v. TUKAPA. Frequent and heavy rain spoilt the match between Star and ,Tukapa on Western Park on Saturday, and was for the most part in Star's favor, a* the Tukapa backs were unable to handle the greasy ball. The victory went, as was to be expected, to Tukapa, but the opposition which Star put up was by no means a bad one. In the forward division, in fact, they were superior, but they had, except for Box at fullback, no back division at all. The tackling of the Star vanguard was good, and to this they largely owed the feet itlhVvt TnikajKi; did not win by a -bigger mo.Tgjn. The Tukapa three-quarter line did not, on the whole, show up much, but this was of course due largely to the greasiness of the ball. Allowing for this, however thbir exhibition was, of a very ordinary variety. Brown, at half back, played the. best game* in the back division. There was only one really good passing rush—towards the close-of the game—and in this all the backs participated. The game was willing throughout, I and minor mishaps were frequent. Star in the lopening stage of the game |iad Tukapa defending, and Webster at full-back was frequently bustled. The blue and white three-quarter line handled a little, but their passing was rather wild. Then Skipper broke away close to the goal .but was thrown out in the corner. Ploy hung in Tukapa's territory till Tocker relieved stightly with a line kick. Uninteresting play near half-way followed. Brown mado a good opening behind tho scrum, but Tocker failed to take his pass. Once again the Tukapa fliers essayed, but John Skipper grassed Loveridge, and when McAllum broke away later he met a similar fate at the hands of Box. Star's defenccwas more solid than had been anticipated. Brown put in a fine run and passed Ito Stohr, who hung on too long and was grassed, but rarme- I diately afterwards he secured from a line-out, and passed to Loveridge, who scored. Stohrt kick failed. Tukapa 3, Star 0. Soon afterwards, Box played the ball on the ground and Stohr landed n penalty goal. Tukapa 6, Star 0. Star revenged this by returning play into Tukapa's territory, but the blue and whites were soon back. Hawkins here had to retire with a damaged leg. The first spell ended with the score unaltered, although hard graft by the Star forwards frequently fell only a little short of achievement. The rain which came on towards the close of the spell kept the play tight and thus favored the Star forwards.

Early in the second spell, Box had a penalty shot which was a feeble attempt. Star was soon in trouble and only the fact that Perry lost a pass , from McAllum averted a score. Then igood work by the Star vanguard made matters warm for Tukapa, and Box had j another unsuccessful kick from offside I' play by a Tukapa man. Tukapa then attacked and Stohr mndo a good attempt at a pot. Give and take play, in which the Star forwards gave a good I account of themselves, followed for some time, and Loveridge had an unsuccessful penalty shot. Then the Tu- ' kapa backs instituted a beautiful passing rush which only just fell short of an alteration in the score, and the Star forwards relieved matters a little. Then Stohr snapped up from the ruck and scored after a short trickv run. His kick failed. Tukapa 9, Star 0. From a scramble- under the posts Loveridge ' had another unsuccessful penalty shot. The whistle went soon afterwards without an alteration in the score. Tonga Carroll, just before the close of the game was put off the field for questioning the referee's decision.

6TEATPORD v. CMFTOX. 'Bug match played at Sltiutford on a wot ground and during a portion of the time, ia heavy rain, proved extremely exciting being keenly contested right to tb!e end. During practically the whole eight minutes there was hardly a mill • moment. On such a day, of ' course, pfty mis mainly confined to the forwards, nnd it is many, years since such! a splendid and stirring struggle for supremacy has been witnessed in T«i ranaki club football among the forwards. The doughty Clifton men proved ratihter too weighty for their opponents, and to this they owe their victory. During the fast quarter of an hour, when the local men made stirring efforts ito (retrieve 'the position, the excitement was at fever heat, ithe Shelter oif the grandstand be- ;' >ng deserted by (the numerous support iers •of both teams, in order to urge their man on to fresh effonts. Oifbon Wicked off against the wind. After a 'brief respite;, Strafford attacked, .but a smart mark by Goodwin and a ■speculator by ltorlrand brought relief. Stratford backs threw the leatllier about wonderfully considering its greasy state, but the bout .terminated! through Young knocking on. Dashing bursts of forward play on both sides ensued Head, Smith and Bonner being prominent for the locals, and Cain, Tate and Hicks for the yellows, the ball ultimately finding touch, tut Stratford's twenty-five. Ab.footit had a shot at goal for infringement, but >tihe ball: fell short. Bonner and Dud Cameron carried pJay right to ■Clifton's line, and Olifitoni forced. From the kick-off lligginson had a pot at goal, i nail another force resulted. Clifton rallied right down from the kick-oil', nnd Kupe uia.i'kin.g, Abbott had another shot. wHioh' went aw eflose that one of ■ the lino umpires signalled goal. The re- , ferco disallowed it. Clifton- backs . threw t<he leather about in their own 1 twenty-five, but Young carried play (o ; neutral trrit-ory. Taylor and Oain were i .using their feet well, .and, •supported by t'uleir vanguard, soon had. Stratford JnesiSy defending. Stewart cleared by kicking downfield, audi Dewar, Smith, jmd Reid set up a wish that saw play in Clifton's territory, iwherc Goodwin lined. Almost immediately, Stratford wore defending, onJy to take ai turn n.t attack, and so the game varied for the I next ten minutes, forward rush after rush taking place, only to be. driven back by good line kite by the! opposing oacks. Play Covered in.bo.ut midfield. Orowley essayed! ito get Hiis ibacks mov- ' • ing but they coulld not, and. the result nearly proved disastrous, as AVhillington intercepted and kicked across to Young, wiho- streaked for the line, kicked high when blocked 1 , but Ooodwin forced. Stratford kept up tlile pressure, and C. Tate was temporarily injured in forcing in the face of a solid Bed at-

' ,taek. More solid Widrk ensued,' Clifton (gaining the awendiancy, Jue,t as the half-time whistle sounded Smith was ■temparairily disabled. Resuming, after a brief invasion by Cliftonj, the iocad's removed play piist mid way. There occurred the fine?* boiu,t of passing of .tint day Wood, Caimciton, Stewart, Brown, vYoung and again Brown handled the leather faultlessly, itllie latter lining at •*be corner. From .the line out Stewart (threw the ball aor&ssi to .Brown, wltilo was wdlil taken iby Kuipci Time and ajjain Ciii torn forwards carried, play past half way, but the fine fielding and kicking by Kivcll, aided hy i'tc-j kicks for infringement, neutralised' the effect. Cameron slipped when about to transfer the ball to Young, audi once again the Clifton, forwards 'turned defence into attack, and from, a rebound. Stratford were forced'. Stratford ■following ithc kick off clhfcirged down soil idly, and late.; lined well. Goodwin took a pot, the toll just going wide. A little later the Clifton flier, who was iplaying a great jgfaoie was thrown out in tflie cf»rn«r, and shortly after had to leavsi the field torougW injury, Marau flMing, the vacancy. Stratford stood "the strain until Cain broke through ball at toe, and scored. Abbott failed to goal. Clifton ■ 3 Stratford 0 With a quarter of an hour to go, play changed toni iend to end witHi great m- • pidaty. Abbott was playing very safely. Stratford gpt up a rousing railly and, Kiipe mistaking;, Young secured, and after a. short diaslhl cross-kicked to Whittington, who streaked fk>r the line, but ■ was collared iby Crowfley, and a force re- ;, BulteA Stratford continued to make ? things merry with irouStog rushes, jbut they could not score. Kay cndled Ijjoon after with no ftirfhfer score. Mr F. Spurdle controlled the game capably.

INGILEWOOD v. OKATO, The above matych tccxk place on tihc liigleiwood ground, and a vary exciting game resulted in a. win' for Okato' by 9 points to C. Inglewood had) the ba?jt of the first spell. Ttife. rain held off for the first 20 minutes' play., but fell during thie remainder of the game, making it principally a forward struggle. Far ''he winners, the Julian brothers* and Carey were *uit on their own, whilst for the losers Ofeen was certainly tttib best, although Chapman worked! very hard and did a good 1 deal of spoiling thlrough. laglew»od- won the (toss and played with the windt at their bathe. Carey kicked off ttifc hall going ewood's 25. Fmrn the line: out Carey secured and kicked high. Hialop mulled, (but Baynotr secured and kicked out past half way. From a scrum in Okato's E5 Raynor secured, and passed out to Smith, who passed' mi% and lost liis pidte a good chance of scoring. Okato ivorked the !ball up close to. Inglewlolod's line, and mattere looked dangerous for Inglewood, tat Miles, by a splendid r kick, put 'his side out of danger, sending tible leather oult at half way. Okaito were penalised for taking the ball out of a serum. A forward rueli by Okaiio t'obOc the 'ball up to Ingl&wood'a" 25, and Clarke mulling, Julian lacedl across the line and scored. The kick at goad went wide.—Okato 3 Ingtewwod 0. On resuming, (the ball hovered near half way; for some time, but a good nisli iby Inglewood cairricd the hall to Okato's 25, wftiere BaynoT, getting pofßessiojv, sent it out iky Smith, who transferred .'to Miles, the latter kicking high into touch, and losing a good chance of scoring. A good passing rush by Okato ended in Biwdctd being thrown out. Miles found the lino by a good- kiiek. A forward SuaM by Inglewood carried the tall up to within 10 yards of Olcato'.sl line, where Olsen picked up smartly and dashed across. Miles j-uet- missed witli

the kick. —Okato 3, Ingiewood 3. A aorumi took place right on Okato's line, ,txut a free kick to Olcnto relieved. A good forward rush !by Ingiewood made matters awkward for Okato who ihadl to defend desperately, but again a. free kick relieved. Tiaynor marked, and ■Smith iifcid a shot but the ball went wide. The spcH ended wiltli the jpores 3 all.

, Chapman kecked off for Inglewood and in «■ few minutes Okato rushed rthe baill up and over the line, Inglewood being forced. Okato came again with a splendid rush', and Ihhd Inglewood in difficulties. From a mark Olley Julian, fell on the ball, and scored'. Eustace missed with the kick.—Okato C, Inglewood. 3. Inglewood had slightly the better of the game for a short time, but Okato came aga,in, and from a scramWie on the line Hawkins, sewed. The kick at goal was a failure.—Okato fl, Inglewood 3. Inglewood now woke up, •and rushed up tbi OkMo's 25, where some exciting play ttoiok place, the Inglewood forwards enabling Russell to score. The kick at goal was again * failure.—Okato !), Ingdcwood 0. Inglewood forwards again rushed Okato's line and a adore seemed likely, but Okato staved it off and the whistle, went sMortly afterwards, leaving the visitors winners by 0 points to 0. . Mr Roch gave every satisfaction is Referee.

EASTERN DISTRICTS SUB-VNIOX. TOKO R v. STR'ATITMORE 0. ■ TMe opening matches under the neiw-ly-fomied 1 sub-union' took iplace on Saturday. At TokO', Toko and Btra|thmore tried" conclusions. The gfcime was played in pouring rain. In the first spell each scored an uneloncsrted try, and in the iypond spell did (likewise. Mr C. Jacksjon refereed.