FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 27, 22 June 1914, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

KiiSCLTS AT A CLANC!'. South Island S v. Xorth Island nil Wellington ii. V, airarapa 3, I\GUTti TAU A:\AIQ PcES U ITS. Clift,:.n 3 v. Tukapa nil. Oka to 3 v. Star nil. ■Stratford 25 v. lnglcwood nil. the sixoxi) i;ot;>,'u cu.m.urxciIX I'NFAVOI.U.ULi: WEATHKK.

The. second round of North Taraimki senior competitions was commenced on Saturday, when the weather conditions were not of the be-t. the heavy rain of the provirii', day or two having made th« ground.-, greasy. Clifton, flu- leading team, continued it.-, unbeaten record by defeating Tukapa by a penalty goal after a very even game, in which the beaten team had rather the worst of the luck. Stratford, by easily defeating Ir.glewood, maintain their position as runner.;-up, whilst Okato, by defeating Star by a narrow margin, haven fourpoint lead for the Sole Oup.

CLIFTON 3 v, TUKAPA 0. This game eventuated at Waitara and proved a very hard fought and strenuous forward struggle, during which several players on either side received knocks Which caused temporary stoppage- of tlie game, but only one (D. . George) had to retire, owing to an injury to -his chest. Neither team was represented by its full strength, Clifton being minus Ctiin and Taylor, who were away at Wellington representing the North Maud, whilst Goodwin and Crowley wore hampered 'by injuries in previous games. The vacancies were tilled by the inclusion of Fisher (an exWanganui player) and Denny George. Tukapa were, minus htohr (who was repusenting the North Island) and Hawkins. The latter's place was filled by Paul. Tukapa were getting the ball from the scrum, the absence of Cain being severely felt by the Yellows', but the Tukapa backs, who tried to make the game open, wo unable to 'handle the leather to the he6t advantage, The gar- c was by no means brilliant- keenforward struggles never are—-but it was bitterly contested to the end. ' Clifton played with the wind in the first spell, and at once carried play to Tukapa's 1 25. Ward came .away from the scrum, ball at foot. The referee adjudged him off sido—many thought, erroneously—and V. Tate 'had a shot at! goal. His first kick went wide, but the > | Blues had charged too soon, and in the i re-kick he made no mistake, the ball j ■sailing beautifully over the bar. Clifton 3, Tukapa nil. Only five minutes had gone. 'Good work by Morshead, Perry and Patil following "the kick off, saw Tukapa- in an attacking position. Brown set his backs moving, but Clifton intercepted and drove them back; C. Tate, with a long kick, put Tukapa on the defensive, and failure by Goodwin tc take a spoilt a chance. Thompson was momentarily incapacitated while stemming a Clifton rush, and a moment later D. George had to retire owiig to an injury to his chest, being replaced by Stoddiwt. Long kicks by Webster and Cargo had Clifton defending and from a mark by Morshead Loveridge had a shot, which fell short, and Crowley broke, away, passing to Goodwin, who centred but lost considerable ground. Bertrand, however, came to the rescue with a long line kick. Tukapa forwards broke through, and Tocker made a dash but wan upended by Bernsten. Fisher. Thomas, ■Bernsteii and Hicks broke through, but a speculator by Web-tor cheeked them, and McAUum securing, a Clifton centring kick lined well down field. Crowley was temporarily incapacitated. Ward and Co. broke-through, hut Tate lined. Another hurst of erratic Tukapa passing saw Fisher, Thomas and Co. 'break through, but Brown marked. Tukapa were now attacking hotly but Perry got off side. Clifton 'Were able to clear, lialf time sounding without any further alteration; Shortly after the kick-off, a rebound due to fa?,t following up by Lash saw Tukapa on the defensive, and they were kept hard at it until the forwards, headed by Paul and Perry, removed the dan-, ger. Stannering broke away, but Kupe marked smartly. He failed to 'find the line and McAUum lined past muWield. Cargo wart hurt. Brown, Loveridge, and Stannering essayed a passing rush, but Kupe intercepted. McAUum was responsible for Tukapa attacking, and •from an infringement Loveridge had a sihot, wfoioh fell short. Abbott lined at, mud-field. From the throw-in play travelled to Tukapa's 25, where Brown passed to Loveridge, and the latter cut in instead of passing to Tocker, and was collared. Tocker failed to stop a solid forward rush, but Thompson was no L found wanting. Tukapa were not hotly attacking, but could' not wore. ■l'-Jay still continued' stremwufl. Clifton hotly attacked, but the defence wan good. A heavy hail storm came on, and during its prevalence Tukapa cleared A Ion" line kick by Thompson, was mis-fielded by Stewart, and let the visitors well down field. Tukapa tad three attempts to pot in rapid succession the first by Loveridge, the second, by laul, and the third bv Loveridge. Paul s +ot was a beauty, and just swerved away from the post. Three forces resulted, i Tukapa kept up *ho pressure, but in semi-darkness the visitors cleared. Fisher was responsible for F'ay being carried to Tukapa's 25, where, from a. scramble, Clifton nearly sowed. Abbott marked i.amlily and luvd a shot at o-o-il The ball rebounded from Morshead, who was knocked out by the nnnact The s-'Jiie -<oon after ended with no additional >cor,. Mr W. Ro.li «- fereed satisfactorily.

OKATO 3 v. STAB 0. The meeting of Star and Okato on the Snorts Ground on Saturday tads Vol little eonmient. A ragged, muddy *innible the "amo was but distantly cwnnccted'with football, a result wliitb wan contributed to I y <'old showers and a heavv tall. The struggle was between the forwards, with occasional lone'iiamled ellorts liv Tito or 11. Skipper ot the Star b.iek diw-ion, and Carey ot the Okato vanguard, these, forming the only relief from interminable lme-out. and scrum idav. The Okato ptwk had the best of .most of the. first spell and then died right away until nearly the dose of the game when, after a determined ottacK, Rvan scrambled over the Star line The kick failed, and Okato thus won by 3 points to nil. The game 'was willing but vnscientific. Mr ■Snell refcreed, and incidentally had his work cut out to dear the line of vociferous gentlemen of the genus '"■barraclior"who alwavs claim a vested right in aniuc.li of the flaying field as the players happen not to bo using.

STRATFORD 25 v. INfILEWOOD 0. Inglewood and Stratford met on the Stratford showground on Saturday, the game resulting in an easy win for tlie home team bv 25 points to nil. Shortlyafter the kick-off, Woods secured from the loose and passed to Dewar, who was splendidly tackled by Myles. Loose play

followed in th,. Stratford twenty-live, j where liayuor was incapacitated. Stratford hail a hot few minutes defending I their line until Dim™, \,y a solendid jkick. removed pkiyto hah'-wav. i-runi a i serum at the centre. Woods'passed to Whittmgtou, who cut in and passed to Kivell, who galloped LJiro;i K h" (lie opposing Lacks and stored a great trv under the posts. Brown missed an* ca--v SHut. ;j-.(l. iilgleWOod flowed ll'ii spasmodically after the kick-out. lint their hacks were unsafe, and iet the Ued and .Macks through. A scramljle at half-way saw Woods pick up and j gallop through, scoring near the pests Kivell goalcd. S-l). The Keds lolhr.ved up well from the kick-out, and <>- 0 t nght on the Stratford goal line. Over anxiety on the Keds' part lost them a score, (iooil jilay liy Stewart and U'liittmgtou transferred play to the Keds' twenty-five, where Curtis, by good tackling, saved the situation. Smith, of the Vnglowood team, attempted to take the ball, hut missed, and a Stratford man picked up and dived for the line, hut was held up. Half-time was called without further score.

From- the kick-off tin: Stratford team galloped away and Inglewood wore kept defending hard. Only for good work .by Myles, Stratford would have scored. This same player, by a good kick, shifted play to the Stratford twenty-five, where Stewart was penalised for offside play. Myles took the kick, but the angle was too difficult for him. The Reds, headed by Dewar, followed up the kick-off, and Brown securing dodged through the defence and scored. Kivell failed to goal. 11—0. Fumbling on Inglewood's part allowed Sullivan to pick up and dive over the line. Stewart made no mistake with the kick. 10—0. Inglewood were now hopelessly beaten, and the Stratford backs were playing well together. Smith secured a mark and temporarily relieved the situation by finding the line at half-way. From the ensuing line-out Dewar broke away, and good passing by his backs enabled Kivell to score. Whittington failed with the kick at goal. 10—0. The home team were hot on the attack from the drop-out, and, fiurgin keeping the ball at his feet, scored in a handy position. Kivell failed to convert. 22—0. The kick-out was well taken by Stewart, who swerved through the Red backs, and scored under the posts. He failed with the kick. 23—0. Shortly after, the whistle sounded with play at midfield. For the winners, Woods, Stewart, Whit-ting-ton and Brown played sterling games, especially Woods, who was here, there and everywhere. Dewar was the shining light among the forwards. For { lnglewood, Myles, Curtis and Smith (■backs) and Russell and Karalus (forwards) played well. The Stratford' team was minus five of their regular players, their places being ably filled 'by juniors. Mr. Spurdle controlled the game.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS COMPETITION. At Tnglewood on Saturday, Central defeated Inglewood by 12 points to nil. For the winners, tries were scored by Bullot, Brown. Waters and Wood. None of thmi was converted. All l/ne score was put up in the second spell. Mr Julian refereed.