FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 40, 8 July 1914, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

THE SENIOR OOMPETITJON. POSITIONS OF THE TEAMS.

The result of Saturday's matches is practically to assure Clifton being the Northern Division premiers. Tukapa's win over Stratford robbed the men from the inland eitv of whatever ehanee they had, and it appeared a good one. too. tin fortunately, it came, too late to do Tukapa any good this year. Clifton wero very jubilant when they heard the result at Okato. Even fJhonhl Stratford defeat Clifton next Saturday, the men front the river ])ort will have a one point lead, and as their only opponents thereafter will be Star ami Inglewood, t-lioj must, bar accidents, v. :il. Shonld Clifton heat Stratford on Saturday, and Waimate also boat Kaponga, the play-off between Clifton and Waimate will probably take place at (Stratford on Thursday, July 16, and the remainder of the cup matches will be finished thereafter. Star, for the second time this season, were unable <.o fulfil their engagement, and did not notify Inglewood, whose iplaydrs had assembled fromi various parts of the district, some travelling fifteen miles to take part in the mutch. Inglewood accordingly, kicked off. and claimed the match. Star are talking about offering to play the match later on in the season, as some of the players allege that it was forfeited through a misunderstanding on the part of their officials—the majority of the team being prepared to make the trip last Saturday. Whatever the cause there is, evidenlj.v, something distinctly lacking in the management of the Stir Club, as matters appear to be at sixes and sevens. Tn bygone years', the name of -Stars was something to conjure with ir the football world, not only in Taranaki, but those days have f-:-r the non -e departed. It is to be lujped that next year the club will strik? better times. The Pole cup is also in a very interesting state. Star. by ( forfeiting to Inglewood, places the cup holders in a good position, and should they defeat Okato next week, they will 'be level with the coastal tenm,' and a play off will be necessary, and will probably take place in New Plymouth.

The fact that Tukapa was represented ,j>y a toara reinforced with substitutes I in the match against Stratford on SaturI day might have been expected to bring j.about a more uneven contest than it did. i']As a matter of fact, Quilliam, Brokenshire, Eggleton and Amaru, who were jbrought into make up the forward division, in the absence of Cilehrist, Perrv j Morshead and Ka.Vc. filled their positions very well, and the Tukapa forwards, in ,the first spell especially, held their own against the heavy Stratford vanguard, though in the second spell the visiting team got some of its own back in this department.

Eggleton, who played wing forward, with Brokenshire as Hi is colleague, put up a particularly good game, and attracted much favorable comment from spectators. He was frequently prominent with the ball at his toe. Brokenshire, who scored the fir-.t try for the home team, played rather too much elf-side, but otherwise grafted 'hard. In the jiack, Paul and Ward were conspicuous for willing, solid work. The back division, from which, of course, Lovi-ridgc was absent, was al-o somewhat disorganised. MeAllum played a good game both on defence and attack, and Ticker alo showed up well. Webster was the weak link in the chain, playing with far less certainty than he did on previous occasions. Brown, at half, played a slashing game, being always in the thick of the fray and withal conl-Ileaded as ever. Stohr had a day right off in the kicking line. His attempts at goal were line, but he lacked precision and failed to land one goal out of almost innumerable chances. His line kicking ou defence was good, and he saved his tc.i'i! on more thart one occasion.

A. C. Thompson placed a safe game at full back.

The second spell saw Stratford attacking strongly with tlio fortunes of the game mostly against tliem. On several occasions the home team was most fortunate in clearing. The Stratford vanguard, headed oy I'Yaron, . Sullivan and Smith, played a good aggressive game and towards the close of the game ran right over +.! i" home forwards.

TJewnr played right i:;> to his reputa tion for eool generalship.

The Stratford hack division was not seen in any electrifying passing bout-;, lint one good piece of work', in which Wood. Dive. W'hittinulon ami Young i" handled took place late in the second spell and caused much trouble to the Tukapa defence. Dive played a corresponding part 'o Stohr in the direction of goal kicking and missed several chances to notcii points, one of which came t.o liim iiy off-side plav bv llrokcushire. who on tilloccasion really unwittingly saved his side, for a score seemed certain li'oin Stratford's position. (iknto battled g.imelv ag.iin.-t -i stronger and more experienced fifteen in Clifton but week, and though s'oundlv defeated were not disgrace:!. On !!•/• whole the (Iknto team ia-ckl'd wc'' though (loodv.ill, and at time-; Kline beat several of them, and on two o" three occasion- (he tricky winger wnt right throiuih the bunch. !n scrum v ork Oka to secured the ball as often Hi their opponent-, but their backs couu! cot make any u-" of it. fn the tight work and in the loose the Clifton |iael< carried too manv gnu-- for the lora! team. Taylor plavfd another of hi=> L' eat game- at win l ,' forward, and V. Tate on tlii' other wing was also vei'e prominent. Hicks. Thomas. Hem-! en.

fl'rkrti \wre tin* ~i,k of till' "u'.d r.n" p'avrd a »n v sit jjanw :«ui li;ni linl liick" to lie ili-nlilftl l'i.L;lit at !l)i' st <U r '' of till' jrlllM'. Clifton Wk* il»rcw the bail w.-11. hnl. i iii> tr.ind I he greater oflVndor. spoiled iv.:>uv an oprori ui.ity 3>v <MlinL r in flout of thcii men. ho t*n'npplliiifr thr '•i-Miic fi, forward. Kupo playrd a i*!;;' l' - : 1 ir* 1 . Ahhott playod well Imt •'ho'vr.l :i tendency tr> hang on !«»:> I"ny. and in (lie early staffs did not ii''i iii- pn-sis away cloan. <ioodw«n p!a\n| da-Hnir Tame and four tna-: ''.UVP Sim \\ ;ly. Cliff Tatp was sniill'l > } fi'M-haek. Of tin* Ofcaio forwards Carey. li. inn ;iin! OVJullivnn wev< 1 Hie pick. Tlv played i ?olid panic, and did r-n amornl. of 1 Tt*kli?ii»*. TI. du'ia'i ' ! tune mi seizing the Hianee of onh' fry. U. Hill ar;d r»i:-v v. > i n ' hi worked TrojjHi.i. l!van t liiil? apnmrod nov to ;1k» po-ijion. Kiislno" at five-eighths had (i !-)t of woto do and did it sat' 5 -

factorily. lie is a very useful man in the position.

K. Andrews had. a parlous time ft full-hack, but cam j through the ordeal creditably. lie made several mistakes, but was nevertheless gnme. The t'liree-qnarte.r line possessed no scoring men. though Tuku was shaping well when lie got injured and had to retire. The following team has been clio'ien !o play for Tukapa first juniors against fhglewood first juniors on Thursday at Western Park, at 3 o'clock:—lT, Patter 808, stolir, West, W. Wbittaker, Whit taker, N. Loveridge, P. Loveridge, Spence, Smith, O'Grndy, Amaru, W. Patterson, Lep.ry. Puller, E. Loveridge, Ernie Julian. *

o a "j d c p< 5' 5 Won. Lost. fc £3 0 'o Ph 5) <! o< 3 o ('iifton 7 f. 0 1 lOfi i:, .Stratford 7 f> a 0 JOT 15 iu Tukupa 7 4 2 ] CO 28 Okato 7 3 4 0 27 134 Iiigk'Wootl fi 15 0 26 100 Star ii 0 6 0 « 42 0