FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1919, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

CLOSE OF THE BEABON. THH PBOYTNCIAL PLAY-OFFS. The football season was brought to a close In Taranakl on Saturday, when the provincial finals to decide the senior and third grade championships of Taranakl for the 1919 sea-1 son were played at-Stratford In the presence J of a fair attendance of spectators. The j weather was fine, and the ground In splendid . order, whilst a slight breeze blew straight' down the neld. By defeating Stratford,, Hawra takes the senior championship, whilst: Clifton, who had previously w,on the Junior; championship, defeated Kaponga, and thereby: took the third grade championship also, ' THE SENIOR GAME. - i HAWERA (S) v. STRATFORD (6). Considerable Interest attached to the senior Came, which It was anticipated would prove a close contest, and so It proved, fpr the game was strenuously contested throughout and remained In doubt right up to tbe call of time. The game was mainly a struggle between two good and evenly matched sets of forwards, who played a willing game from start to finish. Indeed, the way In which both team lasted out the game was remarkable, consider- j ing that the club games bad been finished for some weeks and that many of the players i I had therefore not had a game for some time. ; The backs, particularly Stratford's, attempted i to open out the game on several occasions, : . but the passing bouts were generally short; ! lived, the passing being somewhat erratic, i though the tackling of both sides was good.; i Hawera also attempted passing, the best effort i [ being that which resulted In the winning; try. The teams were evenly matched. Strat- I ford' 3 poor goal kicking lost them the gamo, us | Coutts had several shots, some In very easy positions. ; | The teams were as follows: Hawera: Anderson, Wilkinson, Gibson, Whit- I llngton, A. Paterson, Wills, Thurston, Bishop, 1 Bpratt, Lavery, King, Hunt, R. Paterson, Bens- j ley. Perry. ] Sttratford) Fenwlck, Cameron, A. Elvell, Borers, N. Kivell, Coutts, Berg, Fryday, Mc-, Cnllo'ugh, Ttlch, R. Carlson, Masters, J. Carleon, Butcher, Hampson. Hawera opened against the wind and sun. After bouts of forward play, Thurston broke through for Hawera, but from a free kick Coutts lined down Hawera's line. Hampson picked up and streaked across, but was called back. ft. Paterson was responsible for the Southerners reaching half-way, but a weak kick let A. Kivell secure and centre. Stratford were securing from the scrum, and on three occasions. Berg set his backs moving. Coutts, Kivell, and Cameron handled well, while Thurston, Wills, and Gibson were tackling In fine style. Little ground was gained until heady play by Kivell and Coutts saw Stratford attack hotly. Hawera forwards headed by Lavery cleared, and a fine kick by Anderson, together with a nice dash by Wills and Wilkinson, saw Hawera in a handy position, but A. Kivell checked by marking. Stratford forwards, headed by Hampson, McCullough, and Masters, then rushed play to Hawera's 25, where Gibson went down gamely. Stratford backs were throwing the ball about, but Hawera field them, until Fryday centred. Gibson being smothered with Jhe ball, matters looked bad fir Hawera, but Anderson cleared. Stratford pressed hot for a score, Cameron being collared near the line. There was a brief respite owing to Fryday being Injured. Stratford still pressed and Coutts wsb nearly , over, but a little later, missing a pass, he let Hawera through. Wilkinson followed tip fast, but missed the ball, and play hovered about mldfleld. Then, like a Bash, Hampson broke through with Fryday In support, and tbe latter beating several opponents scored amidst defeanlng applause. Coutts made a poor attempt to goal. Stratford 3 Hawera - « Hawera forwards rushed play past midSeld, but the referee falling .to see a mark by Whittiagton, the Stratford forwards were able to rush play to Hawera's 25, where a knock on by N. Kivell spoilt a nice bout. .Hunt essayed to open out the game, but Coutts Intercepted, and a little later Coutts had another resultless shot, which was forced. King's kick-off was centred by N. Kivell, and Gibson, failing to take, McCullough following up fast, scored. A. Kivell foiled to goal. Stratford ...-..• 6 Hawera ....„,-..._... 0 The game now became very willing, both setsVof forwards putting up some One rushes. An Infringement gave Coutts another unsuccessful shot, the ball being forced. From a scrum at half-way, Thurston and Spratt gained considerable ground, and the Hawera backs opened out, but Wilkinson failed to take a pass and a chance went. Fr?m then until the end of the spell, Hawera, whose backs were handling the ball better now, kept up tbe pressure. Stratford were kept busy defending. Gibson, cutting in, was beld up by Coutts when quite close. Then Paterson shot the ball across to Whlttington, who streaked, but was collared on the corner by N. Kivell. Halftime sounded soon after. Soon after resuming the Hawera forwards, fieaded by Spratt, Paterson, Lavery, King, and Bishop carried play post raid-field, where off-side play by the latter held them up. Then Rich, Hampson, and Butcher broke through for Stratford, but Anderson saved. The Stratford forwards carried play to Hawera's 25, where their backs got busy. A nice line kick followed by a hefty rush, headed f! McCullough and Carlson carried play to Hawera's full-back, who lined coolly. A knock on spoilt a likely Stratford movement, and then Spratt, Perry and Co. carried play to mid-field, where Rogers lined. Paterson kicking high let his men to the attack, but Fenwick marked. Hawera, however, assumed the offensive, and Wilkinson set sail tor the line, but was collared by N. Kivell. ■ The ball I then travelled smartly via Thurston, Paterson, and Gibson to Whlttington, who was collared after a great run right on the corner. From ! the scrum Thurston secured and streaked across on the blind side, and Bishop landed a | beautiful goal. i Stratford • 6 Hawera •■• 5 Hawera at once rushed.play to the twentyfive, where N. Kivell lined. The Southerners still pressed, but a hard kick let Fenwick force. Weak play by Wilkinson let Kivell clear, but Hawera were soon back again only to be checked by an infringement. A passing bout between Thurston, Paterson, Wills, and Gibson saw the latter well collared. Twice In succession the Hawera rushes were stemmed by McCullough. Then N. Kivell, kicking high, followed up, smothered Anderson with the ball and carried play to Hawera's 25, where Stratford had another free kick. J. ' Hampson made a > good, but resultless shot,. the ball being forced. After interchanges of kicks the Hawera backs assumed the offensive, but the tackling was too good, the ball on one occasion coming via four pair of hands to Whlttington who was well collared by Rogers. Paterson marked, and Bishop's shot at goal was forced. Hawera kept up the pressure for a tune, but a long kick by Fenwlck drove them back. The Stratford pack then took a hand, and Hawera had a spell at defence, but Paterson lined. After a brief respite owing to Paterson being hurt, Coutts kicked high and Rogers following up fast, secured) but was well taken. Hawera, with a strenuous burst, tarried play right to Stratford's line. Hero Spratt received a kick and had to retire. Murphy taking his place. After, being temporarily -checked, Hawera again attacked hotly, and Murphy was nearly over In the resultant play. Kivell kicked to the dead ball line to save. A scrum ensued, and then followed : tbe moat sensational lacldtnt of the day.

Thurston received and passed to Wills, who beat a couple of men and handed on to Gibson. The latter passed high to Whlttington who gathered in nicely, and streaked over at tbo corner, within two minutes of time. Bishop failed to goal. Hawera ~u 8 Stratford ~ 6 Stratford at once rushed play to HaweJra's twenty-five, and amidst great excitement made desperate efforts to wipe off tbe deficiency, but though they attacked hotly the whistle went without any addition to the score. Mr. J. S. McKay was* referee. THIRD GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP. CLIFTON (19) v. KAPONGA (3.) This match, which was played as a curtoin raiser, resulted In a somewhat comfortable win frr Clifton, who were heavier and had a better knowledge of the game than their opponents, who appeared unable to handle the ball. Almost from the start Clifton pressed, and a forward scramble ended In the ball going out at the corner, and. F.. Proctor securing, fell over the line. J. Taylor adding tbe oxtra two points. Kaponga then took a turn at attack, and from free kicks, Maidenhead had two unsuccessful shots at goal. Clifton forwards, headed by Tanner, then took a band and a strenuous rush saw Skclton score, Taylor falling to goal. Play was now fast up and down field, being mainly confined to the forwards, a likely Clifton rush being checked by off-side play. A moment later Kaponga were right under Clifton's goal, but the Northerners cleared and Tate marking in a handy position, Taylor had another shot, and failure by Kaponga to take the ball nearly let Clifton In again. Lye then shot- the ball out to Rockley, who was collared on the line, and taking a nice mark Taylor made a good, but unsuccessful shot. Clifton backs opened out, but E. Proctor missed a pass. A moment later he marked, giving Taylor another unsuccessful shot. Twice In quick succession, D. Tate and Simmer had good, but resultless shots. Then T. Harmsley being smothered with the ball a scramble ensued from which St. George secured and got over the line. J. Taylor failed to goal and Kaponga no* pressed and Maidenhead had a resultless shot. Half time ended with the score: Clifton 11, Kaponga nil. Clifton backs threw the ball about In the second spell and Harps was nearly over, but r. moment later, C. Lire .er scored, and Taylor failed to goal. Kapong. forwards pressed, but i their backs let them .down, and Clifton came I again Sackley made i fine run and centred, Llmmer picking up and scoring, Taylor adding the major points. Clifton still kept up tbe pressure, a force resulting. Kapongj, howevor, did not give up, but kept moving, and from one of two free kicks, Tunial landed a nice goal. Mr. Kiley was referee. NEW ZEALAND CRITICISMS, THE ENGLISH STANDPOINT. . By Telegraph.—P.-ess Assn.—Copyright. Received Sept. 7, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 26. • The Dolly Mall, commenting on ths criticism in New Zealand of the English Rugby Union [ for not allowing amendments to the rales of the game, emphasise the point that the adoption of amended rules in New Zealand before thev had the approval of the International Board j would cause a breach, putting an end to representative contests—United Service. j THE NORTHERN UfjioN GAME. j AUSTRALIA DEFEATS HAWKE'S BAY. I i By Telegraph.—Presß Association. ! I _ . . Napier, Saturday. The Australian Northern Union footballers defeated Hawke's Bay this afternoon by (17 points to 4. The match was witnessed by about 500 people.