FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL

CUP COMPETITIONS. PLAY IN WET WEATHER. OPUNAKE DEFEAT THE LEADERS. The cup competitions were continued on Saturday in Taranaki under unfavorable weather conditions. The- majortiy of the matches were very close. Opunake produced a surprise by defeating Clifton, wto thus suffered their first reverse, and are now level with Hawera. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. I SENIOR A. Opunake 3 v. Clifton 0. Hawera 6 v. Stratford 0. Kaponga 3 v. Tukapa 0. Patea 9 v. Waimate 8. SENIOR B. Star 4 v. Old Boys •. Inglewood 8 v. Okato* 0. A GRADE. OPUNAKE (3) v. CLIFTON (fl). The Gifton-Opunake match was generally considered to he a foregone conclusion in favor of the former, but. the coastal team upset all calculations by defeating Clifton by three points to nil. The game was keenly contested throughout, and especially in the concluding stages, when Clifton strove desperately to equalise. On the day’s play Opunake were the better team, and the weather also favored them. In the first spell the rain held off, but a couple of heavy showers in the second spell robbed the game of much of Its brilliancy without the keenness in any way slackening off. For such a day Clifton tried to make too much use of their backs, and this, to a large extent, accounted for their defeat. Had they kept the ball more among their forwards the result might have been different. Ross’ generalship was sadly missed. The Opunake forwards played a great game, and their fine dribbling rushes and solid tackling stood them in good stead. Their backs also showed unexpected combination, handling the slippery ball well, and the try which Rye, the wing three-quarter, second, was the result of a pretty piece cf work.

Opunake kicked off, and Sheehan tried to open up the game, but Rangl Ellis spoiled, ' and Brophy made a good run. Coleman had a shot from a penalty, but the ball fell, short. Opunake kicked along the line, but Kingston returned well. Rang! Euis marked Ln a dangerous corner, and the Opunake forwards, headed by Macßeynolds and O’Rorke. swept down field with the ball at their feet till the Clifton backs picked up. Coleman kicked too hard, and Opunake forced. Clifton backs again got going nicely, hut Lusk spoiled a pass and set the Opunake rearguard in action, but Rangl Ellis held on too long. Lusk broke away a minute later, but was collared. Brophy marked, and took a kick at goal, but the ball fell short, and Clifton lined. Lusk had a pot at goal from the field, but the heavy ball did not .rise sufficiently. Brophy and O’Rorke were prominent in the ensuing play, but Opunake were penalised. Briggs kept the forwards on the attack, and Clifton carried the ball over the line. Receiving from the scrum, T. King streaked for the line, but stepped out. Clifton cleared, and then Lusk took an unsuccessful penaltykick from a long way back. Easton secured from the scrum, and the ball travelled out to Goodwin, on the wing, who was upended. Just afterwards T. King gained possession, and made a spectacular run before passing to Lusk, Who in turn passed to Rye. The last-named streaked for the line and scored near the corner. Lusk’s kick fell short. Walshe led Opunake again. Hickey secured but kicked too hard, and a force down resulted. O’Brien was prominent In ensuing play, and the Opunake backs were handling well. A scrum took place on the Clifton goal line, but Easton saved with a Jlji.e Jack. Half-time arrived with the score: Opunake 3, Clifton 0. On resuming Clifton attacked from the outset. Coleman took a penalty kick, which narrowly missed. Clifton' marntitoed the pressure, but T. King and Tiiwaka; who was playing a great game at filli-foack,' -cleared. Goodwin was nearly over, but was recalled for an infringement. Kingston, ■ side-stepping several opponents before kicking, kept Clifton in Opunake territory. Heavy rain commenced to fall at this stage. Easton attempted to set his backs in motion, but Rangl Ellis frustrated the move, and Macßeynolds and Brophy led a counter-attack, but Opunake were twice penalised, and Clifton returned play to midfield. Macßeynolds led a dangerous forward rush till Goodwin successfully stemmed the movement. In the resulting play Clifton had hard luck in not crossing the line. Clifton were throwing the ball rouhd well, bu> did not gain much ground. Clifton had to force from an Opunake dribbling rush. Lusk had an unsuccessful penalty kick. Briggs was nearly over a minute later, and Rangi Ellis, with only th© full back to beat, punted the ball, but Kingston secured and lined. Exciting play followed on the Opunake line, but a kick into touch brought relief. Tuwaka kicked well and the ball bounced out near the corner flag, but Jones brought relief. From a scrum Easton shot the ball out to his backs, and Jones looked like scoring when he was collared. Lusk followed up a free kick well, but Kingston was safe. Goodwin made a determined run, and was nearly over. Tuwaka saved Opunake with a magnificent kick, and Lusk and Macßeynolds drove back the opposition. Kingston kicked the ball over the line, and a scrum took place on the Clifton line, but Opunake were unable to add to their score, and the game ended:— Opunake 3 Clifton 0 Mr. Fred Guy refereed. HAWERA (6) v. STRATFORD (0). The match between Hawera and Stratford, at Hawera, resulted in a win for Hawera by 6 points to nil, after a game that was much closer than the scores indicate. The ground was heavy, and the ball soon became greasy, making accurate handling difficult. Nevertheless, there was a good deal of back play indulged In, particularly by Stratford. During the second spell heavy rain fell.

In the first spell Hawera played with the advantage of the wind and did moat of the attacking, but the defence proved sound, and on occasions the Stratford forwards carried play past half-way, but it invariably came back. After solid pressure Murphy , got over, but was called back. A kick at goal from a penalty missed, but later Cameron made a flue opening, and Robertson and Whittington handling nicely, the latter beat a couple of men and passed to Bayly, who streaked across. The kick at goal again failed. Half-time was called later with the score: Hawera 3, Stratford 0. With the. wind behind them Stratford were expected to do much better in the second spell, and they almost immediately pressed, their backs throwing the ball about well. Their passing, however, lacked finish, and Hawera were able to intercept and kick down and smart following up by tneir forwards play to the other end. Stratford backs and forwards brought it back, but Robertson, Cameron and Wills defended well. Ryan had a shot at goal from a mark, but without result, although awarded no charge. Twice in succession Hawera were forced. Then their forwards cleared and Carried play to near Clifton’s twenty-five, where Robertson picked up and shot to Whittington, who beat a couple of men and passed to Bayly, who scored near the corner. Osborne’s kick failed. This was the only score of the spell, though Stratford at times pressed hard and were frequently dangerous, but the defence proved too sound, and at times defence was turned into attack. Wilkinson's fast following up was a feature. The game ended:— Hawera * c Stratford • Neilson

KAPONGA (3) v. TUKAPA (0). Kaponga and Tukapa met at Kaponga, tend after Tukapa’s flue showing the previous week It was generally anticipated that a very, close game would result. Expectations were realised as to the closeness of the score, but as to football it was impossible to show any concerted work. The ground quickly developed into a quagmire and heavy showers made it absolutely impossible to handle the ball. It was simply a case of boot the leather and trust to luck. Although Kaponga won by a try by DLnock through fast following up in the second spell, they must be considered fortunate, as play was more in their territory than iu their opponents. Tukapa had several shots at goal, which went very close to scoring, G. Hooker on one occasion placing the ball under the bar, and H. Oliver grazing the post after a magnificent effort from nearly halfway. The game ended: — Kaponga ...... 3 Tukapa .. V PATEA (9) v. WAIMATE (8). The Waimate-Patea match at Patea proved an interesting game, Patea winning by a margin of one point. Patea kicked off against the wind, and soon the Waimate forwards started a rush down the field with the ball at toe. Atkinson (Waimate) here secured the ball and crossed the line. The kick at goal failed. With the wind In their favor Waimate continued to make the pace, and had Patea in difficulties on their goal line. Waimate kept the advantage, and even got over, iXit Tinney picked up smartly and found touch. Patea now assumed the offensive and carried the ball to the other end of the field, where some hard forward play was the order. Waimate kicked high, and by hard following up looked like scoring again, but Hunt was smart with his kick and found touch well down the line. On the call of half-time there was no further score, Waimate leading 3 te nil. Soon after changing over the Waimate forwards .carried the leather to the opposing side's goal line, where Hughes got over and converted his try. Patea now made play hard and fast, Waimate being forced twice In quick succenslon. Tinney essayed a shot at goal, I but It was rushed down Uy an opposing forward. Play now became fast and open. The i Waimate forwards carried the ball at toe the full length of the field, and Patea were forced. Soon after the Patea forwards assumed the offensive, and Fred McKenna secured the ball and scored the first try for Patea. Patea returned to the attack, and in a good dodging run, Mitchell crossed the line. Hunt’s kick hit the posts. Waimate were now playing their hardest defending their line, and presently Frank McKenna fecured the leather and scored Pa tea's third try. There was no further score, and the gacue ended; — Patea 9 Waimate 8 Mr. A. Court refereed. B GRADE. STAP. (4) v. OLD BOYS (0). Star and Old Boys met at Pukekura Park In showery weather and on a slippery ground. The game was keenly contested throughout. Star won by 4 points to nil. Old Boys opened the game and carried play to Star's line, where the latter were forced. The tables were turned immediatefy, for Star attacked with vigor, and a keen struggle took place within Old Boys' twentyfive. The situation was relieved by Valentine (full-back). Star again attacked, and Old Boys were kept busy defending their goal. Patterson (Star) got away, but knocked on near the line. From the scrum Falwasser got the ball and tad a hard go with Valentine behind the lino, and a force resulted. The game was then removed to Star’s area, where keen play took place, Dunford (Star), and Bruce (Old Boys) being prominent for back play. Clare, an Old Boys’ man at this stage left the field with an injured nose. Shortly afterwards Janies (Old Boys) and Deane (Star) were ordered off for rough play. Star again got away, and with the ball at toe made a great rush down the line. Sykes ; picked up and stopped the rush, passing to Boon, who gained ground. At half-time there was no score.

On resuming Old Boys were again forced back, Dunford (Star), having a shot from nearly lialf-way and missing. Bridger, Star's half-back, now became prominent and led a rush towards the goa. fine, and for a few moments the situation looked dangerous for Old Boys, but a force resulted. In the ensuing play Old Boys’ backs tried to get passing rushes going, but were severely handicapped by the slippery ball. Sykes got away and passed to Bruce, who got very near the line; Dunford, however, proved too good for him. Some good forward play was executed by Star, and Old Boys were saved by a line kick from Wynyard. From resultant play Patterson (Star) dropped a beautiful goal from the field. The struggle now becaune keener, and Old Boys’ backs opened up the game and forced their opponents back. Several near goes resulted near Star’s goal, but the latter’s forwards were too powerful for the Old Boys. The game ended with no further addition to the score:— Star 4 Old Boys 0 Mr. Fletcher refereed. INGLEWOOD (8) v. OKATO (0). The Inglewood-Okato match was played at Inglewood in wet weather. A strong, cold wind was blowing across the field, and play was very loose until the teams warmed up. The rain made the bail difficult to handle, and a poor display of football was the result. Coutts (Inglewood) scored a try in the first half. In the second half Taylor scored another try fov, Inglewood and converted. No score was made by Okato, and the game ended : Inglewood 8 Okato 0 NORTHERN DIVISION. SECOND GRADE. » Star beat Tukapa by 3 to .0. THIRD GRADE. Tukapa forfeited to Star. Okato defeated High School B 6 to nil. FOURTH GRADE. Old Boys beat Technical College by 27 to 8. Tukapa beat High School D 6 to 0. CENTRAL DIVISION. SECOND GRADE. Tariki defeated Stratrord 5 to 0. Toko defeated Midhirst 3 to 0. THIRD GRADE. Toko defeated Stratford D.H.S. 14 to G. SOUTHERN DIVISION. SECOND GRADE. Opunake defeated Patea by 3 to 0. W. Hokaia scored a try for Opunake. PRIMARY SCHOOLS MATCH. In a primary schools’ match, Central B scored a "■Pints against Vogeltown 0.