FOOTBALL?

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL?

CUP COMPETITIONS. SATURDAY’S MATCHES. SOME VERY CLOSE GAMES. The Taranaki cup competitions were continued on Saturday, when there were some very close games. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. A GRADE. Stratford 15 v. Kaponga 14. Clifton 20 v. Patea 5. Tukapa 9 v. Waimate 8. Opunake 3 v. Okaiawa 0. B GRADE. Inglewood 9 v. Star 3. El th am 10 y. Old Boys 3. A GRADE. STRATFORD (15) v. KAPONGA (14). A keen game between Stratford and Kaponga, at Stratford, was won by Stratford by one point. Rain held off, but the ground was heavy. Stratford kicked off with the wind against them, and Kaponga forwards at once made the pace willing. The Kaponga vanguard had Stratford defending their goal line, and presently Guthrie secured from a loose rush and crossed over. Mick Lynskey converted. From tho kick off Stratford were forced. Then the Kaponga forwards, with Malone in the van, carried the ball over, and Stratford forced. Collins found touch well down the line, and later, for off-side play, M. Lynskey found the uprights. The Stratford forwards broke through, and with the ball at toe, carried it well into the opposition’s twenty-five. Kaponga returned to the attack, but were penalised for off-side play, and Collins’ kick went wide. From loose play Kivell marked under the opposing team’s goal, and kicked a good goal Encouraged by their first score Stratford now assumed the offensive, and hard and exciting play was the order near Kaponga’s goal. From loose play W. Gray secured the leather and scored. The kick fell short. At half-time Kaponga led by 8 to G.

On changing over Kaponga attacked and momentarily had Stratford on the defensive. Then Penniall gathered up tti leather and get over in the corner, putting Stratford in the lead. Collins’ kick just missed. The Stratford vanguard were now playing their hardest, the ball owning out to the side, Colton dashed up and scored in the corner. Collins’ kick went wide. Both teams were now fighting for supremacy, and from hard forward play Colton again cressed in the corner. Carlson’s kick failed to rise Stratford now led by 15 to 8. The ball travelled to and fro and up and down the field for some t‘.me, when Dimmoek (Kaponga) marked in a bandy position and kicked a good goal. A little later, from forward play, Humphries scored a good try in the corner. Lynskey’s kick fell short. The game ended:— Stratford 15 Kaponga 14 Mr. W. Roch refereed. CLIFTON (20) r. PA’fEA (5). Patea met Clifton at Waitara in dull weather and on a fair ground, and suffered defeat by 20 to 5. During the early stages of the game, play was confined to mid-field, where Jones (Clifton) got the ball and made a run, but in passing Godfrey lost it. Fuller regained the leather and scored. Coleman's kick failed. Clifton attacked and forced play into Patea's twenty-five. Patea were penalised in their own twenty-five, and Coleman’s kick missed. Immediately afterwards Hickey had a shot from the field and missed. A pass missed by Ross was the signal for an attack by Patea, who carried play forward. McKenna had a shot and missed. Heavy play ensued in Clifton’s area, and the lattei were relieved by a penalty. Following Ross’ kick the Clifton forwards transferred play to near Patea’s goal line. A scrum took place about the twenty-five line, from which Ross gained the ball, passing to Sheehan, who passed in turn to Goodwin, and another try was recorded. Coleman's kick fell short. Patea organised a forward rush and removed the ball to Clifton's area, where Ross lined. Patea backs attempted a passing bout, but were checked by the superior weight of the opposing forwards, who forced the game back to Patea’s goal, where the latter were kept busy defending. As a result of loose play Hickey got away and added another try to Clifton's score. Coleman failed to convert. Halftime sounded with the score: Clifton 9, Patea 0.

On resuming Patea attacked with a passing rush, Scully, Willis and McKenna being prominent. Stratford had a shot and imissed. At this stage Patea were attacking with considerable vigor, and Ross relieved for Clifton. Goodwin followed up a long kick and got over. Coleman converted. The game now became fast, good back play being displayed by both teams. Clifton backs again got busy, and after a good run Taylor got over. Coleman missed the goal. Clifton again forced the pace, and Patea backs defended well. A hard go took place near Patea’s line, resulting In Ross adding another try to Clifton’s score. Goodwin failed to goal. Persevering, the Patea team again swept down the field, attacking with considerable force. Crompton secured the ball from a pack in front of the goal and scored between the posts. Frank McKenna converted. Immediately afterwards the whistle sounded with the score:— Clifton 20 Patea 5 Mr. F. Hooker refereed. TUKAPA (9) v. WAIMATE (8). Tukapa met Waimate at Manaia, and after a very close and interesting game won by one In the first spell, within a few minutes of starting, McLean was held up on ti e line, and from the resultant scrum Whitaker secured and dived over. G. Hooker failed to convert. Waimate retaliated with a great forward rush and carried play right to the other end of the field. A period of strenuous play took place, and a Tukapa kick being charged down gave Birchall a chance to score, which he quickly availed himself of. Phllllips goaled. Tukapa immediately rushed play to Heir opponents’ territory, and R. Oliver set Lis three-quarter line going. Hart secured at the end of the chain, and putting in a great run, was very unlucky in not scoring. Mekay had come across and thrown himself at Hart, causing the latter to stumble when almost over. The first spell ended with Waimate leading 5 to 3.

Immediately on resuming Tukapa set up a hot attack and kept Waimate penned in their twenty-five for some time. A weak kick into the field by Haynes was secured by R. Oliver, who immediately set up an attack. Ennis next secured the ball, and after a short dash passed to G. Hooker, who raced over in the corner, with H. Oliver in attendance. H. Oliver failed to convert. Livened by the reverse, Waimate forwards came away with a great rush, bail at toe, and Tukapa were hard put to keep their line intact. Waimate continued to press, and from a scrum on the line Phillips secured and fell over. He failed to goal. Tukapa quickly asserted themselves, and by long kicking, smartly followed up, carried play into their opponents’ half. Hughes, securing the ball, kicked higt to half-way, where Hart secured, and putting on all speed, galloped down the side line. He was collared right on the line after making the best individual effort of the match. Waimate forced, but were soon back on the defence. As the result of nippy play by Tukapa backs and a Waimate forward getting off-side, gave Tua penalty kick, and auwna*

fully goaled, putting his side in the lead. There was no further score, and the game ended: — Tukapa » a 9 Waimate .....8 Mr. J. Kiley refereed. , >t ■„ OPUNAKE (3) v. OKAIAWA (0). Opunake and Okaiawa met at Okaiawa, when, after a very open and interesting game in which the teams were very evenly matched, Opunake gained the victory by 3 points te nil, a try being scored from a scramble towards the end of the second spell. There was no further score, and the gamo ended: Opunake 3 Okaiawa 0 Mr. N. A’Court refereed. B GRADE. INGLEWOOD (9) v. STAR (3). Inglewood and Star met on the Recreation Grounds, New Plymouth, and the match, which was keenly contested, resulted in a win for Inglewood by 9 points to 3. The opening stages saw play rush up and down field, first one side and then tte other having the advantage. A rebound put Inglewood in a handy position, and from a scrum Blshell passed to Starkey, who handed on Coutts. The latter cut in and then passed wide. Langlands picking up on the bounce and dashing over. Coutts failed to goal. Soon after resuming Inglewood attacked, and from a free kick Coutts added another 3 points. Star forwards, led by Wolfe and Bowler, carried play to half-way, where a great passing bout, in which all the Star backs (including the full-back) took a band, saw Faiwasser collared near the line. Inglewood then had a ?peil at attack, and then Star carry, again. Star kept up the pressure, and just on call of half-time Paterson picked up from a loose scramble and handed to Broughton, who passed to Falwasser. 'Hie latter beat two or three men and forced bis way over at the corner. Dunford failed to convert. The spell ended with Inglewood leading 6 to 3. Early in the second ,-spell Star held ti e upper hand for a while, and twice Julian just failed to score. Star kept up the pressure, and Klngl smothered the full-buck, but Coutts came round and lined. Then Coutts marked in the face of the charging pack, and had a drop-kick at goal, the ball being forced. Playnow rushed up and down field. Star being forced one moment, and the next moment Falwasser had broken clear, but was taken low by the full-back. Here Julian had to retire and was replaced by Sims. Presently tie Inglewood forwards came down with a rush, and Dunford, failing to pick up. rushed the ball over the bne, where O’Carroll touched down. Coutts failed to goal. Time was called soon after with the score Inglewood 9 Star 3 Mr. G. Hopkins refereed. ELTHAM (10) v. OLD BOYS (3). Old Boys’ persistent ill-luck dogged them again in their match at Taumata Park, Eltham, when the home team won by 10 points to 3 after a fast and interesting Play for a few minutes hung about midfield, till Eltham took the initiative, McCracken, at centre, making two good runs, the latter of which went dangerously near a score. However, before the game was five minutes’ old McClymont received from a line-out near the corner and scored in a good position. Dive converted. E’ltham forwards were hooking well and set the backs In motion. Boon cross-kicked and McCracken, receiving on the full, made a good run, but Bruce saved. Dive narrowly missed with a penalty kick. Eltham backs were handling well, but the ball was passed out. From the resulting line-out McClymont cut in and scored tis second try. Dive again being successful with the kick’ Sykes kicked high on several occasions, aua Old Boys followed up well, but McSweeney was always safe. Whittle took that ball on the full and made a good run before being tackled. Stewart and Sykes broke up an Eltham attack, and Bruce made a good run before passing to Sykes, who gained a lot of ground, but was well collared by McSweeney. From the resulting play Eltham forced. McClymont was responsible for another dashing run. but a forward pass spoiled. Stewart again put Old Boys on the attack. Whittle, receiving on the full, made a dashing run before passing in to Wynyard, who slithered oyer near the corner. Hughes' kick fell short. Valentino kicked well when the line was imperilled, and then Wynyard intercepted a pass and passed to Sykes, who was promptly collared. McSweeney bounced the ball out near tho corner, and from the resulting play Old Boys forced. Bruce, Sykes and Wynyard were responsible for a pretty piece of work. Eltham backs were throwing the ball about well near the Old Boys' line, but failed to find an opening. Rowlands headed r.n Eltham forward rush. Old Boys were penalised, but Dive’s kick went slightly wide. At half-time the score was: Eltham 10, Old Boys 3. There was no score in the second spell, and the game ended : Eltham 39 Old Boys 3 Mr. J. Johnson refereed. NORTHERN DIVISION. SECOND GRADE. At the Recreation Grounds Star had an easy win over Old Boys, who were unable to muster a team and gave up the game after about- twenty minutes’ play, when Star had scored four tries. Clifton defeated Tukapa, who were unable to muster a full team, by 12 points to 0. THIRD GRADE. High School B defeated Star by 12 points (four penalty goals) .to 9 points (three tries). High School A defeated Oka to by 14 points to 3. FOURTH GRADE. Star beat High School C by 9 points (two tries and a penalty goal), to 3 points (a penalty goal). At Lepyerton the local fourths defeated Tukapa fourths by 21 points to nil. Technical College forfeited to High School D. CENTRAL DIVISION. SECOND GRADE. Midhirst played a draw with Stratford juniors at Stratford. Fowler scored for Midhirst and McKenzie for Stratford. At Eltham, Eltham defeated Stratford D.H.S. by 8 to nil. PRIMARY .SCHOOLS’ MATCH. NORTH TEAM SELECTED. A trial match to select the team to represent North Taranaki against South Taranaki bi the curtaln-raLser to be played at Hawera on Saturday to the inter-collegiate match was held on Saturday, when the A team won by 11 points to nil. The team to represent North Taranaki was afterwards chosen as fellows: Full-back, Fletcher (N.P. High School) ; three-quarters, N. Smith (N.P. High School), V. Smith (Central), Woodham (West End) ; five-eighths, Hawkins (Fitzroy), Petty (West End) ; half, Fookes 1 (High School) ; wing, Sarten (High School) ; forwards. Holmes and Bartholomew (West End), Maxwell and Bethell (Central), Ennis (Inglewood), Knuckey and Thomas (High School). Emergencies: Backs, S. Smith (Central), and Pease (High School) ; forwards, Godfrey (Central), Law (High School)' and Rakau (West End). The team will play in black jerseys. A practice match will be held cn Thursday at the racecourse at 3 p.m. Mr. R. C. Adlam, of the Central School, will manage the team, which travels by the High School special train at 7.33. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ COMPETITION. Central and West End meat at Pukekeura Park on Friday, when a good game resulted In a win for the former by 12 points to 3. For the winners V. Smith scored three tries, and Godfrey one, while for the losers Bartholomew scored. Mr. Qdlonwa r«fer««</ *** • .... *~*-* if ft*