FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SOME FINE GAMES. WANGANUI COLLEGE DEFEAT N.P. HIGH SCHOOL. STRATFORD AGAIN BEATEN. Fine weather prevailed on Saturday for the various football fixtures throughout Taranaki, and some interesting games were witnessed. The principal attraction was the inter-colle-giate game at Hawera, which was attended by about 3000 people. The match resulted in a win for Wanganui College by 13 points to 8 after a bright exhibition that delighted tha spectators. In the cup fixtures Stratford, who were well In the running, were again defeated by Okaiawa. Otherwise the position of the teams launaltered. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. INTER-COLLEGIATE GAME. Wanganui College IS y. N.P.ELS. 8. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ MATCH. South; 4 v. North 3. CUP COMPETITIONS. A GRADE. Clifton G v. Kaponga 3. Okaiawa 15 v. Stratford 5. Hawera 12 v. Patea 3, Opunake 10 v. Waimate 6. Eltham 9 v. Okato 9. DAN O’BRIEN SHIELD MATCH. Tukapa 3 v- Star 0. A GRADE. CLIFTON (6) v. KAPONGA (3). Clifton beat Kaponga at Kaponga by 6 to 3. The game had progressed only a few minutes when Clifton notched an easy try. They were in the opposing team's twenty-five, and Cowe, behind the scrum, shot the ball out to Ross, the leather thence going to Sheehan, who got over. Goodwin's kick did not add any points. The Kaponga backs took a turn, but their work lacked finish, and give-and-take play followed between the teams. Good work was shown by the Kaponga forwards, whose fast following up and good tackling minimised the attempts made by the opposing backs. Kaponga backs ventured a passing rush. Dymock, running straight, gained a lot of ground and transferred to Humphries, who had only the full-back to beat, but he slipped, and Clifton saved. The same player, backed up by McCarthy (wing three-quarter), was responsible later for carrying play on to the line, and following play saw Clifton force. It was mostly Kaponga's game at this stage, till the opposing backs asserted themselves. Gow shot the ball out, and Ross, Sheehan, Jones and Hickey handled in turn, the last-named again transferring to Ross, who was handy. He kicked down field, and the attack continued lively till a free kick relieved Kaponga. Throwing the ball about freely, Clifton were keeping Kaponga busy in vtelr twenty-five when half-titme was called: Clifton 3, Kaponga 0. Lively play characterised the opening o£ the second spell. An exception in Kingston's safe game occurred when he failed to gather up the ball and Kaponga looked dangerous. Ensuing play saw Lynskey grounded in touch by Jones. Y'oung and Hicks (Clifton) brought play up field, but Fitzgerald returned smartly and Kingston marked in front of a solid attack. Following this Malone had a shot at goal without result. After some play a passing bout initiated by Dymock, saw the ball go to Lynskey, and thence to McCarthy, wto crososed the line and equalised the scores. The shot at goal was unsuccessful. Immediately Kaponga again roused the hopes of their supporters, backs and forwards throwing the ball about freely, and a spectacular piece of play saw them again in Clifton’s twenty-live, where there were repeated attacks by the forwards. A fairly good defence was maintained by Clifton backs, Kingston (full) being prominent. A dash up the line by Ross put Clifton in a better position. A shot at goal by Sheehan was blocked, and just afterwards a kick by Jones went wide. A big rally by Kaponga followed, the gaune continuing to bear an Interesting aspect. Twice in quick succession Clifton were forced. Then Fryday and Hicks (Clifton) broke away with the ball at toe, but the movement resulted in little headway, Kaponga managing to keep up the pressure. The Clifton backs were responsible on forcing play above half-way. Sheehan, securing from loose play, kicked across field, I giving an opening of which Ross was quick to take advantage. He gathered up the leather and made a dash for the linen be was collared, but did not lose possession and got over. His kick at goal did not add to the total. Time was called immediately, with the scores;—

Clifton 6 Kaponga ? 3 Mr. A. F. Neilson reffereed. OKAIAWA (15) v. STRATFORD (5). The Okalawa-Stratford match, played at Stratford, was won by Okaiawa by a margin of 10 points. Stratford kicked off with the sun in their eyes, and for a brief period Okaiawa had Stratford on the defensive. The Stratford vanguard, by good play, pressed their opponents back to their twenty-five, where, in a series of line-outs, the Stratford forwards gained the advantage. Lampiough here secured, and by a good run, carried the ball well up the field, but kicked too hard and Okaiawa forced. Then the Okaiawa rearguard tried a passing bout, which was spoilt by a forward pass, which was intercepted, but soon after Henderson gathered up the ball in a loose rush and scored a good try In the corner. Roberts failed to goal. From loose play Roberts tried to drop a goal, the ball just missing tte posts. Immediately after Roberts again secured, and beating the opposing backs, got over. U. Roberts failed with the kick. The Stratford forwards tried to break through the opposing forwards, and goal. The visitors now made the pace, E and in a forward rush Stratford were forced. Soon wing, and in a good run he got over in the corner. Roberts’ kick failed. At half-titme the score was: Okaiawa 9, Stratford 5.

force play/which centred at mid-field, where rent cut in and, gathering up the leather, crossed the line. Johnston’s kick just mlssR°berts who scored in the corner. The kick HAWERA (12) v. PATEA (3). tea on a good ground. Although Patel were for Hawera by 12 points to 3. Hawera opened the game and attacked with

the tialf-way, and Wills (Hawera) pul 1 kick over within five minutes of the commence raeni of the game. Patea organised an of fensive movement and carried the ball back into their opponents’ area, where a keen struggle took place near the goal. Stratford had a shot and missed. Play travelled up and down the field for several minutes, until Hawera forwards got a.v.sy and, with the ball at toe, got near their objective when Day was penalised for off-side play. Hard fighting took place in Pa tea's twenty-five, from where Wills kicked another goal. Tie Hawera team kept up u steady pressure and had Patea thinking. Tinney started a passing rush, Spratt, Greener and McKenna taking part. This relieved Patea's line, and Hawera were forced back. McKenna kicked a goal for Patea from a penalty. Shortly afterwards a magnilice <t run was put up by Hawera bank?, ev-n--tuating in Cameron getting over. Wills failed to convert. At this stage Hawera baeks were putting in some tine work, and were passing well. Half-time sounded with Patea defending, and ihe score 9 to 3 in favor of Hawera. Hawera again attacked, and Patea were l kept busy defending. Tinney, in an attempt to relieve, kicked across the field, and Osborne (Hawera) gained and fell over tha line. Wills' kick failed. Hawera again got busy, and Cameron was prominent in a passing rush which was relieved by a blind pass from a Hawera man. Patea began to warm up, and Crompton headed a- forward rush, which transferred play to Hawera's goal. For several minutes things looked dangerous for Hawera, and they were eventually forced. Hawera by no means had their own way after this, and Patea were mniing some determined ' efforts to score, and the forwards were alj ways on the ball. Hattera. however, wera I tackling well, and Patea’s most determined eff forts were of no avail. The concluding stages of the game saw Patea attacking gallantly, and several times had very narrow goes near Hawera's line. No further score was added, Hawera 12 Patea 3 Mr. F_ Julian refereed. OPUNAKE (10> v. WALMATE (6>. Opunake gained their third successive win when they defeated Waimate at. Opunake- by 10 points to 6. B GRADE. OKATO (9) v. ELTHAM (9J. The only match played in the B grade was that between Okato and Eltham, who met at Rahbtu, the game resulting In a draw, each team scoring 9 points. Eltham's score consisted of three tries, two scored by Hickey and one by Dive, whilst Okato's score consisted of two tries and a penalty goal.

DAN O'BRIEN SHIELD MATCH. TUKAPA (3) DEFEAT STAR (0). The annual match for the Dan O’Brien shield was played at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, when Tukapa (holders) managed to stave off Star’s challenge by the narrow margin of 3 points (a penalty goal). Considering that Tukapa play in the Senior A grade and Star in the B grade, the latter must be credited with putting up au unexpectedly good fight for the trophy. Star became aggressive from the kick-off, and gave Tukapa some anxious moments near the line till a force down resulted. Dunford had an unsuccessful kirk from a long way back. Tukapa backs now took a turn, and Hart wa.s responsible for a. good run. Tukapa kept up the pressure till Fnlwasser cleared. Priar marked the ball and had a shot at goal, a fine kick just falling short. Star came again. Priar held on to the ball wten collared, and Bridget took a penalty kick, which narrowly missed. Hooker nut Tukapa on the attack once more, and from the resulting play Star forced. Shortly afterwards Priar marked in face of a dangerous forward rush. Clarke get possession, and a score seemed imminent, but he failed to pass out in time. Bridger was shortly afterwards collared when sprinting for the line. Half-time arrived without score.

Early in the second spell Brown, Ennis and Atkinson put Tukapa on the attack, but Dunford was safe. Play ranged well up and down the field for a tluffe till Hart secured and ran across, but Hooker took an off-side pass. Quickfall picked the ball up from the ruck and set sail for tte line, but Falwasser forced him out. Hart again secured, but his pass to Atkinson was forward. Quickfall made a good opening and passed out to Atkinson, who crossed the line, but was recalled for an infringement. Tukapa, however, were not t? be denied, and shortly afterwards G. Booker landed a penalty goal. Play now became very exciting. Hart and Priar each made unsuccessful attempts to “pot" goals from the field. Star swept down agaip, and from infringements Bridger and Dunford tried without success to kick penalties. Subsequently play was full of incident, but the final whistle blew with the score unchanged:— Tukapa 3 Star 0 Mr. \V. Roch refereed. NORTHERN DIVISION. SECOND GRADE. Tukapa 7, defeated Old Boys 3. For the winners Jury drop-kicked a goal from Ute Held, and Bedford scored an unconverted try. Knapfan kicked a penalty for Old Boys* FOURTH GRADE. Old Boys 31, defeated Tukapa 0. Star 18, defeated Clifton 0. CENTRAL DIVISION. SECOND GRADE. Toko defeated Stratford by three points to nil, after a tard fought game. The score for the winners was a penalty goal kicked by Mathers. FOURTH GRADE. Eltham defeated Stratford District High School by 14 points to 3. SOUTHERN DIVISION. SECOND GRADE. Okaiawa juniors beat Waimate juniors by 15 points to 6. Kaponga first juniors beat Opunake 8 to ti. MARLBOROUGH BEAT NELSON. By Telegraph.—Press Association. I Blenheim, July 9. A Rugby match between Marlborough and Nelson, arranged to assist in the selection of a combined team to meet the South Africans was played to-day, and resulted in a win for ASSOCIATION GAME. - WELLINGTON BEAT WANGANUI. Wanganui, July 9. An Association football match for the Brown Shield between Wanganui and Wellington was played to-day in fine weather.

The opening stages were fast and open. Wanganui was the first to score. Cooper centring for Mitchell to head the ball through. Shortly before half-time Campbell scored for the visitors. Wellington had the best of the second half and showed fine combination. As the outcome of a systematic attack Cussack scored for Wellington, and the game ended: The team work of Wellington was superior to that of Wanganui, but the defence of the latter was good; otherwise the score would have been larger

SCHOOL FOOTBALL. WANGANUI COI«LEGE v. N.P. HIGH SCHOOL. A WIN FOR WANGANUI. Tha second annual meeting of the Wanganui College and New Plymouth High Schoo! teams took place at Hawera on Saturday, and attracted an attendance of over 3000. The game was very fast and open, and keenly contested to the end, Wanganui winning by 13 to 8. E’acli sido made as much use of its backs as possible, with the result, that the game was brimful of incident, being voted the best that has fce.eri seen in Hawera for years. The teams were evenly matched. The New Plymouth backs handled the ball cleaner than their opponents, but they did not run too straight, and there was too great a tendency on the part of the inside men to drop-kick gflals, this costing two almost certain tries. Tte tackling on both sides was good. Forward the New Plymouth boys gained the ball the majority of times.in the scrum, but in the loose Wanganyi had the advantage. The scores do not Indicate the difference in the teams, for, with the exception of the first few minutes of the second spell, when the Wanganui team scored two tries, tte local lads had the better of the game. School had the advantage of the sun and the wind In the first spell, and at once made things merry. Alexander, Brown and Abbott taking part in a passing move that saw the latter collared by Hewitt. Babbage and Bayley broke through, but the latter soon after failed to take a high ball, and school came swarming down, but an Infringement null!-, fled. Then Brodie, cleverly working the blino aide, set Abbott galloping, but Bailey brought him down. A moment later Brodie shot the ball to Foden, who cut in and handed on to Brown, who beat the opposition and scored' amidst great applause. Foden failed to goal. School 3, College 0. Failure of the Wanganui backs to pick up cleanly lei Palmer through. Brown and Meuli got moving. Jim Blake, at full, was able to clear. Back came the school, and Brown, kicking high and following up fast, a force resulted. Abbott then marked cleverly, and a little later Brodie made a great opening and passed to Foden, wto had his men with him, but tried to pot, and the ball was forced. Again Babbage sent the ball via all the backs to Bayly, who cut in, but he was well taken by Shaw. Wanganui kept up the pressure, and Sedcote nearly got over. A moment later, securing from the scrum, Paterson dived over the line. Bayly failed to goal. College 3, Sctool 3.

Play continued fast; and a nice bout between Brodie, Alexander, Foden and Abbott saw the last named well collared by Jim Blake. Fast following up by Brodie had school again attacking, but Foden foiled to take a pass. Then Brown essayed to pot, the ball reaching the dead ball line. Brodie set his backs moving, and the ball travelled through the string to Abbott, who was well taken. High School still pressed, and Foden again essayed to pot, just missing. If he had gone on a try would probably have resulted.

as two or three men were with him. Failure by the full-back to take a high ball had Wanganui in trouble, and Brown had a shot .from a free kick, but failed to goal. High Schorl still pressed, and kept throwing the bail about in Wanganui's twenty-five. Finally Alexander passed to Crauiey, who got over. Foden goaled. There was no further score ?i this spell, which ended:—

; N.P. High School 8 Wanganui College 3 | Almost on resuming Babbage set his backs > moving, and they swarmed round the local r goal. Babbage cut in nicely, but was token 'by Alexander. Then, after Bayly had dropped a pass, all the backs handled nicely, and Bayly, taking the ball high, cut in and passed to Brownlee, who got over. Bayly goaled, making the score: College 8, School 8. Then school backs got moving, Brown ultimately passing to Abbott, who failed to taka it. Brown cut in and lined. Another bout of passing ty the College saw Shaw nicely save, but it was only temporary, as almost immediately Bayly was nearly over. Then Babbage shot the ball to Hewitt, and it travelled via Stone, Wigg to Bayly, who completed a pretty piece of play by scoring, then adding the major points. College 13, School 8. Wanganui kept up the pressure, but Bayly on two occasions dropped passes. Good collaring by Shaw, Brown and company kept Wanganui out, and finally Meuli secured and kicked high, and fumbling by the opposing backs saw school close to the Wanganui goal, where Brown picked up and again tried to pot. An Interchange of kicks gave school the advantage, and again their backs were, attacking, Alexander doing same fine work and setting each wing moving, but Thackery was good. Then fumbling by a couple of school backs let Bayly through, but he was well taken by Shaw. Both sides indulged in passing in neutral territory until clever work by Alexander saw school attack, and from a. free kick Brown had a shot, which went wide. Fast following up by Drader smothered Hewitt, and then Foden marked In a good position and tried to drop kick a goal, but failed. The game ended» Wanganui College 13 N.P. High School s Mr. F. Hooker refereecL

PRIMARY SCHOOLS' MATCH. SOUTH TARANAKI (4) v. NORTH (3), The North and South Taranaki primary schools’ match at Hawera provided a very good exhibition, South winning by one point. Early in the game the southern pack predominated and forced the northerners, but Woodham broke through. Then Fookes set his backs moving, and a pretty passing bout by Petty and N. Smith saw the latter collared at the corner. The northerners pressed hotly, Fookes being prominent, but G. Pater- ’ son cleverly saved. Woodham marked and had a shot at goal, but the ball struck tte post and was forced. The southerners we| - e making the game very open, but the defence stood th© strain, until Forbes, failing to field a ball, Woodham picked up and scored near the corner. Petty failed to goal. South forwards then pressed, and had north In difficulties, until Fletcher, at full-back, marked and lined near half-way. Kehely started a rush ttat ended in a serum on the line, where Kiley secured and potted a neat goal. North came swarming down, but Whalen forced. Then from a free kick Petty again failed to goal, the ball being forced. A moment later Fletcher was just in time to force at the other end. The game continued very fast. North having the upper hand and forcing their opponents as half-time was called with the score:—• South 4 North 3 The second spell opened with tbe South forwards attacking, but good play by Petty and Forbes changed the venue, and a Httie later South were forced. Failure by Fletcher to take the ball let Greenhill away, but Smith got round and saved. Fookes and Hawkin were prominent for North, as were Kehely and Whalen for the South. A little later Fletcher, at full-back, saved his side on two occasions, and then Patterson and Hill l took part In a rush that was only checked by infringement. Another great bout of passing saw Smith collared near the line, and from a serum the blacks kept up the pressure, but. the yellows tackled well and finally forced. The game ended South 4. North .... 3 Mr. G. Meuli refereed.