FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

PLAY IN TARANAKI I THE CUP COMPETITIONS SATURDAY’S MATCHES. The cup competition wag continued in Taranaki on Saturday under wintry conditions. The result of the matches did not affect the positions of the teams. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Hawera 14 v. Tukapa 3. Stratford 9 v. Waimate 8. Kaponga 9 v. Okaiawa 5. Opunake 15 v. Patea 0. A GRADE. HAWERA (14) v. TUKAPA (3). Hawera defeated Tukapa at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, by 14 points to 3, and are now level with Clifton, whom they meet this week The game, cn the Whole, was a disappointing! one. and what promised to be a good, open' exhibition was marred largely by bad passing I on both sides. Tte score » hardly indicative • of the difference in the faro teams, though! Tukapa at no stage looked like winning. | Hawera forwards followed up the kick ot? well, and the game had only been in progress! a couple of minutes, when L. Willis, receiving • from a scrum near the line, shot the ball out

to Cameron, who scored. L. Wills failed with j the kick. Hawera kept up the pressure until Cameron kicked too hard and a force-down , resulted. Then McAHum followed up fast. | Hawera were penalised and R. Hooker had a i Shot at goal, but failed. The Tukapa hacks opened out. but erratic passing spoiled the attack. Camcron made an opening and transferred to Ba (Iley, who. however, was recalled for off-side play. G. Hooker came to the rescue of Tukapa in a tight corner. Badley tried to pot a goal from near half-way. a good attempt falling short. Fumbling in the Hawera backs let Tukapa through. Brown and McAHum being prominent. Robinson followed up a retutrn kick well, but knocked on when a score appeared imminent. R. Oliver ana Ennis defended well till Wilkinson and Robertson swooped down, but bad passing spoilt a promising movement Brown, who was playing a splendid game, whipped the ball out to Ennis. Robertson secured, but tried to beat too many men. Then Wyllie passed to O. Murpby, who dived over. - West’s kick narrowly missed. Hunt was away a minute after and was upended by Friar just in time. Hav,v*ra were penalised near Tukapa’s line, but msjxtained the pressure, and from a forward rush West got over. Wilkinson converted. Robertson and Cameron were each nearly over, but the latter was penalised for off-side play, I just as half-time arrived:— Hawera 11, Tu -■ kapa 0.

Priar was injured and did not resume, R. Hooker playing full-back and McAHum getug out on the wing. Atkinson took the vacant position at the side of the scrum. The spell opened sensationally, Wyllie getting nearly through, but was stopped by R. Hooker. Brown was making some great openings for his backs who gave several pleasing display!. till Wilkinson secured and kicked over the line. A great race for the ball saw Ennis force. Tukapa swept down field and Hawera were penalised for holding on to the bail. From the resultant free kick G. Hooker goaled. Tukapa were now playing with more dash. Hunt and A. and 0. Murphy came through well, but R. Hooker marked smartly. Crone was temporarily disabled at this stage. Brown and G. Hooker were prominent, but good collaring by Hawera staved off danger. A Tukapa mar was found off-side, and West took a kiak which grazed tb.e post and slid over. Play see-sawed, a promising movement by Robertson and Wilkinson being spoilt by a knock-on.

McAHum, Bedford, Ennis and Hooker followed up well and Wilson put in a dashing run, G. Wills lining just in time. Hawera caote again, Wilkinson being pushed out in the corner. Day dribbled through nearly to the line, but R. Hooker saved. Ennis led Tukapa back, and G. Wills kicked out as time sounded with tte score:—= Hawera •••• 14 Tukapa 3 Mr. F. Hooker refereed. STRATFORD (9) v. WAIMATE (8). A fast and exciting game took place at Manaia between Stratford and Waimate, the f rmer winning by 9 points to 8. Coulton miskicked in returning Waimate’s kick-off, and allowed the home team to set up a hot attack. A good line kick by Collins pieced the ball out of touch a few inches 1 from the Waimate line. A scrum down five yards out followed the line out, and then | Kivell picked up and battled his way over. Collins’- kick failed. From a line-out Masters passed out to Kivell, who* kicked- too hard and Waknate forced. Waimate attacked and solid work by the forwards took play to the Stratford line, and Stratford forced. Fast tip and down play followed, Stratford essaying two passing rushes which broke down thriugh faulty handling, and Hughes, Wainiate’s first five-eight, came to light with a good run down the line. Play was fast, first in one half and then the other, with both teams battling hard. Collins attempted to drop-kick a goal from in play, but the ball failed to rise sufficiently and Waimate forced. Assisted by the wind Stratford were sending the attacks well into Waimate territory. Col Uns attempted a penalty goal and a gooc kick went over the upright. Stratford continued to attack, and Berg, after a good run. passed to W. Gray, who was collared by both McLeod and Badley’ on the line at the corner flag, hut his weight carried him over. Collins failed to convert. Half-time came with ths scores: Stratford 6, Waimate 0.

Waimate attacked from the kick-off of tin second spell, and play for a while centred on the Stratford line, but the visitors attack ed jgain, and Laznplough and Berg were associated in a good run which took play into the Waimate twenty-five before Berg was grassed. Shortly after. Langdon stopped a further Stratford rush wilt a good line kick. Wa.’mate set up an attack which took play into Stratford's twenty-five, and in a great loose rush D. McKay, who was playing a consistently solid game, got over. Hughes

failed with the kick. Waimate continued toi attack, and after a great dash Hughes was : collared on the line. A scrum five yaras oar followed, and then Hughes had an unsuccessful attempt at a penalty goal. Shortly after thp same player took a fine mirk, and a fur;ner kick at goal failed. Stratford went down with a good loose rush, but then bad passing let them down. Hard play on the Walmate line was followed by a force down. Waimate returned to the offensive, and C. McKay had an unsuccessful kick at goal from a mark. Gray secured and made a great run down the line, being tackled by Badley on the line, but he fell over and score-? ms second try. Collins’ kick failed. Waimate mad? a good loose rush for the Stratford line and C. McKay and McLeod rushed the ball over, the latter scoring and converting tis own try. A further great loose dash, in which Winters was prominent resulted in the hall going out in touch. Play finished a few moments later With the scores : Stratford ® Waimate 8 Mr. A. F. Neilson refereed. OPUNAKE (15) v. PATEA (0). At Opunake on Saturday the local team defeated Patea by 15 points to nil. KAPONGA (9) v. OKAIAWA (5). Okaiawa only took a weak team to Kr.ponga, the home club supplying them wifo one or two men to fill up Kaponga. also was not up to full strength. They won tl matcu t>y 9 points to 5. Mr. A. H. Guy refercer

JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL. TOKO (8) v. OKAIAWA (6). The semi-final of the first junior competition wag played on the Stratford showgrounds, Toko, who headed the teams in the central division, defeating Okaiawa, winners of the southern area. A greasy ground and driving rain militated against good football, but an interesting game was provided. Toko held the upper hand for the most part, and showed up well in loose rushes. The backs algo ban-, died the ball as well as could be expected in view of the wet conditions. Toko opened against a strong wind, but' soon had Okaiawa defending, and kept up this prersure for some time, gangster (half) | opening up play for the backs. Relief was. forded by Guy and Tuki (full-back) for. Okaiawa. There was a momentary change, I the game drifting to Toko’s twenty-five after | a forward rush led by Duggan. Okaiawa were i .warded a penalty, and Tuki kicked a goal: from a handy position. Just afterwards he had a shot from a mark with no result. Play returned to half-way amid heavy rain. Following play saw Toko get down on to their opponents* line. Sangster shot the ball out, and all the backs handled well, but Okaiawa forc<kl. Just after Tuki gathered up the feather in face of another solid rush and lined, C. Vaughan had a s/iot at goal from a penalty, but the ball went wide. Okaiawa were then forced twice in succession, and subsequent piay saw A. Vaughan touch down. C. Vaughan converted, and' half-time sounded with the rcores: Toko 5, Okaiawa 3.

On resuming Toko forwards were successful in rushing play yito their opponents’ territory. Cameron stemmed the advance by finding touch, but from resultant play A. Vaughan scrambled over. The shot at goal did not add to the total. After this success Toko were keen on the attack, and Okaiawa had a spell ; t defence and were forced. The scene then changed. Okaiawa managing to reverse the

.-rder into an attack. They Infused a lot more dash into their work and carried play over the line. Moria touching down. Tnki’s kick failed. The game took another change in Toko’s favor. The backs threw the ball about well •And gained a lot of ground, the advantage being consolidated by the forwards till the 1-athcr went out at the romer flag. Play remained in the twenty-five. Vaughan dribbled the ball through, and. outpacing the opposition. gathered up, hut was unlucky enough to lose the leather when over the line, and B. Cameron, who was handy, managed to force down. Shortly afterwards another force resulted, but there was no alteration in the scores, and no side sounded with the totals: Toko M g Okaiawa g Mr. J. H. Thompson refereed. ✓ SECOND JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL. STRATFORD (13) v. PATEA (3). The Stratford thirds proved too good for the Patea team in their match at Hawera, I w-nning by 13 points to 3. In spite of the strong wind blowing it was I a good exhibition of junior football. After I hard forward play in Stratford territory J. j Matson ran for the line and got over, but lon being collared' lost the ball. The forwards i of both sides were fighting hard for suprem- ; aoy. when a Stratford player got off-side, and ( Willis, aided by the wind, kicked a good goal from nearly half-way. Play became fast | and willing among the forwards. J. Jackson | secured and nearly got over. Loose forward i play was taking place close to Stratford's I goal line, when Stratford forced. At this | stage the Stratford rear division started to , get •moving, and but for the good collaring of Patea forwards, would have scored. The halfi time score was: Patea 3. Stratford 0. The Stratford forwards forced the pace from j the start of the second spell, and Berg, by j a good, tricky run, scored under the posts. • Papps made no mistake with the kick. Play ' became very willing, and Mercer was injured. : Patea were penalised, and Collins’ kick from i half-way hit the post. Soon after Collins , marked in a handy position and found the I uprights. After hard scrum and line play ; Payne secured the ball, and by a good crodgy run scored in the corner. Collins converted from a difficult angle. The game ended:— Stratford ..................... 13 Patea ..... 3 Mr. Kiley refereed. FOURTH GRADE SEMI-FINAL. N.P.H.S. C (8) v. HAWERA (0).

At Hawera showgrounds the New Plymouth High School boys won by 8 points to nil from the Hawera fourth-grade team. The rain held off. but a strong gale was blowing down the field, which against good football. Hawera kicked off against the wind and soon after Jarvie, for Hawera, had a kick at goal which missed. Hawera boys continued to press their opponents, and play remained in the twenty-five almost during the whole of the first spell. At half-time there was no score. With the wind in their favor, the New Plymouth High School showed to better advantage in the second spell. Poi secured and crossed over, but was thrown and lost the hall. The N.P.H.S. three-quarter division started a pasing bout which gained them considerable ground, and Hawera forced. The New Plymouth forwards continued to press. From a penalty D. Ward kicked a good goal. Good scrum work was the order in Hawera territory. Here Mauri secured and scored. Dug Ward converted. After hard forward nlay in mid-field time was»called with no further New Plymouth High School g Hawera ew # 9 Mr. Grant refereed. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ REPS. NORTH (14) DEFEAT SOUTH (0).

As a curtain-raiser to the Hawera-Tukapa match, the North and South Taranaki primary school representatives tried conclusions. The North won by 14 points to nil, a victory which owe largely to good back combination, a department in which South were lacking. Nevertheless the game was fairly evenly contested throughout, and South were unlucky not io score. North’s first score came as a result of a pretty piece of back play in which the nail travelled out via all the backs to Wood- ■ ham on the wing, who scored. Petty’s kick narrowly missed. Towards the end of the spell Smith, on the opposite wing, dashed in and crossed the'line. Petty missed a difficult kick, and the spell ended: North 6, South 0. Early in the second spell Petty secured near his own goal line and ran almost the wholelength of :he field, but was collared five yards I from the line. Nevertheless, from the result- 1 ing play the same player secured and dived ! over, failing to convert his own try. In the I dying stages of the game Fletcher scored as the result of a forward rush. Petty made no mistake with the kick this time, and rhe game ended:— North 14 South (, Mr. W. Koch refereed. The purpose of the game was to allow the selector (Mr. J. Thomas) to pick a Taranaki primary schools’ team to play in the coining: Wane .nui tournament, but a letter has been j received from the secretary of the Wanganui 1 Primary Schools’ Rugby Union regretting that owing io three teams of about 20 boys each coming to Wanganui at the same time, it is i impossible to secure additional accommoda- ' tion. He hoped, however, that next year an annual match night be inaugurated between. the Wanganui and the Taranaki primary schools. ■ The North v. South referees’ match, set' down for next Saturday, has been postponed, but v. ill probably take place on Thursday, tk.e 25th inst., the day of the Taranaki Referees' Association annual dinner. THE MOASCAR CUP. I Ry Telegraph.—Press Assn -—Copyright. Hastings, August. 13. In a Moasenr Cup -match, the Maori Agricultural College beat To Aute College by 26 to 8.