FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

FLAY IN TARANAKI. THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. AGAIN WON BY HAWHP.A. Hawera betl Clifton on Saturday at Ma«era by Ji points to 4, and thus, for the third year in succession, annexed the Taranaki provincial senior championship. . There war, jxrfert weather, a good ground and a record attendance. The game was hard and fast. It could not be c uTibed as altogether spectacular, as the keenness with which the. opposing forwards Sol on io the backs nullified many attempts at passing, though there were occasional good wuts by the backs, Hawera in particular doing good work. There was a great struggle between the forwards, and on the day the Hawera pack were tte superior, and to. this the southerners largely owe their victory.

Hawera opened with the sun in their faces and with the breeze against them. The Clifton pack carried the leather past half-way, whei'e Hawera .infringed, and from just outside half-way Kingston dropped at goal, the ball striking tt e centre of the bar and bounding infltdd. it was a great kick. Clifton kept Up the pressure, but Wilkinson drove them back. West, Murphy, Fogarty and company carried play past half-way op several occasions, but Kingston, with fine kicks, drove them back. After some tight play the ball was kicked across field, and after a scramble in dangerous proximity to Hawera’s line Chadwick cleared. Then from a free kick Colman had a shot which went wide. Presently Hickey lined near the corner and Clifton pressed hard, but Robertson intercepted a pass and cleared. Kingston next tried to pot, but the ball went wide. Clifton had the upper hand until Wilkinson secured and ran down field, being collared by Kingston, who gathered up the bail, got to half-way, and then started his backs going. Goodwin was' collared and injured, having to retire. Kingston later bad a drop kick from a free, but failed. Then Robertson, Sutherland and West wore- responsible for the locals attacking, and Whittington, showing a surprising burst of speed, was nearly over. Hawera kept moving, and Cameron shot the ball to Osborne, to Robertson, wto ran strongly, with Wilkinson at hand, and dived over. West failed tn goal. Crowe hbre replaced Goodwin, going to half back, Ross dropping to five-eighth. Hawera again gut moving, hut an infringement let Clifton clear, and a passing bout by Jones and Hickey saw the latter collared by BadIcy. Ross spoilt, another likely move by dropping the ball, but from a scramble the leather was passed to Hickey, who dropped a beautiful goal. At half-time the score was:— Clifton „ .. 4 Hawera 3 Almost from tho resumption Hawera attacked, and a passing bout by Wilis, Osborne, Robertson and Wilkinson saw the latter dash for the line, but he was thrown into touch In goal by Kingston. West marked the kick off, and from just on half-way dropped a beautiful goal. Hawera' kept up the attack, but Kingston cleverly changed defence into attack by running to mid-field and setting his backs moving, Hickey being just collared in time by Robertson. Hickey was up again like 1 a flash, but was collated by Anderson, who forged. Then Colman had another shot, which just failed. After a boiit of kicking Badley got moving and carried play to Clifton’s twenty-five, where Osborne transferred to Rob ertson, who cut in and dashed for tho line with Badley in attendance. He slipped as he reached Kingston, and a chance went. Clifton were kept busy stemming Hawera attacks, but finally, from about half-way, the ball came via all the backs to Wilkinson, who outpaced Sheehan, and though tackled by Kingston, pushed him off and scored, West gosling. Then Crowe kicked high, and Anderson being smothered by the charging pack, a score looked certain, but the chance was lost by Taylor getting off-sldo and West lined well down field. Chadwick and Badley showed good footwork, but off-side play gave Colman an easy shot, which failed. Robertson was later collared by Ross with the ball in front of I:is goal, and matters looked bad for Hawera, but overeagerness spoilt the chance. Then Crowe marked and had a shot, which failed. Hawera broke a Way and Kingston was temporarily hurt through trying to get between two forwards. Clifton kept up the pressure, and a passing bout saw Hickey cut in nicely, but when tackled by Anderson he lost the ball, which was forced. Tho game ended:— Hawera 11 Clifton »«»«<>«».« •«<.»_• 3 Mr. J. S. McKay refereed. "“7 TUKAPA (18) v. OPUNAKE (6). Tukapa and Opunake, who were level with championship points, met at New Plymouth in ideal weather conditions.

Opunake kicked off against a. strong sun and for some minutes Tukapa attacked hard and Opunake were hard put to keep their line intact. G. Hooker had two shots from penalties, hut missed narrowly. Aided by pood kicking by Lusk and Tuwhaka, Opunake momenvarily invaded the local territory, but the Tukapa forwards secured tile ball in a scrum on their twenty-five line, and a pretty passing rush between all the backs resulted in H. Oliver being pushed out near Opunake’s line. Off-side play by Opunake gave G. Hooker an opportunity to successfully kick a goal. For some minutes Tukapa. continued to attack hard, and the backs, who were given many opportunities by Allen’s fine play, threw the ball about in great style, and Opunake were fortunate on several occasions in preventing scores. Atkinson (Tukapa) got over but was called back for a knock-on. Tukapa kept Opunake penned down, and from a serum the ball came out at the side to Atkinson, who darted over near the posts. G. Hooker goaled. At half-time the score was: Tukapa 8, Opu-nal-o 0. Play was to Opunake’s advantage for a time and Walsh, securing in a rush, got over close to the posts, but Lusk missed tlfe kick. A penalty to Opunake took play, to near halfway, wler? McAllum secured and raced through the Opunake pack and then passed out to Brown, who scored. G. Hooker goaled. Play remained about half-way for a short, time, and then tho Opunake forwards, aided by a good kick by Tuwhatn, carried pla.y to. the Tukapa line, where from a scrum O’Rorke got over. Lusk failed to convert. Allen, Wilson and Bedford, by smart following up. took play up field, and good tackling alone prevented a score. Allen being downed on the line. In repelling a rush Lusk was injured and had to be carried off. As Opunake had no emergency Todd (Tukapa) went on. On resuming Wilson. Atkinson and Hatley took part in a forward rush which carried the ball over, Hatley touching down in the corner. G. Hooker converted with a great effort from the touch line. The game ended: — Tukapa IS Opunake 6 Mr. J. Johnson refereed. JUNIOR PLAY-OFF. LEPPERTON (6) v. TOKO (3). The curtain was rung down on the Taranaki first junior football championship at Waitara, when Lepperton, by defeating Tol.o by the narrow margin of 6 points to 3, annexed the championship honors for the 1921 season. Toko backs seemed to possess more combination than Lepperton, whose rearguard shone individually rather than collectively. Toko’s strength lay in the three-quarter line, Lepperton’s in their resourceful five-eighths. The Toko backs threw the leather round well and had their passing had the additional ‘‘polish which comes only with practice, they might have prevailed, as time and again they had jtantd w«U in iwwxty*®***

could not find an opening. The forwards were fairly evenly (matched. Early Ln the game A. Vaughan (Toko centre three-quarter) made a great run and had only to pass out to Burgham on the. wing, who had a clear run to the lino, but he delayed the pass too long and an almost certain score was lost. 1.-epperton forwards rallied and play came into Toko territory. Then from a scrum Klenner sent the ball to Bajriball, the first five-eighths, whir cut in cleverly and scored. Copestake’s kick failed. Lepperton kept up the pressure, and Toko forced in face of a dangerous rush headed by Grayling. Toko came again t.Jll C.opestake got possession and made a fifty yards’ sprint, down field before he was stopped. From another scrum near the Toko goal line Barriball scored in precisely the same manner as before. Grayling’s kick went slightly wide. From now on till half-time Toko had tho better of the game, throwing the ball round in flno style, but were unable to score. Half-time: Lepperton 6, Toko 0. Shortly after resuming Walters, a Toko forward, made a good run, and hurdling an opponent Van Heerden style, scored In the corner. C. Vaughan failed to convert. Grayling caqie through with the ball at toe, and a little later had a pot at goal, which just missed. Walters made a clever run, dummying through! the opposition, and was all but over. After several scrums Lepperton forced. W. Franks (Lepperton) had to retire, being replaced by- Rowe. Sangster, the Toko huh 1 , was injured a few minutes later and Jones came on. E. Smith lined in the corner and Toko made strenuous efforts to cross the line. A free kick against Lepperton gave C. Vaughan an opportunity, but the kick went wide. I’lay returned to mid-field, where the game ended, the scores being:— Lepperton C Toko 3 Mr. F. W. Webb refereed. RAHOTU (IB) v. STAR (12). A friendly match was played between Star and Rahotu, at Rahotu on Saturday, resulting in a win for the home team by 16 points to 12. For tie winners tries were scored by Ngia (2), Gilhcoley and Chapman, two of which were converted by Mare, whilst for the losers tries were scored by Scrimgepur, L. Hoffmann, Falwasser and Sturmey, none behig converted. NEW SOUTH WALES’ TOUR. EASY VICTORY IN WAIRARAPA. THIRTY-FOUR POINTS TO FIVE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Masterton, Last Night. New South Wales unet Wairarapa In splendid weather conditions on Saturday before an attendance of 3000. The game was one of the most one-sided expositions seen for a considerable time. The visitors showed superiority in every branch of the game, giving a thoroughly scientific exhibition throughout and winning by 34 points to 5. Within tt'few minutes of opening the superiority of tho visitors’ forwards was dearly demonstrated, Fox crossing the line. The attempt at goal was unsuccessful. New South Wales attacked continually, and play continued for a coiEsiderable time in the vicinity of the home goal, the visitors never throughout the spell being seriously pressed. Amidst much excitement Wallace obtained tlie leather

from Pycn after smart passing and crossed, D. B. Loudon converting. New South Wales 8, Wairarapa 0. Shortly afterwards Wairarapa had an unsuccessful attempt at goal from a penalty. Desultry piay followed for some time. Wairarapa were strongly on the defensive, but the backs were decidedly weak, and "Wallace, after another nippy run, was just prevented in time from scoring. Just at at the dose of the spell Mingay kicked a penalty goal. The spell ended:— New South Wales Il Wairarapa 0 Within a few minutes of resuming Stanley secured a try and Mingay converted. The visitors again brought play around tho Wairarapa goal, and Wallace again crossed and Mingay converted, bringing the total to 21. A few minutes later Mingay obtained the bail and easily outdistanced his opponents, scoring another try, which was not converted. Suddenly play was transferred to the other end of the field, and Wairar a secured their only try, which was converted. At this stage tho winderful kicking of' Not.hling, the visitors’ full-back, called forth much applause. Mingay yet again secured the ball and crossed tiro line, and Loudon converted. Just before the’ call of time Loudon secured the ball from a throw out and. neatly played over the line. The game ended : New South Wales 34 Wairarapa 5 RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH. SOUTHLAND BEAT OTAGO. TEN POINTS TO EIGHT. Invercargill, August 20. Before seven thousand people and on a holding ground Southland (holders) defeated Otago (challengers) in a Itanfurly Shield match by 10 points (two converted tries) to 8 (converted try and a penalty). The Southland backs were superior, and the forwards showed to advantage in loose play, but the Otago pack Lad the upper hand in tight work, scrums and line-outs. Otago narrowly missed a try in the second spell, the Otago half being collared at the posts. Just before time a loose forward rush from the centre saw Diack dash across, but he was called back for a knock-on by Okene. The holders were the better team on ihe day. WANGANUI (11) v. MANAWATU (6). Palmerston N., August 20. Wanganui defeated Manawatu to-day by 11 ■points to G. It was a shockingly poor exposition of Rugby and Manawatu had the better of the game, but played without spirit-. CANTERBURY v. SOUTH CANTERBURY. , Christchurch, August 20. Canterbury defeated South' Canterbury by 14 points to 8. Ford scored two tries for Canterbury and Dailey and Ellis one each, one being converted. R. Stewart scored a try for Soutii Canterbury, which was converted, and Scott kicked a penalty goal. MARLBOROUGH (23) v. WAIRARAPA B (5). Blenheim, August 20. The Wairarapa B team met Marlborough under excellent playing conditions. The home team was superior throughout, winning by 23 to 5. In the first spell Marlborough gained 14 joints to tte visitors 5. It was not a striking exhibition of Rugby combination. The Marlborough backs and the effectiveness of the forwards in the loose were features of the game. y* BULLER BEAT INANGAHUA. Westport, August 20. A return match between Buller and Inangahua was played at Westport to-day on a heavy ground, and was won by Buller by 37 points to 3. MATCHES AT WELLINGTON. Wellington, August 20. Poneke (9) beat ’Varsity (7) in a challenge match for the Mutual Cup. In a Moascar Cup match St. Patrick's College (12) beat Scots College (0). In a League representative match, Auckland (23) beat Wellington (21). SPRINGBOKS AND AUSTRALIA. Master ton, Last Night The following telegram has been received by Ike manager of the .New South Wales team from the manager of the Springboks: “Reference your remarks'at Gisborne, please accept the assurance that, neither I nor any members of the team have ever made any statements derogatory to Sydney hospitality or sportsmanship; we had the time of our lives In Australia, and appreciate all that was done for us there.” The Australians express* •d appretiaUon.