FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1922, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

- OPENING OF THE SEASON. WINTRY WEATHER CONDITIONS. SOME GOOD GAMES. The football season for 1922 was opened in Taranaki on Saturday in wintry conditions with the comanencement of the cup competitions. A cold wind, accompanied by occasional showers, prevailed in the province. For the opening Saturday good play was (showh, and indications point to there being some splendid contests. RESULTS AT A SENIOR A. Hawera 20 v. Opunake 6. Tukapa 14 v. Stratford 3. Clifton 31 v. Waimate 0. Okaiawa 6 v. Patea 3. SENIOR B. Oka to 3 'v. Star 0. « Old Boys 3 v. Lepper ton 0. Inglewood 3 v. Elthaih 0. SENIOR A. HAWERA (20) V. OPUNAKE (6). The Hawera-Opunake match, at Hawera, proved very interesting. Hawera won by 20 points to 6, but on tte day there was hardly that margin between the teamfs. Hawera owe their victory to the superiority of their forwards, who were too good for their opponents, both in scrum work and on the line-out, and their tackling was deadly. The backs proved more even, and showed some good passing, though owing to the greasy nature of the ball tte passing was at times patchy.

For the opening of the season the game was fairly fast. Opunake had the advantage of the wind in the first spell. Hawera forwards soon attacked, and a passing bout saw Osborne kick too hard, the ball reaching the dead-ball line. A moment later Chadwick and West did some good work, but no one was with them, and Bro pt y saved. O'Brien cleverly checked a Hawera rush, but a little later off-side play enabled Hughes to land a beautiful goal from a penalty. Opunake now took a turn at attack, and Ifwerson had a shot at goal, which missed. Still Opunake pressed. Bowman doing good work. Hawera forwards cleared and transferred 'play io Opunake territory, where Purceti cut in nicely and was nearly over. Then the ball came via Atkins and vyalshe to Wilkinson, who got over. Hughes failed to goal. This roused the visitors, who attacked, and from a penalty Ifwerson failed to goal. Opunake still pressed and forced their opponents twice. Opunake, making judicious use of the wind, kept finding touch near Hawera’s line, but the defence proved too solid, tnougu on one occasion Ifwerson kicked over the line, the ball reaching the fence. The first spell enaed: Hawera 6, Opunake 0.

Play hung in neutral territory for a while until Hawera, l eaded by West, Fogarty and Hunt, pressed, but Mcßeynolds and Bowman cleared. The local backs essayed a passing bout, but Rye just failed to intercept, and Penniall lined. Then Chadwick snapped up the ball and handed on to Wilkinson, who beat R. Lusk and scored. Hughes failed to goal. A couple of minutes later Brophy shot the ball to A. Lusk, and the latter handed on to R. Ifwerson, who outpaced the opposition and scored a great try from about halfway. His brother failed to goal. Brophy being smothered with the ball, matters looked bad for Opunake, but Penniall forced. Wilkinson, and again Robertson, were nearly over, and then Hawera essayed a passing bout, but A. Lusk and Ifwerson checked. Hawera were not to be denied, and from a line-out Hunt scored, West just failing iQ goal. Opunake, led by Ifwerson anti Rye, attacked, but Hughes cleared. A weak kick by Penniall saw Fogarty and A. Murphy rash the ball over the line, but Ifwerson beat them and kicked to touch in goal. A moment later A. Murphy secured and dived over the line, Wilkinson failing to goal. Opunake backs opened out, and Walste had to hang on to save. From the resultant free kick K. Ifwerson caught Hawera napping and kicked over the line, but the ball went to much m goal. The visitors still pressed, and in a scramble C. Rye picked up the leather and dived oj'er the line. Though awarded no charge K. ifwerson failed to goal. Hawera pressed again, and though Opunake kept them out for a while, Atkins eventually shot the ball to Wilkinson, who scored his third try. Hughes goaled. Time was called soon after with the score■ Hawera 20 Opunake 6 Mr. A. F. Neilson refereed.

TUKAPA (14) v. STRATFORD (3). Interest in the meeting of Tukapa and Stratford was reflected in the large crowd that gathered at Western Park on a day that was not too pleasant out of doors. There were Intermittent stowers of rain and a high tricky wind that at times puzzled the back division of both teams. Tukapa opened with the sun at their backs, and the gaime had only been in progress a few minutes when Stratford were awarded a penalty with play just above half-way. Sh*rrock had no luck with the kick. Just immediately afterwards, however, he had another kick from a handler position, and the ball went between the uprights. The Tukapa backs set.up an attack, which carried play towards tKeir opponents’ territory. Here G. Hocker had a kick at goal from a penalty and evened up the scores. A passing rush was initiated by R. Oliver and G. Hooker, the latter knocking on. Supporting play by Kingston put the team in a handler position, and from a mark Hooker bad another kiex at goal, the wind frustrating a good attempt. Stratford took a turn. Masters aud McCuiioagh opening out the play, and this was supported by a good passing bout from the backs, McKenzie, Court and Vaughan handling, the last-named being downed by Hart in touch near the twenty-five flag. In the succeeding few minutes Stratford forwards dominated the game, but mishandling by the backs let through ti e Tukapa forwards, Allen and Cocker, when Fenwick found the line. This did not finish the movement, however, for a few minutes later Allen looked like getting over, and there was some lively work near the Stratford line. There was a temporary respite for Stratford, till Brown initiated a rush with a dash down the touc« line, and be was supported by MeAllum and Beard. It looked as if the last-nauned would have no difficulty in crossing the line when he tripped. McKenzie secured and cleared. Half-time came with the scores: Stratford 3, Tukapa 3. On resuming the Tukapa. backs took the initiative on several occasions, and on one of these Hooker scored after the ball had travelled via Oliver, Ennis and Hart. Hooker’s kick was unsuccessful. Shortly afterwards he had a penalty shot with a like result. There was a lull in the play, which hovered about mid-field till Stratford gained the advantage. From a handy position Thorne set the backs in motion, and the ball travelled via Court, McKenzie and Gray, the latter crossing the line, but the whistle had sounded, the penalty apparently arising through a forward pass. After the scrum that followed Stratford were awarded a free kick, but Sharrock was unsuccessful. An opening that arose just afterwards was Quickly seized by Hart, who got in a fine run down the line, beat several opponents (being aided by bad tackling) and secured a try. Hooker converted. Sharrock, Butcher and McCullough were prominent in a Stratford forward rush, I and Masters carried play on into the opposition twenty-five, but' the defence could not be pSSrtrated. Tukapa returned to the attack, and from the loose Oliver made the opening from which Cocker scored. Hooker’s kick did not increase the total. Time was called shortly afterwards with the scores : Tukapa 14 Stratford 3 Mr. P, 2*9*

CLIFTON (31) v. WAIMATE (0). j An easy victory over Waimate was obtained | by Clifton, last year’s runners-up, in a i played at Waitar*. From the kick off Clifton had Waimate on the defence, and it was only on rare occasions that the southerners penetrated beyond the half-way line. (Rifton were knocking at • the door repeatedly during the first halt of the spell, but twenty-five minutes tad gone before the first try was scored. Tancred, who was the outstanding forward on the field, followed up a high kick and, jumping for ■ possession, fell over the line with the ball. Oolnnan’s kick missed. Just afterwards Hickey picked up the ball from the loose, and the leather was transferred from Taylor to Jones, on the wing, who Stored. Colman’s kick fell slightly short. Frost took Waimate’s kick off on the full and started a passing bout in which backs and forwards alike participated, a spectacular piece of work, in which the , ball travelled through eight pairs of hands ; for three-quarters the length of the field, , ending in Ross scoring a try which Colman ) converted. Blretall made an opening for the Waimate backs, who indulged in a passing rush into Clifton territory, but the effort was only a "flash in the pan.” Tancred got possession and, after a dashing run from his own twenty-five, scored a brilliant try. Colman was wide of the mark with his kick, , and the half-time whistle blew with the score: Clifton 14, Waimate 0.

The second spell was practically a repetition of the first, Clifton scoring with monotonous regularity. Waimate occasionally rallied, but though their forwards divided a fair share of the scrums, the backs rarely responded with any concerted movements. Soon after resuming Rosa secured from the scrum and made a dashing run before letting the ball out to Fryday, who in turn transferred to Jones, who scored-. Roes' kick was unsuccessful. ’ Hickey, who played a prominent game throughout, gave Jones another opportunity to score. Colman’s kick went wrde. Clifton were all but over again, but an infringement saved Waimate for a time. A set-to under tte goal-posts ended by Colman marking and kicking a good goal. A minute later Manu White was nearly over, Campbell coming to his assistance and pouncing on the ball as it crossed the line. George converted. Clifton continued to hold the upper hand till the end, the last score of the game coming from a passing rush in which Rosa scoreu George’s kick was unsuccessful, and the game ended a minute later with the score: — Clifton 31 Waimate ® Mr. Fred Hooker refereed:. OKAIAWA (6) v. PATEA (3). Okaiawa and Patea met at Okaiawa. Neither team showed much combination, but they were evenly matched, and Okaiawa was somewhat lucky to win in the last few (minutes. , Patea, who won the toss and elected to play with the wind, were soon in difficulties, vigorously defending their line. The Okaiawa three-quarter line nearly got over as the result of a good passing bout, but a free kick relieved. Okaiawa forwards returned to the attack, and Patea forced. The tome team again’ started a good passing rush, but were unable to penetrate the defence. At this stage some unnecessary rough play took place, a nr l the referee gave a final word of warning. *he game now became fast, and after up and down play Hurley marked in mid-field, kicked high and followed up. Patea being again kept busy defending. The Patea forwards tried to break through, but without avail, until by a forward rush the ball was carried to half-way, where Patea were penalised for off-side play, and C. Radford, aided by itbe wind, kicked a good goal. Half-time was called with the score: Okaiawa 3, Patea 0.

On resuming Patea had their opponents defending, but after hard play the Okaiawa vanguard broke through and carried the ball well into the visitors’ twenty-five, where, for off-side play by Patea, Radford had a shot from a good position, but the boll fell short. At this juncture tte wind increased, and marred any semblance of good football, and the game resolved itself into a scramble, save that the Patea rear division put in a few good passing bouts, which failed to materialise. A scramble on the line saw Laurie Hunt equalise the score. Both sides were now playing their best. McLeary marked In a handy position, but the wind carried the ball wide. The Okaiawa forwards again broke through, and A. Guy, by good following up. scored. Radford’s kick failed. Tte game Okaiawa ® Patea • Mr. J. Johnson refereed. SENIOR B. OLD BOYS (3) v. LEPPERTON (0). Lepperton, last year’s junior champions, made their debut in senior football when they cnet Old Boys at Lepperton. and, after a hard fought game wer* defeated by the town team by three points te nil In the first spell James scored for Old Boys from a forward rush Initiated by Doile. The try was not converted. Lepperton, led by a good pack of forwards, were hotly attacking Old Boys’ line when half-time arrived with the score: Old Boys 3, Lepperton 0.

In the second spell the Old Boys’ backs indulged in several passing bouts, but owing to lack of concerted efforts and the solid defence put up by Lepperton, no farther score resulted, end the game ended: — Old Boys 3 Lepperton 0 Mr. F. Julian refereed. INGLEWOOD (3) v. ELTHAM (0). Inglewood beat Eltham at IJltham by 3 points (a penalty goal) to nil. From the kick off Eltham pressed, keeping Inglewood penned in their twenty-five for the first five (minutes of the game. Later Eltham were penalised for picking out of the scrum, and Courts relieved by = nice line kick. Play was then transferred to Elttant’s twenty-five, where a series of scrums and line-outs took place, Eltham eventually infringing and affording Inglewood a kick at goal. Coutts took the kick and placed the leather nicely between the posts. Play continued up and down, Brisco on several occasions saving beautifully by line kicking for Eltham. The spell ended: Inglewood 3, Eltham 0.

The second spell was rather marred by heavy showers, the ball and ground becoming greasy. Shortly after commencement of play Inglewood were penalised for off-side play, and Brisco took a kick 4»t goal, the ball failing to rise. The leather then travelled up and down field. . Eltham then pressed and had a shot at goal, Which again failed to cXM. Later, from Igqi« play, th» ball r«aah*

ed McSweeney, who potted a beautiful goal, but after a little hesitation the referee decided that it did not g» over the bar. This (decision was much to the surprise of players and spectators alike. Eltham pressed hard and at the call of time were within an ace of scoring. The final score was : Inglewood 3 Eltham 0 Mr. Phelan refereed. OKATO (3) v. STAR (0). The Star team journeyed to Okato, where they were defeated by three points to nti. The game throughout was mostly connnea to the forwards. Soon after the kick-off Okato set up a forward rush, sending the ball across the line, and Eustace, an ex- . Star player, now in the ranks of the coastal team, was first on it. The try was not converted. The second spell was keenly conested, but no further scoring resulted, -and the final score was:— ! Okato 3 Star 0 NORTHERN DIVISION. SECOND GRADE. Playing at Western Park, Clifton defeated Star by 7 points to 6. For the winners Ivan Young drop-kicked a goal and Butler scored a try. Star’s total consisted of a goal kicked by Betts and a try secured by Buttiunore. Mr. J. O’Grady refereed. High School I. gained the victory over Old Boys by 24 points to nil lit a match on the racecourse. Tukapa travelled to Urenui and defeated the country team by points (a penalty goal kicked by R. Hooker) to nfl. THIRD GRADE. High School beat Tukapa 6-0. Old Boys won by default from Urenui. Star defeated Okato 14-3. Clifton defeated Lepperton at Waitara by 17 to 8. For the winners N. Frost scored an unconverted try, Fairley a try converted by EUig, Furze a try converted by Wolfe, and M. Frost "potted” a goal. For the losers Rowe scored an unconverted try and Colson a try converted by Wallace. FOURTH GRADE. Clifton forfeited their engagement with Tukapa. High School D beat Old Boys by 4 points to nil. High School C by 18 to nil. CENTRAL DIVISION. THIRD GRADE. At Inglewood the local team beat Midhirst by 9 points to 3. Stratford beat Toko by 19 points to 9. SOUTHERN DIVISION. SECOND GRADE. At Kaponga the local juniors defeated Hawera by 9 to 4. FOURTH GRADE. At Patea Hawera Technical College drew with Patea, each scoring 6 points. Hawera defeated Okaiawa at Hawera by 15 points to nil. Tries were scored by J. Pol (2), Valentine, Jarvie, and Murphy, none being converted. Mr. Day refereed. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. A.t Waitara the home team defeated High School preparatory by 6 to nil. For the winners Roberts and Sampson scored unconverted tries.