STRATFORD DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1928, Page 10

STRATFORD DISTRICT NEWS

Telephone No». 552 Office 718 Private

(FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTERS)

Telephone Nos. 552 Office 718 Private

SENIOR FOOTBALL OPENS INGLEWOOD DEFEATS STRATFORD. PROMISING FORM DISCLOSED. The first senior football match of the season was played at Stratford yesterday, Inglewood defeating Stratford by live pointe to three. It was decidedly interesting and tlie standard of play gave promise of sterling lyatehes when the competitions begin. When the teams met last Easter Monday Inglewood won by a few pointe, but the scores were much higher than they were yesterday, the wet ground and light rain no doubt contributing tu the scarcity of touch downs and goals. Coleman’s score for Stratford and Inglewood's try with subsequent conversion by Ross were the only scores of the two spells of thirty minutes, but the game was fast and very keenly contested. All last year’s champions took the field for Stratford except that Carter, a Celtic back last year, appeared on the wing and a new player, North, wha had earned a reputation in the Hamilton Old Boya’ team went in as centre. Chiefly owing to delay in receiving passes he was not seen to best advantage. He has the desirable inclination to take the ball at top speed, but time after time Bonner at live-eighth held the ball too long.

If Bonner will feed his centre earlier, and so give the outside players a chan ‘e to use their speed, there should oe brilliant work done by Stratford’s wingers. Wynyard can always be relied upon to streak lii-.e lightning and Carter yesterday gave an impressive display for his first appearance in senior football. Owen, despite rumours of private training, appearing as “tubby” as ever, but he has lost none of his old time dash. He was the best Stratford back. Alec Sangster, who is suffering from an injured nose, did not play. His brother George took his place at half. With anyone less expert than Owen at receiving passes from behind the scrum his display might have been much less impressive. On the day George is not as good as Alee. With Coutts’ opposing Kivell at wingforward exciting play was expected in this department, but the spectators were disapointed, due for the most part to indecisive hooking. Only once in the whole game did the ball come out cleanly, and then neither of the rovers was prepared. The Stratford pack as a whole showed itself the same deadly, driving machine. Hinton and Smith were kept well together by O’Keefe, but Walter was the most prominent forward. Early in the game he received a cut over his eye and had to retire for a few minutes, but he played out the match full of energy and speed. Although apparently out of training Coleman gave a worthy exhibition buf, was tiring badly towards the finsh. Bond and Penniall did go ><l work, while Collins at full-back will probably retain his position when the final team is picked. The Inglewood team was in a very different position—seven players were

promoted juniors. Clyde, Evans, Southerland, D. McKay, Corkill, Coles and Brown were all new to senior football and no one impressed more than Brow.l, who played the same straight-running game as' his brother Handley. He appeared to put more finish into his runs, however. He is a difficult rnan to tackle and after a season's play should be a candidate for the position of representative winger. L. Ross at centre and his brother Noel will start the season very fit and with a quick feeder like Corkill at fiveeighth should make a fine scoring combination. Gudgeon was more useful at half than his opponent, but his passes to McKay were a trifle wild. Weight for weight the Inglewood pack was working with a slight handicap, but in Scanlon and Devrcaux there are two masters of the art of dribbling, and Atkinson was also very useful in loose rushes. S. Chard, who played support last year, came on towards the finish and was given a few chances to disclose his form. E. Chard at full-back was not as safe as Collins, but he has the makings of an asset to liis team. In the opening stages the play was inclined to be loose. Inglewood, however, was playing with the wind and this helped them to constrain Stratford Later the Stratford forwards bore upfield and the visitors were compelled to force between the posts. The ball was punted down-field, but Stratford returned to the attack again. Bonner at first five-eighth passed the ball out through the backs to Wynyard, wna made a snappy run for the corner, but Chard pushed hjm over the side-line before he could score. In the following movement Coleman scored. Collins failed to convert.

In Stratford's twenty-five the ball passed through the Inglewood back line to L. Ross, who passed in to Corkill at second five-eighth. This player eluded his opponents with a _ neat run and scored. Les Ross converted until a fine kick.

After half-time, with the wind now against them, the Inglewood playerfs were kept in their o.wn half for a time, but the play was later surging from end to end of the field. A neat piece of passing occurred in Inglewood’s half when Wynyard passed to North, who transferred the ball to Sangster. This player made an effort to score, but I.e was tackled, and the movement frustrated. Soon afterwards the ball came out of a scrum in Inglewood’s twentyfive to Sangster and to Owen, who crossed the line and touched down, but as he was off-side no score was allowed. Mr. F. Bowler refereed. EASTER BOWLING CONTESTS. THE PAIRS TOURNAMENT. The Avon and S.tratford Bowling Clubs were unlucky in the weather which prevailed for the Easter pairs tournament at the respective greens yesterday. Although fine weather on Saturday enabled the preliminary rounds to be played, it drizzled yesterday, with the result that

at Avon it was decided to postpone the semi-final and the final. At the Stratford green, however, the players sallied forth between showers to continue the contest, which' resulted in a win for Rowell and Thompson. The details of Saturday’s play at Avon are:— Leads.—Bulman, 4 wins no losses; Clemow and Pearce, three wins one loss; Ball, Rogers, Rudkin, two wins two losses; Walker, one win three losses; Taylor, i.o wins four losses. Skips.—F. Jackson, four wins no losses; North, J. Masters, Jones, Woods and Weston, two wins two losses; Slewart and McDonald, one win three losses. Following are the details of the preliminary rounds played on Saturday. Section A.—Frogley and Burgess, th.ee wins one loss; Rowell and Higgs, Porritt and Coe, Leach and A. S. Martin, two wins ene loss; Hulbert and Young, one win two losses; C. Martin and Dixon, one win three losses; Butcher and Howatt, no wins two losses. Section B.—McElroy and Lawson, and Sanderson and Hickson, three wins io losses; Battersby and Fastier, two wins one loss; Liddell and Summerfield, one win two losses; Amess and Harper, no wins three losses. Results of the play yesterday are:— Semi-final. —Sanderson and Hjckson lost to McElroy and Lawson; Rowell and Thompson beat Hulbert and Young, The final between McElroy and Lawson v. Rowell and Thompson resulted in a win for the latter two. GENERAL ITEMS. A warm, refreshing rain fell throughout Central Taranaki practically all yesterday and the previous night. Although not a heavy downpour the rain gave the pastures and gardens a good soaking and proved very welcome.

Rain has no terrors for a football crowd. Yesterday, despite the unpleasant conditions underfoot and the desirability of a good waterproof covering, a fair crowd of enthusiasfs assembled to see the first senior match of the season, and the enthusiasm shown augurs well for the gates later on.

Easter is rapidly becoming a popular motorist’s holiday in Taranaki. During the past few days numerous touring care, many of which were equipped with camping outfits, passed through Stratford from outside districts, all intent upon exploring (he beauty spots of the province and making full use of its excellent roads.

Over 2000 people visited Ngaere Gardens during Good Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Wet weather yesterday spoilt what might have been the record day of the four. On Sunday there was a large number of visitors, and all the visitors were greatly impressed by the gardens, and spoke very highly of the grounds and the number of unique entertainments available. A donkey which had been specially hired for the Easter holidays, proved a favourite with the children. PERSONAL. Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Wickstead, of Pembroke Road, left by yesterday morning's mail train for Auckland, where they will spend a holiday.