FOOTBALL.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 61, 6 July 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

The following table shows the positions f the various teams at the close of Saturday's play W Q ' Ph cmib. i . . f | | | - J 8 £2 I a .s (ii hJ Q pm <i w SENIOR GRADE.

*Kaitangata won 2 matches by default. *Clinton beat Clutha by default. *ovvaka beat Clydavale by default. JUNIOR GRADE.

*Toko II beat Clutha II by default. *Romahapa beat Toko by default.

CLINTON I. v. TOKO I. This match was played at Milton on Saturday. The teams were Clinton—Flanagan, Sbeddan, E Jwarda, Ellis, Cameron, Calder, Ligbtfoot, M'Kenzie, Kane, Robertson, Steel, Newson, Potts," M'Kenzie, Kinj». Toko—W. Clark, Hattoo, A. Clark, Pedlow, C, Lane, E. Lane, A. LiUlejohn, J. Lynch, Cassidy, Hislop, Reed, Jack - man, Mao William, Turnbull and Gregory. Referee—Mr P. C. Hislop. Toko kicked off, and directly attaokod. Hislop improved matters by kicking out at the cornor flag. A scruai ensued, and Littlejohn obtaining, transferred to E. Lane, and the latter, with one of his feinting rims, worked through several opponents, and scored at a corner. Lynch did not convert. (3—o). Clinton supporters looked surprised. Clinton forwards, by a dribbling rush, got to midfield, where ibey were stopped by Pedlow, and C. Lane put in a good line kick. Two moro rushes by Clinton forwards, and then a sorum in front of Toko's goaUposts. Calder was penalised for taking the ball out of the scrum. At a throw-in in Toko's end, C. Lane jumped high and obtained the ball, and after a dodgy run, passed to A. Clark, who ran past halfway and then tran* ferred to Hatton, whose speed enabled him to beat all-comers, It was a splons did piece of play, and deserving of the score. Gregory's kick was resultless. (6—o). Clinton looked bewildered. Toko backs did some passing, but it was rather erratic. Cameron got a serviceable kick in, and play was in Toko's quarters. A borne back missed the ball, and Kane snapped it and tbe opportunity, and when tackled by Hatton passed to Sheddan, who raced over. Ellis failed to convert. (6—3.) Three tries in 15 minutes.

Clinton attacked strongly, and some scrums were held near Toko's line, but the, attackers were too eager and were penalised several times. Hatton was in difficulties, and resorted to a speculator. Toko were forced down. Edwards failed to take the ball, and let the Yellows down to half way. Ling kicking by 0. Line and a dribbling rush by Toko forwards were the next incidents. Pedlow did some good kicking belore Clinton forced down. -The visitor* attacked again, E. Lane relieving this timo Another forcedown was recorded against IVlo. Play for the most part i>hen ensued between the twenty-fives. Cameron headed a dribbling rush by Clinton, but Toko was able to force-down. Half-time was called shortly after, with the ball in neutral ground, On the resumption Lynch was penalised lor being offside, and the ball was k'ckod out in Toko's twenty-five. A kick from a mark by Reed, passing amongst the Yellow backs, and a free-kick were instrumental in putting Clinton on the defence. Turnbull broke away, Flanagan saving. A passing rush occurred between Littlejohn, E. Lane, C. Lane, A. . Clark and Hatton, and this was followed by one of C. Lano's serviceable line kicks, Clinton forwards rallied and got as lar as half way, where they were given a free kick. Toko forwards returned, led by Gregory. The southerners again rushed down, and W. Clark failed to take the ball. Scrums were held near Toko's line. C. Lane started a movement which terminated on the other side of half-way, and was also participated in by E. Lane, A. Clark and Gregory. A bout of kicking between Flanagan and W. Clark ensued, the Toko iulNbwk coming oil best. The übiquitous C. Line was again in evidence with his characteristic long kicks. Gre-; gory and Mac William led another Yellow rush. Scrums and free-kicks followed, Newson and King being penalised. Clinton was compelled to force-down. Toko backs were whipping the ball about, but a stoppage was called owing to a player getting cramp. Turnbull broke away in a dribbling rush, well aided by Hislop and Gregory. The former fell on the ball over the line, but Cameron's doubtful mode of defence was ruled as a forcedown. Clinton attacked, and then the "Yellow peril" again swept up to the other end, but the rush was spoilt by a Toko forward getting off-side. Toko, under pressure of a Clinton forward rush, was <<aved by the ball going over the dead ball line. A rush was started in Toko's twenty-five by A. Clark and Gregory, and it only terminated in front of Clinton's, goal-posts. The play was almost desperate, two men being laid hors-de-combat while the remaindor fought out m Clinton's quarters. No score was added, however, and time was called, the gume endingToko 6pts, Clinton Opts.

An' ideal dny and evenly matched teams wont to make a fast, open, and exciting game, of which dribbling rushes by tbo forwards was the best feature. Clinton took the field favorites, but the Milton team was the strongest put on this Bcason, and with such hardt<workiijg forwards ard some really first-clnss backs tu pl»y against, it was not surprising that the southerners were defeated. The Tulio team whs without the -por? vices of ub crack back, F, Reid, who had not recovered from an injury received in the j Owaka match/ The vanguard, was, however., fltrengthenedi by; the inoluejon

Lynch, The former is a" bard-working forward ot no little .merit and weight. Lynch wa& every bit the battling "Joe " of old, and thai; says a good deal. The pair, were very successful at" hook* ing." The changes of positions in the Toko team of W Olark to fail-back, A Littlejohn to half-back, and Reed to the forwards, wore decided improvements, and each man in his placejplayed well; The Lanes were the best baoks in the Toko team ; A Clark also deserves mention. Turnbull, Hislop, and Gregory wore prominent amongst a hard-working Bet ot forwards. Calder was the mainstay of thq Glin« ton backs, and he got most support from Cameron and Ligbtfoot. M'Kenzie Bros., King and Kane were the best forwards.

... 7 5 i i 67 17 11 *Owaka ... 6 4 0 2 59 6 10 *Kaitangata 5 3 I I 23 9 7 Toko .« 6 3 3 0 38 44 b Clydevale ... 6 l 5 0 17 50 2. *Clutha 5 0 5 0 0 38 0

Kaitangata... 3 3 0 0 34 3 6 Owaka 2 2 0 0 *4 3 4 *Toko ... 4 I 3 0 3 12 2 *Romahapa... 4 2 2 0 23 25 2 Glutha 3 0 3 0 3 34 0