NORTHERN DIVISION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 July 1928, Page 9

NORTHERN DIVISION

SENIORS. STRATFORD v. INGLEWOOD. Under the most favourable conditions as regards ground and weather at Victoria Park, Stratford, the home team nearly met their Waterloo at the hands of the constantly improving Inglewood seniors. Neither side was at lull strength, Les. floss and A. Chaid being notable absentees from the ranks of the visitors, while Stratford took the field with substitutes for Wyjayard and Smith. Under the leadership of the versatile Coutts, Inglewood were the first to score, and at the interval led by six points to three. Forward the- teams were fairly evenly matched in scrummaging, hut Stratford backs played with more combination than the visitors, and to this feature their win was undoubtedly due:. It may lie contended that an element of luck attended Inglewood’s tries, but the fact remains that the scorers, Cyde and I nssell. through consistent following up, happened to he on the spot at the psychological moment in each instance, and were .duly rewarded. On the other hand, the winners did not play the game expected of division leaders, and in face of Inglewood’s really good' forward work in the open it must be confessed that a. certain amount of good fortune favoured them. The teams were: Stratford (red and black). —A. Collins (full-back); R. Pehn fall, Bonner, E. Walter! Carter, E Owen; -T. Songster; Bond, Young, Kivell, O’Keefe (lock), J. Walter. Hinton, Coleman (hookers); Fryday (rover). . Inglewood (maroon). —B. Coles- (Inll- - N. Boss, C. Corkill, H. Brown: C. Gudgeon, R. Coutts; B. Corkill; E. Clegg, Atkinson. Devereux, Evans (lock). Cornev, G. Gvde. S. Chard (hookers); R. Fussell (rover) _ Kicking off with the sun in their eyes, the home team at once invaded Inglewood’s 25, led by Bonner, l>ui> the maroons, with Coutts at their head, effected a clearance to half-way. Back again in the visitors’ 25 a penalty against Stratford affonled temporary relief. Brown failing to gain much with his punt to touch. Fryday gave the defenders another chance to clear with a penalty, hut the reds came back and over the'line, ,T. Walter just failing to touch down. Following the kick-out the maroons charged down and. led

by Coutts, cauglit Collins napping. In a* twinkling G.ydc came and, touching down, drew first blood for Inglewood. Brown’s kick, though' a fine effort, just failed. Inglewood 3, Stratford 0. Within a. minute Stratford turned the tables, sweeping to the line with a fine rush. Kivell was handy and, snapping up the ball, burst hi® way over to equalise the score. Collins failed with the kick. Inglewood 3, Stratford 3. Inglewood made two strenuous' endeavours to reach their objective, advancing on each occasion to the reds’ 25, Collins’ sure kicking driving them back. Stratford then took a hand in aggressive tactics, and when within a few feet of the line Owen lost possession. A scramble over the line ensued,, finally ending in a five yards’ scrum, front which the visitors' were forced down. Returning to the attack, Coutts essayed a penalty goal from the half-way flag. Though length and elevation were right the ball was slightly off the post. Gudgeon next shot into prominence with a. serviceable run, but the defence held good. Working at the centre with ..good scrummaging powers, the reds initiated an advance which broke down near line with Owen offside. Keeping up the pressure. Songster, Oyen and E. Walter gained ground, Coutts forcing the latter out. Play hovered in. neutral territory till I?. Walter found touch with a. lucky kick and bounce jto touch at the Maroons’ 25. From the following lineout- Collins attempted a lonic-kick for four points, from'which Inglewood were forced. A series of persistent attacks •by. Siangster, Gwen, Bonner, and EL Walter held Inglewood to stern defence. When a. clearance was effected the Maroon forwards swung into a dribbling rusk down-field, Gyde, Chard and Atkinson being conspicuous. The rush went to the line and Fussell, securing, notched a try. Coutts was entrusted with the kick, but direction was again at fault. Half-time was sounded immediately after, with the score: Inglewood 6 Stratford ** Tame play at the centre followed the change over, the visitors eventually transferrinig operations' to the Red s 25, where Coutts compelled a force down. At the opposite end Fryday was almost over from a line-out and in the ensuing clearing operations- C. .-Gorki 11 suiiered a head injury and was compelled to retire, his place being taken by l J. Boss. Ihe infusion of new blood was followed by Inglewood attacking, the trend of play going to the new-comer and Stratford were -forced. Coutts■ and Brown weie then associated in an. advance to strikdistance-, a knock-on-calling a bah. Play swung across the field to Kivell and E. Walter, the last named lacking down-field for Kivell to again -seeme possession. With a clear run in he was able to race round- and touch down under the bar. Collins converted and placed Stratford in the lead for the first time in the -game with S points to- 6. For five minutes thereafter the Maroons wore kept busy defending, a mark by Fryday giving relief in a force down. The Reds maintained the pressuie, but the defence of Brown and -Cole* held good. Brown marked and found touch at the Red’s 25. flag Taking a hio-h return from Peimiall. Coutts sent Brown away, but the assault strung out .across the ground and petered out 00-utts, however, gained- possession and rail through to Collins. Mis oaish was* unsupported, otherwise a try was. more than probable. Coles failed to- field a •rolling ball and Hinton, following fast, overran the ball with a clear field before him twentv-five' yards -out. J. Ross te-r-overed and .the ball sped across for Kivell to make a determined dash and hold up by the Maroon forwards. The closing incident was furnished by bangster who picked up from a melee at the centre, “sold the dummy - and passed on to Carter. The speedy fiveeifilth failed to gather cleanly and Inglewood were forced. Collins -received the kick-out and found. touch at the centre as no side was called. Stratford k Inglewood' " Mr C. Gernhoefer was referee. CLIFY’ON v. ELTHAM. Clifton —Popparell, B. Jonas, Body, M-. Jo-imis, MicFariane, Sutton, Rowe, Barriball (rover), Jones-, Ogier, Bai'ley, Kwwo, Petersen, Cooper Pur die. Blthlalm —H. lv. Bourke-, Briw. WMimsfauirist, Alttxil'l, Oa'se-v (half), Janes, Elliott, A. Thomas, SSove H-ighct, A. McDonald, Potto, Sloconnbe (rover). . . , Clifton- ana T3thQ.ni played a duaJwn game- on the .latter’s ground ihe ground was- in splendid' order, but the sun .troubled El’thaim in the first spell. The teams were as fol'l-ows: — Clifton kicked off and .immediately opened out the game, Sutton intercept,c<l and rail: dlown. to- t'liio felH-foa&ik, ibint the pafeis to Ogier w-a!s knocked an, and the -whistle sounded as he went over the line, The defence was solid and. the Black and White’s carried (play .tomidfield. McDonald and Attrill put am .gioibd work in this- connection. From .tliic sKsrum Cais'ey S'Cit (tli'c- foaclasi goimgi, but &rive 9 & tiranisfer was iMociked. A free kick by McDonald from inside half-away forced the Blues. _ The vaJsitars’ pramiisio of batek play did in of m’ar terialiwc, Bltbam tackling sueciesfediully. A well judged line kick by Casey saw Bcippcreil step out of bounds a© he fielded. An -interchange of kicks between the full-backs left play In Clifton’s 25. Play was open far same time, with bath sets of backs throwing the balk about, Attrill far El than, i and Rowe for Clifton being prominent. Then from a. centred kick McFaTfliaine broke away amd, with Body, running Straight and M. Jonas getting the pas’s at a gallop, .the latter grossed the line, ■only to be called back for -a forward paisa. A free kick at a wide angle was taken by Peterson, but it went outside the posts and Eltham forced. Play went to Oliftons 25, where from a. soi-U'iu Casey made a, pretty opening and ran to the full-back, but bis pals© to Wilmshurst was alt the latter’s feet. From a. scrum on the line play wont) to midfield, the Blue backs being aggressive. Three free kicks' to- Elithiam relieved the; pressure. Not. to ..be denied, Clifton -continued to open up, and from the loto&e Sutton secured and. running to the full-back gave Ogier -a chance to run over unopposed. Pdtersien’is kick was unsuccessful; A movement from a scrum in midfield tsaw the ball pass right through, the Blue backs to- B. Jana's, who- was well collared by McDonald five yards- from, the line. El- 1 ;thaim replied with a- forward rush, followed! iby passing, in which Leathann aind Attrill wore on the verge of -breaking to a. blear run in, but the defence wais. sound. Wilmshurst received a severe knock on the head and was 'carried off. He was not replaced. T-r.o----lovo went-out on the -wing. Eltham’s forwards worked into Clifton ’© 25, whore a: free kick and a -short paslsdmg movement carried play to midfield. The score at half-time was— Clifton 11 Elt.haiin 0

I n tin* ’second spelil Tirol ove went. into -the forwards amid was (prominent -in ctainrying the leaitihdr 'to near -tih'o cor-. ,nior. Tiho Elithaim backs- .gave their ,oppomoints plenty to do, land AittriM I>ro(kso way f he "fulbbaiek, but Pe-pperejl

cleared cleverly. Clifton were kept defending, and- two free kicks against them did not improve matter©. Casey started a. paisiriug rush in which Pride a ft. the finish was collared, by M. Jonas inside the 25 line. The game at this stage was bright and fast, especially When Clifton’«■ forwards- woke up and carried play into- Elbliaim’s 25. Alttrill intercepted n pate© and momentarily, isaveidi the situation, but Eltham was forced -almost immediately, being -lucky to- save. Pepper-ell -was caught in. a tight corner, amd a. forward being penalised; McDonald dropped a- goal with a. splendid kick. GMftoin. had a. shot at goal later, ’but the ball went wide, “Up and undpr ’ ’ was .the play on both isiidos, and the game was of a much better standard. After much open work between the 25 flags-, Clifton eventually secured the advantage, the inside backs passing well and working to Eltham’s territory. From the loose Leatham broke away, down to Peppered and .passed infield to Casey amid Attrill, the •lot ter to 1 isbort kick -rebounding off the full-back, giving Clifton a. chance to rally. The Eltham. forwards, led by Potts', crushed to the line, but Clifton’s backs passed well in several movements and transferred play to- their opponents’ 25. MeParian.o kicked and. forced Eltham, A sensation ad movement followed. The Eltham forwards' in a camlbimicd rush lost the ’bail neat the coirn-er flag, bu-t imlmedi-afoly (the Clifton. .pack cleared and a lucky -speculator inside Eltham’s 25 saved .the home ride. Time was called with the score still— Eltham 3 Clifton 3 Mr G. Coffins .was referee.

OLD BOYS v. OKATO. Beautiful weather prevailed for the final of tlie divisional competition at New Plymouth. There was a large crowd of spectators at Pukekura Park, where two games were played. The,, first was between Old Boys and Okato, and was won by the former by 22 points (three tries, one converted, a penalty goal and two field goals) to 9 (.two tides and a penalty goal). Brown and Friar were credited with a potted goal each, but the general opinion on the ground was that the referee made a mistake in awarding tlie goal to Friar, as the ball grazed the post and tell infield in front of the cross-bar. Old Boys played a very open game, and frequently initiated passing boats, but mistakes' at critical points, combined., with good defensive play on the part of Okato, robbed them of points on many occasions when scores looked certain. The bright sunshine was a distinct disadvantage, and Okato profited more from that in the first spell than did Old Boys when they changed • over Okato drew first blood inside a couple, of minutes of the commencement of play. In a handy position in the whites’ territory Fletcher cleverly worked the blind side of a scrum and sent Simalahay away for a good try in the corner. Old Boys were pressed hard for a time, but they eventually cleared and at once began' the open plav among backs for which they are noted. Webster failed to take several passes from Brown, and the latter began to cut the winger out and to pass infield. From one of these moves Drader scored a good try near the posts, but the extra points were not added. Brown potted and also kicked a penalty goal in the first half, which ended with Old Boys six points up. Early in the second half the same placer. - landed another dropped goal, and a little later Priar added another four points with a kick which most people thought missed the mark. For Okato John Goodwin added a try after a good run in which he. beat Priar to tlie corner and a little later Fletcher landed a penalty goal. Straggling play followed, but Old Boys added another five points with a. try by Webster, which Allen converted, and the bell ’ sounded as the hall sailed over the ! bar. Old Boys 22 Okato Mr. S. Kibby was referee. STAR v. TUKAPA. Star celeb railed the close of the cum-pe,tiit-ion -with -a signal victory over toreditlniy rivals Tuk-a.pa, whom they vanquished’ at Pukekura Park -by 11 points (a -converted 'try, goal from a. mark, amd a penalty goal) to mi-1. Stair’s victory was nialde more handsome- iby the -faiclt -that the .team they fielded included five -of the -club’.s junior members, all -of (whom -gave- a really good aic’eounlt of themselves. Star backs played a spirited -game, and .though -their .handling and -eombin'ati'an WalS not .the ibes't, their forward’s 1 kept .them well supplied wi th the bail, with -the result that Tuka.pa w-ak troubled for -three part's of the game. Had Star ’» handling of. the, ball been, din keeping with the spirit of their attack, they would .halve doubled their Score. As- it Walk, .both teams- showed poor form in this respect, with the result that the standard of pl’a-y lapsed too frequently to mod-i'oore. Errors deprived Star of several chances in the first spell, -and -it wais- not until ten .minutes before, half-time that Thomas notched the first points -with a. fine kick from a mark. Just before the forealttor Kendall broke away an midfield! and halnded on to Wolfe, who scored -beneath the bar amd Thomas converted. In. the 'Second -spell', Tukapa endeavoured to keep play -tighter and acMictyed ,ji tail- amount of success, but in doing so their forwards found the opposition* offered by the opposing pack wals ju's-t a© -that of their -backs. Several of T-u-kaipa \s -promising rushes- -broke down ait the last .moment, and ..the spell was wall advanced -before Thomas kicked bite- -se'co-nd goal for Star. Tukapa. -made a final effort and resorted to kicking j fo.r points, but had no luck. Petty twice na-rrowly missed the uprights from penalties' and then R. Oliver grazed the outside of the post 'with a drop-kick. That was Tukapa’s last effort,, the game ending soon after. Star 11 Tukapa 0 : Mr F. Julian refereed.