CLIFTON’S LUCKY WIN

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 30 April 1934, Page 6

CLIFTON’S LUCKY WIN

DEFEAT OF STRATFORD TEAM.

FIELD GOAL DECIDES ISSUE. Although they were the better team on. the day’s, play, Stratford had ,th submit, to defeat by Clifton at \\aitara. Ten minutes before time Stratford was leading; by nine to eight, when Pdtaka essayed a held hoal. It adepared to fall below toe erossf-bttr but this' >rereree ruled it as over and so changed the result of the match. Cliffdn won by 12 points (a converted try, a. penalty goal, and a. field goal) to nine (three penalty S °Towards the conclusion of the match the play was very willing, and at times was on the border-line. Both packs were very fast, but Stratford showed more cohesion, wKile their backs handled with considerably more confidence. During the fnateh two Clifton players, Kowe and Wilson, retired, but the mu. juries to neither were sbrious. The teams were: - n l Stratford (red and black).—Dodd, Reiss, G. Sangsteir, Lehmann; G. Sangster, Collins : McGregor; _ Butcher; Young, Clark. Simmers, Smith; Fa,stier. Porter. Hinton. ■ Clifton (blue' and gold}.—Collins; Wilson. Jones, Niwa: Pdtaka Sjimon§en- Brett; Oxenham; Calgher, Broughton. Kawe, Johns; Armstrong, Fowler, Ohlsen. Stratford hooked from two. consecutive serums,, and gained a little territorv, but Fowler led hi® to . Stratford’s twenty-five. The blue backs gained control, but Jones refusr ed to aeept the pass and Pastier and Poider took "the ball back to halfway The Stratford backs opened up, but P. Collins toyed with the ball and the opnosing forwards took play back into red territory. Simmers was off-side and \. Collins found touch hear Stratford s but in the ensuing back movement Simonseii knocked on. Calf <diei' Oxenham and Broughton carried On, however, hut they ovfer-kicked and Dodd forced. > A The fast Clifton forwards swarmed into Stratford territory for the backs to look like scoring, but, Wilsoh lost control and Ross sent the ball back well past half-way. The Clifton backs handled, but were slow off the mark and Niwa was caught in possession. He sent to A. Collins who retained control of tli-e ball and gave Stratford a free kick in a good position. O. Sangster made no mistake with the kick.— Stratford 3, Clifton 0. Clifton again swarmed into the red twenty-five, but Dodd was equal fc the occasion and found touch near halfway. The red backs handled well until Simonsen kicked a good speculator. He Ifqllowed it fast* and was about to touch down when Dodd kicked the ball from his hands over the. dead-hall line. A Stratford forward infringed in the scrum near his own .twenty-five and A. Colins’ kick at goal was perfect Stratford 3. Clifton 3. By a prolonged forward struggle Stratford 'got close to Clifton’s line and Young almost wont over with three men on his back. McGregor tried to get around a scrum but. was held up and a frfee kick gave Clifton relief. Back at halfway the Stratford forwards led by Young. commenced another rush which ended when A. Collins found touch just inside red territory. Clifton were .forced oil to the defence again and G. Sangster attempted a field goal ’from a perfect position, but the ball did not leave the ground. The Clifton forwards were making the gaxhe willing and forced their way into Strat ford’s twenty-five, but only to be re iulsed by a rush with Toung and Fastier in the van. An infringement in the scrum gave Ross an opportunity at goal from fifteen yards inside halfway. The kick was perfect- and made the scores Stratford 6, Clifton. 3. Inside Stratford’s half Butcher and Simmers commenced a rush which tried A. Collins, but time was called a moment later.—Stratford 6, Clifton 3

On the resumption of, piny Stratford attacked and the backs opened up but Simonsen intercepted perfectly and ran three-quarters of the length of the field while Dodd and Lehmann -chased him .Vainly. A Oollihs,’ kick “was a good one. —Clifton 8, Stratford _6. From a line out- G. Sangster gained control and sent P. Oollins and Rossdown the inside line hut the lattekicked too hard and a dron out was ordered. The reds kept on the attack until Lehmann and Wilson went orer together, but the latter got the verdict. and play went back to ]jalf-wa>'. An injury to Kawe’s shoulder necess’ tated his retirement and he was replaced bv Brown. McGregor worked the blind and sent G. Sangster and Ross awav. The latter kicked but obstruction gave G. Sangster ah opportunity

at goal and lie made no mistake.— Stratford 9, OXift-oii 8. In the middle of the field Young was off-side and A. Collins found touch on Stratford’s twenty-five. Simonson cat through but was not allowed to get away, and Simmers arid Porter took play back to half-way. Clifton attacked again and were awarded a penalty between half-way and twenty-five, but A. Collins’ kick was the first to miss during the match. Play was carried to Clifton’s twentyfive, where the fourth attempt by G. Sangster .to score resulted in A.. Collins forcing. Time was getting short and, only one point behind, Clifton made a desperate effort. Simonson and Wilson were both held up, the latter receiving a kick on- his head which necessitated retirement. The Clifton backs opened up and . Potaka made- a sna'p shot at goal. The referee ,ruled the kick as fold 9.

Players reached a high pitch, of excitexrierit ahd much' of tne play Was ori the bOrder-line of fold. Lehmann received arid, hemmed in, essayed a field goal, which failed. The pace was terrific for the last few ififntites and play raced up and dowri the field until time was called with the scores: Clifton 12 Stratford 8 Mr C. 'Gernhdefer refereed.