FOOTBALL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2420, 6 May 1893, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

CLIFTON v. STRATFORD. (from our waitaba correspondent.) The above Gup matoh came off on Thursday. The rain came down in torrents as the men turned out on the ground, wbioh was very sloppy. However after the first 10 minutes the sun cacae out and a good many spectators turned up, Mr McGowell acted at referee and Messrs Spurdle and Taylor as line umpires. Stratford won the toss, and playing with the wind behind them bad all thq besc of the play at first, A. Bayly narrowly missing a shot at goal from the field. After a good deal of give and take play, Davis got an ugly knock- out blow in the jaw from an elbow, and had to be taken off the field for a few minutes. On resuming, tbe ball was kept in Stratford's 25 till half time, no score resulting. In the second spell, with the wind behind them, Olifton at once rushed the ball to Stratford's 25 and in front of the goal, when Hempton passed to Jonas, who ran in, Robßon failed to convert an easy try. After some fast play, A. Bayly made a run to Clifton's 25, and fasb play in tbe centre followed, Stratford having the best, but W. Jonas, with a great kick, once' more got into their twenty-five. W. Bayly rushed the ball on the front of his toe, and following up, secured a neat try, whioh Robson failed to covert. Shortly after, from a mark for knocking back, Jonas kicked a goal amid great applause ; almost immediately Robson made a beautiful long run, bouncing the ball on bis knee to avoid A. Bayly, and passed to W. Bayly who scored a try, whioh Jonas failed to convert. "No side " was then called, ! leaving Clifton victors by 10 points (3 I tries and a goal from a mark) to nil. For the losers A. Bayly, Smart, C. Bayly, and Davis played well. For the winners E. Robson ran, passed, and tackled in good form ; W. Jonas played a brilliant game ; W. Bayly, as usual, played a real bard game, as did W. Joll and Hutohinson among tbe forwards. Nearly^ all the winners were in splendid condition, and their meeting the Stars at New Plymouth is looked forward to with mush interest. All intend running every day, as condition must tell in tbe second spell in tbe fast game the new rules now make football.