FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 8, 25 August 1911, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND TEAM’S FIXTURES. (Per I’rcss Association.) Auckland, August 21. The Auckland Rugby Union decided the itinerary of the southern tour this evening. The team will leave Auckland on August 29, arriving in Christchurch on the 31st. Canterbury will be played on September 2. The team will leave Christchurch for Dunedin on September 4, and play Otago on the 6th. Dunedin will bo left on ;he morning of the 7th, and V elUngtop reached on the Bth. The Wellington team will be played on tin:.'Bth an 1 the Aucklanders »•'«’ do part from the Empire City en route for Now Plymouth on the 11th. The last match of the tour will be played against Taranaki on the 14th. The team leaves for home by the Rarawa the same evening. They will reach Auckland, via Onehunga, on the loth, and play the second Ranfurly Shield match here against Poverty Bay on the 16th. Mr M. J. Sh'eahan was appointed manager of the team. R. Magee will act as captain, and W. Cunningham as vice-captain. Ihe selection committee will consist of the above-mentioned officials and T. Wilkes. W. Geddes notified the sploctors yesterday that he was unable to go south, and 0. Wolfgramm was appointed in his place. The Auckland Rugby Union decided to-night, in regard to the referees’ strike, to make their own apj oint-, ments in future. Sufficient referees are available for the remaining club '■matches.

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION. ‘ Wellington, August 24. At a 'meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union to-night, the suspension of McDonald (Otago) for twelve months was confirmed. A large number of players who had taken part in games under the Northern Union rules were expelled for professionalism. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

HAWERA (14) V. CLIFTON (3)

At the A. and P. grounds yesterday afternoon Clifton and Hawera met to decide the first junior championship. There was a fair- attendance of the public, and the ground was dry and fast; but the play was not as open and attractive as might have been expected. Mr B. Pettie carried the whistle.

Cljfton defended the southern goal. A few minutes after the start of play -Hawera were pressed hard in their own twenty-five, but though Clifton looked very much like getting a score they were pressed back, and giye and take play in mid-field followed. The Clifton forwards started al dangerous looking rush, and were well ■ on the way to a score when they were pulled,- back for. an infringement. Soon afterwards a Clifton back attack was stopped by a free kick. Similarly in a short, time a Hawera back attack was nullified by a fox-ward making sure'of tabling a man before he touched the ball. Clifton bore down on the enemy’s line, but though the attack looked promising in the early stages Hawera proved a tough team on the line and the attack was repelled. Then Hawera showed the first piece of attractive play, indulging in a passing rush, which was spoilt by selfishness. Later on three Hawera men caught Clifton napping, and having only the fullback to beat a score resulted, W. Murphy grounding the ball over the line. The attempt at conversion failed. Hawera .*. ... 3 Clifton ... ... 0 Mid-field play followed for a good spell, until Hawera was forced. Clifton pressed and play went up and down the field for a long time. The Clifton forwards made a number of attacks which were stubbornly resisted by the southex-ners, but at last they broke through and' Phillip put the ball over the line. The kick failed. ' ' Clifton 3 Hawera ... ... 3 Clifton set up another attack and were given a penalty kick in a good position, but the ball went wide. Then Hawera transferred the scene of play to mid-field, and the ball was in Clifton’s twenty-five when half-time was sounded. From the opening of the second spell play was mostly in favour of Hawera, and after a few minutes’ play, as the result of a nice concerted attack, Brydon got the ball over the line and Winks converted. Hawera S • Clifton ... ... 8 It was not long again before Hawera took the ball over the line. They were pulled back for an infringement, but just afterwards, following on a pretty long pass, Hawera was enabled to score an unmistakable try. The kick failed. Hawei-a 11 Clifton S . Clifton pressed, and their weight enabled them to pay a visit to Hawera’s territory, which, however, was short-lived, and play gi-avitated back to mid-field. Here Hawera had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a penalty, but play was transferred to dangerous proximity to the Clifton line. Clifton relieved, and set up an attack, which took them well into Hawera’s tex-ritory, where they had a good but unsuccessful shot at goal from a penalty. Give and take play in mid-field followed for some time until Reid kicked towards Clifton’s goal, followed up smartly, smothered the return kick and scored. The kick failed. Hawexa ... ... 14 Clifton ... ... 3 Time was sounded just afterwards.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. CUP SEMI-FINAL. In the semi-final Association match for the Julian Cup, played at Stratford yesterday, the scores were r New Plymouth 4, Stratford 1. For the winners, Wyllio scored three goals and Eggleston 1. For Stratford Schofield, from a penalty, scored the only goal. - The next match (cup final) will ire played at Stratford between New Plymouth and Manaia.