FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 74, 1 August 1913, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

W AIM ATE (17) STRATFORD (G)

There was about a “tenner” at the gate at the close of the above mate] played on Taumata Park, Eltham, yes terday. For half the game tho ground was in splendid order, but the game all through was nothing short of a scramble. The winners, however, played some really good football and thoroughly deserved +he championship honors.

On lining out, the Waimate boys

.showed their superiority in weight They were nuggety—and as several spectators said—well dairy-fed lot. Up to a ' stone all round' would not be too much to assess their gain in the balance over their northern rivals. In the first spell, playing with the wind and the ground in their favor, they placed six points (2 trios) to thcii credit. The first was scored about 20 minutes after starting, as the result of a general hustle on the part of the forwards, followed by back movement, in which there was a race over thq line, and Bourke threw himself on to the ball. This was near the touch-in-goal and the kick was unsuccessful; Waimate 3. Stratford 0.

The boys from the Plains kept up the attack, and were rewarded after about ten minutes with another score, which was gained by Meuli, on the wing of the three-quarter line, as the result if a fine piece of passing among the backs. The kick at goal was again nc good. Waimate 6. Stratford 0.

There was no further score in the spell, but Stratford had a busy time defending their line. On changing ends, the conditions altered considerably, a misty rain set ting in and making the ball and ground very greasy, until at the close there was more than a fair share of luck attendant upon the movements of the players. Stratford did not waken up to the fact that they should make the game open until after Waimate had added three more points, Surgene? pushing over cleverly, and the try being unconverted. Waimate 9. Stratford 0. The next quarter of an hour waf Stratford’s, who flattered their sup porters by adding 6 points in quick succession. The first score followed a high kick by Watkin, smart following up by Pearce enabling the ,wingthreequarter to beat the opposition. Collins’ kick at goal was unsuccessful. Waimate 9. Stratford 3.

Continuing to throw the ball about Bowler got over at the finish of a fair ly decent passing rush, but a “Stohr’ was badly wanted to put in the boot as once more the kick at goal failed Waimate 9. Stratford 6.

A determined rush by Waimate had its reward a few minutes later, as taking advantage of the off-side play which the referee did not see right in front of their opponents’ goal, Ryan ran in under the posts. In spite of the state of the ball there should have been no difficulty in adding the goal points, but no, the score stood—

Waimate 12. Stratford 6. As was the case throughout the game, Waimate continued to handle the ball in a manner which pleased the quid-nuncs, and their extra weight told to advantage in the slippery nature of the foothold. It was not long before Hughes ran in under the posts, and for the first and only time during the match a goal was kicked, Young being successful.

Waimate 17. Stratford 6. The northerners were by this time “well gone”—an expression that was erroneously applied to Waimate in the earlv stages of the second half, and a weary wet feeling came over the crowd who, recognising that “only a miracle” could save Stratford from defeat, diminished perceptibly. Those who stayed oh to the watery end saw nothing exciting to talk about to those who had gone before, as there was no further score, and even the good makings of a “scrap” on the side line didn’t fill to a full hand.

Like all referees, Mr F. Spurdle saw most of the game, but the points he failed to see touched some of Stratford’s barrackers on the quick.

The Taranaki A and B teams for the trial match at Stratford yesterday failed to materialise, only eleven members putting in an appearance. Many complaints were heard from the disappointed public at the failure of the Rugby Union officials to post notices of the fact.