FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 69, 13 July 1914, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND 24: N.S.W. 6. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] i Sydney, July 12. The first Rugby Union test match, New Zealand versus New South Wales, was played on the Sports Ground. The weather was fine, and the ground hard and fast, in favor of the home team. The attendance totalled 15,- ()()(), and the result of the match was a triumph of combination and skill over individual play.' The New SouthWales kicked off, and following poor defensive work by tho New Zealanders, Carr scored ; within half a minute. Wogan failed to convert. (3—o). R. Roberts soon initiated an attack, and following close play near the New South Wales line, Cain scored, E. Roberts failing to convert. (3—3). A little later New Zealand was awarded a penalty. R. Roberts' kick being successful. (6—3). The next incident ' was Loveridge being laid out, Taylor replacing him. A tine passing bout by the New South Wales backs was followed by aggressive work by the visiting forwards, and ultimately Taylor slipped over the line, scoring between the posts, but R. Roberts failed to add tho major ; points. (9—3). Play was* in midfield when half-time was called, with the score: New Zealand 9, New South Wales 3.

Resuming, the locals attacked,, but a free kick relieved. A brilliant run by E. Roberts and Taylor took play into Australian territory, and from a scramble, Bruce scored, E. Roberts' kick being unsuccessful. ('l2—3). The locals attacked fiercely, but Lynch relieved, and Dwyer, failing to get rid of the ball, McXeece secured and scored. E. Roberts again failed to cqnvert. {15 —3). Lynch next inaugurated an attack, from which Ryan scored, but he failed to convert. (18 —3). Tho New South Wales backs now attacked brilliantly, and, O'Brien being illegally tackled, a try was awarded, Wogan's kick was resultless. "(18 —6). Just before time, Ryan and Lynch each sored, R. Roberts' and Lynch's kicks failing, the final score being 24—G.

INVITATION TO MELBOURNE. Sydney, July 12. The New Zealand team has been invited to play a match at Melbourne, but as the fixtures arc already made they will probably be unable to accept the invitation. BULLER 34 V. INANCAHUA 0. |[Plb Press Ajisooiatioh.] Westport, July 12. Buller played its first rep. match of the season yesterday, defeating Inangahua by 31 points to nil. Green, who was picked for the All Black tour of Australia, but was unable to make the trip, was in great form, most of the tries coming from passing rushes initiated by him. The ground was in a very greasy state, but the Buller backs handled the ball well, and the forwards played with great dash, breaking through tho opposing division and giving the Inangahua backs very little chance to get moving.

THE LEAGUE CAME. BRITAIN 14, WELLINGTON 7. [Pee Press Association.] Wellington, July 12. At League football England defeated Wellington in the opening match of the tour by 14 points to 7. Rain tell part of the time, and the ground was slippery, but a good game was, nevertheless, played. The following were ,tho teams : England.—Full-back, G. Thomas; three-quarters, J. O'Garra, \V. A. Davis (capt.), W. Hall, 8.1 "B. Houghton ; five-eighths, S. Prosserj half-back, F. Smith; forwards, W. Jarman, J l . Chilcott, J. W. Smales, J. W. Guerin, J. L. Clampit, A. Johnson. Wellington.—Full-back, F. Strickland ; three-quarters, B. Whiteley, J. Parker, G. Bradley, W. Wilson; fiveeighths, A. O. Murdoch; half, -). Barber; forwards, G. Lawlor, J. Spencer, A. Donaldson, F. Manning, L. Campbell, J. Ashton. The Blacks got right away off the mark, and rushed over tho line, but tin.' ball went dead. The first score went to the visitors. From the halfway, the ball flashed back to the backs, J. W. Smith to Prosser, to Hall, to Houghton, and back to Thomas the full back, who ran in and scored a beautiful try behind the posts. His kick at goal failed.—.'{—o). The score rose (s—o, <)—o. 9—-2, which was the result at hall-time. The weather improved slightly in the second spoil. From within about three yards of hall-way Los. Campbell drove the ball beautifully between the posts, the best place-kick by far of the day.—(9—l). Strickland scored England's fourth try in a position which enabled Guerin to kick a goat without much effort. From a melee on the goal-line, the ball went to Whitley, who bad only a yard to go to score, and he scored Wellington's only try. Campbell failed with a fairly easy kick. (J.I 7). Mr Duncan .McGregor was ' referee.

THE SECOND CONTINGENT. Auckland, July 12. The remainder of the English Northern Union team arrived to-day from Sydney by the Manuka, the personnel of the party heing Clifford (manager), Rogers, Wagstaffo, Moorhouse, Longstaffe, Sykes, .Tonkins. Ramsdale, Francis, Coldrick and Wood. THE CAME IN TARANAKI. SATURDAY'S MATCHES. Tin Stratford, foam which jonrnoy-

ed to Waitara on Saturday to do battle with Clifton, was not up to full strength, a good number of emergencies being included, but, considering the very wet ground and ball, one of the best games of the season was witnessed. The rain held off during the game, which was well contested from start to finish. Clifton owed their win to lino work in both attack and defence by the forwards. On the Stratford side an outstanding player was Wood, who played his best game of the season. He took a full share of the work, and was especially conspicuous in going down to rushes.

Bertrand scored Clifton's first try under the posts, but y. Tate failed t 0 goal.-Clifton 3, Stratford 0. The Stratford backs smothered a strong forward attack, and Young brought relief by marking in a good position. The first spell closed without further score, Stratford being only once in the vicinity of a score, when Young had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a penalty. The visitors opened the second spell with plenty of dash, but despite solid work by the vanguard, Clifton more than held their own. A strong Clifton rush ended in Bertrand scoring again, Tate again failing to goal.—Clifton G, Stratford 0. 'Shortly afterwards, Hicks scored another try for Clifton, the kick being unsuccessful. —Clifton 9, Stratford 0. In the closing stage's. Young made a good but unsuccessful attempt to kick a goal from a penalty, but the game ended without a further score being registered. Mr Spurdle carried he whistle. At New Plymouth Tuknn.i defeated Star by 15 to nil, and at Okato, Inglewood beat Okato by 8 to nil.

THE R.ANFURLY SHIELD. The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union lias decided to issue a special challenge to the Taranaki representative team for a match for the Ranfurly shield. "Supporters of football in New Plymouth of old must have been pained on Saturday by the exhibition between these two clubs," says the "News," regarding the Star-Tukapa match on Saturday. "The ground was certainly against good football, but jthe state of the quagmire could hardly be held accountable for the fightahle nature of some of the- men in jerseys. The Star men were the aggressors in this matter, and the Maoris made things so warm that it was a wonder that / several of them were not ordered off by the referee, whoso leniency was quite misplaced. iThe language used was lurid at times, there was at least one squaring-up to settle accounts, but for the most part the scrapping, as far as could be seen, was one-sided. It was an unedifying spectacle, and one greatly to be deplored."

WAIMATE V. KAPONCA. Spectators of this game, which was played at Manaia on Saturday, state that the famous Waimates had all they wanted from their opponents' forwards, who played a great game. Their hacks were poor, and that is why they lost the game. Waimate goaled three penalties, all kicked by Coleman, making them 9 points, to Kaponga's goal from a penalty and a try, winch was unconverted. "The match was an opportunity for one of the best forward displays seen in Taranaki this season," stated one informant, avlio is in a position to judge fairly. "Clifton," lie concluded, "will have to shake a leg to win!" THE EASTERN DISTRICTS. There was a large crowd present at Toko on Saturday to witness the Whanga v. Toko match. After a very evently-contested game, the result was Whanga 5, Toko 0. Four or five Toko members were absent through colds, and the condition of the ground was by no good. The result of the Strathmore v. Tahora match was Strathmore 6, Tahora 0. The Strathmore team are leading for the shield by one point.