THE FOOTBALL WORLD

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 81, 2 July 1928, Page 2

THE FOOTBALL WORLD

TARANAKI GAMES. SATURDAY'S HLAY. . r STRATFORD DEFEAT CLIFTON. RESULTS OF MATCHES, Stratford I'4 v. Clifton 0. Inglewood 6 v. Star 6. Tukapa 6 v. Okato 3. Old Boys 13 Eltham 5. Okaiawa 21 v. Waimate 0. Opunake 17 v. Hawera 16N.P. High School 20 v, Wanganui Tech. 3. .A; , POSITION OF TEAMS.

CLIFTON v. STRATFORD. Clifton put uTTAtevmined ««« against Stratford at Waitara on Saturday. Clifton were six points m arrear at the end of the first spell, and Collins, the Stratford full-hack was kept busy. Collins was in goo( form and did his work well. The Stratford team generally P ay ec well un to their usual standard, but the opposing team was well balanc ed. In the second spell Clifton again had the territorial advantage and their backs combined well, and they were unlucky in not registering

a score. The game had not been m P gress long when Sutton and Carey broke through, following which B. Jonas had a drop at goal. M, Jonas broke away well, and Clifton carried on to the line, where, after a hard tussle, the Red forwards cleared. Stratford forwards changed the scene of operations and Wynyard was almost over on the Wind side of a scrum, hut Clifton ooc play to the other end with a glon--1 1 ~„sh in which Peterson and Williams 'were prominent. Clifton had tie Beds defending for a long period, Owen finally malting a good L to relieve the pressu.e. Then from a free U* in a handy portion Collins landed a good goal. Stmt, lord 3. Clifton 0. Furdie broke away well m » dribble, and in the ensumg flay snsrjrsrrj was to the fore in several Stiattoul rushes, although the Reds *** their 'fair share A pretty rear-guard m brought Stratford’s next points. AH the backs handled, Kdvell breaking between McFarlane and B. Jonas and then ) sending Bonner over. T kick failed. Stratford 6, Clifton 0. Carter gathered in well an bis hacks away, a knock-on spoiling the movement. Coleman then made a spectacular dash after Walter at made an opening, but from the meout in Clifton’s corner B Jonas broke dear and galloped to Collins before kicking. The hail went out at Stratford’s 25, from where the home hacks swung into action, M. ona being collared in possession on the line. A moment latter Stratfoid launched an attack which ended m a Cliftonl force-down. A heady jdck by Owen brought play to CU - ton’s line, Peterson clearing. Ha time sounded with the scores;

Stratford Clifton The second spell opened with a dashing Clifton forward thrust Peterson paving the way, aftei Boddy was just heaten foi a 01 down Kivell, whose powerful run.ling ami good defence was troubling the home men, initiated a 1 which ended under Clifton's posts. M, Jonas cleared, only to lave return play. Clifton had to repulse a hot attack, forcing twice m ■>« cession. Then from halfway Owen

sent Wynyard galloping. He was floored by Pepperell, and although Owen, 'missed the return pass, Walter picked it up and forced his way over. The kick missed. Strati'oi d 9, Clifton 0.

Carey at this stage retired with a broken collarbone, Puke going on. Before the latter arrived, however, the Red backs, Kivell, Owen, Walter and ‘Wynyard, had lost a certain try with a forward pass. B. Jonas now went to the centre, Puke taking his place on the wing and the other backs going in one. CaTter then broke through with a meteoric dash and with full speed up, booted over P'epperell’s head. The latter floored him and the referee awarded a penalty try, which Collins converted. Stratford 14, Clifton 0.

Stratford now seemed to have the upper hand for a while, and Clifton were exthricated from a nasty position by a free kick under the posts. B. Jonas got away well, but his pass to his brother, who was well placed, went astray, Clifton pressed hotly for a while, but kicked too hard and Collins forced. Owen burst through gnd sent Wynyard steaking for the line, but he was checked and Purdie cleared. Williams broke away well from a line-out, Collins’ marking his kick. In a fin e • closing rally Clifton did not .let up, and for ten minutes or so penned the Reds in their own 25, M. Jonas having a resultless pot. Carter sent Owen racing away, Puke flooring him. Ogiie had "cruel luck a minute later when he dribbled past the defence, but slipped as he gently tapped the ball over the line. Another sweeping Clifton rush saw Williams upended a few yards from the line. The foiwards were doing great work, but did score, and the game ended: Stratford • • • Clifton 0 Mr F. J- Eggleton refereed.

OLD BOYS v. ELTHAM. The- game between Old Boys and Eltham drew a very poor gate at Pukekura Park, and those who at tended withnessed a very mediocre exhibition of Rugby for senior grade teams. Neither team was at full strength and after, a straggling gam e the home side won by 19 points (5 , tries, 2 converted) to 5 (a converted try). The Whites had the advantage of the opening phases, but several good moves which were smartly initiated broke down until Grey found a try near the corner, which Priar converted. McDonald narrowly missed an opening on the right and scored, opening Eltham’s scoring account with a penalty kick at goal, and then Old Boys swept hack for Bayly to score a try in a good ( position, but the extra points were not added. Very rugged play marked the rest of the spell, which ended, with another try scored by Gray, which Priar converted. Old Boys were twice penalised early in the second half and then from a scrum just inside their territory boundary Leatham broke away and Casey followed up well and scored near the posts for McDonald to convert. The visitors were caught out of position when Old Boys had them in their own quarter and Drader gave a wide pass to Fookes, who had no difficulty in crossing. The visitors were pressed hard and Old Boys lost a couple of easy chances of scoring. A nice movement through all the backs ended in Bayley scoring again, and the game ended a few minutes later with Old Boys 14 points up. ( Old Boys 19 Eltham , 5 Mr F. Julian was referee. TUKAPA v. OKATO.

Okato again showed what a difficult team they are to heat on then own ground. Football conditions were ideal, hut poor and ragged play was the result of the meeting of these two teams. The game was very evenly contested, but Tukapa had slightly more finish to then play, and would have been unlucky had they lost or if the game had ended m a draw, which seemed probable until 10 minutes before time. Both teams of backs were weak, and little spirited forward play was seen. The game ended Tukapa G, Old Boys 3.

INGLEWOOD v. STAR. Splendid conditions ruled for the above match at Inglewood. Gaining possession in the majority of suums Inglewood should have won, their failure to do so being mainly attributable to lack of finish and straight running in the rear division. Inge-

wood’s advantage was enhanced by Hunt’s retirement. Though both sets of backs frequently handled, the game w.as more of a forward nature than otherwise, and devoid of brilliancy. Morris set the game in motion and for five minutes forward play held swap at .midfield. Star backs got going and a promising movement was stopped by Brown cleverly intercepting. Shortly after Moorhead missed a line opportunity of running in, the bounce beating him. plant mulling allowed the Reds to surge down, but Star cleared to Coles who kicked across field into Moorhead’s arms for a clear try at the corner. The kick was disallowed for infringement. Star 3. Following the kick out Conits was temporarily disabled, but resumed. Gyde shot into prominence with a handy dribble to Morris, who kicked to safety and play centred. At the quarter flag Court marked Cole’s return, his attempt at goal striking a goal post. From the kick-out the visitors pressed, Coles being caught in possession and things went hard for Inglewood, the forwards finally clearing to midfield, from where Morris made an abortive attempt to goal from a penalty. , Inglewood, slightly superior in scrum work worked to a good position which B. Corkill foolishly nullified by an attempted pot. Repeated scrum advantages gave Inglewood enemy territory, but laack of finish discounted every effort to cross. Stars were forced thrice in quick succession by attempts at goal. Constant knock ons and offside tactics on both sides slowed the game till L. Ross and Brown carried hostilities to Star’s quarters and touch. A moment later an attempted pot by Brown shaved the post and just on call of half-time a drop-kick by Coutts dropped under the bar. The interval score was: Star- 3 Inglewood 0 A scrum at centre nullified Contts’ kick-off ball, desultory scrambles following and Coutts marking at the

quarterline equalising with a fine kick. Star 3, Inglewood 3. Resuming, S. Chard off-side allowed Star an advance, but L. Ross drove them

back to midfield, where Hunt suffered an injury and retired, being replaced by B. Loveridge. New blood infused animation in the Star ranks. .Loveridge and Moorhead putting in a nice run. The respite was temporary as in a flash Inglewood forwards charged downfield and from a melee on the visitors’ I'ne Clegg went over and changed' the complexion of the game. Coutts’ kick failed, Inglewood G, Star 3. The reverse stung, and Stars swarmed to their objective, a despoi l;/ .a mo

to cross being foiled by the unerring tackling of the defenders. Keeping up the attack, Star wore awarded'two penalty kicks, Morris successfully piloting his sceond attempt to even up the score once more, the tally reading six all. The game swung rapidly from end to end, Inglewood forwards and Star backs being the chief contenders. A pronounced preference for kicking by the latter kept the scores even. At last Court, Billing and Loveridge associated in a fine passing bout, cairied play to Inglewood’s ’25, where is swung in front of the On call of time N. Ross secured and found touch in time to baulk Stars from annexing a merited win. Mr G. Hooker was the re*tree.

The meeting of New Pij mouth High School and Wanganui Technical High School at the Hawera showgrounds on Saturday seated a was somewhat disappointing Wangreat deal of interest, Tn-i display ganui being outshone, particularly i n the first half, by the heavier School team. The tatters’ inside backs 'wore superior, and so long as their forwards were go at top the.y u.eir opponents. Wanganui were the fitter team when the game ended, and in the sec

half their lasting qualities enabled them to break up School’s attacking movements more frequently. Thenhandling did not improve, however, and they at no time looked really dangerous.

The game resulted: New Plymouth 20, Wanganui 3. Mr H. C. Johnson was referee.

REFEREES FOR SATURDAY. The, following, referees have been appointed for next Saturday's senior games— Stratford v. Star, at Stratford, Mr H. C. Johnson. Old Boys v. Tukapa, at New Plymouth, Mr F, J-. Egglcton. Okato v. Clifton, at Okato, Mr C. Gernhoofer. Eltliam v. Inglewood, at Eltham, Mr J. O’Grady. Athletic v. Hawera, at Hawera, Mr W- J. Badloy. Kapon<za v. Patea, at Kaponga, Mr L. H. Clapham. Okaiawa v. Opunake, at Opnnake, vr r H. Whittington.

Northern Division. n , s a u o bfl c3 d S a .a V <x> d d o £ aS in m to CU Q 3 S pH O NORTHERN' DIVISION. 20 Stratford 10 10 0 0 208 17 Inglewood 10 8 1 1 87 27 17 Star 10 7 1 2 102 45 15 Clifton 10 4 1 5 64 86 9 Tukapa 10 4 0 6 102 76 8 Old Boys 10 3 1 6 82 113 7 Okato 10 1 0 9 38 165 2 Eltham 10 1 0 9 24 178 2 SOUTHERN DIVISION. 16 Okaiawa 9 8 0 1 119 60 Opunake 7 c 7« 5 : 0 1 1 121 2 103 43 59 14 11 Kaponga o 60 8 4 1 4* 88 9 Hawera 5 42 76 Patea 8 2 1 5 Waimate 9 1 1 7 39 120 3 0 Athletic 7 0 0 7 56 150 * Denotes a game won or lost oy default.