CENTRAL DIVISION SEMIFINAL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 22, 18 August 1932, Page 7

CENTRAL DIVISION SEMIFINAL

FOOTBALL

1, —. TOKO'S CLOSE CALL CLIFTON DEFEATED BY 5 POINTS TO 3 The meeting of Toko, winners of the Central Division junior competition, and Clifton, the leaders in the Northern division, took place yesterday afternoon at. Inglewood, and after a strenuous match, ill which both packs fought out the issue from start to finish, the Toko team were victorious. But it was a close call, too close indeed for the peace of mind of the supporters of the Yellow and Blacks, especially throughout the second spell. Only by the most determined efforts of tiie whole team were the onslaughts on the Toko line in the closing stages repulsed by the narrowest of margins. The luck was against them towards the end, as one of the forwards was a passenger for some time owing (o an injury to his leg, and within live minutes of the finish J. Sangster received a kick on his right cheekbone which necessitated his retirement. This was a serious loss to Toko, as "Jock" had been doing great work in the position of defending the last ditch. Under the circumstances, they thoroughly deserved their win, though not a few spectators considered that they wove lucky to beat the lads from the freezing works town. A Forward Game

The game was essentially a forward one, and too much praise cannot be given, to the Toko pack for the manner in which they rallied round and put in the weight when danger threatened. This combined play at times carried play from 25 to halfway in one grand movement, and it almost seemed that they were a team inspired. Halfway through the first spell they scored a try, which was converted, while early in the second spell Clifton scored from a penalty goal. The backs on both sides were unreliable as a rule, and few passing movements lasted long. As far as the Clifton backs were concerned, they suffered solely from the offensive and solid tackling play of Toko, while the latter backs lost ground mainly owing to their own poor handling and ineffectual combination. The second spell was entirely in favour of Clifton, who kept their opponents in their own territory all the time. The play was in Clifton's 25 for a few minutes only towards the finish.

The teams lined out. as follows:Toko (Yellow and Black) —J. Sangster; J. Martin. A. Walter, P. Griffiths; C. Wilmshurst, A. Sangster (captain); P. Jones; J. Jones, H. Rumball, J. Hall; J. Corbett, L. McGuinness, E. Smith, P. Bottin, A. Chapman. Clifton (Yellow and Blue). —E. Ewans; J. Linimer, M. Ewans, R. Jones; N. Giddey, A. Sutton; H. Stockman; L. Jenkins, S. Sampson, K. Keith, P. Calger, J. Robertson, P. Paltridge (captain), S. McGill, P. Peck. Mr. G. 1 looker refereed. Toko won the toss and chose the southern end, with the wind behind them, but a bright sun was in their eyes. Free kicks mainly against Toko for off-side play characterised the opening stages. C. Wilmshurst and A. Sangster led a great rush to the line, and Clifton were forced. Play was in neutral territory for some time, until Toko worked down to the line. From a scrum P. Jones worked the blind side, beating two of his opponents and grounding ten yards from the posts. J. Sangster placed an unmistakeable goal. Toko 5 Clifton 0 Toko made the game more open on resuming, but could not do any good. In one case Sangster passed to Walter, who knocked on, and from the scrum several dives for the line were made unsuccessfully. Corbet; and two other forwards headed a rush to the line, where M. Ewans was cornered, but the kick rebounded from A. Sangster, who dropped in his tracks, and the ball was kicked to the dead ball line. On one occasion C. Ewans was lucky to get in his kick and save the situation. Then Clifton had a turn at attack and were unlucky in losing the leather in scrambling play, and Toko relieved with a forward rush. Toko were forced, after Limmer had a bit of hard luck in being held up on the line. A nice passing rush to Toko's line flattered Clifton's supporters, but. the defence was sound until the whistle blew for half time: Toko 5 Clifton 0 Immediately on starting, Clifton at [ tacked. Martin mulled the return and the ball went out in Toko's 25. i

Limmer got to within five yards ot! the Hue ;il, the corner, hi: I. the Toko forwards relieved. Sangster intercepted a pass to C. Ewans, but did not. get far. A free to Clifton taken by M. Ewans did nor. rise high enough to goal. Play was kept in Toko's Line, as the result of Martin missing a speculator, but again the Toko forwards relieved, and Corbett. and Wilmshurst led a rush to near halfway. There was a. lot of kicking between (be back divisions, and liueoul.s and scrums ensued in monotonous succession. Wilmshurst picked up the ball after be had tackled C. Ewans, and the free kick by M". Ewans was successful, making the score: Toko 5 Clifton 3 There is little to add about the remainder of the play, although it was quite exciting for the spectators. Clifton bad a, chance to top the score, when Smith handled (lie ball in (he scrum, but M. Ewans missed the goal from a handy position. Clifton supporters became excited at times in the subsequent events and urged on their side to greater efforts, * but there wore also several Toko supporters who made quite as much noise on uie sideline; indeed, it. seemed that Toko responded to (heir friends' encouraging cries in a remarkable manner, pushing back their opponents every time the line was threatened. The fortunes of both sides waxed and waned, and play travelled between Toko's goal line and Clifton's 25 lino. Seme of the scrums were very strenuously congested; and many finished with (he packs in a. heap on the ground. An anxious time for Toko occurred as time was nearly up. The j Toko backs mulled in succession, and j the ball was kicked past J. Sangster, I who rushed to stop if near the corner i flag. Limmer also dived for it at the I same time, and his foot accidentally

struck Sangster as he sprawled on the ground out of touch, the result being a nasty knock on Songster's cheekbone necessitating his retirement. H. Wilmshurst took his place at fullback and filled the position quite satisfactorily. Toko were attacking after a determined rush to Clifton's 25 when the final whistle sounded: Toko 5 Clifton 3 Toko play Okaiawa for the junior championship at Eltham on Saturday. THE LEAGUE CODE ENGLISH TEAM PUTS UP RUNAWAY SCORE Pros* Association. —Convright. WELLINGTON, Wed.—The British League team gave the New Zealand team a football lesson on the Wintei Show grounds this afternoon, when in an exhibition, match the visiters piled up 59 points to New Zealand's 8. Just after the- game started L. llutl. one of the New Zealand for. wards, received a compound fracture of the thumb and took no further part. The Englishmen were superior in weight, pace and tactics, handling freely and throwing the ball abc-ut. They gave 4000 spectators a brilliant display of passing. The English wing threequarters, Hudson and Woods, possessed rare pace and elus. ive side-steps, and frequently raced clean from the opposition. Tries were scored' for England by Wotds (1), Feetham (•"* Brogden (2), Fender, Hudson (2), Williams and Atkinson. J. Sullivan, the English captain, converted 10 of the 13 tries, some with magnificent kicks from the sideline. New Zealand's points were wide up of two tries scored by Caldei, one being converted by Seagar.