FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 115, 31 May 1901, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

| TUKAPA SENIORS v. STAR SENIORS. Tins m itfh wrs pl>yel on the Recreation Ground on Thursday at the conclusion of tbe Sicond Junior match, «nd attract ad a large gathering of speslatoro. After & very even game victory rcs'ed withTu'iapa, by 3 points to nil.

Murphy kicked off for Star, and Di Liunav, being rushed, failed to get his return kick in. From a scrum Myoott got hold of the ball and kicked wall into the Star quarter, the ball going out at tie 25's flip. A free kick was awarded to Tukftfa for Humphries picking the ball out of the scrum, and i)aw<=s made a gojd kick at goal from a p'ace. Shortly af'erwards Tukapa were penalised for ofl'-sido p'ay. Sime j,ood kicking foUowod between the Sucks on both sides, and ended in the leither going to Smith. That player, however, mulled badly, giving the Star mm a chance, which they weie not s'lw to take, of geting on a passing ru h ; bu'. a pass forward stopped their progress before they bad gore far. 8, meg >cd play on b >th sides foil*wed, u,d then Myuo't got the ball and p ssed (o Fookfa, who transferred to Elder, but the latter was collared before he had time to get going. A free kirk to Tnkapa for off--ida' play wis given, and CDowda, following up a high kick, spoiled the return, the ball going out near the corner flag. Tukapa were next penalised for Smith lying on the ball, but nothing came ef the kick. Soon afterwards Humphtits got the ba'l from the scrum, and pausing neatly to AHen that phyer transferred to Beckett, who was fir.ely collxred by Oallaghan. From a set amble which th?n to->k p'ace, Elder dribbled up to .he half-way flag, and Alien getting pasatesion ita-ted a passing rush, which reirly let Billing in. The Star men were at this time p'aylng a grand gtmp, and it took Tuk<pi "a'l they knew " to defend the ; r line. From & soum on the Star line a little later on, HnmpViri's g't possession and kicked to tte centra. Smith maiked, and O'Dowda made a good though unsuccessful attempt at goal. Shortly afterwards, from a dril>"bli»>g rush, or e of tie Tukapa men scored. O'Dowda failed to convert.

. Tukapa .. .. .. 3 Stsr .. ~ 0 Mo-e parsing fo'l >wed between the Star hacks, but was spoiled by a pari forward. Tukapi were Again on the offensive, hut, a frei kick for off side play w;is n<var.!»d Stir. Diwes then (jut 1l:t> b'll! :i"d i-lw d liif l : n> by a well - j-I'? i<■ to toich. Give* and tiikc pl»y t'ol'owed, but Wfh eventually r li-ved by filling getting a m-.rk a d kicking into Tukapa territory, Jenkinaon leturning out of touch a', tlm lml -way flag. Half-time was eal'ed short.lv afterwards.

Dawfs t-taitei the second ppell, but a fin« return fe >t the bal! undtr the Star uprights, Pillirger saving nicely y a kick ou'. miiviay b t'ie<m the »alf-way and 25's flag*. O'Dowda muked from ago) kick by Pillinper, aid s-nt the tall to B'cketr, who k'cked out of play. Tukapa were tjfiven a frne kick shortly afterwards ind O'Dowda kicked out near the Star •25's. At this time Seamark received i nas'y f II and wag wiided, but soon e ove ed. Fioru a foruu on the Star I n« Humphries got p -s-ession, and kicked to Smi'h (TYkapa), wlu neatly potted a tfoa', t.ba ha'l fnllit.g under the bar. Shor'ly af'erwirds Fockes tnado a go d attetr.p' at p tti g a goal, *e d ng <ha lca'h r ve y niar the upright-, Fioin a ikio v ia Humphrif* marked, but made rather a fable th«|

at goal. From a scrum the hall went to Mynot*, who marked in a favourable position, but O'Dowd failed with the kick. Fronva scrum on the Star line Jeokinßon get hold of the ball and passed to Mynott, who in turn transferred to Fook«s. The latter made a fine opening for Elder, who, however, failed to take the pas*. Tukapa got a free kick for off-Fide play, and Dawes seat the sphere out near the Star's corner flag. Every man was now working his hardest, and from a pis* from the throw is Fookea took a pot at goal, the ball just going a " poster." Tukapa were playiag a grand game at this time, and Star had their woik cut out to keep the line clear. Alter some geod play on both sides the ball was taken into the Tukapa territory, but a free-kick relieved the blue and whites, O'Dowd* sending the ball out at the half-way fl ig. Hot play in the Tukapa 25's ended in one of the Star men getting a mat k, from which Allen took a place at g>al, but failed. The Tukapa front rank men cba-g'd down en the ball, although tbey bad been warned by the referee. Tha. game ended shortly afterwaids, the s»re remaining Tuktpa 3, Star nil, after a bard fought game. The following played well for the winners : —Fookea, Callaghan, Mynott and Jenk'nson among the backs and O'Dowda (who was indeed a tower of strength) Grtenbank, Prior, Dawe*, De Launay and Seamark in the for war J division. Dr. Fookea, though appai eiitly not playing up to last week's ttandard, repeatedly saved bis side by well judged kick?, and was sure in hia collaring.

For Star the prominent backa were Allen, PilUngar and Humphries; while Murphy, Thomas and Billings sho*ed up well iutbe forwards. Mr. Tilly, of Wanganui, rvfereed in first-cliss style, giving general satisfaction. Mea«ra Stohr (Tukapa) and Bellringer (Star) acted as line umpires. STABm. v. TUKAPA 111. This match, played in the R*c, resulted in an etny win for Star by 8 ta nil.