FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 23, 21 July 1911, Page 7

FOOTBALL

TUKAPA (9) v. STRATFORD (0). I Considerable interest was evinced iu the meeting of these two tea,m» jU ! Western. Park yesterday afternoon, for although Tukapa. had no chance of annexing the Northern Division championship, a good deal depended on the match. Ilad Stratford defeated Tukapa a play-oil between Clifton and Stratford would have been necessary to decide the division winner. However, Tukapa won, thus cstablisliing Clifton as winners of the Northern Thursday Division, and they will play-off with Star to decide who is to uphold the honor of the north against the southern champions, Okadawa.

Although. Tukapa won by nine points, there was not that difference between the teams. Stratford forwards held the upper hand throughout, except that they were unable to hook the ball in the scrums' as often as might have been wished, and the game consisted of forward rushes by the Stratford tea», wliich were stemmed by the Tukapa backs. The Tukapa forwards occasionally set up counter attacks, ibut gave too many penalties. Occasionally there were flashes of passing but side used their backs as nlucih as 'the spectators would have wished. Tukapa scored nine points, all of which must be placed to the credit of Stohr, who kicked two fine goals and also scored a good try, after a brilliant rim from an intercepted pass at half-way. Mr. W. Roch controlled the game, whilst Messrs. Smart and Petty were line umpires. Tukapa won the toss, and played with the wind in their favor. Stratford kicked off and immediately invaded the Blues' territory. A long kick by Stohr drove tihem back, and a passing run, in which Mynott, Stohr arid. Loveridge participated, saw them called on to defend. Kivell, however, came through and found the line at .the 25.' Charteris, Jull and Francis were next prominent, but 1 Anderson marked and gave his side relief, hut only for a brief respite, as Whitaker and Loveridge then headed a forward rush, which Fearon checked by kicking to touch. From the throw-in the ball came out to Stohr, but Anderson intercepted his .pass and found the lino at half-way. A free kick to Tu- | kapa saw Stohr find the line well in Stratford's 25. March, Smith and Boon broke away from the line-out, but a knock-on nullified any -advantage, and from the scrum Woods found the line at half-way. Bonnor marked from the line-out, and a nice kick to the line saw the Reds in Tuknpa's territory. Hers a nice judged kick by Stewart saw the ball out at 'the comer. Stratford forwards made hard endeavors to score, but G. Loveridge relieved with a kick to the 25, and a little later a: free kick gave additional relief. A clem mark 'by Mynott transferred play to Reds' territory, where. Mynott attempted to . open up the game, but did noit succeed, as the Stratford forwards, with a desperate charge, came down the field. Brown, however, stopped them once, and later on hard kicking enabled Honeyfield to sa.ve. Stratford forwards still pressed, but Mynott checked them nicely and headed a rush whi<;h saw play in Stratford's side of half-way. Here he obtained a nice mark, from which StohT landed a magnificent goal Tukapa .: 3 Stratford 0

On resuming Stratford attacked strongly, and took play under Tukapa's goal, where James missed a good 1 chance by -not passing. From the scrum the Reds obtained possession and the ball, which went from Bomior to Stewart to Cameron to Anderson before the latter was well taken by Brown, and almost immediately a. force gave relief. From the kick-off the Blues carried play to Stratford's »ide of lmlf-way, but Cameron, with a good- kick, returned it to the 2"), where Loveridee failed to take, and nearly let Melville, who was following up fast, score. •lioncyficld forced. A wild pass by Cameron enabled Charteris and Whitaker to relieve, and play hovered in neutral territory. A free kick to the Reds saw Cameron And the line at the 25. Whitakor was next prominent in n rush which carried play to neutral ground, where Bonnor kicked down the field. Webster and IToneyfield both went for the ball, aud missed. Tilings looked bad for Tukapa, as several Red men were on the ball. Honeyfield, however, waft able to get round and relieve by kicking to touch. Stratford still pressed, and from a scrum Bonnor passed to Stewart to Cameron, who passed wildly to Anderson, and Webster broke away with Stohr alongside him. TTe was collared by Anderson, and the ball went out at halfway. The HI tie backs tlhen took a hand, but the Red forwards, headed by Young, retaliated. A pass forward enabled Mynott to mark, and .Stohr kicked another good goal, making the score Tukapa fl i Stratford 9

From the kick-off Davidson secured, and kicked up-field. Stewart and Anderson went after the ball and collided. The Blues .pressed, but Kivell saved. Whitnker got a mark ait half-way, which gave Stohr an unsuccessful shot at goal. From the kick-off, Stohr secured and passed to Loveridge, who was collared. Wihitak'er next broke tlwough with tlie ball at his feet, but was called back. A nice passing bout between Brown, Mynott, Stohr and Loveridgc saw the totter collared at the corner, where the Blues looked like scoring. Smith and Young then headed a rusih that removed play to the 25, where the Tukapa. backs opened out, but Stolir hung on too long, and. was collared 'by Cameron. Halftime was called with, no further score.

The opening of the second spell saw •Stratford attack, and a pa«? from Stewart ito Anderson saw the latter collared near the lino. From the scrum, Brawn secured and kicked over the fence. Off-side play by Whitaker in a nice position wave Onmeron a no-charge shot at jL'oal 1 . which went, wide and was forced. Almost immediately after, a 'passing bout between Bonner, Stewart and Anilerson saw the latter kick l,i S h to IToneyfield. who was just, able to force. From the kick-off Ward and Charteris wre prominent in taking play to the Tteds' 2't, buit an infringement nullified tile advantage. A good kick by Loveridge. however, returned plav to the same spot. Very Tagged play followed, knocking-on bcinpr frequent, but neither side gained much advantage. the ball goinc; out at half-way. From the throwin, T!rown passed to Mynoftt to Stohr to Webster, who was collared by Andor, son whe.n dangerous. Off-side plav bv Tnkapa !jave Stratford several free kicks, and the ball ultimately found the line about five yards from the Blue crna 1. Tight lilav ensued, but a free kick wave relief, and. Kivell mulling Stohr's kick, saw the bull out at halfwav. From the line-out Cameron kicked high. and followed up. Mynott smothered him. however, and a scrum ensued. Stohr next scored a. sensational trv by iiitcreciptin.ir a pn=s from Cameron to Anderson about half-way. Tie set sail for the 1 in", and. outpacing the opposition. scored. The kick failed. Tnkapa 0 Stratford 0 From the kick-off, the game •became very fast, both sides throw-in? the ball about. Stratford lmd the best of the bout, and Loveridge forced. Stratford oaroe a pain, but ifynott marked nicely just under the goal, and irave. his team a welcome respite. Stratford returned to the attack, and strenuous play en-

I sued, lirvnu. checked gamely, and. a I little later Cameron was smothered when ! within striking distance. Obstruction by F. Loveridge gave StratfoTd another free kick, from which Cameron centred, but gained no advantage. Tukapa were kept busy defending until Brown passed to 0. Loveridge, who, putting in a good rim along the line, was thrown out by Kivell at the 25, and another well judged kick by Honeyfield saw the ball out near the Reds' line and Tukapa attacking. Kivell, however, -marked under the goal just in the nick of time to avert a score. Stratford gradually worked the ball back, and Anderson put in a run. hut wis collared by Ward, and the Blue forwards set up a counter attack. Boon, Smith and Co. came again, but a mark l>v Honeyfield checked their career. Stohr's kick was charged down, and a force ensued. A lone J handed rush by Whitaker ca.rriod play down the whole length of the field, but Anderson was too fast, gathered up the ball near his ovn soal, and managed to kick to safety. Neutral plav ensued until Kivell centred the hall, which Webster secured. He ran infield instead of out, and missed a chance of scoring. Tukana's backs were now throwing the leather about, and the hall travelled, from Brown to Mynott to 0. Loveridge, -who passed nicely infield to Francis, but the litter dropped the ball close to the line. From the resulting nlay G. Loveridsre marked, hut Stohr failed • at goal and a force resuJted. The whistle sounded with no further score.