FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 29, 28 July 1911, Page 7

FOOTBALL

SENIOfi GRADE. CLIFTON IJEAD IN NORTHERN DIVISION. The match between Clifton and Star seniors at Waitara yesterday to decide the premiership of the northern division was played on a dry ground ill capital weather, and in the presence of a good crowd, the gate takings totalling £ls 18s. Stars had won the Saturday competition, and Clifton the Thursday scries. The Saturday competition has been looked upon by most people as secondgrade football,' but that there are good beams engaged in it was proved' by the good fight Stars put up against Tuka.pa in the Dan. O'Brien Shield match, and by the evenness ,of the first spell of yesterday's game, the Clifton team leading at half-time by only three points to.jil, and having anything but the best of things up till that time. The general opinion in Waitara seemed to be that the visitors had absolutely no chance, one enthusiast remarking when the teams lined out that it was "all over, bar t/he shouting." The Stars, however, proved a difficult nut to crack until the superior weight of the Clifton forwards told its inevitable tale. They were easily a stone and a half lighter than tlieir opponents, and played without Hawkins, one of the mainstays of the ; forward division. The first spell of the match gave a really hard game, aid Clifton -were lucky in beating their opponents. up to that time. But the ] second spell showed the superiority of the home team, the Stars attacking only spasmodically, but playing without Clifton's combination, which improved as the spell progressed. Mr. F. Spuidlc was the referee. Star won the toss, and played with the , fall of the ground in their favor. Coir man kicked off to Hill, who lined, and , after a few minutes' kicking Woods dribbeld through to Clifton's end, where a Clifton forward rash was stopped by off-side play. Crowley spoiled a kick by Whitaker, the rebound letting Clifton up a hit, and Goodwin put in a pretty piece of dodging work. Stars' forward rushes were generally met by Colman's good defence, but still the Greens >were kept on the defensive, the backs using the touch-line and the trees just beyond it. Whitaker got a mark near the 2.") flag, and Hill liad a ( shot at gaol, the ball falling under the bar. Stars "returned to , the attack and were given a free kick for Clifton forwards lifting feot too soon in the scrum. Hill's kick failed. The kick-off went out. and a scrum "was formed on the 25 line. Varey Tate brought the hall out of Cilfton end, streaking and kicking out at half-way, but the Star forwards came again. A big kick came to the Star backs, and

Crockett not bearing Pfankuch's call of "mine," a collision occurred, and Crockett got Pfankuch's elbow in the ribs. He was able to resume play, but was apparently suffering. McAUum cut right through the Clifton team with the hall at toe, but S. Oeorge was sure. 'Stars were now defending. Whitaker improving with a good murk with which Hill sent play bpyond half-way. Colman was penalised for pulling the ball out of the scrum, Hill lining well. Colman fi"<tml a. free kick from the centre, Column lining well, despite a misunderstanding between the backs. Stupid attempts to collar Colman placed Stars in trouble, and some passing ensued which .Joo{ced likely to produce a score. But "ftA infringement enabled Ilill to clear, /prowley immediately headed a forward -ipsh- bac(k to Stars' *:nd. Clifton were .rWarijiing things up now, and a series of Jjne-o-ufffi enabled them to gain ground. .It. seemed, however, that many chances .id .initiate good runs were misled, the Ijaciks evincing too great a fondness for sie.. touchline. The Clifton hookers, been penalised two or three .tiijies, were very careful in the scrums, And Star hookers secured in nearlv every , n '.ie. Main and Crockett put in some ffifle' /work, the latter dodging through tO ( .the Clifton corner. Then Main, Ilill j'and Goudie got to work on the same I | game. A mis-kick by Crockett, following upon a hard _ follow-up by the Clifton made things look serious for Stars, but Wainwright came fast, and McAllum carried on the game. Obstruction by Clifton was resorted to to keep the Stars out, and Hill had a shot at goal, but the ball failed to rise. Clifton were gritting far more than thev wanted now and far more than they had expected,

the Star ,backs playing a good nippy game. Crowley was following up well, >, and-he spoiled'the -Blnck'bac.ks." Goodwin I fuddled a fine cliance to score. Pfan- - kuch just ha<l time to kick out from the t <ro*al-line, and Clifton swarmed down. George got a mark, lmt Hill got it back .again, -after missing badly—a capital - save, which, was impcratiye,_too. Cliftiji) 3. kept lip. the attack, and. Kept-on usine J thejiine. -Tn the Star 25 Goodwin, Col- [• man and the two Tates put in a fine ; passing run, anil V. Tate was within an \ t a«e 0/ scoring, Wood bringing liirn down. j A scrum was formed on the line. Col- !, man got the ball, passed to V. Tate, ~ and he passed' to Goodwin, who scored. Clifton .- 3 Star 0 - Two marks by Main prevented what 5 looked like two tries just afterwards, 3 and Hill got another mark by a fine jump in front of Tate. Hill's iinc-kick-ing was good. Dewar. by an exaggerated desire to allow Tate ten yards, allowed the latter to kick up to Stars' 2-3, but then the whistle went for halftime.

On changing ends, the play was kept at mid field for a time. Whitakcr, Main and Hill started a nice passing run, but Ooudie failed to gather in. A long kick by Colman from a mark was forced, just in time. Clifton's tactics were now principally line-kicking, and they gained ground. Crowley scoring from a good piece of following, and George kicking a splendid goal. Clifton S Star 0 Then the home team varied its tactics. Eggleston put in a nice run and passed high to Goodwin. He jumped and caught the ball, and galloped for the line, scoring another try. George goalcd —a grand kick. Clifton 13 Star f) Play raced up and down, the backs occasionally taking a hand, but the forwards were doing the bulk of the work. Oliftons were resting on their oars a bit, and Stars seemed to have lost their dash, the weight of their opponents having told it-s tale. Pfankuch had to retire, owing to an injury. The adTantage of fast following up was shown when Woods got right away and beat the Clifton full, McAllum and Bellringcr were in time, and Bellringer fell on the ball. Hill goaled. Clifton ]3 Star 5 The Stars played solidly now. A deliberate piece of obstruction Jiy Fairley passed unnoticed. TTankueh came on again. The home forwards, bunching well, carried play up tlie line, and a scrum cinued. Kyle was up-ended with the ball, and was thrown over the line by Main. George failed with the goal. Clifton IB Star K

When Clifton camp a<*ain. Pfankuch, limpiii" badly, was unable to got rid of the ball, and throw it out. From the

Bcrum, Stars were forced. The remain-1 ing stages of the game were fairly fasti, but Clifton played for safety, and Stars ] were kicking toe much. Goodwin ha&J several chances to distinguish himself,] and his defensive work was good, it be-1 ing found almost impossible to beat him for the ball. A couple of good Star rushes reached the Clifton full, but S. George always marked. Stars were still on the attack, having narrowly missed a couple of tries, when time was sounded. For the winning team, Kyle and Dernehl appeared to tho most advantage in the forward rushes. Fairley also played prominently, but he was frequently', off-sido and exhibited a fondness for obstructive tactics that was remarkable in an ex-rep. player. Crowley was very useful, too, on the wing, following up closely and repeatedly spoiling the Star backs. Colman has playeii better games. His attack was not good, but he was very solid on the defence. He should use his "hocks more, particularly .when they have the pace that the Tates and Goodwin possess. These players were well up to form, but were neglected. It was distinctly' a forward game. In the Star ranks, 'the best of the forwards were Bellringer, Wainwright, McAJlum, Dewar, and Woods, the last-named following up well from start to finish. Main played a very useful game, but is, rather fond of using his boot. He should learn when to pass, and then pass. L. Whitaker was there when wanted, and his sm«.rt line-kieks were of great service. Hill plaved a good game right through, and if 'his placekidking had been on the same plane as his drop-kicks the scores would have been more even. But his kicks at goal were very poor. Crockett, a junior, played a capital game, despite the severe gruelling he received from time to time. Pfanfauch was, safe at full, but should not have returned to the field after his injury. He iwas then a- broken reed, and could not do the work he tried to do.

TUKAPA (24) v. INGLEWOOD (3). Tukapa journeyed to Inglewood yesterday to play tlie Inglewood seniors; In the first spell Tukapa played just anyhow, and Inglewood led by three points (a try by Karalus) to nil at half-time. In the second spell Stohr scored three tries and kicked three goals; Davidson scored twice and Mynott once. Mr. G. Hopkins was the referee.