FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 317, 5 July 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL

SENIOR GRADE. STRATFORD (5) v. TUKAPA (5). The supremacy of the Thursday competition in the Northern Division "is still in doubt, Stratford and Tukapa having fought out a draw at Western Park yesterday afternoon. The final match next week, between Tukapa and Clifton, will be awaited with interest, as the latter team have to win to get on even terms with Stratford, a result which will necessitate a play-off between those teams. To revert to yesterday's match, the football shown was not of a particularly ' brilliant nature, although the conditions } were ideal—a dry, ground, dull weather and a breeze which did not incommode ' either side greatly. Stratford, playing , against this in the first spell, had all ! the better of the game, but could only cross their opponents' line once, several , '. handy shots failing for want of a Stohr. Heavy defeat was prophesied for Tukapa in the second spell, but the Blues roused themselves and had all the better of the mix-up, attacking nearly the whole time, and they managed to equalise the scores, though several fine openings were missed. Towards the end of the struggle, which was mostly confined to the forwards, Stratford tried hard to notch a ' winning try, but were unsuccessful. Stratford kicked off, and almost immediately Smith headed a rush into his op- i ponents' territory, where Surgenor spoilt 1 a likely chance by kicking too hard, and Tukapa forced. Stratford returned to the attack, but the Blues cleared their ground, and Wood centring badly gave Tukapa an opening, but Brown failed ' to take the ball. A clever mark by Whittington gave Surgenor a fruitless '• shot. Pearon, Smith, Osborne and Boon ; keaded another rush, but Brown with ' a fine line kick dTOve them back to halfway. Surgenor soon had another fruit- ( less shot at goal. Stratford's score came almost immediately. From a pass by Wood, Steward kicked. Webster failed to take the ball, enabling Craw- ' shaw to secure it; this player put in a dashing run, passed to Stewart, who : failed to take, but Surgenor, who was handy, fell on the ball and scored, also converting the try. On resuming, Craw- > shaw and Anderson dribbled up the field, i Whittaker checked them nicely, and galloped down the field. He, however, did not pass iu time, and Stratford broke < away. Webster's failure to take the ball nearly let his side down, but Bullot came to the rescue. Stohr. with a dashing run, the ball at toe, beat several opponents on two occasions, but Kivell was prepared, and found the line well aown the field. The Stratford forwards were soon back to the fray, and Fearon secured a mark in a handy position, which, however, was not allowed. Long kicks by Stohr and Brown removed play to Stratford's twenty-five, where Whittaker gathered up and passed to Stohr, but a knock-on nullified the effect, and from the resultant serum Stratford broke away, and were not stopped till Smith I was thrown out at the corner. Here the | game was delayed for a few minutes as Brown got a kick on the neck. Tukapa ' cleared their line nicely, Jull and Morshead breaking away. Stohr took the return, and a long kick ultimately found the line close to his opponents' goal. Straight away Stratford cleared; but Whittaker gathered up, passed nicely to Stohr, who was running well, with Web- > ster in attendance, when he» tripped, I which was decidedly hard. luck for Tu- I kapa, as the goal line was very near.' Whittaker was"next responsible for a pretty piece of play, which was spoilt for want of snpport. Fearon, Bonnor and Young and, later, Smith were prominent in assaulting the Blue citadel-, but Bullot was safe. Tukapa now took a. hand. A- high kick by McGivcn, well followed up, saw Anderson smothered, but an infringement gave the Reds a free kick. A centre kick by Webster was lined by Surgenor. The game was now I more even, Tukapa taking a turn at attack. Perry, Davidson and Jull being prominent. A counter attack by the Reds was cheeked just in time by Whittaker, who passed to Stohr. The latter's kick was taken by Kivell, who failed to find the.line, but deliberately obstructed ' Bullot following up his kick. Oakes , and Perry carried play close to the Red line, where Brown passed to Stohr, who sent the ball to Whittaker, who made a fine dash for the goal, but being well tackled by Kivell lost the ball, \vhich Crawshaw kicked well down the field, i The spell ended without any further score. The second spell opened almost sensationally. Stratford were attacking when the ball was passed out wide. Stohr secured and passed to Whittaker, who got very close to the line before he was stopped. This seemed to encourage Tukapa, and Harvey, J nil and Morshead headed a forwaid rush, which was ended by a scrum on the line, from which Stratford forced. Tukapa were now very determined. Oakes in particular putting in some fine work. Failure by Whittaker at a critical time robbed Tukapa of a certain try. The Reds gathered themselves together, and Smith liead«d a rush which, aided by weak play on the part of Webster, nearly saw them spore. Webster, however, came round 'and retrieved himself gamely, and scrambling play then ensued on the line, fiom which Stratford were awarded a free kick for obstruction, Surgenors kick being forced down. A little later

Surgenor had another fruitless shot from a mark. Stratford still attacked, and then occurred one of those sensational tries that Stohr is getting so famous for. From a.line-out on Tukapa's twenty-five Whittington threw well in fl'e'd. Stohr secured, kicked hard and followed up, gathered up the hall in mid-field and sailed for the line, heating the opposition. He also equalised the score with a fine kick. The game now became very fast. Stratford attacked, but like a Hash Tukapa came back, and a welljudged kick by Stohr, smartly followed up, nearly saw Whittakcr over, but Stratford' cleared their lines. A mark by Stohr in a good position gave him a shot a goal, which fell short. Still the Blues passed, givi.ig the Reds an anxious bime. which was not alleviated when L.

Whittaker got ii mark at Boon's toes, giving Stohr another shot, which, howevcr.'"fell short. A little later Whittaker again marked cleverly. Smith cleared his lines with a fine rush, carrying play to mid-field. Here Brown secured and passed to "vYhittaker. The hitter passed badly to his brother, and Stratford were ar>'to counter attack. A speculator by Bullot relieved the pressure, but almost immediately Stewart attempted to pot and Tnkapa forced. The remaining few moments wove all in Stratford's favor, and they had hard luck in not scoring on one occasion particularly. Anderson slipping when a try was within his grasp. Tukapa just succeeded in clearing their lines when the whistle went. Mr. (i. Hopkins ably controlled the game.

JUNIOR GRADE. CLTFTOX IT. (S) v. ELTIIAM 11. (3). The above match was played at Waitara. yesterday and resulted in a win for Clifton by 8 points to Eltham's .1. Hicks and La*h scored tries for Clifton, one of. which Lash converted. -Carlson- soared a trv for Ellham. dent-worth failing with' the kick. For Clifton Pankhuvst played the best game among the backs

and Hicks was prominent among the forwards. For the Eltham team L. Brown played a splendid game at half, and T. Ulentworth was also prominent, whilst the forwards were a very even lot. Mr. H. Petty acted as referee. STRATFORD (11) v. TUKAPA (0). Stratford Juniors beat Tukapa Juniors by 11 (3 tries, one converted) to nil. Inglewood Juniors defaulted to Stars. THIRD GRADE. CLIFTON (10) v. HIGH SCHOOL (3). Playing at Waitara, Clifton .Second Juniors defeated High School by 19 points to 3. Most of the score was put up in the first spell, when Clifton were aided by a strong wind. In the second half it "dropped, and thus robbed High School of their prospective advantage. The local team were altogether too heavy for the High School boys, who nevertheless put up a good fight.