FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1925, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

JCEEN GAME AT STRATFORD.

STRATFORD DEFEATS WANGANUI. THE SEASON OPENED. (From Our Own Reporter.) Stratford, April 13. Favoured by splendid weather, a large crowd attended at Victoria Park, Stratford) on Tuesday afternoon on the occasion of the first football match of the season between a team representing the Wanganui Technical High School Old Boys’ Club and the Stratford seniors. The proceeds of the match went to swell the .gymnasium and training she'd fund being organised by the Stratford club.

Wanganui kicked off, and at once gained ground through Sangster missing. From a scrum the Wanganui backs gave a taste of their quality, and Rosser was almost over as a result of a flub passing bout. Coulton and Walter Wbre prominent in sending play hack to half way. A returned free kick gave Rosser a chance to pot, but the ball failed to rise, and strenuous play followed in the vicinity of half way. Reid was momentarily conspicuous in a short passing rush. Then the ball went out. Kivell and Walter broke away, but Walter got offside and Wanganui were given a free kiek, which, however, was of little advantage as a man was in front. From a scrum within Wanganui’s 25 Fry day tried a kick from a penalty. The ball failed to clear the opposing forwards, and Delves broke away to half way. Wylie was hard pushed beneath the posts, but found the line with a good kick. McCullough retired from a knock on the head, and Thomas replaced him. On resuming, the Wanganui' backs instituted a passing rush; and Reid was nearly clear when thrown out. Fryday led his forwards back to half way, where play stayed for a time. A combined dribbling rush by the Stratford forwards was only stopped when Skeen, at full-back, went down to the ball, and Wanganui cleared. Stratford kept up the forward pressure, but Cameron marked. Later Boyle, Stratford’s full-back, was unable to clear, and Delves was thrown out near the line. A free kick by Wylie, well followed up, saw the ball out a few yards from the line. Serums and lineouts on the Stratford line followed, but finally the ball was forced. Fryday and Walters broke away and carried play to the opposite end of the field, where Stratford made determined efforts to score. Delves marked cleverly, and play oscillated near the half way line for some time. Wylie marked a saving kick from Walter but someone was in front, and a scrum followed. Reid, Grubb, and Ash were associated in a passing bout, but Kivell was in the way. A moment later Wanganui forced in a hurry in the face of a determined forward rush. From a scrum on Wanganui’s. 25 Kivell got away, but Rosser saved. Following an unsuccessful pot by Boyle, play reverted to half way. There was nothing wrong with the Stratford forwards, but the backs could not seem to get going and preferred to kiek. Kivell, Walter, and Fryday carried the ball over .the line, but Kivell was held up and could not score. A moment later Sangster passed to Collins, who dived over beside the post. Sangster easily added the major points.

From five yards short of half way Delves placed a fine goal from a penalty. Then Wanganui pressed hard, but Grubb missed an awkward pass and Stratford cleared. The quick breaking up tactics of the Stratford pack seriously hampered the work of the Wanganui half and five-eighths, but the visiting backs lost no chances of setting their backs in motion, and many glimpses of sparkling passing rushes were seen. In this respect the ..Stratford backs were not equal to their Wanganui opponents, but made matters even with great tackling. The first spell closed without further gain and t.h,e, scores stood — . Stratford 5, Wanganui 3.

Careful play marked the opening stages of the second half, but . things livened up when A. Walter, Jans and Coulter were associated in a passing rush which ended near the line. Although Wanganui cleared, Skeen was caught with the ball, and a succession of scrums was held in Wanganui's 255. A mis-kick by Cameron allowed the ball to go out right on the line. Wanganui were lucky to clear, but the relief was only temporary, for thg, Stratford forwards ■ again attacked with vigour. This time Laws gained a few" yards with a mark, and Ormsby led his forwards past half way in a ragged rush. For nearly five minutes Stratford attacked in force, being repeatedly sent back by well-directed kicks. Then Dowsett came through with the ball at his. feet, and play reverted to half-way. Good play by Hinton- placed Stratford again in a good position, but the Wanganui forwards, playing well together, cleared to the other end. Reid, Wylie, 'and Barry instituted a passing bout, but. Reid was pushed out ten yards i from the line. Central play followed. Robson replaced A. Walter in the Stratford team, and Cuttelli took the field for Cameron in the Wanganui team, the two indisposed players going off. Boyle failed to get the ball away, and Wanganui advanced to Stratford’s territory, but Walter and Kivell headed a fine forward rush, which only stopped did not relieve, and the Stratford backs five yards from the post. A free kick hunted them across. A five yards scrum resulted. Then Stratford was awarded a free kiek right before the goal. A good kick went'just too wide. Young was responsible-for good forward work, which Bond carried on. Walter received the ball from Thomas’ cross kiek, and after a great run scored. Fryday’s kick from a fair angle was a beauty, passing right between the posts. Kivell broke away from the kick-off, and the Stratford backs started a rush but a pass. was dropped, and play returned to half way. Fryday kicked too hard, and Skeen forced. Reid intercepted a pass, and carried play past half way, but Coulton was on the spot to save. Once again Stratford forwards advanced, and Thomas was nearly over, when an infringement gave Fryday a ehance at' goal. It was a good kiek, but unsuccessful. The concluding stages were all in Stratford's favour, and they \vere attacking hotly when Kivell daeh-

ed over, and scored in the corner just on time. Kivell’s kick failed. The final score was—■ Stratford 13, Wanganui 3. Mr. C. F. Stratford refereed. •