STRATFORD DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1927, Page 8

STRATFORD DISTRICT NEWS

(FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTERS)

FOOTBALL SEASON OPENS

CENTRAL DIVISION TOURNAMENT. * STRATFORD B TEAM THE WINNERS After the games played in Victoria Park yesterday, it was demonstrated . that the senior selectors will have plenty of first-class material from which to choose their team. The standard of football disclosed also augured well for interesting matches i the junior competition. The occasion was the early season tournament organised in the Central Division for full teams from town and districts, irrespective of club boundaries, and the executive of the Stratford club is to be congratulated upon the success of the day’s play. Competing teams were as follow: Toko, Midhirst, Strathmore, Celtic and ' two Stratford teams. The day was fine, though a fairly keen wind was blowing across both grounds, hindering the accuracy of the backs and placing a handicap on good dribbling. It was satisfactory to note that, despite the heavy rain of yesterday and last night, both grounds were firm and dry. A fair crowd attended. Owing to difficulty in getting sufficient players so early in the season, the familiar black and white, colours of Cardiff were missing from the competition, but a number from the district were observed playing, nevertheless. The winning team proved to be Stratford B. who played fine football throughout and fully deserved the honour. The gate realised nearly £l4. STRATHMORE 8 BEATS TOKO 6, In a hard match full of incident and vigorous rushes, Strathmore defeated Toko by 8 to 6 and thoroughly merited their victory. Strathmore kicked off, but as the result of two good back movements, Toko attacked at once, only to be penalised when in a favourable position, and Strathmore worked down the field until Coulton (Strathmore) snapped up quickly from a mid-field Scrum and fought his way over to score beneath the posts. Casey added the major points with a fine kick. Toko was getting the ball from the scrums and, despite the wind, was opening up the game at every opportunity. From centre play Kivell kicked across and, following up fast, caught Coyne with the ball. Bright passing ensued between Kivell (Toko) and E. Walter, from which Kivell finally scored in the corner. Sangster’s kick, though well placed, failed to reach the posts. A few minutes before the spell, Sangster placed a splendid goal from a penalty about quarter way. On resuming, Toko kept Strathmore on the defence till Coulton, Coyne and Casey, in a clever passing rush transferred play to half way. Following up >.nd down play Casey placed his team at the head of the scoring by a brilliant kick from near half way, given as the result of a penalty. The concluding stages were every bit as fast as

the beginning, and though play ranged quickly up and down, no further points were scored. Mr. F. Gush refereed. STRATFORD A 3, v. MIDHIRST 0. In a rather disappointing game from the spectacular aspect, Stratford A scored a last-minute try, thus defeating the hard-working Midhirst fifteen. The game opened slowly and neither side showed any marked superiority until Boniface, with two attendants, raced to the line and compelled Stratford to force. Good work by Wynyard, who centred at the right moment, saw Stratford almost , scoring, but the wind carried the ball past the dead-ball line before a touchdown could be effected. The balance of the first spell was uninteresting, but play livened up considerably after the spell, when the Stratford backs especially, were seen 1 > better advantage. After his team had twice nearly scored, Brooking (Stratford) dived over near the corner just on time. Fryday's kick failed to rise. Midhirst played willingly rather than brilliantly and surprised the spectators in holding the Stratford team so well. Mr. G. Were refereed. STRATFORD ,B 8, v. CELTIC 6. A bright and open match was won after alternating fortunes by 8 to 6 in favour of Stratford B. Celtic opened the > game in their usual nippy style, but were opposed to an equally fast lot of forwards. The game, in consequence, was always interesting and was marked by flashes of really good football. Early in the game Dodd (Celtic) placed a goal from a difficult angle and the three points in Celtic’s favour gave the game an added sting. Towards the close of the first spell Sharrock (Stratford) transferred to Davis, who made an opening for J. Walter to dash through and just across the line by the posts. Sliarroek easily converted. Although Stratford had the advantage of the early stages of the second spell, they were called upon to force twice in quick succession in the face of the determined Celtic rushes, the ball being previously brought into position by clever back movements. With a few minutes to go, Tudor-Baker (Stratford) transferred to Davis after a fine run and Davis managed to dive over and score in the corner. -Sharrock’s kick against the wind just missed the posts. Almost immediately afterwards, Herdman (Celtic) scored from a bustling forward attack, but Dodds’ kick was a failure. Mr. F. Gush refereed. SEMI-FINAL. STRATFORD A 6, v. STRATHMORE 0. The spells for the semi-final were reduced to 10 minutes each way, and play was in consequence fast and willing. When the teams settled down after the opening scrimmages, Stratford A were pressing Strathmore’s line and from a vigorous dash, Owen flung himself over to score near the corner.'

Strathmore retaliated from the kick-out, and Coyne and Ford led a. strong rush down the field, a series of scrimmages following in Stratford’s territory. Wynyard, however, saved the situation for Stratford by covering half the field in a fine dash, but spoilt his effort by a weak pass, and mid-field play followed. On resuming, Stratford made their position secure when Hinton got over from a scrimmage near the line. Stratford’s six points, however, did not discourage Strathmore, and the game continued as interesting as before. The concluding stages were all in Stratford’s favour. Mr. G. Were refereed. THE FINAL. STRATFORD B 3, v. STRATFORD A 0. From mid-field, play Brooking set Stratford. A backs in motion, the ball travelling faultlessly via Henry, Owen, Burke and Penn, but Phillips tackled .Penn in good style. Stratford B returned the compliment and their backs, started by Davis, raced for the line, spectators being brought to their feet by the likelihood of a try. Immediately Wynyard transferred play to the centre with one of liis characteristic dashes and, following uneventful play, Stratford B forced. Daniels was prominent in again placing Stratford B in a good position and a moment later brought his own movement to a successful conclusion by scoring in the corner, half-time sounding soon after. Butcher led Stratford A to the attack and B were momentarily hard pressed but Wynyard saved by a good line-kick. Both teams were playing at full capacity, but Stratford A began to show ths effect of their extra game, wffile fresher B players kept up the pace. Phillips made a fine break-away run but passed wildly and his effort was nullified by return dashes by the A pack, led by Coleman. The game ended soon after with the score: Stratford B 3; Stratford A nil. Mr. F. Gush refereed. STRATFORD SENIORS CHOSEN. TEAM TO PLAY STAR. After the Contra! Division tournament held yesterday, the senior selectors (Messrs. W. Thurston and R. Masters) chose the following team to play against Star at New Plymouth on Saturday:— Roy Penniall, Daniels, Gasson, Wynyard, Owen, Henry, Brooking, J. Walter, Young, Hinton, Kivell, Coleman, O’Keefe, Penniall, Bond; emergencies, Smith, J. Sangster. GENERAL ITEMS. During one of the early matches in the Central Division football tournament yesterday, a Midhirst player, C. Walker, had the misfortune to sustain a painful cut just beneath the eye. He retired from the game and received medical assistance before going home.