JUNIORS PLAY FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1930, Page 10

JUNIORS PLAY FOOTBALL

CENTRAL DIVISION COMPETITION. The Taranaki Central Division junior football competition has taken an interesting turn, as Stratford was defeated yesterday by Midhirst and Toko won fairly easily from Tariki. The weather was ideal for play. Results at a glance are:— < First Junior. Midhirst 9 v. Stratford 8. Toko 18 v. Tariki 8. Third Grade. Stratford 11 v. Midhirst 6. Celtic forfeited to School. Fourth Grade. Stratford 14 v. School B 9. Inglewood 5 v. School A 3. STRATFORD LOSES LEAD MIDHIRST’S NARROW VICTORY. By the narrow margin of t nine to eight Midhirst defeated Stratford at Victoria Park after one of the hardest exhibitions of the code seen at Stratford this season. The game contained little that pertained to scientific Rugby, but the two teams waged war with with a will—to such purpose, in fact, that the spectators found much of interest in the side issues with which the game was besprinkled. Hard and torrid tactics characterised the play and injuries were many. On more t\an one occasion the referee (Mr. W. Davis) had to warn players for doubtful methods that called forth caustic comment from the bank, where rival sections of the spectators barracked or decried according to the side they supported. Stratford opened hostilities with an excursion into the Midhirst territory, where several ineffectual scrambles led to a melee before the posts, the Stratford forwards securing to pass out to Johnson at half. He ran over at an angle. D. Collins missed the posts from well out. Milling, scrums, line-outs and loose rushes productive of little useful result were indulged in freely by both sides until from a. conglomeration of players in the Midhirst twenty-five Blackmore, emerged to score for Stratford. Collins converted. Then Midhirst took a hand and when the attackers entered the Stratford twenty-five S. Adlam attempted to pot a goal. The ball fell into play on the opposite side of the field, where T. Bonniface ran up, took it and opened the visitors’ account. E, Adlam’s shot missed. At half-time Stratford was leading B—3.8 —3. Midhirst smartly followed up the kick-off and strenuous work by the visiting forwards saw four of the pack cross the Stratford line for Hoskin to score. J. Bonniface failed with the kick. Play ranged the field to some purpose, and during a particularly torrid moment in the Stratford twentyfive, a defending player transgessed the rules and T. Bonniface made good use of Midhirst’s free-kick. With Midhirst leading by nine to eight, excitement became intense, both on field and bank. Midhirst attacked fiercely and time after time was within an inch of scoring. During the 'last ten minutes the position was reversed and Stratford made a determined but unsuccessful bid, the game ending: Midhirst 9, Stratford 8. Mr. W. Davis refereed. TOKO GAINS BIG LEAD. HARD STRUGGLE FOR TARIKI.. Toko apparently had little trouble in running up a comfortable lead against Tariki during the first epell, but the ■visitors came to light towards the close of the game and picked up a couple of tries, which made the final score 18 to 8 in favour of Toko. Toko started with a try by Jones scarcely three minutes from the kickoff, but thereafter a strenuous war was waged chiefly between the forwards. Toko was in difficulties for a time, but bright back play executed with too much dash for the Tariki rearguard saw R. Cuff almost over. Toko, however, was awarded a free kick and Sangster's failure to goal meant quarter way. Toko kept up the pressure, but a splendid forward rush took Tariki quickly to the other end, where an infringement by Toko gave Young a chance to goal. The referee awarded a goal, and with scores even, the game became decidedly interesting, until J. Sangster opened up a nice back movement, from which A. Walter scored in the corner. A fine solo effort by Chapman, starting from near half-way, was responsible for Toko’s next try, and just before half-tinie Jones dived over from the loose. None of these tries was converted. Toko opened the offensive on resuming and for a while it looked as if there was only one team trying. After ten minutes J. Sangster broke through a forward rush and scored decisively, though the kick again went wide. Toko next scored through Griffiths, after R. Cuff had made a splendid opening and A. Walter had joined in to complete the link in a sparkling movement. About this , stage Toko seemed to be content to rest upon its laurels, and Tariki improved. Tariki drove Toko to the line and carried the defence along it, and then Faulkner nipped round a serum to score.' Young added the major points. The Tariki vanguard swept over again during the last few minutes and Hogan scored, leaving the final figures : Toko IS, Tariki S Mr. C. Peilowe refereed.

CELTIC BEATS STRATHMORE. With only a few seconds to go before the expiration of the game, Jones potted a field goal and gave victory to Celtic first juniors, who played a friendly game with Strathmore at Stratford yesterday. Celtic won by 10 to 6. For Celtic Ansley scored a try, Dodd kicked a penalty goal, and Jones dropkicked a goal from the field. W. Sangster was responsible for both Strathmore’s scores, for, he notched a try and kicked a penalty goat.