TENSE MATCH AT THE PARK

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1932, Page 4

TENSE MATCH AT THE PARK

STAR DEFEAT THEIR RIVALS.

STUBBING BIGHT WITH TUKAPA.

- There -was more tensity over -the game in which'-Star defeated. Tukapa hy 19 points to - 14 than over any club game - at Pukekura Park this year. Besides the . old rivalry, which still glimmers out as often among the watchers as among the players, there was much at stake. Star were intent on wiping out their previous defeat by Tukapa. Even more important, Star were throwing down the gage to Tukapa for the right to contest the northern division final, against Stratford. With this as the prize, Star gavo to -the match their keenest effort. Tukapa, unlucky in losing Boswell and • Sullivan in the first half through injuries,. did. their best to take the lead. Bor a time the balance of the game tipped in their favour, and twice they were a few pointe ahead, but each time Tukapa held the lead Star put all their weight into the game and. tipped the scales .back. For the most part the game was- played at a remarkable pace and with an astonishing energy. There were tries, when both packs hurled themselves through and made the stoutest defence seem a flimsy cobweb thing, hut the Star pack lasted the strain the longer and at length swept every- ’’ thing aside with the energy it keeps > stored up for the last quarter. When the Star forwards played the winning game Tukapa had no chance of keeping out the fast Star -backs. Sometimes.it was Carter who found a gap .with a stab kick, J. Broughton who slipped through a slender opening or the fast J Kinsella who ran down the line, kicked over the heads of the Tukapa backs and raced past them to score. It was a stirring match to watch. The teams were:-— Star: Bedford; Aubrey, Broughton, J. Kinsella; Carter, Clegg; C. Kinsella; G. Harvey; R. McLeod, Erickson; J. McLeod, K. Harvey, Freethy; McDonald, JBeere. Tukapa: Walker; Wyatt, Betty, Sullivan; Boswell,-Moorhead; Brown; Guy; Thomson, Lynch; McNeill, Wilson, McNeill, O’Dowda; Dickey, Davison. There was a series of long range kicks. Sullivan punted high and the Tukapa men flew down on Bedford. Brown shot the ball out and the line • flashed prettily into action until Boswell was caught and held. The Star pack, led by Freethey and Harvey, put their heads down 1 in a fast burst, and earn© back down the -line. After five minutes’ play Boswell was injured and carried off. He was replaced by Papps. Star swept away, J. -Kinsella centred high and Carter fumbled -near the line. Clegg dropped a pass and Guy- dribbled through with the ball at his feet. Star s first try was easy. Brown worked the blind with Wyatt, who missed the pass and Aubrey gathered in, ran down the touchline? shook off a soft tackle by Walker and scored just inside the corner , flag as Moorhead took Ijim low. With * perfect kick Bedford converted from the sideline. Lynch had a long range kick from halfway and the ball just missed. The Tukapa team was back at Star’s line and the fracks sped off. -Petty cut in and out and passed awkwardly to Sullivan, who gathered in the ball f and hurled himself through three men over the line to score. Lynch missed with the kick. From midfield Sullivan went off down the line, hurdled a tackler and fell heavily on his shouldei. He had to go off and was replaced by Webster. Petty raced after a long kick by McNeill and almost robbed Aubrey of the-ball. Guy, Davison and Lynch penned Star in the corner and then in a curious fashion the serum opened to give-Moorhead a clear pathway through to score an easy try. Lynch converted. Rain began to fall steadily and settled into a drizzle. C. Kinsella to work his backs and J. Broughton slipped -between Petty and Papps like a thread through the eye of a needle He came down on Walker with men on all sides of him and gave the ball to Clegg, who rounded off the pretty movement with- a try. Bedford converted, and put Star in the lead. The packs slithered down to Star’s line and Brown swung in to the forwards and passed to O’Dowda, who passed to Guy. Guv forced his way over in & crowd of Star men but a force-down was given. The spell ended with -Star still’ two -points in the lead. The -lead swung Tukapa's way again when only 90 seconds of the second spell had. gbne. Brown shdt a low kick into the corner and there was a mill near the line. Star were penalised in front of the goal and Lynch sent the ball between the posts. The Tukapa pack came back freshly and Petty swerved down the line. Then the two McLeods led the Sts pack down the field and flung the ball wide to the waiting backs. On the wing J. Kinsella punted over the heads of the backs and

was beaten for the touch-down. For a time Star held Tukapa in their twentyfive until Petty kicked through and Webster followed up fast were boring in. and J; Kinsella threw Guy with a hard tackle. McDonald and R, McLeod broke away and kicked deep into. Walker’s arms. Walker swung neatly round and sent the Ball sailing to the goal, but it hit -the upright. The Star backs set off across the field .and J. Kinsella made a dash. The Harveys and McLeods led the Star forwards in a slashing rush to the line and Walker saved and held firm in a whirling mass. The -Star pack caine back like tigers and Erickson snapped up in the loose dived ver to score. Bedford missed with an easy kick. Star’s next try came with dramatic suddenness. G. Harvey threw out to the backs, J. Broughton took a pass on the tips of his fingers and passed 'to J. - Kinsella. . The fast wing sped down the line, kicked, oyer the full-back’s head and won the race for the ball. The -b?ill rolled aa Bedford kicked and the kick went wide. The play switched suddenly to the other end of the field with a swerving run by Petty, .and O’Dowda almost & wed in front of the goal. The Tukapa pack flung themselves into the corner and Dickey scored. Lynch failed to convert. Play went on at a turions pace with Star crowding to the hue bri Aubrey’s wing and just missing, scores. Once Petty came out from his own line and nearly broke away, but-Star’s persistence won and Freethey hoi out of the sreummage and scored. Bedford mis-sed with the kick.. Star 19 . Tukapa 14 • Mr. F. J. Eggleton refereed.. . <

STRATFORD FORWARDS’ DAY ROUT OF THE OLD BOYS TEAM. THIRTY-TWO, POINTS TO SIX. Never have the Stratford forwards played a more enterprising or a more effective game than in- the match against Old Boys at Stratford. They worked in unison, completely dominating play, and the big score, 32. to 6, was mainly due to the magnificent energy infused into their loose and dribbling rushes. They were all -supermen on the day, but Jack Walter, with four tries to his credit, played tie game of his life. At the -same time J. and R. Young, Hinton, Smith, Robsop, Fastier and Fryday were irresistible. Although the Stratford forwards had a “day out” it must not be thought that back play vfas .neglected. On the contrary, there were plenty of sparkling interludes and enthusiasts were especially pleased to see the -Stratford rearguard making so much use of the ball. On the. day Old Boys were disappointing, their only try being the sole occasion when the back line reproduced the old-time dash and penetrating force. The teams were:— Stratford: P. Collins; Taylor, Grace, Blackmore,; Haughton, G. SangsterC, Sangster; R. Young, Robson, Smith, Walter, Fastier, Fryday, J. Young arid Hinton.

Old Boys: Priar: Billing, Rutherford, Josephs; Fookes, Mace; Olson; Allliusen, Scoble, Luxton, Evans, -Mace, McLean, Clark, Instill. After five minutes’ play in. which Old Boys twice opened up attacks and twice failed, C. Sangster placed an easy- penalty goal for Stratford. A clever line kick by C. -Sangster after good work •by Fryday placed Stratford definitely on th© offensive and G. Sangster, who feinted to Mace, was grounued only inches from the line. Hard scrumming followed till Olson found safety in a hurried but well-placed l-ne-kick. A great piece of play was shown by P. Collins at full-back. He followed up his own kick, secured the ball arid found the line a few yards from Old Boys’ goal. From midfield Old Boys staged a sensational movement. Olson sent Mace an accurate -pass frol . the scrum. Mace cut in beautifully, leaving the Stratford backs standing. Mace flicked the ball on to Fookes, who drew .the full-back and sent Rutherford in to score. Priar’s kick just missed. Both teams were seeking every opportunity to open up the game and some fleet movements were executed by both sets of backs. All this time the Stratford forwards were playing well, often sweeping over half the field in loose rushes. A try was narrowly missed when Hinton and Taylor raced down the line,Taylor’s pass to Robson when practically clear of all oppositior going forward. During the prolonged Stratfdrd attack that followed Priar was called upon to effect several splendid saves. Just on half-time Jack Walter scored in the corner. The action started at Blackmore, who came round the scrum and sent th© ball out to Walter as he was tackled. Walter transferred to Smith racing down the line and had it sent back in time to enable Walter to

score with a couple of Old Boys on his back.’’ - . ! The second spell opened with the crowd acclaiming Fookes when he stopped’ a likely, .attack by tackling four players in succession. There followed a sweeping Stratford attack in both divisions that over-ran ihe opposition. Three times a Stratford' man reached the line but could not cross it. After sjx minutes Walter dived over to score. Five minutes -later C. - Sangster short' punted and was on to the ball again before Priar could gather it. Robson, Smith, Young and Walter ranged alongside. Fastier joined issue and kicked over the line for J.. Young to fall on the ball and score. Fastier converted with'an easy kick. Stratford’s next try also' fell to Walter, but was due to clever work among the backs. From Hinton, the ball went to Haughton, to Grace and -to' Taylor, and infield to Walter, who scored without difficulty. Fastier converted from in front of the posts. A long pot by C. Sangster was not forced by Priar and Rutherford followed the kick, -beating Grace and Taylor for possession. He threw a long pass to Scoble, who caught the ball on his foot but unfortunately for Old Boys “the ball went to the dead line. ‘.‘Give someone else a chance,” yelled the crowd when Walter broke from n sweeping rush to scorehis fourth try. Fastier made his third convent m, The score Was then Stratford 24, Old Boys 3. Again the forwards swept ..down and this time J.. Young scored, Fastier again’ converting. The next to score was G. Sangster,. who dribbled over and fell on the ball. With five minutes to go Priar kicked a penalty goal and ■ Old Boys staged a last-minute attack. The. closing stages were 'marred by the retirement of -Luxton'hurt in a scrummage. Hamilton went on for the finish. Stratford ....... 32 Old-Boys 6 I Mr. G. Were refereed.

MATCH FOR WOODEN SPOON CELTIC PROVE CLIFTON’S RIGHT. UNINSPIRING GAME AT WAITARA. The match for the wooden spoon, -between Clifton and Celtic at Waitara did not produce any better football than one would expect from the teams’ position on the ladder. Celtic scored two fries in the second spell to win by six to nil.. Neither.back division got away with anything out of the ordinary, but Celtic produced the more co-ordinated movement. The forwards had a good work-out and Celtic were as good in the loose as Clifton. W. Cook on the wing for Celtic played good football and J. Henry was sound. For Clifton Jonas and Thomas were the best in the backs and Pepperell in the forwards. Fowler, suffering from a heavy cold, left the field at half-time, his place both in, the scrum and in the limelight being ■ taken by Laurent. The teams were:— Clifton: Bowen; Oxenham, Wilson, Thomas; Jonas, Carey; Niwa; Brown, • Pepperell, Fowler; Tito, K-awe; Seiwood, Olsson, Porter. . Celtic: W. Lash; J. Carryer, F. Young, -W. Cook;- W. Haselden, J. Henry; Al. Sullivan; J. Walker; J. Johnson, C. Ford, C; Ritter,. F. Ford; R. Penniall, T. Walker, P. Ford. Faulty fielding by members, of the Celtic team gave Clifton the initial advantage arid a try almost resulted. Thomas fielded at top speed a kick meant for the line, punted high and was there to take the ball from Lash. He knocked on. Henry kicked high and found a gap. F. Young centred and from a melee Celtic had a-shot at goal. Pepperell sent Niwa and Wilson away and they penetrated Celtic territory from their own goal-line. Pepperell was qualifying well for a place in the back line and Thomas,was making his openings for himself- Clifton hooked regularly and the ball travelled well to Jonas, but the erstwhile winger cut in to be caught every, time. Then Celtic set the ball rolling from halfway and their forwards, followed it to the line, ■but there was still no score at halftime. - ,

The second spell began in pouring rain. Celtic had immediately to force. Carryer kicked kick for the line and although he failed to find it, followed the- ball and gained 50 yards for his team. Seiwood and Porter broke through and when the position was cleared Seiwood did it again. Celtic forced twice. Celtic hooked ai, Clifton’s twenty-five and. th© backs began the day’s best manoeuvre. Ji-ach man did his bit but there was not enough room. Play hovered under the b and Henry scored' a try which was not converted. Clifton spent some time in Celtic territory but lost their advantage. Celtic settled on the Clifton line and the reward of persistence was a trj for M. Sullivan. Celtic 6 Clifton 0 Mr. C. Gernhoefer was referee.