STRATFORD’S EASY WIN

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1934, Page 12

STRATFORD’S EASY WIN

FORWARD GAME IN THE MUD DEFEAT OF WAIMATE SIDE. CONDITIONS SPOIL HANDLING. A scrambling match in the mud, confined almost entirely to the forwards, resulted in the defeat of Waimate by Stratford at Stratford by 17 points, to three. The scores comprised five tries, one converted, and a try respectively. Thoroughly ploughed up by an earlier game, the ground was very muddy at the beginning of the game, and under the softening influence of a steady downpour became much worse as the game progressed. Good football was therefore out of the question and while the backs saw the ball on a fair number of occasions they had to revert, after the first few disastrous attempts at passing movements, to a forward type of play. The ball was booted about freely, often, indeed, indiscriminately, and if the kicker found his footing in the sea of mud too insecure for his balance, well, the spectators saw the joke. Latham, Hinton, Young and Clarke were probably Stratford’s best toilers in the pack, and made the best of the conditions. Hinton was hooking well and having the better of the set scrums. C. Sangster seemed to be in his element behind the scrum and played a solid game and a wise one. Even in the raih he was not afraid to give the ball to his backs, and though it never reached the wings, ground was usually gained and it varied the attack. G. Sangster also played well. Dodd was definitely good in view of the conditions, and handled and kicked the greasy ball in good style. Of the Waimate forwards Sutton and Coull were easily the best, though the pack all worked hard. It was not a day for brilliant play in any position. Hill, on the wing, was good on defence, though like many others of both teams he was inclined to speculate too much. I. McDonald was a splendid full-back, fielding the ball surprisingly well and kicking strongly and judiciously. The teams were:—

Stratford: Dodd; H. Taylor, J. Ross, Standring; P. Collins, G. Sangster; C. Sangster; Garlick, Butcher, Srhith, Young, Clarke, Fastier, Hinton, Latham.

Waimate: I. McDonald; Jones, Dick, Hill; G. Whalen,. Surgenor, J. Hill; Katene, Bourke, Coull, Hikaka, Hansen, Sutton, Vincent, Gulliver. Strafford forwards showed an early superiority, both in the set scrums and the loose, and were not long in forcing play into the Wairrtate twenty-five. U. Sangster tried his backs, but they hand-, led the greasy ball with difficulty and could put no sting into the attack. Two solo runs by the half were more successful, but though he crossed the line he was recalled. Short passing among the forwards was tried by Hinton, Latham and Young, but mishandling and knocking-on again kept Strafford from the line. Success was not far distant; however. Strafford opened its account within the first 10 minutes. G. Sangster broke away from a loose rush and after dodging through about a dozen scrambling forwards passed to Latham, who had only to dive over. C. Sangster’s kick failed.

Within a minute Waimate had equalised, a loose forward rush carrying the visitors to the line. The Stratford backs made vain efforts to grasp the elusive ball. Both packs fell on the ball as it crossed the line, but the referee awarded a try to G. Whalen. Jones’ kick was wide.

Similar tactics were adopted by Stratford and met with immediate success, C. Sangster picking up the ball near the line and diving over to score. Ross’ kick missed.

Clarke fielded the ball at halfway and kicked straight up the field. Latham, following up fast, picked it up on the twenty-five line and ran through unopposed to score easily. Sangster failed to convert.

At half-time no interval was observed. The teams changed straight over and played on. Stratford forwards struggled valiantly in the mud, Latham, Hinton and Young being prominent. Their efforts were rewarded when to complete a dribbling rush from half-way Clarke fell on the slithering ball as it crossed the line. Stratford was not allowed to have everything its own way, however. The Waimate pack revived to rush play to the line. Dodd forced. Stratford returned to the attack and after forcing a touch down -once scored again through Young, who dived on the ball as a speculator from the dribbling forwards sent it over the line. C. Sangster converted.

Waimate forced twice in quick succession as an over-long kick through and § flagrant speculator respectively gave the full-back time to touch down. The forwards then re-asserted themselves and with the help of McDonald’s splendid kicking returned play to midfield. Whatever more they might have done, however, was curtailed by the call of time. Stratford 1J Waimate 3 Mr, F. J. Eggleton refereed. LOWER GRADE RESULTS NORTHERN DIVISION GAMES. f First Junior. Clifton 9 v. Urenui 0. Turangi 9 v. Old Boys 3. Tukapa 25 v. Lepperton 9. Third Grade. Tukapa A 8 v. Tukapa B 8. Star won from Urenui by default. Fifth Grade. Tukapa 15 v. School A 3. In the northern first junior competitition Clifton defeated Urenui and has thi i.q clinched its right to the northern division premiership in that grade, as it is five points clear of Urenui, its nearest rivals. Tukapa, which defeated Lepperton, is in fourth place a point clear of Turangi, which defeated Old Boys. The third grade competition was also decided. Tukapa B has emerged victorious, though it sustained its second check of the season at the hands of Tukapa A, which held the B team to an 8-point draw. For* Tukapa A Holt and Walker scored, Spedding converting one try. For the B’s Hanover and Christensen scored, Christensen converting one try. Star won by default from Urenui and takes second place two points behind Tukapa B. Clifton junior defeated Urenui by 9 to nil in a hard fought forward battle in' the mud at Waitara. No score was registered in the first spell, and it was not until midway through the second that Clifton opened its account, Bennett scoring from a forward scramble. Longstaff accepted a wild pass to score Clifton’s second try, and Roberts handled at the end of a passing rush to obtain the third. Mabey for Urenui played well at full-back, as also did Potier at half.