FIRST GRADE MATCHES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12280, 12 June 1903, Page 7

FIRST GRADE MATCHES.

STAR V STRATFORD.

Star arajd Stratford met' on the new racecourse ground, which was "used for the first time. ..The rain that fell-dur-ing the day made, the . gi-oiund some--what greasy, and ihe turf was a bit uneven, which caused the ball to boSunce badly.' After a hard fowghtgipne, which was witnessed by a fair^ number of spectators, Star proved , victorious by 10 points' (two "tries and a potteH goal) to 3 pjoinis (a try). The teams were*: — Star (black;.' — Pull, A. Murphy ; |, Pycroft, Carter, CalWctar ; f, Clarke;.^ Bfu*nft>imes, («apt); wings, A. George and Billing; forwards, Allen, Bullock, McDonald, „ Smith, Eyan, Stoke, >md Murphy. Stratford (red an& black).— Pull,,, back, Feai-oh, three-qfuarters, Car?roll, Beare (Captain); Mackay ; 5, Beckett ;%, BontSiam; winjrs F. Bayly and Hamblyoi; forwards, Roberts, Butler,, Gibbs, Thorofaf,- Masters, Bonner. and Reeve. L. 'Allen was unable to play -for Star, ' antl his place was ta&en by Clarjke, and Pycrof t was -taken in from, the second grade team;. .The Stratfoxtt. looked the heavier of tire two teams. Shortly after the kick-oiF Stratford goifc on a. rjish and Star were penalised in front of their goal. The Strat-. foal kick * at' goal h'o.wever was a podrj attempt. ,'Star rallied after this and repeatedly carried the ball to the Stratfoucl territory,, b.ut the visitors' defence was sou : nd, and they stem!med the attack, and carried the ball back: to neutral ground time after time. Eventually from a good piece of passing Pycroft got the ball and scored near the corner. ' Hie was entrusted with the shot, but the .kick went wide. Give and take play was- the order of the balance* of the first half, and time' was ao'undecl with" the score Star ... 3 Stratford - 0 Soon after the second half, was started Stratford forwards got on some good , rushes, and -peniield the, Star down on their line for some time. From one of nmny scroims Boneham picked up in a loose rush, and dropped over the line. Hte took the kick, which was a poor one. Star , ... 3 Stratford 3 Stratford still continued the attack, arid Star had a warm time defending. Star> however, pulled' themsclsves toge.ther, and^workefd the ball down to* Btratford 25 gro'untl, and after some rallies McDonald ..touched down fof Star from a loose rush. I'ycroftV kicfk did not increase the sfcore. Star - ... - ..,'.' \.. ... 6 , Stratford 3 After this the Stratford men seemed , to tire, and Star keeping up the attack added ' . 4 inpre points, Clarke jotting a fine goal from a long shrtt. •Star ... ' 10 6tratford 3 Stratford made a couple of rallies after this,* and had a shot at goal from a' mark, Hut they were never a~ gain; dangerous,, anxf the , whistle sofurided with play about the centre, For the winners Murphy played a EoXmd game at full-back, although he was handicapped with a greasy ball. Callendar played well at wing threequarter, getting in some gaod opening runs. Carter shaped well, but ho has played better games. Clarke at" five eights played a taking game, running well. He got in, his pot online thiwl attempt he mad© within fiive inifvutw. HtomrfaxlGn at half ployfcl pfobobly hJ« bout gamo i)\\h wftson, m Upi, the team tofffltlier, «nU Wfts

especially clever in following tip openings, and saving when there was clanger. He played' as well as he ever did. The wings did their share of the graft,; Billing specially getting in some good wor t k in the open. The pack worked hard, lmt at times they seemed to lag a bit, McDonald play-ed-a sterling game, and headed, sowo good r,ushes." He was unfortunate enough to get a couple of nasty bunrps, -which hovv^ver did not mar his play. Fearon for the visitors appeared to be. a bit nervous. Carroll __ played; tho best three quarter game', but ihe Stratford' backs as a whole dkl not play with any combination, contenting themselves by" marking, running, and kicking on their own. Hlamblyn on the wing waited for a lot of ojffside ohancos, and escaped the attention of the referee. The forwards were a heavy antl good pacsk; and Hilrl a^ lot of work> bjut towards? the finish tih'ey began tt> tire after theiridesperate efforts to avert defeat. . Mr T. Petty acted as" 'referee, and controlled the game in a competent manner. , . TUKAPA V OWFTON. This m/atch was 1 played at Waitarß, and resulted' in a win for Tukapa by 16 points to" 3. OTor T^k'a'pa tMes Were obtained by Jenskinsofn, frMti'Pik©, ' (one- eacih), and j Jacob (two). Ut'oPike coa\*erted two of the tries. The grotund was covered in water in places, and ihe ball became wet and sliplper.v shortly after tlie sij^rt. Mr Ki veil refereetl. * ■- ' SECOND GRADE.' .Star A. met Jiigilewood on the xVvcnue'Jioad ground, aiiirl after a willing .game Star won by' .9 to 5. HSII scored- a try and kicked a penalty | goal, and Nicholson scored a. tcy- for the winners. Mr Griffiths refereed. " Star* B met Tiukapa on the race.cojurse, ground, aaid a -ding-dong go ended in a- draw, neither, sidp scoring: ''The Waikatos,'' the souWiquet fox the Star team, are a powerful looking •lot,, and --with a bit. of .practice they would be hard to beat. The Tmka'pa played' . with better juiclgnienit, their backs shading well. Frewin did : a lot of serviceable worjlc' for his skle. | Mir Spjiirtjle refereod. ,./ , ', THIRD G;RADE. i Tu/katpa 111. jo-urneyed to Inglewoorl ■ and defeated the hioiroe team, by 12 to 5. , Star A were to have jniet Star B. on tjhe Avenue Road gro,unjd. but a j blunder was evidently made about tthe refereeing. Mr Procter was selected to referee^ but as he was u-mvell !he niotifiod Mr Bcllringer, secretary of Ihe Union, on ' W^lnestlay that he wolrild be unable i<> act, and i ed that another referee should be appointed. There aplpears however to* have been some cfvensight, for wihen the teams went on, tthe groutod thei'e was no referee present, mid the mlatch j had pei*force to be abandoned. j Tt' is reported that one of the referees on Thursfrlay was subjected to a gpbtl deal of "Toarraqking/' not only from tho spectators hut players. ; If this was the case the referee sihould report the players.' .* " ■* ! Q'Dea played for Tukapa First- on TJiursctay. ' : . Some of the Tujcapa men st4ate that Isome of the Clifton team 'attempted to "^lay a rough game, and more ofteiv "wjent for 'the' men than the ball. , *& ■A 'good- deal of interest is being taken in -the" ' return riiatch between Star dhd Tukaipa Firsts next Thhu-s-day. So far there has been little '< |spequlation on event, but it is reported that the Inglewood " •IHt'bi--lee plungers" . intend to go foiz the recovery ' stakes on Tukapa.. • • I