STRATFORD (15) v. CLIFTON (4)

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13928, 11 June 1909, Page 3

STRATFORD (15) v. CLIFTON (4)

Stratford easily defeated Chiton at Strattord. When tho two heaviebt teunih in tho di>trict it is onlj to be expected that tho gamu will be mostly conlined to tho forwards. The match yesterday produced a very dull oxlubitiou. It was a forward game throughout, tight play being tho order ol tho day The btratiord backs relie\ed the monotony on ono or two occamous, but tho visiting rearguard utterly failed. Crowley behind the pack and Seholefield being the only conspicuous players. Cameron, Dixon, Kirkwqod and Keuron were always interested in any attack by the Stratford backs. The ior wards on hot I* sides all did good work, the most conspicuous for Chiton U-ing Do Blois, Cain, and Pukere, whilst Kivell, lluuiuir and Marchaut, oi the Stratford pack, deserved a similar distinction.

Soon after Stratford had set the leather in motion it became evident that the powers of the forwards would cairy the day. It was a long spell of tight, hard play before the first score came. Play was cjyitred at half-way, Cameron changing* xho aspect with a long kick down field. S. George, iv hi» capacity of full-back, failed to reach the ball, with the result that a bunch of- red forwards following up fast took it across and Molvillo touched down. The try was not converted. Clifton was penalised shortly after and Cameron landed a goal, putting Stratford in the lead. 6—o. Now it was apparent that the homo team were superior for though there was little between the forwards, the Stratford vanguard wan supported by live back* anil C'Hton were not. However, the green and golds soon took a hand at attacking. Crowley initiated a passing rush amongst the Clifton bncks. The ball passed from hum! to hand until it reached Seholefield who dropped a pretty goal.— Stratford 6, Clifton 4. There was no more score in tho first The second spell saw Stratford build up a wide margin in the score, opening with a lead of two points and finishing with a lead of eleven. Clifton did not improve as plnv progressed and, by plodding on, the home team had no difficulty in demonstrating Ur superiority. Clifton got tho ball irom the scrum a fair number of times, but Crowley's, efforts to open up tho game were frustrated by bis colleague*. The visiting backs could not get under way When Stratford got th" !>.ill Bullot npt ponrod on nviny oeonsiom to be con+ent with finding tho line ond not feeding bis back-*. Dixon was tho first to scoro in this spoil, but no poal was kicked. Stratford 9, Clifton 4. The next try was tho fruil of a mis-kick by Crowley. but nevertheless it was also the result of "heady" work. Bonnar gathered up from Crowley's feet and offer a few yards dash, centred well to Cameron who later transferred to Kirkwood the scorer. Again a goaler wns wanting Stratford 12. Clifton 4. As darkness wns now enveloping the around plnv Whtup niiintoro=t'n< ir .\*- W a scramble T>o*r the on, nor AToImIo rnf arrows, rocristornio; the fi-al """reOimeron'a attomnt to convert was bettor but frmrlos« And on the r"P" rlir ] Pf l 15— 4 in favour of Stratford. Mr Spimllo reforood