FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143787, 10 May 1912, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

SENIOR. GRADE.

1 TUKAPA (3) v. STRATFORD (3). When these teams lined up at Western Park at five minutes to two on Thursday, there did not look to be a great deal of difference between them so far as weight was concerned, the home team having, perhaps, the advantage in this respect, but not to any great extent, and when, the first scrummage was formed it was scon that the opposing vanguards were pretty evenly matched. Stratford kicked off against a strong wind, which was blowing almost straight down the field. Soon after tlie start Whittaker, by smart following up, took the ball to Stratford’s lino. Loveridgo then had a splendid chanco of scoring, taking a pass from Brown within twenty yards of the line, with only the full-back to pass. Ho, however, kicked hard over Kiveil’s head to the dead-ball line, when either a pass to Stohr or a dash round on his own would almost certainly have resulted in a score. A few minutes later, almost in the same spot, Jack Stohr failed to take a nice pass, and another ■good chance wont by. These mistakes, however, only proved to be the forerunners of several similar blunders, tho missing of passes and too hard kicking when close up to the goal, lino being responsible for the poor score put up by the borne, team when they had tho wind at their backs. Brown gave his backs plenty of good opportunities, so it was not his fault or that of the forwards, who held the upper hand all tho way through tho first spell. When the game had been in progress a quarter of an hour George Loveridgo obtained possession from a. forward rush and touched dowu, but the try was not gi/en, as tho referee could not see exactly what happened. It was bad luck for Tukapa, but tho referee was not in any way to blame, for ho could not see the incident,' as several players were between him and the ball. M'Given took a good mark, and Stohr found the line in Stratford’s 25. Stratford now rushed, tho ball down the field and wore looking dangerous, but Whittaker saved smartly and found the line. From the line-out Brown cut in, and was only grassed when he had got within five yards of the line. Stewart- took a good mark right in front of his goal, and helped Stratford out of a tight position. From an exchange of kicks L- Whittaker obtained a mark at the 25 line, and Stohr kicked' a. fine goal.—Tukapa 3, Stratford nil. Soon after this Brown got his backs moving, and Loveridge, taking a pass from Stohr, made a good run and passed every one but Kivoll, who collared him near tho corner flag. From the scrum which resulted Stratford forced. Tho wind took the dropout back over, the touchlino in Stratford’s own 25. Shortly afterwards M’Given lost a chanco of scoring by kicking too hard, and tho ball went to tho 'dead-ball line for tho fourth time. Tukapa continued to press, although they could not score, and' Kivell took a. mark which relieved Stratford, and Ballot, miskieking, nearly let Cameron away with a clear field in front of him, but tho bounce of the ball wont tho wrong way, and Stohr saved. Just before half-time Stohr took a good mark and had another shot at goal, but failed, and half-time came with Tukapa leading by 3 to nil. From tho kick-off an exchange of kicks between the backs saw Billiot put the ball into touch at the halfway flog. Soon afterwards Tukapa were forced tivice in quick succession. • Stratford were now pressing hard, and L. Whittaker cleverly saved on two occasions. The pressure was still kept up by the visitors, and Tukapa were lucky to be. able to force on more than one occasion. .Stohr raised the hopes of the home side by a good run, but was thrown out when close pp and within striking distance. From the line-out a long kick .up the field from a mark secured by Anderson, nearly led to a try being secured by a Stratford forward, but Billiot fell on the ball just in time. Passing bouts between the Stratford backs gained little ground. From a line-out ten yards from the Tukapa line Bonner cut in and scored, but Kivell’s kick at goal failed and the scores were equalled. Stratford continued to press, but no further score resulted, and the game ended in a tie. Stratford were playing without several of their cracks, Don Cameron, B. Dive, T. Cameron, Osborne. Boon, and Fearou being absent. ' Mr. G. Hopkins gave every satisfaction with the whistle.

SECOND GRADE. STAR (8) v. TUKAPA (3). A very poor game was witnessed on the Sports Ground between Star and Tukapa. The match resulted in a battle between the forwards. Harvey drew first blood for the blacks, Bullot adding the major points. ’Star were given a penalty kick, and from this M‘Gahey increased Star’s lead to eight points. Then bad play by the Star backs gave M‘Koy the. ball, and ho.succeeded in scoring, but West did not convert. No further points wore added by either side in the second spell, and at the call of time Star left the, field victors by 8 points to 3. There is some promising blood in both teams, but a coach is badly needed. Tukapa had slightly the best of the strummages, but Star had the best backs. Mr. H. Petty was referee.