FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16467, 20 June 1919, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THURSDAY RUGBY COMPETITIONS. The weather conditions in New Plymouth on Thursday were not very favourable for football, though fortunately the heaviest rain was oyer by midday and only a shower fell in the afternoon. In the first junior competition Boys’ High School and Stratford played on the racecourse, while Star journeyed to Midhirst and Tukapa to Eltham. Technical College did not meet, owing to the College holidays. In the second junior division Star played Eltham in Pukekura Park,

FIRST JUNIOR

STRATFORD (11) v. HIGH SCHOOL ■ (0).

The scores put up in the game between Stratford and Boys’ High School were not a true indication of the relaI tire qualities of the teams. The Sfratj ford team included a number of playj ers who would have been in the senior ; division had the club not been unable i to arrange a Saturday team, and it | was the individual work of several ' heavy and experienced players that I gave the team its advantage. The i School boys certainly played more fin- ■ ished football as a team. The game | was fast and interesting throughout, ! the ball being frequently in the open, • though both packs of forwards did their full share of work. From the kick-off by School Stratford attacked, and reached their opponents’ 25, but al.most immediately High School secured the ball from a scrum and carried it to the other end of the field and remained there for a time. Osborne attempted a goal from a penalty awarded School, but was not successful, and a little later he rushed over the line with the ball which the School forwards had again hooked. No score resulted. Willis (School) was unsuccessful with another kick at goal from a penalty. Play ranged up the field again and B. Boon (School half) slipped off down the line from a scrum, but had not enough pace. On two occasions Coutts made promising kicks at goal . for Stratford, hut the wind’ spoilt them. Towards the close of the spell Coutts (Stratford five-eighth) made a determined effort to score and when stopped passed the ball to Cameron (wingthreequarter), who dashed over the line. The try was converted by Coutts and half-time sounded with the scores five to nil in Stratford’s favour. When play was resumed High School rushed straight into the Stratford territory and had the latter forcing on several occasions. Then the position was reversed and a strong attack by the visitors ended in Kivell (five-eighth) scoring. Coutts failed to add the major points. Shortly afterwards Rogers (Stratford centre) made a good run from the centre of the School 25 to one corner, where he scored. The kick again failed. School revived and for a time threw the leather about willingly near their opponents’ line, but could not score. For the remainder of the game play ranged up and down the field, both sides in turn having to force. The final scores'were: Stratford 11, High School 0. Mr) Johnson was referee.

The School forwards gave a nice exhibition of combined play, getting the ball out of the scrum smartly and always being together where required. One or two weighty players did valuable service for the Stratford pack, while in the backs Coutts and Kivell, the five-eighths, and Cameron, a wing-three-quarter, were always dangerous, and Rogers (centre) showed a useful turn of speed. The team was handicapped in playing without a wingforward, only fourteen men being available. The High School backs handled the ball well, considering its slippery condition, and it would be hard to pick out from them individuals for special mention. ■ TUKAPA (8) v. ELTHAM (0).

The match between Eltham and Tukapa was fairly evenly contested. The Tukapa backs were superior to those of the home team, Oliver especially being noticeable for his good work. The Eltham forwards had the advantage in weight and were good in the loose, but had their usefulness spoilt somewhat by faulty formation ,in the scrum. Bad' fielding on the part of Eltham backs let Tukapa take the game to the goal line on two occasions in the second spell and from, loose play Cocker and Hurley dashed over on the respective occasions. Oliver converted one try. The final scores were: Tukapa 8, Elthaifl 0. Mr. W. Roch was referee.

CLIFTON (10) v. INGLEWOOD (0). Inglewood journeyed to Waitara and were defeated by ten points to nil. The teams were evenly matched as regards weight. Inglewood played with the wind for the first spell, Clifton opened a strong attack and a try was secured by W. Soife. The kick failed. Up and down play followed and Clifton had to force a couple of times. In the second spell Clifton had the advantage most of the time. A dropkick by 0. M‘Koy added four points to the score and a further unconverted try was secured by M‘Kendrick. Mr. Humphries was referee. MIDHIRST (5) v. STAB (6).

These teams met at the showgrounds, Stratford* on Thursday, and a wellcontested and very even game resulted. C. Fowler scored a try for Midhirst, and L. Vickers converted, whilst Kito and Faiwasser each scored a try for Star. The score for a while stood at, 5—3 in favour of Midhirst, but Star scored its second try in the last few minutes and so won. Mr, H. Nuttall was referee. SECOND JUNIOR. STAR (0) v. ELTHAM (0). The Star and Eltham second juniors had a scramble on the Pukekura Park Sports Ground and neither side succeeded in scoring. Lack of combination in both forwards and backs was evident on both sides, but the play was nevertheless vigorous. The non-exist-ence of football in the district during the war of course accounts for rawness among the present junior players. The Eltham team appeared to have somewhat the advantage in weight, but neither side showed appreciable superiority to the other. Both were close to scoring on several occasions. Mr. Gilbert was referee.

OLD BOYS v. STAR. The following represent Old Boys against Star on the Recreation Ground at 3 p.m. Saturday next: Full back; Bodmin. Three-quart-ers: M'Donald, Herbert, Lictlo. Fiveeighths: Wynyard, Bayly. Half: L. Sole. Wing forward: Hughes. Forwards: Doile, S. Ewing, Saxton, EgS’etou, Kelly, Gorki!!, Brokenshire. mergencies: Grant, W. Ewing, Howell.

Players are requested to turn-out inf all white as far as possible. The following will represent St a* Seniors in their match against Old Boys to-morrow afternoon, in the Re-" creation Grounds at 3 o’clock: Copestake, Hughes, Sheppard, -Stanley, E. Beveridge, B. Hartman, (captain), Jacob, Reynolds, Smith, Sutherland, Blucher. Koea, Fay, Richard, Spence. Emergencies: Blanchard, X, Stopper, S. Skipper. • TUKAPA t. HIGH SCHOOL A. ! The following players will represent Tukapa in their match against High School A on the Western Park at,, 3 p.m. to-morrow: Bodman, Jury, Leonard, Quickfall (2), Le Pine (5), Ambrose, Wood, Yates, Morgan, M'Hardy, Redward, M'Lean, Downes. Emergencies : Edgecombe, Penman, Barndoh, Ellis.

FOOTBALL FIXTURES. The following fixtures have been drawn up by the Taranaki Rugby Union for next week: THURSDAY, JUNE 26. ' : - First Junior. High School v. Eltham, at New Plymouth, 1.30 .p.m. Clifton v. Technical College, at Wai.tara, 3 p.m. Tukapa v. Midhirst, at New Plymouth, 1.30 p.m.. ' Inglewood v. Star, at Inglewood, 3 p.m. Toko v. Stratford, at Stratford, 8 p.m. Second Junior. . ‘ Tukapa v. Star, at New Plymouth, 3 p.m. (Tukapa match), Eltham v. Stratford, showgrounds, 3 p.m. SATURDAY, JUNE 28. Senior. Rahotu v. Tukapa, at New Plymouth, 3 p.m. Okato v. Old Boys, at New Plymouth* 3 p.m. Star, a bye. Second . Junior. High School A r. Star (school match), 3 p.m. « : Tukapa v. Stratford D.H.S., at Strain ford. 3 p.m. Clifton v. High School B, at No# Plymouth, 1.30 p.m. THE LEAGUE TEAM. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright, SYDNEY, June 19. The New Zealand team for Saturday’* match is as follows; Pull . back McCarthy; three-quarters, Davidson, Mitchell, M'Gregor: five-eighths, Stewart, Ifwerson; halt, Walsh; forwards, Rukutai, Parker, Walters, Tancred, Williams, and Clerk. The whole party are well. Somers and Wilson havfi recovered and returned to Sydney. The team leaves for Queensland oh Tuesday to play Queensland on Jiihe 28. and July 6, also, probably, a raid-weel# match. TEAM FOR TO-MORROW. (Received June 20, 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 20; The New South Wales team for tomorrow’s match-is;-Full back. WhiteJ three-quarters, Horder, Conagnan, Gilbert and Cubitt ; Halves, Blair and Hollowly; forwards, Ryan, * Prentice,* Sohultzj-Oxford, Fraser and Couftncy. M,