FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 912, 3 September 1910, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

;■'-...-■'; 'o',-': voids' Aribiobdlcs.) , : ;> -:?>;J^ ;" Collegians on the' Campus Martius.;' -v '.'. v : '.The\members oftthe;.-three- teams .that ■■■'. ■'. 'tourney; set-and ; .maintained a ;standard' .■' w,6rth}v''6fbolder...and ' niore experienced ■y ■ i pla'yerk;: In;! each '. contest the' youngsters : .:''pjayed ', clean,'■'.hard football, and. not >el-' .:■:■■. .'dpm displayed; grasp'of o.A some..- finer■ points.; of■', tie.■ game..-.-''Although; '.-■•, ; -jtplerably : ;<ey<!iily; matched,\the ( three>'. teams; ':?.Tdwer-;wide^..in.;the; ; g^er\il-tstj;le''pf'theii l .' '■'■;'<■*: P) a y-'- • V Wellington are, /perhaps,: : fet Mn* point',Qf/:b&lancev. (Backs i and 'forwards ; ; I :;'. each bear their : sha'r6 Of ( theJwpik ; that is. ■.'; >' .gping: ' :_: lege':teaih';.".lies.-mainlyjyn'-!-its.'-.forward '~'" ■. ; ■■ "■:-." of..each-ieam';affords eyi- : ; "'■ .< : 'dencej'of \- tareful V'.'odachinij-.-and/.'preEara-;. .:;';'tiOn.V"'Eabh'.'is quick'_to,'resume.its;forma- : ■ : -':v-.-. :^on.-^hTOvi-.. : speU''-of > rKeS^.\play. i ;.lias.\dis7" •"'.'■;;'^rgaiii»d'< ; iti^ra]^'/!j'j^he'-.;libysi ; throw; ■j.,;'..- the.seruiit-; ,'v: iaage;an'd: : battlcv'.Talorously ; in;the;;line-'; ' % ';:.::out.,-i;.t)f,.their: verve' spiritfwjth' ;i,'- ;■ :.wHich',!they ; follow,- the;. glame,'' : ;tpo.;-'much ; ; •. ; caniipt',te /, s.aiil in-.-praise.".. 'They: ""play... - : ■'C : 'win/^'and^-'the' result-'.in, each; of; .'their:. V v ' .was a contest of;.Eladiatorial" vig- , ;,-'-■■•■'■' : i

-Sbji.(fui-.. , . , .Bapraclc.'','>Y.i' , .->\ '•'.■;■. ■\--':fi.\-~ :^-aint : ainusing feature of tho. games was |h?' ;"sdur'- that attendant ,''barrackers'\ threw into their vwprki Small'' iiimerouEr; among red'.by a;;contingent of. 'girls, .they.:domin-atefe-thVi ' "barrack."i ; This roso to " : a' frenzied';height!at,times' on Monday,- when th'e homii' team: was'engaged, but : even tit: tha/m'o.sti , ; was ,'good■humpuredi and .ah'opposition 1 success.-Was 'applauded'just asfreely as bnp'scored-;by. thp;, : ,poprilar,' champions. .:■• On" Wednesday •■ 6ympatKy;-reeom'ed'- to!. rim --'witb,-'.'the;;Wa-'ngdnuiv'-team. Thero ;.was a continuous iblling'-cry.of: ."School!' 1 . "School!-'; bftreg&ted'■!that must : h'hve been ..quite ' in.-, 'Bjiritirigi' But'the; dour. Southern -lads ; "inmiled.not a whit, .and.pressed'forward to'i&svictory just '■. thei'same'p ':■ />!■ ■ ' ! .'^Vl-/; v .•» ':':'

: i[: : (Chrisit's; v'; ; > ; ;;|l^ ; jCh>kt^s)tbri6gO;for:wardsi are , ' a" fine Thii-.Southern 'youngsters :. run;to.bra?fn : and muscle/ for the. JV: memters-of; tho. College team, are ;::';ririostly;.'-cast 'on .bigV arid/weighty,. lines,'. ,'f'.--^py-'ap;sii6t.{My°;.bh'-' , V ?;eyer;:;fbr 'theirvforwards ;.,in/,; particular.'■ f :/;wprk'Twith. a';splerid.id;.vigour: and ■ dash.; :i; ; .rushes»,: on .Wednesday '';Swere , -aV.•leading-'.featufe ■in; a .quick-mov- ; 'and .tho;,W.anganui.boys" had ; . ;'^d.exercise' all , .their/olevfcrness^;in staving ;■■; off<j4sstillCmore ; complete, disaster, than Wvthey-actuajly: encountered.- ; Anpthei\ qualCollege team'is -^.Botable.is'a ; fine ; staying-power.. On We'd-. 'J-' .::/ iesday; playing'in' the second spell against a .vigour not "■.;" mferior";to. that.of their 'opening. display, f.- 'ind '-'Wanganui,' 'injtead ; -'of" pressing ;-forfor .the most; part ; , ■■ • •■;;,"■ ; ; JWanganui: Light but; Clever. :/;"?;! C/.;- i;.;ln;bpth-its'matches the Wahgahui team .-^slatVa 'disadvantage ■ini-tho. matter -; of ; ■./.twaghtz-'ltsbacks -appear;to advantage, ■. -.Lin'free and 'open ■ moyeniente; : -:' Theii .'pass-.•--'■■■'pig'-'.is.good,,;ari'di;individual: "'eprinters . ''ramong. them -show4plenty/-;of .initiative.. s- : J.Shejr jfbrwards,'- although somewhat over;':."•'.'jboriie: in bothV matches, "sje not: lacking F:|m cleverness?;-..-Against Wellington:.: they in : hobking;-the \ baU ■':'.. tfroin;.- um,".andf once' Or -twice; bbi:;itain'eoT 'a: fleeting advantage'..in 1 , an I 'effort ,'with"the;ball at foot....Against, the 'sturdy '.' phalanx of Christ's College,ihowever,'they ';■'■ lcbuld!;make no,'headway. :;■ They..- ■ r ■'•:.beateii : in;scrum, line-out,.iind most of all' ,"v.in the' open; To putup;an equivalent ;tp ;•- theVeignty.-'dribbling'rpsh.of. the South- •-; ern. .forwards'- was .:■ qiiite beyond ;\ their. ':'.a jower.' ;;Vb: ■•'•'.'. ■•'■■-"' : '.' '.:-■'':■ ''■'.'■■'■'\.', : :':'^

Last Shalf; be First": <Wel- ■:£?■ ■.y|'fl9*^^ ; '-K'i& ! '■■■.■■■ ■'.•,' :.--'Q'-' V.. : ,!Fhe : -final'''contest, in:the inter-collegi- -;. atev; tourney,,.played' yesterday}. may be \\..:'lirieflyvdescnbed....as-i , l 'walk-pver''forj.Wel.- .."■' :■ 'lington, In the; opening': spell' the .'home ■! team .established; a clear.; though, slight, /'advantage;;and. : m,:the'. second, aided : by 1 . ■;■': a.favouring breeze, they romped home■ to -•-■mi.-easy-^yictoryi-ir.Neither; , back division ■': : ■--was-/, conspicuous' iiiiattack ':'. the : . jtrogrfiss"" ; .of : thp:<matph; • though", on each .'{isidaithe'.backs -put,'iri"'good-: savings work.: ;'.-;.|Ehe''v'CKnsfc'e'- , :Callege^;'-:forwards/'; showed -.themselves imiich less.,re'ady in:aggressive /:^"^p^tworki^han^iiJ^e'.-matfch;:.with..:.'W'a- - cnganti," and their ■.evident' 'desire i'tb : make H! ithe:: game ..close: Jwas; frustrated : at;, every .-.iiurn. ; In- the scrum,. tfiir teams : seemed,. -".in* the .earlier-play,; pretty, evenly: match- ■: ', ed,v but as "the game developedi Welling-: ton. obtained the ascendancy;.hero as in ■other; departments.-' .Frequently, : they '}■ .came dashing : .;as the .formation ■■ / ■; collapsed,: and usually succeeded in taking ■■'. along with them. Christ's -Col- ' ;lege, Valthougli. defeated, . again .proved '.-•'their.possession of reliable staying power. :;,.Playing a losing game;-they , 'yet:defended ■plucMyiv and -each: try:, that."Wellington Becuredwas the-fr'iiit:'o£Bheer.'hard-work.

f;j v -.'■'.■.-!.-The'.North Jslarid^T.eani^^.^V-V, .;i ; .■'.:": : -.; At 'first ■'thought-■j'the.majority; of foot-' ':v'fv'.;-;"-:'l)diCTs" ; .-might:\feeij?coiivinced'' that the p./;-:" -.'/tJ^orth;lsland:is unmeasurably superior f s.;:/• V;io>the. South':lsland-inVfobtball this t '■■■,■■'. !; sorij: and. that. ;any ■ fifteen-';.-picked'.- from I, ,';■ vV';-,this;■■;islandv : would/be;sure:.to; vanquish :;.-:.".-: "any. fifteen that;.can : be mustered "in : the , ;.■;..;:',; :Sduth:' However/ l oni3. : 6r. i ,two authorities, ■:■■."; 'that, have figured the question' out;, argue i-'v::".-;'. ; 'that : a;str'ong team", can be got together in f V ; -;v, '■.'; thoVSoiith; Island by. .combining Otago [>. > .V/:'.''^'-fpr.waids>iritli'- t Cantcrbury':: tocksy.'--'..'.tne j : ..;,;' :latter: being-.streng'the'ned-"b'y the inclu-j';.;'.:*:';.-':;CV'Bipn o£-.O'Brien ; pilarlborough) as fullI .':.:.'■ v back. Consideration'viof this ■ argument !':'' ■: :'- : '.:baJ3 >set -." the writer thinking-'about 'the !-- v ■■.'' ..'North "'; Island ./representatives, 'wpnderirig ;~.-•-.-.-: '■'.■. what; the team will ,be when : finally select-" ;..;;.' jed by -Messrs.'Gallaherj;: Thomson,': and p'- ••■'. Humphries. '.Probably;'the: Auckland, for- :'■ '. ;■•;■ wards, selected to: a -man ..would be:'the ;:'..;'"-. best.pack for.this.island,':.as it would en-' r , ' , ■';.' .'; sure -a fine' scrunivand combination in i ..' '.'.'_■'■■■ the:."lpose.' r 'The'refutation of. the Tara-. j, '..-. • --naki ;'forwards;.was ,/spoiled by ;tho Weliv s - .'."•'."•" lington;.touring.- teami and when the lat- ! V•"■:■■ ••',.'■.tor .come'.to'be considered the.only indii: .: "; ■".'■ yyidnal'-forwards that appear to.beVu'p.to i-'-.'.. . - inter-island. form are Leahy, and Perry— !• '.':■ '."•• both- playing well.: Tho question, ''is: |: ■■■;..!.. : Would;'it., be, worth - throwing outi:'.'--'-- . men for them? As a winger 5, : . .' . Avery will no' doubfbe''given preference [/ •;■:■•■'. to;' Hall, and then we have; the backs.to '■ -.■■■:'■■■; consider.' Half, 1 , . Eoberts; no comment. !;'■■:'... .'.'. Kve-eighths, M'Leqd (Oriental) and Kaif .-.;■■■. - .-para, of the.Maori team, .will probably i':'■■'.'-:• ■■ .; ■.find .place.;before Mynott'.or Kinvig or |; •'■ ;■•'-■'. an'yiothers one could name. Three-quar- ::.-.. teVs',"- Mitchinsqn and Cameron will proi< ■} '■■/. -bably' be retained .'on account of their ; . :. past deeds, as much as, for their present. i..\: ' form.• Both arc good on their day. For ! . the "remaining position, the names of h .Jas. Ryan'and:Stohr strike one as the !. '..'""'■.■ most likely to find inclusion. Both- are i- " •"■. : fine-kicks,, and the problem of deciding \ : .''■-.. ;, which is ;the better - man is respectfully h•'"-. left-in' the. hands of the selectors: ; AnV: '■■■ otlier;problem for the last-named gentle- ]'■■■■ 'men is .the chdosingi of' , the;.full-back-T- ---(.; ; , .Evenson. or.O'Leary. The writer leans a ':..■'. ; little' towards Evenson, but offers no ; . \ B'a'orig" objection if : O'Leary is given first '.; offer. ■'■" ..' ■' :■■■';•; .-..-'■■' '• •■'■-.,.. \.'\ Yhc Wearers of Amber and Black. . !■'. : One. of the. most' interesting ■ athletic |- . ; .. topics of■ this' , "week concerns the meeting f: of the Auckland and the Taranaki Eugby c : . teams this afternoon. For- the 'last;few [-~;': : weeks-all .eyes have been-turned oh the [-'■■'•'.'.'.'- Taranaki: players. Not long ago they ?..••.' were confidently looked upon by :very

many' enthusiasts.as. the prpbjble win.ners -of tho Kimnirly-:yhit'|df-' To-day tlifeir pro;sp'ecl*s..'are'''n')entifined ■as tho defeat. 'But'-iii-'reality Tarariaki's: chances' of victory are probably as good as those of.-any other team. Their defeat by. Wellington will .do them, more good than victory would have. Welling:ton..showod them their, weaknesses-. Taranaki are enthusiastic and will, probably try. ihard to remedy their, shortcomings. Js'eyerthpless, tho followers .of-the amber and; black seem to'! have •■ .over-estimated the''strength -of this yi)ar's.,tftapi.; Weeks. |ago,.: : ,at the ; time-,-of> -.the'•-■team's 1 first match, .when: they}.'simply, did, as they liked with Jlanawntu, tho people ■-.-of-'-' the; dairying proyihep proclaimed their fifteen ■ the,.b&t;,they had had for. years. The ' ihatch': against iUanawatu. was' ; no test, nor was .that -against Wauganuij ■ and on ■ paper- tho ; Taranaki public's . anticipajtionsjappeaVed'to.bo rather roseate..Think lof 'their..-; backs'! of-a few ;senions ago! : Golmau;': half-back, ■ Hunter and- Mynott, five-eighths, Dive,; Gamer'on, .'and-Sheahan, three-quarters, , - and, 'flardgriive,-iull-back! ffimter and Mynbtt:wer^ ; then';l|ie,finest :;fiye-eighths:. combination'.-iNew/-:;-Zealand: :possessedj'■ ahd'.jthey. will. always' rank iamdng■• the. 'finest combination , of any ■description , that rfur football' has pro-. ;:'duced.'»>.*Th'efij/.'it'njay"..be "many "a. daybefore-. another .half-back like 'Colman is .discovered. , .Not only 'Was Colmah,a. great. Kalf,':but he. played-wing-forward, full-;back;.;.and'.'three-quartei ... equally well. ;Uivo:..was. ,a'better/man- in. those days .■than : jhe. is. now; Like : all,the foregoing, , ' Caineroni''- was a New Zealand- re-, presentative,'-,., but■ v., he -was .. never >,6ne, :'-;\b;f.-'■.- ■ Taranaki's leading ' backs. , !'He :has. ! at, times been. one 'of their most: "brilliant,; and':'at others their■ mOst disas':trous'.'..:"C'on" Shedhau was'the province's. .finest''three : q'uarter ; : at the time,, though ■Caihei'ph'and, the' ,of' , being-'New'Zealand'~reiires'enlalives,:and' he..did; not.; He was .worth ii'team of v Camerons in^. defence, he was very'fast, exceptionally.: strong; for .' a back, and could- stay',a.i'game out .with any man. 'on the';field.,'. The other ; : nonrAll Black, Hardgr'avey was. then the finest iiffi-New :Zealand, but circumstances stood between ;hiti: and. New. Zealand honours.. •.■What;of.'the r preseht backs?,Cameron and 'Dive'. are. hardly, up to-the form of ;sev■eral years.';ago;' Mynott is, growing,grey ■in:thegame,:but is riot improving, though, still good. : 'Hunteri among the most brilliant; -'footballers:' 0f..: his day, '.has' left the;neldj': ; Brown, as. a half, is .far inferior- to iColman. .There, is-not a full--back in .the 'province like Hardgrave, unless it is' Stphr, ■' and he is badly: wanted ; in.,'the.;'-thr,ee-quarter- line.-..-Boberts- isfa young ■ player, with' great...pace, aid is": a' good,;back, who works>as ■hiird '.as -a' blacksinifcti all the tiniothe :ga'me;,.is:'in progress.' ... ",'.>,..,,- ' • ■ : .Tlie..Taranald- forwards are not , a firstclass: lot/as a'comiriiiatlon." .The provinco. has often produced' ils' 'share of: high-grade' fonv'ards, 'but for -years'-it'hasmot had a .successful..fprward .team. 'The facilities; for educating, training, : and welding together, a; pack of top-notchers ar'e','miss>ing.; _ That is :.where; the misfortune lies, not'in'lack of-enthusiasm j.tJiere are.'no. greater eiithusiasts.'in the' Dominion than the Amber and Blacks.'- .Howeyei - , .Auckland, will ,find;: the,, dairymen' knocking heavily at. , their door. -Following ■on tho defeat of,' Wellington by 'Auckland; and the subsequent ■ victory :. of' Wellington, over .Taranaki,- Taranaki's chance of going homeMpth the shield , are not favoured, but- stranger:' tilings -than 'the downfall of .'the, holders of the Ranfurly. trophy ■have happened. -Of the. originally chosen Taranaki team.Pini, Smith, .and Martin (forwards) M'Leod, and .' Roberts (backs) ■are unable to go north. The team will probably-.bes—l'ull-baoki.R.-'Ry.an;'three-quarters, D." Cameronj- J. Stbhrj-Anderson; :fivo-eighths, E. Dive,;.H. Mynott;, halfback, Brown; win.e-forward,"-.Taylpr; pack; J. ;.Crowley, ; L H. Whittingtpn, B.' ■ Tamu, Sheahan, Osborne,.Cain. "-.■■. -'■ Jh'e Name, of, RobeVts.v; ' , : Fpr' very, , many.years the name of -Eobertsjhas:been.'connected, very prominently ' withtWellirigton;,. football. ./.First came .Harry , 'E<)berts, :i semoiy: stod'before he was .'clear, of, the''playing 'field. . W. Roberts ("Cocky'') was in the front rank'. The latter '--had-. , : not- retired "before l "Fred." jßoberte U was "playing fpot-;ball,--;and;;now Harry..®obertsi:fjuni;,: ; and '[ Hi?, brother, E. Boberts, have both, represented' Wellington. The most extraordinary" one of the 10t..; is the .Oriental half-back, F. Roberts,' who continues. to retain his form, in a; wonderful manner,' 'and who is. now playing probably' as well as evey he-'did.' .In fact, many- old players say that he-, had .never: previously played'with such'Tesonrce."and'versatility as he has: exhibited this" eeason..- No doubt;.the > laSoiis' > AH : BScF is ■ contemplating retirement,, but. .it ..is to be hoped for the sake.of localifootball.that he will continue;.on; for another season.or two' yet.,.-, :'i■-'■ {(',< "■ : .'-.■.-■' ■• \■ ■' ■: ■ .■'■

Northern Touring Team. , : The Wellington touring team, which returnedto Wellington last'.Monday night, did .not; bring back the" Rarifurly. Shield, but its record'.wijs'.a'.'very,'creditable'oneplayed -.three' matches,''won 2, drawn i, point's for■3B, against 12, line.' crossed once I only.-.- This : proves conclusively, that the .team's defence .was. very sound and it almost'.looks as/if, the. pjaj'ers. were in better, form at the end' of the tour than at the start. . That is to-say their combinatityi was:not as'good as it might have been. against Auckland on August 20. 'On account of .the risk of accident to: some of the players it would not have . done to have ■ fixed;, the shield; match for: the , end of the" .tour, but it. certainly appears , as if theteam was hot thoroughly wound up in'the Auckiaiul inatch, though, to be sure.somo.of them say that it.was Aucklaiid who were really "wound up.". However, the- result of- the touiv'is a credit to tho .selectors, Messrs; B. Gallagher and : : H;i D. .Thomsoh,. especially tho latter, who had : ;to .'find■':the last'couple, of. men by himself., s They have .picked', workers, among'the forwards, and set/the whole "pointing brigade',', at nought. ' Perhaps it : may-not be out , of , 'place to advise the boys" not to "slack off." The reason will be found in. the following paragraph supplied, by. a contributor:— ... -.'..;■ ' ... . Wh'at Wellington: ; Must VVatch.: '■/, .,.'.,'■ • :A contributor writes:—"This ye'ar the Wellington selectors have done a very, vise,thing—the good, all-round,.conscien-tious forward (such as H. Leahy) has got his chauce.'s; Not that I,.wish, to set Leahy up against tho rest of the forwards —they.' all' work:.- And that/ means , vicito'ry. What I .want to know is this: if Wellington has. a good' win to-day, will, theyUie back oh : their oars, and not train next week?. I shouldn't be surprised.'.. If so, let theScotchinanwho is presently -coming up here from Otago. : Personal and long experience' of: Otago prompts me to say that when the Scotchman's • name • has been', in.- the mud • (as Otago's has .been this year) your, typical Otagoian is: apt to become a , dangerous opponent;, Prom,- a private letter' received I understand that if ; ;Otago can,take off AVellington's.' scalp they be satisfied. :li , or''theni'it:.will be the one bright-' oyent iji a dai-k season. Would it be too"much to. ask the selectors to see to it-that the ■Wellington' forwards do' keep in training for that iuatohP. The selectors could, do it if they chose." '. ...

RUGBY SIDELIQ^TS,

, • SOME IDEAS; AND/ OPINIONS. V '/■ (By Off-side Mao.) ■■ . . The £ s. A. question appears to bo unduly obtruding itself in the appointment of referees in somo of the big interprovincial matches. It seems as if unions generally, and the New Zealand Union in-particular, are -offering' a sort of passive: protest to the 15s. a day expenses"charged by referees: . The result is that whenever it can bp in any way conveniently arranged,- home referees are appointed. It is not-to bo implied that home referees would demonstrate any bias in favour of a home team, but there is no doubt that they have idiosyncrasies, ; with .-.'which, members, of tho_;home team anymore familiar, than are'the visitors. 'Take for example ..the ..vpry important fact of placing the - -ball-m tlio scrum. In Otago and Auckland,' Messrs. Duncan and Williams, good referees in their, wuy —at least one is good and one not so

good—constitute.. .themselves .. against... the expressed intention of the laws., of the game, an arbitrary cpiut lu throw tho ball in. They, throw in in a way familiar to their *owu local front-rankers, and there is ho doubt whatever, that everything elso being equal, the visitors are; placed at, a,'..disadvantage.,' Then, again, referees naturally diifer in judging alleged matters of fact, and men 'who. are playing under one man.all the season , have greater knowledge of what ho will do :than will, those to, whom ho is. partly a stranger. First-class players study the points .of a referee,'just as a smart lawyer studies, a magistrate, or'a judge.- In big football; theru should never bo a .suspicion', 'of undue advantage, through the appointment'..of a jeferee, ■ and. confusion and disappointment are likely to, ensue if the practice of appointing home- referees is .indulged in to any .considerable extent.. .'■.-■; • . ■~.;■■ ■ '•■.•■■ .Referee's Dilemma. , ' ■ ■Tlie'.praoticp'.'by. 'some referees of■ at. ways putting the ball in the scrum, has been unfavourably commented, upon before in these columns. A-case showing the. absurdity of the. wholesale>:business has just come , under notice. .The .refereo was'■ inteiferihy as .usual in this department of the "game, , and making .a,general' 'hash of things. . it. last,on..one "■ occasion ■ aii exasperated .wing-forwaid, whisu aide was .receiving the .worst of'the deal, , cried. out -"unfairly put' in," >und \ to ' his most .'sublime joy, the referen .blew tho whistle' and said, "Free-kick." '.Trbublfi thea'•'erisuod 'as to. which side was .to. be penalised ;■ the'.referee contended•' that, a .kick. must, be taken, and, ,ih accordance with the ..previous dictatorial practice,, he .held; that he iniusf take tho kick himself,, : but" that ; it must 'be a parallel kick .'across the. field.. By. these iricaus,: ho argued,'justice would be done to both side's. vThe-. matter .was afterwards.- re-. :ported' to ...the ■■'Referees' Association interested,, and that body solemnly, wrestled, with',the..subject.for about : twelve hours, and .'even- until;'the' lime 'the milkman was making ; his .'early-, m'bfnmg rounds, Yards of case law .were, quoted and misquoted, ; and finally.-■■ the • meeting terminated'in the utmost disorder-'.without coming to any-final decision. . '"••'■■'' Taranakiv.*' , Auckland. ' ..''.:.■■ ■■• Taranaki play Auckland for the >'Ranfurly Shield. to-day at Auckland; .The 'visitors;arriv«l in northern city on Wednesday, and 'it is understood/,, that they .have done some very solid practiceduring, the week. Judged .on their display against Wellington, Taranaki ba'dly .wanted .endurance,power, and,.also skill. They are undoubtedly capable of betterthings, than- what.they did against Wel'lington, and on paper they should beat '■Auckland.' More cohesion between. the • scruni and S.tohr, Cameron, and .'.Rob-, erts, will be required, and ' faster fofv ■ward;.' work, otherwise there will be a. severe slump in the. Eugby stocks of' the championidairy,.province. It is hardly' likely, that the ■'Auckland forwards,.wil'l play, the : phenomenal game which'*.they' demonstrated,'against Wellington. .■.;; A Sprinting Referee. - : ,'i .- : '. ■'.