FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 43, 26 June 1913, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON (13) v. TARANAKI (9).

That the people of Taranaki love their Rugby w.a in evidence again yesterday, when at Hawera the representatives of their own province and their keen rivals from Wellington met on tbo Show Grounds. Xo doubt the relish of the great "go" between these provinces on the same ground twelvo months ago lingered still in the palate of the great majority of those present, and was a deciding factor in the attendance, which numbered any figuros up to three thousand. Both teams were loudly cheered on taking the Held, and it was seen that there was little to choose in the matter of weight; perhaps the balance of power in this respect lay with the home-team. As to the result of the game, there ivas just about as much difference between the teams as the scores indicated. There are some who say that Wellington were many points better, but if they were, it was their own fault entirely that they did not prove it. For it must bo admitted that several glaring mistakes occurred among the backs at a time when a score was all over "bar shouting." That they gave the prettier display of Rugby, few will deny. Still, undoubtedly, they have not got better players than, for instance, Stohr and Loveridge—aye,'and Tamu in .his own place. takes a lot of beating. The fine line-kicking of the first-named was a treat. It is open to question whether last year Taranaki put up a better showing, but writer is firmly of the opinion that the visitors were not on their form as a whole as good as the 1912 representatives. Yet the match was also worth anyone's journey to witness. The capital condition of the ground assisted considerably to such a consummation.

Mr Neilson, of Kaponga, refereed, and the personnel'of the teams was as follows:

WELLINGTON (Black.) Evenson.

Morris, Mitchison, E. Ryan McKenzie, Tilyard. E. Roberts. Cunningham. Hills. Francis. Wilson, Sullivan, Gillospio. Ward, Miller. TARANAKI. (Amber and Black.) " Stohr. I Loveridge, McLeod, Roberts, Cade, Cameron, z Brown.

Taylor. Cain, Dewar. Hawkins, Kissick, Tamu. Ryan, Whittington. Wellington kicked off, and a fine piece of play by McKenzie was the means of forcing the Yellows before a minuto had "gone. A.free kick to the visitors kept play in the home termor but that there .was something wroni?. and also that there was at least one enthusiastic. Wellington supporter present was supported by ; his pmniovesent remark, "Why the Hell-O, Wellihgton!" A splendid passing rush by the Blacks from a scrfith : right across to Ryan, the outside $- man, aroused enthusiasm, and the Yellows were relieved by a mark, the leather going out at a neutral point. Cameron broke away by intercepting a pass, and got to the 25-line. A kick to Stohr was enough ; he booted to hjjs vis-a-vis, and play was changed to the opposite site of the ground. Ca le put in, a fine, screw kick, and Loveridgo marked and tju/re was cries of "Whei'e's Stohr?" He fulfilled all exepctations, as'the ball stotted on the crossbar twelve minutes from tho start, and went over amid great applause. Taranaki 3, Wellington 0. Wellington's play was a little loose for a time, but Ryan put in a good kick to tho 25-line. A free to the Yellows relieved, until Stohr, hard pressed, found the line at the opposite 25-flag. A fine rush by the visitors, with Stohr not able to get back to position, enabled Francis to score, and the major points were registered by E. Roberts, this occurring inside eighteen minutes. Taranaki 3. Wbllington 5. McLeod smartly up-ended a Wellington back,Who seemed to have matters all his own way, and play was momentarily stationary as Wellington closely attacked. Morris mulled the finish of a passing bout, which looked deadly, but play still hung on tho line.' A great passing and dribbling Yellow rush ensued, tho ball being handled with much precision, MrLeod eventually being downed while in the van. Hawkins and Co.'s dribbling was well supported, and Wellington were getting a great deal the worst of the play. For the finish of an exciting Taranaki rush, Stohr made a good attempt at a pot, the ball' going wide. A scrum set the game in motion. Loveridge got to within 10 yards of the line, and again distinguished himself a minute later. Kicks to both sides left the Yellows with the advantage, and on Gillespie getting off-side, Stohr again attempted a shot. He again made no mistake. The game had been going less than half an hour. Taranaki 6.

Wellington 5, Electrifying passing and rushes by the Yellows made the Blacks very uncomfortable, and eventually Cameron got a beauty pass to Loveridge, who ran in at the corner. It was expecting rather much for Stohr to make the third successful attempt. Play had been going just half an hour. Taranaki 9.

Wellington 5. Roberts kicked to centre at the finish of a passing rush, and Stohr again coolly potted for the gallery's sake. Stoh'r's fourth attempt from a mark, again from the halfway, did not materialise. Play had now been in Wellington's half'for fully 15 minutes, mainly through the effort'* of the Taranaki forwards. A fine pissing rush by Wellington resulted in Morris centring, and there was a hot time in front of the goal, but again Loveridge put the finishing toucher; on the relief work by going on his own and downing the opposition _uni.il Evans dribbled out at the 25-fiau:.

Play shifted quickly to the Yellows' 25, on the opposite side of the- r/round, and a kick "forced the home players. The ball came from a scramble to the Black backs, but Loveridge war-, there again. Keeping up the attack, :«n almost sure score was mulled, and the play went down the field. Mitchison quickly side-stepped a Yellow, and put the leather out. McLeod marked cleverly, when the opposition were on

him at the 25, and Stohr's kick transferred play to nearer the opposing 25fiag. Off-side gave Stoiir another shot in neutral territory, but tlie ball veered to the left of the po.sts. With the exception that the Yellows looked dangerous on one occasion, when they got to within ten yards of the Black line, there was nothing very special before time was called. Taranaki 9. Wellington 5. 'I he second half opened quietly, the Yellows working well together till play was in tho opposition 25. Here KisI sick was temporarily disabled, and 'then they went to pieces for a i;iojment, and it was -their undoing. A passing rush was set going by Wellington, and they fielded well, a centre kick allowing Ryan to cut in towards posts and ground. But tho kick I was unsuccessful. ] Taranaki 9. I Wellington 8.

A fino rush to the line by the Yellows saw several attempts to push over. Then Wellington had a failheld and little opposition, the backs lining three or four out right across, but they were unlucky, or, really, didn't play well enough, and the opportunity was lost. Plenty of exciting incidents followed, but nothing worth making special mention of until Wellington got to the line and a scrum was ordered five yards out. (Play went to the opposite side of the jground through a Wellington man missing his colleague to whom he miskicked. Shortly afterwards, another scrum five yards out was ordered, and from the scramble a free kick gave them an easy chance to score.' But the relief of Taranaki's supporters was great when the ball hit one of the uprights. The Yellows relieved by kicking out at the 25-llag. At this stage some remarkably good forward work was put in by the Yellows. In one in particular, Tamu went right through with the ball, being assisted by Taylor, and Morris was glad to kick out to shake off his attentions. A fine rush by the Yellows on the far side of the ground was checked by a clever mark by Rbberts. Rangi Wilson was in the lead in a run across tho field, but Stohr stopped the onslaught. Tamu again got through with tho ball at his toe, finishing up at the J-way flag, but he got going again until a kick by Mitchison spelt delay. Brown, for tho Yellows, relieved at a dangerous juncture by kicking out when play was in neutral ground. The flashy passing bouts of Wellington were nullified by the opposing rushes combined with short quick passing on their backs' part. Splendid kicking between Stohr and Roberts saw the honors slightly with the visitors. Loveridge's name was on everybody's lips for heady play, and speculator was the wonder of the instant. A kick by Cado at a critical time was followed by one of Tamu's irresistible rushes, by which he got almost to the line. Roberts (Yellow) got a fine kick in at the psychological moment and relieved the pressure in the goal precincts. Again Stohr's kicking was a feature cf the game. Marks to Wellington brought breathing spaces, and ,; they were badly wanted by. both sides, as it was, now a hard fought game up and .down the field. There was but ten minutes more. .An,u.nacco;uutable. lapse (if form' on the part of Taranaki followed, ihd wndVpack waiting' fin- a member's timely as si which never came, and swarmed down to their goal. Several lucky kicks by Loveridge and Taylor kept play in neutral a, Wei- , lington rush put Stohr on his inetal, and he had to settle Mitchison and Morris almost in the same breath. But somehow theirilucky. star wasistill in the ascendant,. a#d their defence was turned to attack. , i Supporters, pf, the Blacks at this' stkge were very glum. But the climax 1 was to 'coniri. ; It did in the twiivklfrigi of Tarariaki's' star. ' From a. throiw-in, about their 25-ilig, the. ball went out, and still the Yellows' barrackers were all.serone, as McLeod, had got the ball. But. 10, he slipped in front of the goal as he attempted to kick. There was a preponderance of Blacks among the melee, and before the crowd had time to crane their necks, Tilyard had grbunde at the posts. It was a fitting finale to a splendid match, for Mitchison made no mistake with the kick. j

Wellington 13. - Taranaki 9. In the three minutes to go, Wellington had a chance to add to their points-victory by registering a goal from a mark, but failed. MAORIS v. THE WESTERN DISTRICT. Sydney, June 25. •The Maoris defeated the Western District by 11 points to 8. THE LEAGUE GAME. Sydney, June 25. The League footballers defeated Orange at Orange by 23 points to -5. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION. Wellington, June 25. At the New Zealand Rugby Union Management Committee meeting tonight a request from the Poverty Bay Union to sanction a special Shield match at Auckland on August 9 was referred to Auckland. It was decided to agree to a suggestion cabled from 'Frisco, that the New Zealand team to tour California should arrive at 'Frisco on October 2. The New South Wales Union wrote, asking if an extra match could be played by the' Maori team against New South Wales. This was agreed to. The same body asked if the Timaru and ' Invorcargill matches could-be played o:i September 10 and 17, instead of 17 and 10; otherwise the programme was acceptable. The alteration was agreed to. The following conveners of selectors were appointed:—North Idand team, V. R. Meredith (Wellington); South Island team, S. F. Wilson (Christehurch); New Zealand team, Gallagher (Auckland). A PLAYER SUSPENDED. Auckland, June 25 The Rugby Union Committee decide to-nighfc to suspend Rasmussr-n, I a City player, for rough play in the I match City v. Ponsonby on the Satin day before last. SATURDAY'S TEAM. TARANAKI v. WANGANUI. The following will represent TaraI naki in the match against Wangaliivi, at Hawera, on Saturday:— i Hill. ! Beitrand McLeod Roberts Cameron Cade Brown j McAllum Cain Bernsten ,Te -iu Kissick Kissick j Whitington. Ward Emergencies: Meuli, Rylands. I