FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 86, 28 August 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

Wellington's attempt to remove the Rnnfurly Shield from the fcafe keeping of the Auckland Rugby Representatives proved a hopeless failure. After a hard struggle that Auckland had to put forth to stave off Taranaki's determined challenge last wei'k, the representatives of thv Empire City might he excused for thinking that they had the hankie within their grasps. They were easily favorites, and, in fact, it is stated that the Auckland footlmll fathers furbished up the shield so that it might not show signs of neglect during its long sojourn north! It still, however, remains north. Wellington forwards were, all round, nearly a stone heavier than the defenders, who, it was confidently expected, would meet their Waterloo —in the forwards, at all events-which would he a new experience for the wearers of the blue and white. The southern rearguard, on the respective showing of the two teams, against Auckland was expected to outclass the local team, providing they got the ball. The position was quite reversed. The hard fight against 'iaranaki the preceding week had done Auckland an incalculable amount of good, and they were easily 25 per cent, a better team. Sellars and Trosize secured the ball from Ready and Elliott just as often as they liked. Cunningham handled Iho scrum like the great general he is. In the loose Auckland were much too wood. in fact, the Aucklanders could

not do anything wrong. Webb fed his backs grandly, and some pretty passing resulted. Wellington hacks tackled too high, going for the neck, quite in contrast to the local men's clean low collaring. The line-kicking of the vanquished was dismal, the forwards as a consequence being run off their feet. The Wellington backs when they dm secure the ball, made poor use of their opportunities. Their passing was too slow and wide; indeed, it was diliicult to recognise in Ramsden and McKenzie the pair of five-eig'hths who performed so brilliantly at Hawera a few weeks ago. F. Roberts, at half, was not the Roberts of old. He evidently still feels the effects of that injury which he received in a recent cup match. The three-quarter line did not get many opportunities, but, like the rest of the backs, made many mistakes. In fact, only on about two occasions was Wellington dangerous, and in the second spell Auckland had matters all their own way. Auckland scored four tries, all obtained by Mackay, who proved himself a dangerous scoring man. Indeed, had he run on one occasion in-' stead of passing his hag would have been greater hy one. His first score was the result of fast following up, Carroll passing to Weston, who kicked over' Murray's head, and. Mackay scored'. The second try was a fitting finale to as brilliant a hout of passing as can be imagined. In succession the ball was shot across at top to Webb, Ifwerson, Weston, Stewart- and Mackay. The next .try was simple. A Wellington back/cro.sskicked and Mackay secured and did tj'ie rest. Carroll and Ifwerson ruado ,tlie opening which led to the fourth try. All the Auckland backs played soundly, and as they all, w'ith hut one, expeption, young, and must improve, it' looks as though Auckland will be the home of the Ranfurly . Shield for. the nejtt few y*ars.

TflE LEAGUE GAME c The touring party comprises twenty- f four players, under the man'agem'en't.of i < Messrs H. R". Miller and. J. K ' Blup'.' As I 1 the team "has'to; make. 1 it tush' Mr? .Vo - f Auckland on Friday, so asf,6 'mdet"'tli'e , chosen of the northern city next day, it } has b,een 'd?cide,d to send some direct ( to Auckland,. s6 that' thdy ' will 'not ifjle , too stale for the big match t : here. ; ' Aribtit fifteen are .making ,tho .trip here,, and i of the.selected thirteen six.'have tepre- |] sented' Australia in England..' They are , 1 all young, keen and (■ ( the.ideal men for the purpose whicli the maanger .informs us"is in,the . nature . of a mission, to ■ introduce .'tlie Northern Union game here. ','lMie team' , is accompanied, by Mr. F. -Karon-, .a mem- , ber of the committee of. the Jltjysil-i Agricultural 'Society of New .South '.Wales,' and several press representatives..including Messrs (,'orbe.tt (Sun), Peeks, . ( Kyen-' ing News), and. A\, S.Jlcwiing. (ltoferce). The team, who'are putting up" at the- , Criterion Hotel, were met by'local''representatives of the fynagu.' hik! Aytfleoined by Mr. C. ISrowne (Mayor). ' ' ' , The teanis. for [Thursday's match will Be as follows: — ' ' , NEW SOUTHWALES (light bl tie):. ' Full-back: 1). McGregor.' ,' '' ' ;• | Three-quarters: 11. Thompson, 1). Oar- , j lick, C. Fraser and T. Glecson. ...,', f Halves; V. Farnsworth and, R. Farnsworth. ■•. , ■ • ' Forwards: A. Curran, G. Cumniins, P. McCue (captain), C. MeMurtvie.. F. Purge and W. A. Cann. . i ! TARANAKI. ■ . : Full-back: Stockman.' ' : '.!''•''" ; Three-quarters': M.' Julian', 0, 'McLean) C. Robinson. Five-eighth: R. Siddells. Halves: 11. Tocker and C. Hogg..' ~ 'J . Forwards: N. Kyle, Judd, Pukere, 1\ Allen, Hancock, Gernhoefer. Emergency back: Fitzgerald. Emergency forward: To be picked . on■ the ground. POINTS ON THE GAME. As the League game is new to many of the New Zealand public, the following notes on ihe game may prove of inte-r----est to the uniniated:—Players may he f either amateur or professional. The.game is played thirteen a-side—six forwards and seven backs. A try counts 3 points. All goals count 2 points. Play is started by a place, kick at half-way. After a goal, the ball is place-kicked at half-way; | after a try (unimproved) it is drop-kick-ed from within the half-way, and after a "force" dropped-out from witliin t,he.: twenty-five. A free kick is a free kick in every sense of the term. It.cannot be charged, and opponents are not permitted to jump in the air or raise their/' 'hands above their heads in an attempt to i block it. When the ball is kicked out ' of bounds on the full, excepting from a ■ "free," it is scrummaged at the spot Where last touched in the field of play; if kicked out on the bounce, it is scrummed ten yards in from where it crossed the li»e. Obstruction, i.e., preventing a player following his kick, is penalised by a free. kick where the ball full-. Play the ball: When tackled and brought to the ground a player must rise with the ball and drop i't. when it may be played with the foot by either side. A player '"held" I must plav the ball. -Held" is when the player's "progress is efTcclually stopped i and he is unable to pass the ball. Knock-on is liberally construed: a player is not considered to have knoeked-on if he regains possession before the ball touches the ground. The game is not . I stopped for a knock-on unless the.oll'eii(L , j in;.' side gain an advantage. The ball '■ must be clear of the scrummage before \ \ the forwards are allowed to detach them- ' selves. ! The programme or mulches is as fol--5 lows:~Thursday, August, -ill, v. Taranaki. at, New Plymouth; Saturday, August :!!, v. Auckland, at Auckland; Wednesday, September 4, v. IJnforua. at l.'otoriia; Saturday, 7, v. New /calami, at Auckland; Wednesday. 11. v. Ilawke's I'.av. at "Napier; Saturday. I I. v. Canterbury, at ('rhri-leburch; Thursday. 11l v. Wa!i":uiiii. at "Wanganui: Saturday, ;!l ,' (to be derided upon later).