LEAGUE HOOLIGANS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 91, 3 September 1912, Page 5

LEAGUE HOOLIGANS.

DISGRACEFUL SCENES. XEW SOUTH WALES TEAM "CUTS UP ROUGH." The Wellington papers give further particulars of the doings at the League football match at Auckland on Saturday. Contrary to expectations Auckland d'efeate'it the visitors, and there was no efcimcnt of luck ailiout '.the victory. It rained practically from whistle to bell, and consequently there, was little of the- much-boomed brilliant passing of the visitors in evidence. ; The Auckland forwards quite outplayed the opposition vanguard, and in the second spell there was only one tea, min it. After the interval, when the visitors found they were "up against it," play became extremely rough, the visitingpackmen putting in boot and ''mixing it" freely. Some disgraceful scenes were witnessed, and Dean was sent off the field jiirtt prior to no-side. The crowd rose, en masse and hooted him. It can be safely said that never in the history of Rugby football (either code) has such a rough game been played in this city, and the League game has received by no means a good advertisement. In justice to the Aucklanders it must be said that they were not the aggressors, and at times it was noticeable that they were slow to retaliate, although punched and kicked deliberately. New South Wales simply could not take a drubbing, and their deliberate foul and unsportsmanlike play will never be forgotten in Auckland. Time and again, when an Aucklander was tackled, the tackier, not content with downing his man, sent in sharp uppercuts and body punches, and at times even resorted to the boot. The referee, Mr. Angus Campbell, was woefully weak, and the visitors took advantage of his weakness. Towards the end of the second spell pky became extremely rough, and numerous cautions were administered. Just before the bell went Deane deliberately punched Curran three times; in fact, the referee had no option but to send him off the field. Considerable feeling was shown by the crowd as the players filed off, the visitors being hooted good and hard.