FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 101, 14 September 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

RESULTS TO DATE. Juno 3.—v. Wanganui, won by 10 oints to .'i. June 12.—v. Wellington, lost by 12 points to 10. June 15. —v. Wanganui, won liy 0 points to nil. July 25. —v. South Island country team, won by 31 points to 3. Auckland 17. —v. Auckland, lost by (i points to 5. August 22. —v. Wairarapa, lost by 17 points to 13. August 2!). —v. Wellington, won by G points to 5. Sept. 4. —v. Otago, lost ltv 18 points to 11. Sept. 12.—v. Canterbury, won by 21 points to nil. TARANAKI'S RECORD. Taranaki's record to date is 9 matches played, won 5. lost 4, points scored for 111), against G4. TARANAKI v. MAN A WAT U. Next Thursday. Taranaki plays the final match of the season so far arranged. The match should prove interesting. Taranaki will need to play well to win. as Manawatu defeated Wairarapa by 15 points to 3. after the latter had vanquished Taranaki. The local team has been slightly altered. Whittaker replaces Tinney at full-back. Roberts takes Franklin's place at five-eighths, Stohr goes to centre three-quarters, and Meuli plays wing three-quarter. In the forwards tiie only alteration is that Ryan replaces Hawkins in the back row. The Taranaki team is, therefore, as follows: Full-back: Whi ttaker. Three-quarters: Don Cameron, Stolir, Meuli. Five-eighths: Roberts, S. Cameron. Half: Brown. Forwards: Taylor (wing). Cain, Dewar, Tamil, Pini, Kissick, Ryan, Wiiittington. THURSDAY'S MATCH. Thursday's match between Taranaki and is hereby suspended, after next over for the local men, who once again demonstrated that for "in and outness" they are bard to beat in the Dominion. They nearly beat Auckland in the latter's stronghold, actually accompli-bed the feat against Wellington, administered a sound licking to Canterbury, but dismally failed in the tight against Wairarapa, a second-class team, as well as against Otago. The 1012 Taranaki toanp stands convicted of inconsistent running, and is hereby suspended, after nejTt week's match, till l'Jl3. Thursday's game opened tamely, the first twenty minutes consisting of line and close forward play, without a rc-' deeming feature. Canterbury's bookers were too much for the local hookers—a 1 ways a weakness in the Taranaki team and a bigger weakness this season than usual—and the Canterbury backs consequently frequently got the' ball, but thenwork was very defective, the men failing to beat their opponents, spreading instead across the field, and gaining very little ground. Towards the end of the spell, there were some flashes of good play, the game being opened up more, ami the Taranaki forwards getting in some rushes reminiscent of the old days. 11l these the big Maori Tamu and the solidly constructed I'ini were much in evidence, as was also Taylor, the wing forward, whose play right through was a feature of the game. Stohr drew first blood with a beautiful kick from a penalty, and soon afterwards, when he appeared blocked from getting over he stopped, and calmly potted a splendid goal. He also essayed one or two other field kicks, and had hard luck on two of the occasions in not scoring, the ball just going outside. The second spell was more attractive. Both sides iiifused'a little! more vigor into their play. It. was early noticble that Taranaki held the upper hand, and must come out victorious. The yellow forwards were playing magnificently together, getting the ball on the line-out and tearing through the ruck with ball at toe time after lime. The pace and weight soon told on the lighter Canterbury player*. Taranaki also were having more luck in obtaining possession in the scrum, and the backs got the chances they had been waiting for, Roberts'first try was a beauty, lie secured the ba 11 • from a passing bout, and with three men in attendance, he sailed for the line, with the enemy's three-quarters and full-back and others in his path. These he completely baffled and gained the line. But a short time had elapsed when he repeated the process. Though the distance was short. I t. the dill'iculties were greater, and his success surprised t'he onlookers. Roberts was also responsible for a fine ■piece of play later, when lie passed to Tamil, who missed, but dribbled over, Don Cameron grounding.

From this it will be seen thai, Roberts did excellent work, and had he had more opportunities in the first spell Canterbury's line would have been penetrated more than once. Franklin, in this spell, failed repeatedly to get the ball away to the three-quarter line. He essayed too much, and did no justice to the others. In other respects he did some good work, fieldinsr the ball nicely, kicking well, and defending solidly. Don Cameron showed at times some of his old form.

A gratifying feature of Taranaki's play was the splendid work of Tinney. the full-back, who had very hard luck in dislocating his wrist in jumping over a fence after the leather.

Stohr was right up to rep. form, and the writer of a letter in Thursday's paper who spoke . of his play in disparaging terms, would, had he been present, .'have completely changed his views (if, 10f , course, he knew anything! about football, which is open to doubt) as to this player's fitness for inclusion in the team. His line

kirkinjf has never been better. which i* I saying a lot, drawing t ;om , mc \ / rep. sitting alongside tlip writer, the exclamation, "Isn't it marvelltjus!" iuylor, lainu. and Pini. as aforementioned, were litflit on tlio job. Hawkins, too, was conspicuous till he had to retire with an injured jaw. Cain did very useful work. The refereeing of Mr Nielson, of Wellington, was impartial, but there wag a trifle too much whistle. Steve Casey, the "All-Black." has put lip a bit of a record; in fact he has played in 100 representative matches and taken ]Kirt in nearly 300 engagements, and has never met with an accident. Rugby can't be so very rough, after all, when a"frontrank forward can tell this tale. THE RUGBY UNION. SETTLEMENT WITH NEW SOUTH WALES. By Telegraph—Press Association. " r _ Wellington, Yesterday. K special committer of the New Zealand Kngby Union comprising Messrs. Oalbraitli, Wylie and Crombic. conferred •.villi Dr. Jjohrsniann and Mr. W. nil!, of the New South Wales Union, and adjusted the financial difference.-; which had occurred over the trip of the Californian University team three years ago. The result is that New Smith Wales will pay New Zealand £SO, and this wi'l settle all claims and counterclaims ■hntween the two unions. At a complimentary dinner last ni<;ht Mr. Campbell (presiding) said that New South Wales v--re going as missionaries to America, and he felt sure they would uphold tlie traditions of the game. Mr. Hill, responding, said that now the financial dispute had been settled interstate matches between New Zea-1 land and New South Wales would be 1 resumed.