FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 11, 13 June 1913, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

| " THE . MAORI TEAM. ;; By CaWc —Press AsWitftion—Copyright. , ' -Sydney, June 12. The Maotis should j)&*e played Tftmworth yesterday, but no hews lias been received, owing to telegraphic interruptions. A PLAYER SUSPENDED. Auckland, Thursday. Ross, a member of the City football team, has been suspended by the Rugby Union on a charge of having struck a player of the Marist Tiros.' team with his fist, in the match last Saturday. The defence of Ross was that the blow was accidental. NORTH 11 v." SOUTH 0. The North and South Taranaki foot-' ball teams yesterday afternoon on the Recreation Grounds, the teams being #s chosen, save that Rolands and John- ' son replaced. Tamu and l'ijii, and Meuli replaced Roberts in the 1 South team, while Steele and Davidson donned jerseys for North, in place of Hawkins and Dewar. It was a close and. interesting game. In the first spell the Southern forwards had somewhat the better of the game, but in the second half, the Northerners proved themselves the better men, winning in the loose. The Southern pack were the heavier. A lot pf passing, was , done by •.tliev Soiuthprn/ lads, which,' hbwever,' did ;iiot gainl'innbh ground, being across the tiel'dv McLeod rather spoiled by..hanging on too much. There .wsis a; fair - attendance of the public. Brown kicked off, and Daly lined at the twenty-five. Yearbury, after a little loose play, cut through on the blind but lost the ball. From the scrum Brown passed forward. Yearbury secured froij) the next serum, and tiie ball passed through the hands of Cameron, Meuli, McLeod and Daly, who was well grassed by McLeod. The Southerners still attacked, and McLeod spoilt a nice movement by hanging on. Loveridge was responsible ifor removing play to midway with a tricky run and kick, but stiil lined nicely, and later Cameron broke through, but his pass, a high one, went begging and Brown was able to clear. A pretty kick by Loveridge followed, and the Northerners were attacking.. The ball came across to Stohr, who essayed to pot, the ball going • right over the post, but failing to negotiate the uprights. Rowlands intercepted a North pass, and matters looked dangerous, but Bertrand saved. South backs were passing, nicely, and a passing rush by Yearbury atfd Cameron was checked by Stohr marking. Later Yearbury cleverly marked. Winters had a shot which went low and rebounded. Carey picked the ball up off-side apd Winters had another shot, but was 'charged down for handling and Whittington, Kissiek, Winters and Johnston headed a rush which Bertrand cheeked. The South hacks were handling the ball well, and set up two hot rushes, one of which was spoilt by McLeod hanging on. Tocker next secured and broke away, passing to Loveridge, who cut in and centred, the ball being returned to the line. Long kicks by fitohr found touch in Taraiiaki's twentyfive. Meuli, however, with a strong run removed play to neutral territory. Brown made a fine opening and passed to Loveridge who streaked for the line and passed when blocked bv Hill and Daly. Tocker was finsupported, and the Southerners were able to clear. Stohr went down gamely to a Southern rush, and lined well up' field. From a scrambling rush, in which Cain was prominent, Cade picked up and scored. Stohr's shot struck the bar and bounded over.

North 5 South o Yearbury set his backs going, but a faulty pass bv S. Cameron h-t Brown secure, and the North hacks «ltacked. Hill, however, drove them 'nek with a hard kick. Loveridge centred, and Bertraiul securing dashed down ! 10 line, being upended by Meuli, and Cade picked up cleverly and shot to Dobson, who handed the ball on to Loveridge, the latter being upended by Hill. The attack was terminated by Stohv's kick failing to find the line, and .'•South bring forced. Loveridge lined, but VearbUry secured and shot out to McLood, who passed on to Meuli, the latter lining. A passing movement between Cain and Cade and back to Cain gained much ground, Ilill being ultimately compelled to force. Yearbury cleverly checked a dangerous North riisli. and Taylor then came through on his own. Stohr just ,saving on the the touch line. Yearbury next broke away, but a bad pass let Bertram! intercept and carry play across halfway. Wild passing by the .Northerners let the Southerns back again, Bertram! pluekily going down and kicking to touch. Yearbury, McLeod. Cameron and Daly took a hand in a passing movement, the latter throwing forward, as he did a moment later in another likely movement. South executed another passing, rush, in which all the backs, took part, but 110 ground was gained and half time was then called.

South attacked on resumption, but Cade broke through to midway, where Brown passed out. Dalv intercepted and dashed away, but was called back. Carey and Sullivan were prominent in a forward rush, but llill secured and lined. Hill and Xtohr next gave a line exhibition of line kicking. Steele ami Ward carried play to South territory, and from a free kick Stohr made a !>r'cat attempt to goal, the ball going wide. Cain, Carey. Ward and Sullivan next headed a hefty rush, Daley cleverly markin« and lining. Back came the Northern vanguard, Hill saving by falling on the ball close to the line. Several scrums ensued close to the South goal line, but the Southerners cleared. North were not to be denied, and Brown, breaking through the serum, carried the ball over the line, where Nicholls scored. Loveridge failed to goal.

North y Sou tli l () McLeod. Cameron ami Hill marked in (liiiek success ion, the latter ultimately lining at Hie twenty-five. Gradually the Southerners worked the ball down', 'and offside play by fade gave J fill a sliot. He was also awarded 110 charge, but the ball fell short. A clever mark by McLeod. nicely lined, put. the Soutlierners in a handy position. Loveridge, however, broke awav. Hill secured and kicked to touch, the bounce beating Hertrand. who was running strong. Ward next carried play to Hill', who was not found wanting. A forward pass by Browne, taken bv Tocker, gave South a welcome free kick, which, followed up fast saw Cameron break awav unsupported. Winters, Kissick (2) and Rowlands took plav well up the field, where Hill had a shot from a penalty. The ball kept low and rebounded.' Yearlmrv securing. McLeod. Ca moron n 11 d Daly took a hand 111 a passing movement, the direction of which was across the field, and the bull went out near the corner' Scrum work followed close lo North's line, but little advantage was gained until Tocker got ofi'side and save Lvskev shot at goal, the ball being forced. I he Southerners still pressed, and from a scrum Cameron dived for the line, but ost the ball. From a penalty South lud a shot, illo ball falling short, and Stohr lined at midway.. The South forwards carried play to North's line, and kept it there some lime, but could not score, and a dashing forward rush by P.ernsten and Carer, followed by a strong kick to touch by Stohr, saw play at the

South twenty-five. Carey here put in q. I dashing rush, ami smothering Hill cnr- , riett th 6 ball ever the line where; Ber- ' trand, who Was, handy, scor,d.. ikohr'akick weiit wide. ' ' Nprth • ... 11 South ... 1 0 Mculi secured on kicking off, and with a fast run' carried play to North's line; a force resulting. The last few moments were particularly fast. South having, if anything, the advantages," It • was however, difficult to distinguish the players, and the game ended— North 11 South 0 Mr, Roch made an impartial referee. TARANAKI REPRESENTATIVES CRITICISED.

From time to time the Wanganui Chronicle (writes our Wanganui correspondent), has published under the title "Sidelights on Rugby," a series of usually sane articles by '"Vexato Quacstio," but the offensivftlsem'arks of that writer in the Chronicle of June 11th, in reference to the Taranaki footballers must not be taken as a true reflex of public opjnion in the river .sity. To get'baek to the beginning, Taianaki played Wanganui at the latter place on June 3rd, and the game was fully reported and criticised quite fairly in the Chronicle on June 4 and 7. As far as the football world was concerned, the contest had become history. Wanganui expected, and met defeat. The losers played a good game, but acknowledge that they ri.et a better, team. They are good sports aM from j gather,, more, than surprised/at "Vexato Qfuaestio's" bitter attack. If that writer saw so many dirty points in the Taranaki play he miglit have mentioned the fact at. once, instead of waiting over a, week before getting off his ebullition. Inter alia "Vexato Quaestio" remarks:— "C'ain was guilty of some 'dirty work. When'he was unable to collar "a man he endeavoured to trip him up. He succeeded in this on several occasions and on one occasion was caught by the referee. This is an old dodge of Cain's. "The Taranaki forwards, especially Taylor, played shoeJcingly off-aide at times, and quite neutralised any success our men had in hooking the ball. They were also very successful in working off forward passes during the game. From two sueli forward passes tries were scored."

And again:— "Leahy was all right, but worked from the off-side a good deal. In that he was adopting Taranaki's tactics." Turning up the "Taranaki News" report of last week's match, I find that the Cain incident was noted, and to the writer it appeared that Cain was innocent of any intention to trip Atkins. The ball was" kicked to the smart little Wanganui half-back, and Cain charged him. Atkins endeavoured to dodge his burly opponent, but too late, and Cain's foot certainly tripped him. To say that a player of Cain's experience in rep. football would deliberately trip an opponent right out in the open and alongside the referee is to place a slur on the Clifton forward's intelligence as well as on his character for clean play. Cain plays a "hard" game, certainly, but it, requires more than "Vexato Quaestio's" say-so to damn him as a "dirty" player. Taranaki had nothing to gain by "dirty" play, and, considering that persons backing Wanganui asked for and got from 15 to 20 "in" It looks as if the public reckoned that the Yellows were much too strong for the Blues on the day. A lot might be said about, the picking and placing of that Wanganui team, but that has nothing to do with the argument. Regarding the allegations of "shocking off-side play." it might be remarked that the referee was a Wanganui gentleman, and these remarks are a greater insult to him than to the players who are alleged to have offended. The "News" report stated that Mr. L. Bassett Was a "lenient" referee, and it could not be urged against him that he tied the game up with a whistle for every minor infringement, but to say that he let pass "shocking off-side play" is nonsensical. Such remarks come badly from a man who figures prominently in the Wanganui Rugbv tlnion, and has been closely associated with Taranaki Rugby for, years; otherwise they would be receded with the contempt they deserve. As one Rugby enthusiast puts it, "Great Scott, criticism has gone to the canines these days'"

STAR v. INGLE WOOD; The following will represent Star against Inglewood on the Recreation Grounds, on Saturday Full back, J. Box; three-quarters, Rickleben, Tito. F. Carroll; five-eighths, Bertrand; halfhack, Jacob; wing forwards, H. Croulsett. and W. Pratt; forwards, Okev, Stanley, Karena. Emergencies: T. Mack, Abraham. TARANAKI v. WELLINGTON. > The following will represent Taranaki in the match Taranaki v. Wellington, to be played at Hawera on Wednesday week, June 25: Fuull back, Stohr; ■throe-quarters. Loveridge. McLeod and Roberts; live-eighths, Cade and Cam* eron; half-back. Brown; wing-forward, Taylor; forwards, Cane Dewer. Tamil, Kissiek. Hawkins, Whittington, and I'.vnn, Emergencies: Backs. Hill and Bertrand; Forwards. Ward and Jim Kissiek.