FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 17 June 1914, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI V. WELLINGTON. The Taranaki team to play against Wellington at Hawera on the 24th of June will be selected from the following players on Monday, June 22: Backs.—George, Stohr, Bertram!, Coleman, Roberta, C. Young, Loveridge, S. Cameron, Brown. Forwards.—Taylor, Cain, Dewer, Hawkins, Smith, Ward, Carey, K. Patterson, Wliittington, 0. Young, Jack Kisaick. The team is requested to be in Hawera at eleven o'clock on the 24th.

A RULING WANTED.

A coastal correspondent writes: Quite a lot of excitement occurred after Piharaa had scored one of their tries. The ball was taken out and the kicker was placing it when the Rahotu captain asked that the ball be. placed in a parallel line to the touch lines. The placer therefore shifted a little, and the kicker handled the ball to place it again, whereon the Rahotu captain claimed a nokick for the kicker handling the ball twice, and rushed out and kicked the ball. The referee was at a loss for a decision, and after a mixed hubbub of excited spectators, players, etc., a 25 yards drop was decided on. The question was placed before the executive of the Northern Committee of the Referees' Association on Monday, and their ruling waa that the referee's decision was wrong, as the kicker was entitled to handle the ball provided that he did not ao so while it was on the ground. As there is considerable doubt existent on the question, we publish the rules bearing on. the matter as follows: i "After a charge has been disallowed and another kick is being taken the ball may be handled by and for the kicker, as in the first instance.

"Any player except the kicker, may place, or, after a charge has been disallowed, replace the ball, and he may alter the spot of the place kick, but such new place must be from a spot behind the mark in a line parallel to the touch line."

"If a try has been scored, and after a charge byi the defending stide has been disallowed, the kicker tou.cb.eß the ball when It is on the ground, the referee must order a drop out; the illegal act of the kicker in so handling the ball making it an unsuccessful try within the meaning of law 16."

•, "The kicker and placer must be distinct persons and the kicker may not under any circumstances touch the hall when it is on the ground, even though the charge has been disallowed."

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Star, were u»fortunate in being unable to muster a team to visit Waitara on Saturday. Several of their players were engaged on the Walkure, and had they taken the afternoon off, would have lost their job. This they could not afford to do. As those played comprised the bulk of Star's backs, the trip had regretfully to be postponed. It is not known whether Clifton will claim a forfeit. Possibly the Clifton Club, recognising from past experience the exigencies of shipping despatch, will agree to play the match at some later date if one is available.

Inglewood deserve great credit for the performance they put up against Tukapa on Saturday. Inglewood always had the reputation of being a difficult team to beat on their own ground, and to score 11 points against Tukapa's 21 on a dry day, eminently suited to the visitors, will enhance that reputation.

Referring to tlie match, the Inglewood Record says:—Of the blue backs, Brown mid Lororidge wore the best, both making some line individual efforts. It would lie hard to single out any of the forwards as all appeared to be_ doing their utmost. For Inglewood G. Miles at fullback was very safe, and must be given credit for his good kicking, his two goals being really fine efforts. Raynor Bros, at half and centre three-quarter, were always in the thick of the play and appeared to he doing the lion's share. While Smith was a big improvement on wing three-quarter, playing much better than at five-eights. Russell is rather ' green yet, but will be alright after a game or two. Of the forwards, L. 01- ; son, P. Chapman, G. Karalus, and S. George played sterling games. Len Russell on the wing was putting a lot of ginger in his work and is worthy of mention. Pull together Inglewood and ' retain the Sole Cup. The Stratford-Okato match proved a soft thing for the former. The inland club was taking no chances and sent in its strongest fifteen, and against their superior skill and combination Okato could do nothing, whilst the visj itors did almost all they wanted to. In Ithe loose the.Okato forwards did not fare so badly, but in the line-out and scrum work they v. re badly' beaten. Stratford got the ball almost eonsist- . ently from the scrum, and their backs | were able to get the chances they wanti ed, and as a result, some line passing ' rushes were witnessed, but on many oc- I caaions over-eagerness spoilt chances, owing to the backer-tip getting in front. Near the end of the game one very bright piece, of passing was witnessed. Okato were hotly attacking, and almost on the line a Stratford forward picked up the ball and shot it out. By means of backs and forwards the ball travelled the length of the field, each man passing just as he was tackled, and the effort culminated in a try. Of the nine tries scores, six were converted. Okato backs were badly beaten by feinting tactics, and, though they collared gamely ut times, were never in the hunt. The Okato team did jiot lack condition, but knowledge, of the finer points was lacking. Carey, as usual, played himself out of his jersey. He was well backed up by Xarbey and Julian.. Among the backs, Turner, Eustace and Corbett wore the best.

AH the Stratford forwards playeii well. Rcid has a too-great a tendency to off-side play on the line out. which may bring trouble. Among the hacks Whittington was tlic pick, though he did not start too well. However, he retrieved himself after making some great openings, and running; straight. Young was the best of the three-quarters, and is a particularly dangerous scoring man. Once the team gets a little more finish on its passing rushes it will he a hard team to beat, especially on a dry day, and should not be far out of the northern division championship. Okato looked a motley crew when they lined out, owing to "the presence of four vari-colored jerseys or sweaters. This is a contrast to the usual appearance of the team, who seldom offend in this respect. Saturday's medley of colors was due to the fact that three substitutes were forced into service, and that Carey, who sported green and white \ (aged) l>:id destroyed two of his jev--1 seys in the previous Saturday's play.