PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8542, 24 March 1908, Page 5

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

DISGRACEFUL SCENES ON THE FIELD. FIGHTING AND KICKING. A NEW ZEALANDER ORDERED OFF. (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, March 23. The last match between the New Zealand professionals and the Northern Union was played at Cheltenham, and was witnessed by iOOO~ people. Iho Northerners kicked off. The English halves got the ball away, Batten tunrung into tho New Zealand twenty-fives. Then Taylor arid Wrigley got clear, the Unionists being forced down. Near midfield tho New Zcalandcrs became off side, and with a line kick White scored for tho Union. The latter then attacked in great style, with the result that Jolley went over the lino with a clever try, too difficult, however, to convert. So far the Northerners had all the best of the game, and more than held thoir own to half-time, when the score was 5 to nil. The New Zealanders, on resuming, broke away. Trevarthen getting a pass from Smith, crossed the line, but was held up. White also made a fine run, whilo Taylor forced down. Keeping up the pressure, New Zealand obtained a free kick. Messenger attempted a shot at goal* The All-i3lacks ay ere malting tremendous attempts to score, Wynyard, Tyler, and Wrigley doing fine work. Towards the close, says the Daily lelegraph, tho game became extremely rough, and the men almost got out of hand. Cross was ordered off the field for striking an opponent, and there were several other incidents which created considerable unpleasantness to everybody concerned. Eventually Messenger scored from a pass by Tyler. After Wrigley had obtained the extra points some more tigntin"- took place, Dunning using his fists pretty freelv. Johnston scored again from'a fine rush, but Wrigley failed at o-oal. For the rest of.tho game the New Zealanders pressed hard, but there was no more scoring , SYDNEY, March 24. The Daily Express says the idea of instructing the Westerners in the dcLicrhis of "Northern football was a lailu?e. Manv left the ground heartily disgusted at the foul and brutal tactics employed towards the close, when the came developed into a scrapping matcn. ° Tho views of unbiassed chronicler ot the game are worth quoting full. They :ire to the effect that tackling developed from fierceness into brutality and ruffianism. First. Cross was. ordered off the field for deliberately kicking an opponent, Then Thomas, of Oldham, was ruiltv of the same foul tactics. The "sufferer in this case was Gilchrist, who was not disposed to take it lying down. He arose, and administered such fistic chastisement to" the Oldham. player as will not soon be forgotten. Everyone anticipated that both men would receive marching orders, but the referee was evidently of the opinion that justice had already been meted out. Tho'Daily Mail and Morning Leader confirm the roughness of the play, while the Daily Graphic says tho cause of professional ■ Rugby was not advanced much by the third'contest.