"COMPLETE LACK OF CONFIDENCE"

By "v_ngutr*-J"

The poor record of seven losses, two wins, and a draw, established by the New Zealand Association football team in Australia on the present tour, has produced some unfavourable comment on the other side of the Tasman, The Dominion's representatives have certainly failed to uphold the prestige which New Zealand had in Australia prior to the visit, and from accounts to hand it appears that maiiy of the players have been decided disappointments. Christie, for one, has been regarded as "a spent force, being too slow to cope with the fast-moving Australians," and others who have been ranked as failures are Groves, Ives, Stone, Baker, and Barton. There are, indeed, few of the fifteen members of the team of whom the Press in Australia has had something* repeatedly appreciative to say. A resume of the first six games indicates that, generally speaking, tho form of the tourists was very poor and that they lacked confidence. A report from Australia gives details of these matches, as follows:*—"v. New South Wales' (May 20): This game was played on the Sydney Cricket Ground, which was in a very bad condition. Three inches of rain fell, on the preceding night The New South Wales team put up a great performance, combining brilliantly; They quite outclassed the New Zealand team, who played shockingly, only Zuill and Kay producing any form at all. "v. South Coast (May 24): This match was won by one goal to nil, and but for faulty shooting the.visitors would have scored several more. Zuill, Graham, Crabb, and . Kershaw played well. .-.-*,• "v. Northern Districts (May 27): Lost by seven goals to one, but on the run of the play New Zealand should have scored more, faulty shooting again being-in evidence. "v. Ipswich (June 1): Lost by four goals to five. This was a close game and played on a hard ground in hot weather. Tony Graham was tried it' centre-forward, as he seemed the only player willing to get, into it. He proved quite a, success, scoring two of the. goals. Kershaw is -shooting hard and well, but still shows a tendency,to hesitate,, which' of ten , results in his being robbed of the ball. The match should have been won by the tourists if more of the chances offering had been accepted. "v. Queensland (June 3): Won in convincing fashion by five goals to one. Christie, who' has been a great disappointment, was rested, Chapman filling his place and playing a useful game- Kershaw played at centre, and scored three goals. The team showed more dash in the mateh —a quality which has been sadly lacking. The whole team has displayed great hesitancy, and has consistently been beaten for the ball by their opponents, who show great nippiness. "v. Australia (June 5): This was_ a good game, with about a one-goal difference between the teams.' It was full of excitement, four goals being scored in six minutes. But for the fact .that. Groves was a 'wash out,' Barton very, poor, and Christie too slow, New Zealand should have won. With a better' centre --half and a weighty, bustling centre-forward, the tourists could moro than hold their own. Zuill, Gerrard, and Graham have always been reliable, the last-mentioned being versatile and a very fine player indeed. Kay seeks the'limelight on every occasion and has often spoiled movements by shooting instead of crossing. "The New Zealand team lost the toss in all the first- six games. From the kick-off they haye1 always worked the ball down the left wing and either rattled the cross-bar or made the goalkeeper exert himself to save. Had they managed to score on those occasions a different result might have been achieved in most of the games. With the exception of the Queensland match and the first Test, the team has played with a complete lack of confidence." ■• ■ ''"■', - , The only two men who nave played in all matches to date are Zuill and Gerrard. Kershaw had his first standdown in last night's match. The remaining members of the team, witn the number of ■ matches in which each has played in parentheses, ..re;—Graham (7), Stenhouse (8), Christie (8), Crabb (9), Barton (7), Blackie (0), Baker (4), Kay (9), Stone (7), Chapman (7), Ives (4), and Groves.(s). The third and last Test match was to take placo today at Sydney. The final game of the tour will be played next Wednesday.

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