THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL TEAM.

[FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT. J

London, November 3. During the past fortnight the New Zealanders have had a busy time of it, playing five matches and travelling several hundred miles. Their opponents during this fortnight have included several very powerful teams, and on the whole the New Zealanders have done very well. They have now played ten matches, five of which have been won and five lost. The Maoris have scored altogether eleven goals and eight tries, against their opponents five goals and seven tries. The sixth match of the tour was against the Midland Counties Union, and took place on the Warwickshire County Ground at Edgbaston, Birmingham, 011 October 20. The Midland team, though a strong one, was not the best that the counties can raise, several prominent players being prevented from taking part in the match on account of club fixtures.

Considerable interest was taken in the match, and the locals were favourites. As matters turned out local opinion was wrong, and the Maoris scored their fourth victory. Soon after the start the Maoris began to assert their superiority, and after a quarter of an hour s play some clever passing among the forwards resulted in F. War brick scoring a try. McUausland failed at the place kick which was a very difficult one, and from the drop out the Maoris continued to force the game. The Midlanders conceded a minor point, and then Wynyard got an opening, and dropped a splendid goal. The home team now played up very hard and forced the Maoris to touch down just before half time was called. In the second half the New Zealanders kept up the pressure 'and McOausland dropped a goal. This was followed by a try between the posts by Elliott, from which McCausland placed an easy goal* Time was called shot tly after, victory resting with the New Zealanders—3 goals 1 trvand§ minor points to 1 minor point. On Sunday the team travelled up to London en route to Sheffield Park, Sussex, where an extra match had been arranged at the particular request °l ?r a Sheffield, who wished to entertain the Maoris during their visit. Lord Sheffield put the arrangements in the hand 3 of - Mr. Rowland Hill, the hon. secretary of uhe Rugby Union, who selected for the Maoris' opponents the most powerful county team

in England, namely Middlesex, who last year went through the season without losing a match. Owing to an unfortunate matter which arose some time ago in connection with cricket matches at Sheffield Park, his'lordship decided' not to admit the general public, and consequently the game was witnessed by only about two hundred specially invited guests. Before the match 1 both players " and ' spectators were eutertained by Lord Sheffield at lunch, which'was far too sumptuous a repast for the players,, at ajayratej and the game suffered from the effect of these festivities. The team selected -to represent Middlesex was far the most powerful combination that the Maoris have yet met. It included no fewer than six international players, and not a fault cpuld be found with any member of the fifteen. The partisans of Middlesex were naturally confident, and their victory was generally, expected, but it must be confessed that the New Zealanders gave a disappointing exhibition, and it is to be regretted that their play at times showed considerable roughness, and their general conduct in the field was by no means without reproach. From the kick-off till the finish the Middlesex men had the game at their mercy, and they quickly began to run up a formidable score. Five minutes from the start Lindsay got possession from the line-out and scored a try, which was not improved upon, and not very long after Roberta ran right through the Maoris, and got a try .between the posts. Johnston this time placed an easy goal, though he was unsuccessful a few minutes' later, when he attempted a placekick from a try by Anderson. Halftime was called, with the score : 1 goal 2 tries to nil. In the second half the colonials showed to more advantage, but they failed to score, while their opponents added a try by Anderson and a goal, finely dropped by Lindsay, to their total, and when time was called Middlesex had won by two goals and three tries to nil. The New Zealanders seemed quite outclassed, and their forwards were playing in anything but their oest style, Williams and A. Warbrick alone being in good form. Madigan and Keogh played well, but their opponents were too good for j them. Of the Middlesex team it is impossible to speak too highly—their combination j was almost perfect, and the passing by the forwards ■as well as backs quite a treat to witness. Teams : — Middlesex : A. S. Johnston (Blackheath), back ; W. E. Maclagan (London Scottish, captain), A. J. Gould (Richmond), and G. C. Lindsay (London Scottish), threequarter backs; J. H. Roberts (Richmond) and D. G. Anderson (London Scottish), halfbacks; F. C. Cousins (Richmond), G. L. Jeffrey (Blackheath), R. E. Inglis (Blackheath), J. H. Hedderwick (London Scottish), T. W. Lockwood (Middlesex Wanderers), J. Hammond (Blackheath), J. G. Patterson (London Scottish), A. A Surtees (Harlequins), and E. S. M'uen (Old Cheltouians), forwards. New Zealanders: D. Gage (Poneke, Wellington*.,back ; W. Wynyard (North Shore)., £. l.ieCausiA'ird (Gordon, Auckland.,. and 0. Madigan (Grafton), t/Affeequarterbacks; J. Iveogh ( DunViuV/,F. brick (Tauranga), and W. Elliott (Grafton, Auckland), halfbacks; T. Ellison (Poneite, Wellington), Art Warbrick (Malata), W. Karauria (Hawke's Bay), G. Williams (Poneke), W. Anderson (Ihames), H. Lee (Rivertonj, A. Webster (Hokianga), and R. Taiaroa (Dunediu), forwards. Umpires: J. Warbrick (New Zealand) and J. I. Ward (Middlesex County). Referee :G. Rowland Hill (lion. sec. Rugby Football Union). From Sheilield Park the New Zealanders journeyed up to Hull, where they made their first appearance in the North against the town team on October '24th. The northerners aro very keen followers of the game, and ! there was a tremendous attendance, upwards of 10,000 persons paying gate. It is estimated that the New Zealanders'share of the takings will amount to about £2.50. The Maoris won the toss, and Simpson kicked oil' for Hull. From the very outset it was evident that the game would be a close one, anil the spectators were moat enthusiastic, cheering both sides impartially. The first scrummage was formed on the centre line, but the Maori forwards soon worked the ball into the home 2/j. YVynyard essayed a drop at goal, which was unsuccessful, and only resulted in a minor point being scored. Hull now retali- . ated, and the ball was carried up to the j Maoris' end. Simpson punted over the goal line, and Holt following up smartly, secured a try which Coulman failed to improve upon. The play was now wonderfully tast, and the ball went rapidly from end to end. Wynyard had another siiot at goal, which only .just missed, and half-time was called with the home team leading by 1. try to nothing. After the interval ootn sides worked hard, but the Maoris seemed a bit stale, and the Yorkshireinen had the best of the scrummages. Neither side, however, was able to score, and at the call ol time Hull were left winners by 1 try and 3 minor points to 4 minor points. The following were the teams : —Hull : Bearpark (back), Sliilito, Hill, and Coulman (threequarters), Hewer and Iveson (halfback), C. Simpson, H. Simpson, Calvert. Holt, Jacketts, Pattiaon, Tuke, Sinales, and j Teal (forwards). New Zealand : Gage (back), McCauslaud, Madigan, and Wynyard (threequarter backs), Elliott, Iveogh, and F. Warbrick (halfbacks), Ellison, Taiaroa, Lee, Karauria, Webster, A. Warbrick, Goldsmith, and Maynard. The next match of the tour was against the local team at Dewsbury, another stronghold of Rugby football. The game was played on Saturday, October '27th. and despite many counter attractions in the neighbourhood, about 5000 spectators paid at the gate. For the first half ot the game the New Zealanders had the advantage of a strong wind behind them, and consequently they had considerably the best of the game. Soon after the start Wynyard got hold of the ball from a scrummage, and though surrounded by opponents, succeeded in dropping a splendid goal. The Maoris were unfortunate in losing the services of Ellison, who hurt his arm and had to retiro ; but they still continued to hold the upper-hand, and .just before naif time, McCauslaud followed Wynward's example, and a second dropped goal was added to the score. Op changing ends the home team had the benefit of the wind, but failed to take advantage of it. They pressed the Maoris continually, and compelled them to save frequently, but were unable to score a major point, and when time was called the score was New Zealanders two goals, Dewsbury nine minor points. The Maoris' third match in the North, and the tenth of the tour, w-»s nlayed at Wakefield, on October 31st, when the colonials met Wakefield Trinity, a very strong club, which has a great reputation in the North. The locals put their best team in the field, but the Maoris were unfortunate in having several of their best men laid up. including Ellison, Wynyard, and McCausland, who were all three damaged in the Dewsbury match. The weather was beautifully fine and about 4000 persons were present when the local captain kicked off. The absence of their " cracks " seemed to have inspirited the Maoris, for they played with great pluck and dash. The game was very even, and both sides were frequently very near scoring, but nothing definite was gained till just before half-time, when a bit of foolish play on the part of the Maori full-back enabled the locals to score a try. The ball had been kicked over the Maori goal line, and Nehua, instead of touching down, essayed to run the ball out, but his kick was charged down by Brannan, who scored an easy try, which was not improved upon. In the second half the game was splendidly contested, the Maoris were on several occasions within an ace of scoring. Keogh, Gage, and Elliot were all conspicuous, and Madigan made a brilliant run, but was collared on the goal line, his claim for a try being disallowed. Nothing further was scored and the home team won by one try and seven minors to three m nors. Teams :—

Wakefield.H. D. Hamshaw (back), W. H. Fotherby, W. Brannan, and F. Hulme (three-quarterbacks), H. Hutchinson and R. Dunn (halfbacks), Yv. Binks, W. W. Gomersall, F. W. Lowrie, W. Latham, F. Ross, W. H. .Jones, P. Booth, A. Thompson, and R. Dawson.

Maoris.—W. Nehua (back), W. Warbrick, D. Gage, and C. Madigan (three-quar-terbacks), Keogh, W. Elliott, and F. Warbrick (halfbacks), H. Lee, G. Williams, R. Taiaroa, R. Maynard, A. Webster, W. J. Karauria, A. Warbrick, and D. Stewart.