THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL TEAM.

DETAILS 01 , MATCHES AND

TOUR.

(Feom Oub Special Correspondent.)

London, December 7.

THE IRISH MATCHES. The New Zealand football team left Man" Chester on Friday afternoon last, and orossed to Ireland tho *ame night. The weather was wretched, and the sea so rough that more than one internal economy was unpleasantly disturbed. The boys arrived in Dublin on {Saturday morning tired and travol-worn, and in no sort of condition to play a football match ; needs must, however, when the devil drives, or, to put it more politely, when yuur manager has made his arrangements and three o'clock that afternoon saw the pseudo-Maoris once more in their mats and jerseys.

The attendance was wretched ior a city like Dublin, only about 3,000 spectators putting in an appearance, and unless the other two matches pan out considerably better the visit of the New Zealanders to Ireland will be a financial failure.

The wind proved very high throughout the afternoon, and to a great extent controlled the game. Fortunately, too, the Irishmen had under-rated their opponents, and the so-called "All Ireland" team was but a very moderate fifteen, many of the best men belonging , to Dublin University, etc., having inexplicably refused to play.

The local papers abuse the Irish team all round, and are by no means overpoweringly complimentary to the New Zealanders. Pat Keogh, who is described as " of Enniscorthy," comes in for some well-merited praisse, and W. Warbrick gets a word or two of commendation. On the othet , hand, neither McCausland nor Ellison are mentioned, and Taare and Taiaroa are accused ot roughness. The following are the details of the game as given in the " Freeman's Journal " :—

At about a quarter to three Ellison started business by dribbling aside to Waites, who stopped him, but after a couple of scrummages the ball found rest in touch at the home 25 yaids flag. From this, however, a loose scrummage quickly removed it, and Walpole charging down, McCausland left play well within the Maori territory. Along kick by Edwards brought business within five yards of the visitors' lines, and in less time than it takes to tell, the leather was swept across, but Warbrick ran it out. In this endeavour he was encountered by Stoker, with the result that the .Maori back was hurt, and a cessation of hostilities ior about iive minutes was necessary before he could recover himself, which lie ultimately did amidst much cheering. On play being resumed, the scrummage was formed within fifteen yards of the Maori goal, and no end of chances of scoring occurred, but none of them were taken ; and in the end the visitors were able to touch down in defence. McCausland dropped out to Waites, who ran to the visitors' goal, but \Ycirbriuk soon got possession, and puseed to Keogh, who made the first good run of the day to the centre Gag. Walpole, however, quickly cancelled this, and would have been in only for the full back, and then a free kick by McCaus and relieved the stress. For a long time now the ball was kept close to the Maori goal, and any cripple would have scored where these athleles failed. Bulger would have been in had he not struck against the umpire, and ultimately a miss kick at goal by "W'alpole enjtkied'MeCausland to rush out of danger. Woods then got a fine chance from a pass by Warren, but hesitated, and was slung over, with the result that Walpoie picked up and dropped wide of the bar, thus only gaining the second point for his side. Waites intercepted the next attempt by McCaufaland to kick out, and oassed to Walpole, who actually got over the line, but Warbrick snapped the ball from him before he could ground it, and punted it into touch. A looso kick then came to Waites, who missed his catch but recovered with his feet and resigned in favour of Sicker. The lattor went straight for goal, with Waibes in attendance, and when ho lost possession at the line Waites was handy and slipped in with the first try, which evoked a storm of applause. The. kick, which could not have been easier, was entrusted to J. Stevenson,who brought oil' a goal. Ellison again endeavoured to kick oil by dribbling, but Lyttle had him this time' and passed to Forrest', who resigned in favour of Warren, and the Maoris were very glad to touch down for V he third time. Bulger now missed Jk'cCausland's kick out, and Elliott, chargint c up, took the ball to the home 25. Hare Keogh made a fine side run and passed to F. WurbrieU, who missed, letting MofVatt in for a fine dribble. A good pick up avid kick by Gage stopped this, and the .ball spinning against the wind came to .Andetson, who ran in under the bar. This try, which appeared to be all right, wus disallowed, and immediately half tii.ue was called. At the commencement Df the second half, which Warren stalled against the wind, the Maoris were very sorely pressed, and Jameson got over the" .line, but was thrown into touch in goal. Some dispute was raised over this, and the ball was scrummaged five yards out. From this Waites ivas nearly in, but when r.« lost possession Woods picked up and passed to Warren, who, running , , re-1 turned to Woods, who gained a try amidst ringing cheers. The kick, however, was too hard for Stevenson. After this, however, the most unaccountable and disgraceful breakdown that ever was seen occurred. To begin, the Maoris gained a try which was so palpably wrong, both on pleas of crooked throwing aiid handling the ball, thab not only the Irishmen but their visitors, with one exception, did not play up to it, and Keogh ran in unopposed, except by Edwards, who only made a half-hearted attempt to tackle him. Several objections were raised, but Mr Chambers overruled them all, and McCausland kicked the goal. Almost immediately up to the kick off Elliott made a long run, at the end of which Keogh got the pass from him and gained his second try, McCausland again improving it. After the noxt kick off Forrest made a fine dribble, followed by a run from Bulger, but just as they were most dangerouß Ellison got away and registered another try to the Maoris' score, bub McCausland failed to kick it. This was all but supplemented immediately after Warren's kick out, as Gage just got in. A rush down the ground, headed by Moffatfc, brought the ball to the New Zealand goal, and a fine piece of concerted play between R. Stevenson, Bulger, J. Stevenson, and Forrest brought the ball to the verge of the lino. Woods then shot over the line, but Warbrick was too smart for him and kicked the ball dead against the spectators. After the kick off, a high punt of Warbrick bounded over Echvards's head and Elliott out-pacing him gained an easy try which McCausland converted. Another fine rush by the whole Irish forward team swept the leather straight down the ground and Warbrick wae very glad to touch in defence. After this a long kick with the wind was badly muffed by Edwards, who was again out-paced by Maynard. The latter thus easily gained try number five, and it wae converted into a goal by McCausland. About ten minutes now remained, and during ib the ball was kept in dangerous* proximity to the visitors' - goal; but the Irishmen could never score. It was a very poor and easy-going exposition of football throughout, any respectable play being shown by the visitors. With the exception pf Woods, Warreq, Waites, ani * Moffatt, the home team played very badly, rpeava — New Zealand i W, Warbrick, full back; D. Gage, McCausland, F. War-

brickj half backs J Ellison", Keogh, and Wynyard, quartets} Taare, Taiaroa, A, Warbrick, Ellison, Anderson, Stewart, Williams, and Maynard, forwards. Ireland ! Edwards, full back ; Bulger , , Woods and Walpole, half backs; Walpole (oentre); Warren (oaptain), and J. Stevenson, quarter backs j J. S« Jameson, J. Waites, J. Acnew, R. Stevenson, T. Forrest, J. H. O'Connor, F, Stoker, and J. Lyttle, forwards. NOTES ON THE IRELAND MATCH. McCausland, whose knee has troubled him a good deal of late, found on arrival at the ground on Monday that ho was so bad as to be quite unable to play, in fact he had to stand stock still throughout the match. The Irish public and the Irish footballers were, a New Zealand player writes me, as nice as possible about their team's defeat, but the Irish papers took it most illtemperedly, depreciating both their own side and the Maoris, though they had the previous morning spoken of the Irishmen as fairly representative, and prophesied an easy victory for them.

Harry Wynyard, who played with the New Zealanders at Dublin, does not belong to the team. He happened to be in England on private business, and Scott, knowing him to be good a back, and being short of men (so crippled has the corps now become), sent for him.

Towards the end of the first spell of the All Ireland match, the New Zealandera carried the ball right up the field, and Anderson scored a fair try right between the posts, but it was disallowed for some reason the Maoris don'c understand. In the second spell the New Zealanders had the wind in their favour, and were lightly confident of winning the game which, as you knotv, they did easily enough. Under the Irish Rugby rules, the scores when time was called stood : Maoris : 4 goals and 1 try, viz., 18 points. Ireland : 1 goal and 1 try, viz., 6 points. A very jovial dinner, at which a number of nice things were said by the Irishmen, followed the match. The All Ireland team, a New Zealand player writes me, was the strongest raised in Ireland this year, bar Montgomery, of Cambridge University, who couldn't get over. Taiaroa and \V. Warbrick were disabled in this match, and unable to play against Trinity College on Monday. During their stay in Dublin the Maoris visited Guinness's brewery. Only about 1,000 spectators witnessed the Trinity College match on Monday afternoon. Clearly the Irish are not enthusiastic footballers. NEW ZEALAND VERSUS TRINITY COLLEGE. The "Freeman's Journal" gives the following details of the match :—Dull and threatening weather, but a large attendance ok spectators, which included Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, were associated with the match, which was commenced yesterday in the College Park at 2.45 between the following teams : — Maoris — McCausland, back; Goldsmith, Gage, F. Warbiick, half backs ; Elliott, Wvnyard, A. Warbrick, quarters; Webster, Taiaroa, Ellison, Taare, Williams, Stuart and Anderson, forwards , . University—Walkingfcon, back; Dunlop, Johnston, Walpole, half-backs; Browning and A. McDonnell, quarters; Ritchie, Stack, John', Fletcher, Jameson, McDonnell, Green, and Pocock, forwards. Trinity had the advantage of any slight wind that prevailed in tbe iirst half, and, winning the toss, invited the Maoris to kick oft from the Pavilion goal. This oiHce was performed by Ellison, whose kick was returned by Dunlop, and from the throw in a somewhat protracted scrummage in neutral territory supervened. From this A. McDonnell got away somewhat luckily, and finished a dribble by picking and passing to Johnston, who, after running a few yards, passed to Walpole, who gained a try easily amidst tremendous enthusiasm. The kick, a difficult one, was entrusted to Stack, who barely failed to realise the goal. Elliott then kicked out to Dunlop, who punted to the centre, and immediately on the scrummage being formed, McDjnald got away again and passed to Walpoie, who wriggled his way through numerous opposition and gained a second try in a good place. This time Johnston undertook the' kick, and brought oil" a most unmistakable goal. The Maoris woke up eomewhat alter this, and, after a scrummage at the Trinity 25, Elliott ran in, but was called back, as he had put his foot into touch. He, however, immediately regained possession and made a short drop at goal, which rebounded behind off the upright. Johns dropped out to McCausland, who returned the leather to Green, and without loss of time the two McDonnells, following up his reply, invaded the Maori goal. Walpole should have got in but failed, and after a charge by A. McDonnell, Walpole barely missed dropping a goal. After the kick out Elliott made a fine run, and play was at the halfway flag, when half time was called, leaving the score—University, 1 goal 1 try ; Maoris, no try, no goal, 1 minor. So far Trinity had more than held their own, A. M'Donnell completely smothering the stealaway runs of the three Maori quarterbacks, which proved so fatal on Saturday, and but for judicial mistake?,well intended, they would be in possession of victory "as above.

Stack started the second half by kicking oF to McCausland, who handed the ball to Goldsmith, who punted back, but a long kick by Walpole soon caused the colonists to be hard pressed. Some very ugly tackling, which evoked public disapprobation, was now indulged in by a couple of the Maoris, and at last a long flying kick went down to Walkington. He missed it and let the ball into touch, whereupon a scrummage was formed from the throw-in. From this McDonnell broke away with a good run and passed, unfortunately, forward to Walpole, so that the ball was brought back. Then before the scrummage was formed or the ball put in, Anderson got possession, and ran in unopposed until he was over the line, when Walkington tried to shore him into touch-in-goai. The referee, however, ruled that the try was valid, and Williams, taking the kick, made a very fine although unsuccessful shot. The kick-out left business in the centre, where heavy, hard, and hot mauling, which scarcely moved the ball an inch, was indulged in for a quarter of an hour. Then another loose kick sent the ball into Trinity touch, just like the last, and from the throw-in Elliott nearly got across the line. He was pushed off, however, and then -the whole seventeen forwards«fell down in one solid squash. The next thing heard without one minute's delay was a claim for a try by Wynyard, and this to everybody's astonishment was allowed. Williams again took the kick, and placed a magnificent goal from a very difficult angle. Each side had now a goal and a try, and Trinity was afforded a splendid chance of scoring by the Maori back failing to catch Stack's kick-off, but the forward who was first up failed to get possession, and a scrummage was formed in front of the Maori goal. Here they worried each other for the remainder of the time, a kick by Browning, who tried for touch, just going into touch in goal, and soon afterwards all was over, with the ball in close proximity to the New Zealand goal. It was a much better match than that of Saturday, the Maoris playing much more brilliantly, although both Keogh and Warbrick were great losses*. Elliott was very clever, the big forwards, Williams and Stewart, playing very well, but Taiaroa and Taare were very rough. Every one of the Trinity forwards played well, and their quarters were about equally brilliant and determined, By the English method of scoring Trinity won, but by the Irish rules the match must remain a draw greatly in favour of Dublin, as follows ; —

Dublin University... 1 goal 1 try 4 minors Maoris ... ... 1 goal 1 try 1 minor MAORIS V. NORTH OF IRELAND.

This match was played at Belfast on the sth of December. The " Belfast News Letter" cays :—The visitors who came to the city on Tuesday night, after their defeat of Ireland, and their draw with Dublin University, were in good form, and elicited the admiration of the spectators when they made their appearance on the field. The team which had been selected to do battle for the North was a good all-round one, and certainly they have not the slighteso reason to feel ashamed of the display which they made against such a strong combination as the New Zealanders. The home team winning the toss, elected to defend the Blackhouse goal, and the visitors put the leather in motion, the play for a considerable time being confined to Maori territory. Although the North had decidedly the best of the game at this point, they could not break through the splendid defence of the visitors, and the venue was soon changed to home territory, where some stiff play took place. In a short time, however, the North forwards got away, and tor a long time the Maoris were on their defence, but nothing resulted, and until half-time the play was of a give-and-take character, neither side gaining, any appreciable advantage. When the whistle announced a temporary cessation of hostilities the score was—The Maoris, nil; North of Ireland, nil. Oα changing sides Johnston kicked off, but the leather was immediately returned, and went into touch within the North twenty-five. On the leather coming out the North men worked it well into the strangers' territory, but the Maoi'is defended well and the ball went to midfield, where some scrummaging took place, of which the North had the best, bringing the leather well within their opponents' territory. Here the North made a good attempt to score, but tha defence was too good, and the forward division of the strangers getting a chance carried the ball inside the North twenty-five, where a great deal of scrummaging took place, without, however, any result. Midfield was then the scene of operations for a time, until the North got away, and were gaining rapidly when the ball went into touch. After this the Maoris got away and carried the leather into close proximity to the North goaf, where a maul took place, out of which Gage (visitors) gained a try, which Williams failed to improve upon. Johnston restarted the leather, and the play took place for some time in the vicinity of the half - way flag, but the Maoris again got through, and scored, the point being, however, disallowed. The visitors scored a try immediately afterwards, and Williams was again unsuccessful in the attempt to convert it into a goal. The play was of a give-and-take character after this, and neither side obtained any great advantage, the visitors having, if anything,, the best of tbe game. When the referee's whistle was heard, the Maoris were the victors, the score being—

Maoris ... 2 tries and 2 minors North of Ireland ... 2 minors

The following were the teams : — New Zealand—VV.Warbrick, D. Gago,McCausland, F. Warbrick, Keogh, Ellison, Wynyard, Taare, Taiaroa Ihinaiaa, Arthur Wavbrick, Maynard, Williams and Stewart. N.I.F.C.— Holmes, Woods, Pedlow, Liddell, Purdon, Stevenson, W. Moffatt, Neill, Johnston, Ekin, Andrews, Bristow and Moreland.