Return of the Wanderers.

Otago Witness, Issue 1941, 31 January 1889, Page 26

Return of the Wanderers.

(From the Athletic News of December 20). There was some double-breasted high-pres-sure excitement in the vicinity of the Salford football headquarters last Saturday ( and a vast crowd had assembled to welcome hothe the noted quartette of players who have won such fame and distinction in the distant antipodes. There was a terrible lot of hand-shaking and ghastly smiling to be done, and of the enormous amount of expressed admiration that was floating about there was enough wasted to satisfy a high falutin' prlma donna fora month. All the four " toweriets "—Eagles, Williams, Kent, and Anderton - had a beautiful bronze tint on their faces almost equal ton. malden'snewborn blush, andperhaps it was this similarity between the two degrees of attractiveness that caused those sweet and tender youths to have such a charming and modest appearance as that which they presented to the admiring gaze of the worshipping and unwashed public. Thinking, perhaps, some who could not indulge in the hand-worrying business would like to know how their heroes had enjoyed themselves in the land of kangaroos, I inveigled JACK ANDERTON into conversation, and having settled the preliminaries satisfactorily, wound him up for half an hour, when he reeled off a yarn of double-width stuff, which he guarantees will nob shrink or lose colour, and will come out all right in the wash. Brasting off with a declaration that the tour throughout was a grand one in every sense, he expressed hiß gratification with the arangements made by tbe promoters for the comfort of every man in the team. All their little wants and conveniences were supplied, and throughout the whole trip there was nothing to grumble at or be dissatisfied with in any way. They had been feasted nnd/cted wherever they went, invited and received by the best society ; even public bodies had vied with one another in their efforts to do them honour, and magnificent was the only word to express their reception along the whole line. It was a privileged experience, and one that will live in his memory as long as reason holdß its sway (Shakespeare). People on this aide of the stream, he continued, have no idea of the distances we had to travel to play these matches, and when 1 tell you that during the trip from starting to return we have travelled over something like 90,000 miles, you can fotm some slight opinion of the constant travelling we were doing. No less than eight of our journeys were of 36 hours' duration, which was fatiguing enough, goodness knows, a"nd this fact will account more or less for the loss of the first of the two Rugby matches in which we were beaten. After playing on May 14 against a combined texm at Wellington, whom we defeated comfortably, Eagles getting two tries, and Paul placing a gusu, we left tit 6 o'clock in the evening and went on board the Wanaka, a small coasting steamer bound for Taranaki. There was a dense fog in the night, which wejcrawled through safely, thanks to the captain, and landed at Taranaki at 12.30 noon. We had just time to get a bit of lunch and dress for the match, the kick-off being at 2 o'clock. We had our weakest team up that day, Stoddart, Tom Banks, Mathers, Nolan, and Stuart being laid up with injuries received at Wellington. We played as well as could be expected, but as the captain, umpire, and referee wore all brothers, you can draw your own inference why we lost. Candidly speaking, 'we got half a dozen tries that afternoon which were not allowed, Thomas alone getting two in as many minutes, and when there were about nine minutes still to play Seddou objected to this continual disallowance of points when his side scored, whereupon the noble referee blew his whistle and declared the match over, and our very victorious opponents quickly skipped the field, and left us alone in our glory to saunter after them as we pleased. The other match we lost was at Auckland, played in the festivities connected with the Queen's Birthday. We had beaten the team of that town on the 19th by six points to three, Paul plaoing goals from tries got by Seddon and your* faithfully, but in the interval between that fixture and the 24th we were so besieged with invitations for banquets and balls, and all the other paraphernalia of a giddy round of pleasure, which I may say we as willingly accepted and thoroughly enjoyed, that when we turned out for a match there was scarcely* man amonsgt us who was not dead out of form. Mind you, we knew it ; so we concerted to play a defensive game. We managed to keep them at bay for some time, but at last a lucky drop at goal did for us, and we had to retire defeated by a goal to nil. Do they play a rough game ? Well, don'fc put rough— say very vigorous. If there was one club more than another who play what what you might call an unrefined game it wa9 Wellington. Great Scot, they can tackle. They meant it. When we played them an May 14 the collaring was so firm (h'm) that several of our men were incapacitated, and while Banks and Stuart were lying on the grass disabled, King, the captain, was heard to Bay, "Go on, Wellington ; break their b necks." Not very nice to hear, was it ? But still I should not say they played rough, though I can think it. The New Zenlanders play a good game, but are not very proficient in the art of passing. On our first visit we properly paralysed them by our rapid short paßseß. Stoddart, who was without doubt the finest three-quarter, if not actually the best player in the team, was simply grand at centre. His science of the code is something to be desired, and its effect on the rest of the men was eir'y evident. Paul did not turn out a very lively full bnck, nor was he a success as threequarter, linfi whpn he pot into the forward ranks ho proved a chnmpion. We rlaved aiyainst snmo of tho men who aro now r>vi<r here with t-he Maoris, who. by tho wiv, are nap representative of New Zealand footballers by any stretch of imagination. What do I "think of the Victorian code? Well, it's peculiar at fi'-Bt, but I've no doubt that if. is a rattling fast game. Its ruins and mode aro co diametrically opposite to tho Wugby that, try as wo would, wo could not grasp its intricacies in the short time we hnd an opportunity of showing ourselves. Sam Wi'liams seetmd to be the only one amongst us who could pljiy the game equal to the Australians. It requires Bpeed and splendid kicking anilities. Why. I should think that nearly 40 goals wera registered against ua by drops taken at least 50yds from the goal post. The Victorians are really grau.l and accurate drop-kickers. They had a tremendous

laugh at us when, in ye good old English fashion, ,we placed the ball for a kick, a proceeding they never dream of doing, so skilful are they at drop^ kicks. Anderton here entered into a long descriptive account of the the Victorian code, and then gracefully drew a plan of the field in my note book. On scrutinising this work of art during the aerraon on Sunday I decided to send 16 to the Graphic for in•ertton, but; for the present it will be open to inspection on payment of the usual fee. The Victorian game is not popular, however, in all parts of Australia, and its praotiee is confined to the colony from which it takes its name. The referee in this game is generally a professional, whose first claim for the position is that he is a speedy runner. He is a jerseyed individual, and has to do more flying about than any of the players. So arduous is the nature of his duties that these men are well and generously paid for holding the position. (Thi3 is a wrinkle for the coming Rugby referee.) In Naw South Wales and Queensland the Rugby' edde obtains, and we were able to meet all our opponents without sus'fcaininff a *ingl9 defeat. However, we had a jolly good time in Australia, though there was a little soreness between the Melbourne Cricket Club and Shrewsbury on account of the crioket team, but otherwise our reception was moßt hospitable and agreeable. Then came the gloom upon our enjoyment when poor Bob Seddon met his death. ' He might have been one of the oldest and most respected residents, judging by the sincere and- universal condolence that was shown on that lamentable occasion. Beautiful wreaths and floral raementoi were sent in profusion by sympathetic} friends, and all the honour that could be done to his remains was tendered by the reverent inhabitants. The funeral was a most imposing spectacle, and at the divine service in the church a crowded congregation attended, and ladies shed the tear of pity in commiseration of the loss we all deplored. Stoddart and I got him out of the water, and the shock of that sight will ever remain with me. We could scarcely believe our own eyes. Poor Seddon I His death was a great loss Co us ; he was so well liked and esteemed. The doctor who examined the body said he had died instantly and without pain, from cramp on the chest. Stoddart was our next captain, and a right good captain too, and the remainder of our toUr was proceeded with. During the last four days we travelled no less than 2000 miles to "play the final couple of matches. The last game waß with Wanganui, and up to^two minutes of time the local team were leading by a try. Just as we were giving up hopes of scoring, Sara Williams gave me a pass, and you may bet I Just galloped for all I was worth, and managed to scramble over the line and gain a try. Paul took the place kick and failed. The whistle then blew, and our game and tour was at an end. How many tries did I get ? Well, as near a9 l can vouch for, 13, and placed 15 goals. Not bad for a young 'un I Do I think the tour a financial success t Yes ; although I know nothing of the money affairs, I have reasons for believing there was not any loss. No ; I did not bring any stuffed kangarooß over, but I'vegoS lots of kangaroo tales to tell. Yes; they would bd better told in a dark room. Then you wouldn't see me blush. HABRY. EAGLES was the next to be tortured, and having got the sharp end of the corkscrew inserted, I began turning on the question!. But he's a hard 'un io draw is Harry. As Gilbert says— The screw may fcwlsfc and tha rack may turn, And men may bleed and men may burn ; But bold Harry Eagles will hear you darn, Before he'll eject from his chest a yarn. He is the same old effervescent sparkler as of old, carries about 121b more Australian mutton than he did this time last year; is as fair as a sunburnt gipsy; and, of course, 1b only going to play once more -"only once "—and then retire, covered with honour and an international cap. He has thoroughly enjoyed himself in what may be termed the "nappy medium " style, took particularly good care to keep himself in condition, and as a consequence was able to play in every match and practice game throughout the tour, a circumstance of which he may be justly proud, for he is the only one who can say it. Harry does not care a small lemonade for the Victorian game, and says there was a lot more like him. It was this half heartedness that must account for the defeats. There's no such a thing as off -side play in this code, and there is a' great prevalence to play the man if they can't play the ball. Sam Williams was the only one who seemed to master the rules, and play with any pleasure or success. They had very fine receptions wherever they went, and were more than satisfied ■with the treatment which they received from football organisations, corporation authorities, and private individuals. Eagles showed his prolificness in scoring by taking the lead among the forwards with (as near as he can say) 14 tries, and also obtained two goals in the Victorian game. Sam Williams and Tom Kent both seemed to be too engrossed in replying to questions concerning their health, and as Sam Baid it was the 7584 th time he had said he was " quita well," he did not feel disposed to reply to any new questions now that he had got his mouth flxedfor the above answer.