The New Zealand Football Team in England.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 56, 7 March 1889, Page 2

The New Zealand Football Team in England.

(FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)

London, January 26. MAORIS V. CLECKHEATON. Yesterday afternoon the New Zealand team visited Olockheatoh in order to play their forty-sixth fixture of tho tour—-a mntch against a team representing tlieSpen Valley district. There was a. good ...attendance. Tho Aveather was beautifully fine, but the ground was rather soft and heavy-going. Five thousand spectators wero present. Saville, of Heckmondwiko, supplanted Fisher at three-quarters, and Hartly, of Cleckheaton, played in place of Donald Jowett. At three o'clock, Ellison kicked off for the Maoris. Sutcliffe returned the ball into touch, just outside the home "25." An interchange of kicks between Sutcliffe and \V. Wyri yard resulted in tho game being confined to mid-field. Kcogli feigned passing, and got well away, and a neat'kick by C. Gage improved matters for the visitors' side. Blackburn, howover, relieved with a fine run and kick, and Madigan being collared'with the ball, the blucks were pressed until the forwards broke grandly away. Again Blackburn cleared his line in grand style, and after VV. Warbrick had a. kick charged down, the Spen Valley team drew first blood in the shape of a dead ball. The drop-out brought no relief to the Maoris, and McCausland soon had to resort to saving tactics. Fine kicking by Sutcliffe ended in tho Maoris beingr pinned on the lino, and when in front of the goal he took a flying kick, and sent the ball over the bar amidst tremendous cheering. The home team had by far tho best of the play. Passing by Sutcliffe and Shaw enabled the latter to drop at goal, a dead ball being tho only point scored. Just bofore the interval Williams scored an easy try, MoCau."land kicking a goal. At the interval the Maoris were leading by a try. Sutcliffe re-started after the usual interval, and Gage returning with effect, the Maoris resumed tho attack on the home goal with increasing vigour. Gage and Ellison made splendid efforts to get over, but Blackburn collared and ran finely. After a lot of strong forward play, Gage passed to Keogh, who got possession, and, handing Blackburn off beautifully, scored close to the posts, McCausland landing a pretty goal. Afterwards the game was more fast and exciting than ever, both sides in turn having the advantage. From the centre the Spen Valley forwards earned the ball well up the field, Ellis scoring a try, Sutcliffb missing the goal. This was followed by W. Wynyard making a grand run, also soring a try. McCausland's kick this time went u'ide. Even play followed for somo minutes, until a fluky kick by Madigan let in the home forwards, and W. Warbridt saved. Just before! time Hartley got in, Siitclitle kicking a goal. The Maoris won the game by fine combination in the forwards. Score— Maoris, two goals and two tries; Spen Valley, two goals, one try, and four minors. Teams—Maoris : W. Warbrick, back ; W. Wynyard, McCausland, and B. Madigan, three-quarter baok3; VV. Elliott, P. Keogh and D. Gage, halfbacks ; T. Ellison, G. Wynyard, B. Taiaroa, H. Lee, R. Maynard, G. Williams, D. Stewart, and J. Rowe, forwards. Spen Valley: E. Blackburn (Cleckheaton), back ; J. W. Sutcliffe and I, Shaw (Heckmondwike), and vV. Fisher (Liversedge), threequarter backs : H. Barker (Livorsedge) and H. Wood (Hockmondvi-ike), half-backs ; D. Jowett, H. Noble, J.-Roberts, and J. T. Gill (Heckmondwike), N. Parian, A. Ellis, and P. Priestly (Liversedge), and S. Ripley and E. Crosland (Cleckheaton), forwards.

NOTES BY As MEMBER OF THE; TEAM. Apropos of the Yorkshire match, one of the leading players of the Maori team writes me as * follows : — "By paper accounts I suppose you think we made a very poor fight of our match against Yorkshire County. - The score against us would certainly produce that impression, but the result of the Yorkshire match is as much misleading to a reader as that of our match with Castleford, where the score stood 9 Doints to 3 against us, inasmhoh as it does not represent the gome. I. of course, do not grudge Yorkshire tneir win, and do not in any way infer that we can beat them ; but on the contrary, will say thatthoy ore about as good as they make them, and can beat any team in England. Thefollowing are a few note 3on our three last matches,viz-Castleford, Warrington and Yorkshire County. V. CASTLEFORD. The game was splendidly contested throughout, and if either side had a little the best of the fight, I think wo had. Tabby Wynyard drew first blood for us, but Mac's attempt at gonl was a very poor one. After this wo were hard pressed, but were awarded, a freo kick in our own territory. Mac punted out, but the Castleford right wing three-quarter, taking the ball 1 beyond tho half flag, dropped a splondid coal. Immediately after we dribbled over ; their line, and Elliott scored a try ; Mac, again failed to fan prove. Castleford, by good play, managed to gob over our line, and scored a try, 'improving the same from a difficult angle. Score afc h&lf-timo— Castleford ... ... ~. 2 goals Maoris .., ~, --< 2 tries In the second ajpell, both sides soored a try. OastleforH converted theirs, but Mao again failed to register the major point,for us, Keogh gob the last try. Dave Gage's absence was severely felb.,

Barlow Madigan played a poor game, mulling dreadfully, and nob kicking enough,; MoUauslatid Vraa _ bib off at) Iritl eaek. ahd dead out at plaoo kicks, *' Tabby M played a grand gains. l'h o halves, "Smiler" Keogh and Elliott, played very vraflli and of the forwards, ftatesoa and Ellison Were specially notioeable.. ,-. PA "7 ''-■

VC WARRINGTON. Tab. Wynyard was the hero of the day, scoring three trios in splendid fashiom Gage ha usual was well up to the mark, kicking in grand form. Madigan still off colour. Mao's plaoo ■ kicking was an improvement on Monday's, us he managed to convert two out of tho three tries, the last one just mißflingi Wm. Warbrick was nob in his late form. Keogh was too well watched .to do muoh, but played a good game. Tho forwards ; all worked well together. - V. . YORKSHIRE. Ellison was scorer in chief, securing two tries, ono of which McCausland converted. Win. Warbrick collared well, but kicked indifferently, and Mac played, a very poor game, though at.tiiiies he kicked in his old form. Gajre played a , good half-back game. Madigan, as one of the Yorkshire men said, " was not the Madigan we saw at Wakefield and Dewsbury." Tab Wynyard didn't show up to his Warrington form, missing several chances of "potting." Williams and Karauria- played a very poor game, the former kicking too hard in the dribbles. Lee was';lamed at half-time, but the rest of the forwards played' up like V demons."