CABLE BREVITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 194, 15 August 1904, Page 5

CABLE BREVITIES.

An epidemic of small-pox is raging in Zion City. Dowie refuses to admit doc- ! tors. In the Houes of Commons the AngloFrench Convention Bill has been read * ! third time. j The Hamburg-American line has re- I dnced its fares from Liverpool to Philadelphia to 30/. The spy arrested at Milford Haven feas 1 been released, owing to the absence of in- ; . criminating evidence. j An Arbitration Convention between ! , Sweden and Norway and Great Britain ' i has been signed at Stockholm. |

' A RUGBY TRIUMPH. • -o, NSW ZEAItAND DEFEATS BRITAIN. HOMESTERS COMBINE B2JXLI&NTLY. AND WIN DECISIVELY. NEW ZIL&XANB, 9 POINTS ; BHHAIH, 3. The attention of all Australasian footballers and non-footballers was focussed upon the match at Wellington on Saturday, when the British Rugby team, after its long course of victory in Australia, met defeat the the hands of the keen, well-trained fifteen representing the best of New Zealand football talent. In Auckland, as in every town in the colony, the utmost interest was taken in the match, and as the special telegrams from the Held of play came to the "Star" Office at intervals of a few minutes, the large crowd which gathered in Shortland-street worked up its feelings to a fine pitch of excitement. Telephonic inquiries from all parts of the town and district showed that the excitement was not confined to the city, and there were many suburban crowds around the "Star" extras which were posted outside the agencies. When the score reached nine points to the British team's three, hats went up, and the crowd excitedly seethed around, as individuals impelled by excess of patriotic fervour, sought" out their friends to shake hands and indulge in livelier signs of pleasure.

THE MATCH.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAY.

(By Telegraph.— Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. AH the luck of the weather lay with Wellington on Saturday, for the dawn if a warm, perfect summer day leaped in it her windows, and added the last, best, and most comforting feature to "he surroundings of the royal contest between the mother and her favourite child. The city was early astir, and from 96 early as 10 o'clock a steady and unflagging stream of spectators set their faces Newtownwards, bent on securing the most desirable coign of Long before noon there must have been iweTve or fifteen thousand people on the ground, and when the Buller match at mc o'clock started every available standing place was occupied, and the crowd had assumed dimensions which defied computation. There was a brisk breeze blowing, and it freshened considerably before the start of the big match, blowing down the ground from the north. The Bv.ller match served simply as an 'ppetiser for the dense masses of people, who, however, managed to raise a good deal of enthusiasm for the preliminary canter. Fharp at three o'clock the New Zealand team took the field. The roar that went up was absolutely deafening, 'md the band vainly tried to make "Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue" heard. THE PLAY. There was another mighty yell when Stead won the toss and took the field with the wind behind the New Zealanders. Harding kicked off for the visitors, and in the exchange of kicks the ball went out at the centre. The local team carried the line-out, and the first, scrum was formed at the centre, when off-side play gave the Britishers a free kick. hung at the centre un.il Stead kicked out at the British 25. The visitors took another free kick for OFF-SIDE PLAY, and were at once penalised -for a similar offence. A fine forward rush, in which Tyler figured prominently, took the ball right down within a few yards of the British line. Over anxiety on the part of the New Zealanders gave the visitors a free kick at a critical moment, the ball going wrong at the 25. A fine fighting scrum follow cd. and a roar went up that rent the sky when Wallace, running right round rrom the far side, took the tail end of a good rush, and dashed over at the corner. There was a groan of despair a3 he was called back for off-s : de play. Right in front of the goal Harding got off-side, and Wallace had a shot at

goal, but the kick was a pour one, and Morgan forced. There was persistent off-sfde play on both sides, and penalties were frequent. After some scrambling play, the BRITISHERS INVADED the local men's territory for the first tim«*, Llewellyn kicking well up the field, and McGregor fa'led to return. The visitors be : ng penalised for lying on the ball in front of the "oal, Wallace missed an easy chance of scoring. After some centre play, New Zealand put in a lovely forward rush, which took the ball almost to the British line. From a line-out Britain momentarily relieved the danger. Fast following up Pgain had the visitors in difficulties, the ball being out near the line. A wild pass gave Britain a chance to get away, but Harvey smartly relieved the danger. Play was again taken into the visitors' territory, and Harvey screwed into touch near the corner flag. The home team again seriously threatened the visitors l»e, and Cro-ss took I the ball rignt down, when Llell'wyn took 1 a short, paas, and outpacing Cross, i found the line at the 25. The British were now getting the ball from the scrum, and they attacked strongly far a few minutes. The New Zealanders took a free kick for AN UNFAIR PUT IN rfght opposite the go-.il. Wallace then lauded an eaay goal amid a scene of the \\-ildost enthusiasm. New Zealand . 3 points Britain iiil The visitors then took a strong hand in the attack, and a fine passing ruah by the threequarters took the ball to the home line, where HARDING TOOK A FREE KICK and landed a magnificent goal amid more wild enthusiasm, the score being equalised juet an the call of half-time. Nerw Zealand 3 points Britain 3 points After the interval, the visitors began finding the line instead of adopting the vaunted centreing tactfes. A good for- | irard rush took the ball to the British line, where O'Brien forced. The kickout found the line at the centre. A YELL OF DERISION went up all round as the referee cautioned Bash for apparently deliberate ; The visiting backs, with a I nice passing- ran, transferred pfeiy to ! the New 25,, where Bash got ' the ball from the sexnm said made a I good shot *t goal, McGregor foreusg.

The I\ew Zealand forwards again resumed the attack, and Gallagher getting away from the scrum looked like scoring, but was brought down near the line. Bush kicking cut at the 25. From the serum. Harvey paased to Stead, who transferred to Harper, and McGregor got across near the corner after a brilliant dash. Harper Look the kick, but failed tc convert.

New Zealand 6 points Britain 3 points From the kick out piay again settled in the visitors'" quarters. Bush, by ;:

tricky run and a nice kick, took plaj *■■«? the New Zealand quarteij for the first time in the spell. They gained further ground by a free kick for on side play, and the ball went into touch in goal from a long kick. Directly after, O'Brien took a shot at goal from the centre, the ball going under the bar. After an interchange of kicks the ball went out at the centre. The visitors continued the attacl:, but New Zealand relieved with a free-kick for unfair putting in the serum. There was now no advantage from the •wind. Nicholson kicked up the field, and, following up, put his men on side. Nicholson, picking the ball up, shot it to Wood, who transferred to Harper, who passed to McGregor, and the speedy Wellington back GOT OVER AGAIN near the corner. Wallace's shot at goal fell short. New Zealand ....„ », 9 Britain 3 From thr kick-off play went to the visitors' 25. A ■ mark relieved, but Wood returned back to the 25. Tyler intercepted a pass prettily, and passed to Nicholson, and the British line was again in deadly danger, but the backs blocked the rush. The whistle then sounded, leaving the honre team victorious by 9 points (a penalty goal and two unconverted tries) to 3 (a penalty goal). New Zealand .— ..■»— 9 Britain 3

COMMD3NT ON THE MATCH.

OVEB. ANXIOUS ~Ss EW ZEALANJOERS.

In the earlier stages of the game, th-e New Zealanders were obviously over anxious, and through sheqrr excess of keenness overran the ball and missed golden opportunities. The play right through was coniined almost exclusively to the visitors' quarters, and only oa the rarest occasions was it transferred to the local men's territory, and then ionly for tbe briefest period. The win was thoroughly merited, and there wa3 it least the difference between tlae tea.in.s that the respective scores denoted. The ground wae in splendid playing order, not too hard, and altogether the conditions were worthy of a struggle between the giants ©f the football world. THE ENTHUSIASM. Breathless was the interest wtth which the various incidents of the game were watched, and wonderful was the enthusiasm with which the successful termination qI the aittaek was marked. The crowd was an impartial one. The cheer that went np wben Harding equalised the score was very little less enthusiastic than that which marked the first success of the. home team. When the game was practically safe, the excitement was terrific. The cheering continued until human throata could no longer stand the strain. Hats and sticks werat up into the air, and frenzied spectators on the edge of the ground leaped and hallooed like school-

boys. LITTLE TO LEARN. The game showed that the Britisher has little to teach the New Zealander in the way of Rugby football, that indeed the team will probably reach Home knowing a little more than when they left. Their visit will leave notli ing of the lasting impression on New Zealand football that -was lefit by the tour of Stoddart's fifteen. Sieve-u'rig-ht's team can certainly give New Zealand a long start in the matter of kicking from place and drop kicking but that feature of the colonial pla*y has been an outstanding weakness for many. years. FORWARDS WON THE GAME. Coming to the pfey itself, it must at once be admitted that the New Zealand forwards won the game for their side. I'ast, heavy, and in the absolute pink of condition, they fairly routed and overran the opposing pack, and practically smothered the backs. In the loose on the line out, and in the pack Mm-*- beat the Britishers and beat them badly, and in the scrums when the ball was fairly put in, they generally succeeded m getting it. The reservation as to the faints of the pitting in is necessary, for Vile, the scrum half, seemed not above giving his side an advantage Ti Sf oUgbt !t mi - ht come °fftht hre + e - t ,^°- tllree s«™» did not prove the least hit more dangerous than did the solid wedge formation which has been the standard of New Zealand football for so long, and the home pack stood up to the extra man serum of their opponents in fine style. The BritI'hirs screwed frequently, but they could not push the local men. and their screwing seldom gained them any advantage, some one being always handy when the pack broke up. In the open, the play of the home vanguard was of a different class to that of the visitors, who were beaten in every department of loose play. The forward rushes never failed to gain grourd, but kickiDg too hard enabled the bucks to nip in and kick into touch, so that the finishing touch was never put on. Still, they did excellent work, and made things very merry for their' opponents.

Gallagher was a thorough success on the wing. He was in among the British backs, spoiling their play whenever they got the ball, breaking up their attack time after time.

The serum all worked like Trojans. Not a man amongst them but played the game for all he was worth. Where all did so well it is scarcely fair to individualise, but it may be said that Nicholson, the last man chosen for the team, did splendid work on the line and in following up, as did Seeling and Fanning. Tyler also kept well on the ball, and one of the finest bits of play of the match resulted from his intercepting a pass and instituting a counterattack when the British backs were getting well under weigh.

Of the British forwards, Dobson and Harding ■were the most dangerous, while Swannell was also in gopd form. There was, however, hardly that combination among the pack which might have been expected, and in the few chances which they did get they showed no great jrofixrienxry at footwork- On the Sne-aut the supetforiLy erf the New Zealaruiers was so maTnrest that the TfrrTtiisft captain irereT cntniCEd a tftrow-tn, taking a. scrtnn whenever his nppiyncTrr«s sent the ball out.

Tlis. Sew Zealand haelra. playeiL solidly

well all through the piece, but as. much cannot be said for the visitors. What the crowd were waiting to see—the centre attack—was scarcely seen at all, for the very excellent reason that the team was on the defensive practically the whole game. The scheme of defence by I counter-attack which was followed in j the South was attempted with very in- i different success, and before the game | had progressed very far they had adopt-' ed the New Zealanders' plan of kicking \ into touch when pressed. The British i defence, taken all round, was not good, j Without Bush they would have been in i very sad case. Time after time Be ■ came to the rescue and stemmed the' tide of attack at the critical moment,! and his kicking was well-nigh perfect throughout. Vile, the half-back, was j useless in defence. He never attempted to* stop a rush when ie was fairly under weigh. Morgan showed himself to be possessed of a wonderful turn of speed. He got under weigh from the jump, and was very tricky and hard to stop. The New 2ealanders were too deadly in defence to Efive him much chance, however. Once he broke away with a fine run, and got well of bis field, but he ran too fast for his own supporters, and when he got near the danger zone, four men were waiting for him, and he was fairly pocketed. ENGLISH THREE-QUARTER SYSTEM. The four three-qvarter system did not work well, and when the British backs did get passing runt on, the ball generally travelled acrpss the field without material advantage. INDIVIDUAL POINTS. McEvedy, in whom particular inteT- ' est was taken as a New Zealander, did not shine at all, and O'Brien, another native of the colony, was not a success ' at full-back, though kemade a magnifi- ' cent drop kick in the first spell, when ; he shot at goal and nearly got it from [ the half-way line. The backs of the home team were an even lot, and they made few mistakes. Harvey was clean and neat at half, but once or twice the ball came out of the scrum too quickly for him. He retrieved himself on these occasions, however, and the way he mixed bis play in attack had the Britishers thinking they never knew quite what was going to happen. Stead was clean in his work, but Harper once or twice failed to pass cleanly. Duncan 1 McGregor, against whose inclusion the - ' strongest exception was taken, thoroughly justified his inclusion. He took difficult passes well, and the two rune ■ from which he scored were both splendid eiTorts. He ran with great -judgment, and beat the iull back very nicely. Wood was sound all through, but he lost a chance or two by getting ahead of the other backs. Dick Me- ' Gregor was safe at full-back, but he ; was never really pressed. Altogether, it may be said that the 15 played as a team, and not as an aggregation of individuals. Their combination was every bit as good as the Britishers, and they showed far more versatility in attack. REGRETTABLE INCIDENTS. There were one or two "regrettable incident?" in the way of rough play on the part of the visitors, and two of their forwards were cautioned by the referee. The number of free kicks awarded was enormous, there being a large amount of oif-side play, both sides offending in this respect. Mr. Evans, the referee, was thoroughly impartial, and ruled the game very well. MORE FACTS AND INCIDENTS. i 1 (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The turnstiles show that over 21,000 persons were present at the match. The takings are not made up yet, but should be £2000. Probably quite a third of those present were visitors. It is reported there was some heavy wagering on the game. One supporter of New Zealand laid £600 to £400 on his side to an Englishman. A good deal of money came from Australia to back New Zealand.

Lord Plunket and the Premier were at the dinner given to the British team on Saturday night.

Bedell-Sivright, the British captain, who was unable to play, said they were told they would get beaten, and Ms men had been badly beaten. He thought the New Zealand team would make a good showing at Home.

O'Brien, the manager, considered that the team representing New Zealand, or one as good, would win most of its game 3at Home.

Interviewed after the game S'vwright attributed the success of the New Zealand team to it 3 magnificent forwards. He thought his men might have done better than they did, but they were a bit off from so much travelling. The backs defended well, but had no chance to show their real quality in attack. It appeared to him there was a tendency in New Zealand to trust too much to the forwards, to the detriment of good back play. The New Zealand backs were a very fair lot. At the dinner after the match on Saturday night His Excellency the Governor, on behalf of the new Zealand Rugby Un : on, presented each member of the British team with, a greenstone tiki. THE GAME OF THEIR LIVES. ME STEAD'S OPINION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day.' Interviewed, Mr Stead, captain of the New Zealand team, s: id be was surprised at the combination shown by the New Zealand team considering it had not previously played together. He thought the British team was a little stale on Saturday. With reference to the bad place-kicking of the New Zealandere, he considered the great excitement which swept the colony affected the men. Every man who had a shot at goal was nervous, and the whole team started nervously. They were playing the game of their lives. SATISFACTION IN SYDNEY. (Received 9.57 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Much gratification is expressed at New Zealand's having beaten the British football team. The Auckland representatives will not be chosen until after training on Tnesday evening. The team will be selected from tlie following-:—Harrison, Murray, Gerrard, McKenzie, Mc-Grpgor, Renwlrk, Wood, Klernan, Tonn», Seeling, Nicholson, Doran, Gallagher, Cunningham, Mapfcreil. Trpvarthen, Tyler, Hay ward, Joyce, and Lewis. On Tuesday. Wednesday, and Tharsdny afterooon the mem are expected to attend the Metropolitan ground and on Tuesday and Thursday evening the City Football Club's training sfc-ed for practice. A wire was seint from ttte Thames on Saturday ni s ht by the manager on behalf oi the Auckland touring team to Ctatain btead congratulating the N«w KiwTmwi t tenia, on tOfiit bidlflfiait Tptetmx.