THE BRITISH FOOTBALLERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 201, 23 August 1904, Page 3

THE BRITISH FOOTBALLERS.

CONCLUSION OF THEIR NEW ZEALAND TOUR. THE ROTORUA MATCH. The British footballers returned from Rotorua shortly before nine o'clock last evening, and left for Sydney by the s.s. Mararoa at 10.30, thus completing their New Zealand tour. The visit of the team to Rotorua was a memorable one for the Maoris and their guests. It was an event equal in the eyes of the natives to that of the Duke of York. The Britishers were Treated like Royalties, feted on the most marvellous of sights of the Northern Wonderland, and were showered with costly presents in the shape of Maori curios, mats, greenstone ornaments, and, chief of all. a whalebone mere that is said to have come from the historical Hawaiiki in the canoe Arawa. Sunday was occupied in sight-seeing, and the Britishers say they had not seen anything like the Rotorua thermal wonders* in the whole of thentour. The great geyser Pohutu played grandly jn their honour, the Maoris danced hakas and pois without limit, and wound up by giving the visitors a beating on th<- football field. The Britishers had evidently agreed to say nothing concerning the football match on their return to town, except to insist that it was a burlesque arranged for the amusement of the natives. On the other hand, Aucklanders who accompanied the team to Rotorua say the game was a hard one from start to finish, that the Englishmen did their best to score in the second spell, and failed absolutely. Ihe Maori team was a good one, composed of great hulking fellows, well versed in the Rugby game, very powerful forwards, and tricky backs with a marvellous turn of speed. Rain fell heavily in the first spell, and intermittently during the latter part of the game and the ball \as somewhat grea*v. in the first spell Gabe and Llewellyn scored tries for the British team. Bush had two easy shots at goal in front of the posts, but according to his own account deliberately missed scoring, the idea being to give the Maoris a good game without beating them too much.

The Maoris played very spiritedly in the the first spell, and. kept the ball ■well within their opponents' 25. The Britishers, however, succeeded in running up six points. The heavy rain which fell in the first spell made the ground very heavy, but this did not damp the ardour of the Maoris, for on changing ends they played with even greater vim and determination than before. Amidst the wildest excitement— the Maoris barracked only for their own team —tries -were scored for the local team by Tomahau and Nirai, Tono converting the latter's try. That the Maoris were enabled to turn the tables was due to the irresistible mshes of their forwards, who went completely through the Britishers. The visitors apparently tried their hardest to stem the tide that threatened defeat, but the native blood was up, and their fierce charges were irresistible. When their first try was scored th« successful Maori was mobbed by a delirious crowd of natives, who hugged him fiercely. One sturdy warrior, in the excitement of the moment, it is stated, actually seized the hero's ear with his teeth. The second try followed quickly, and wa.s converted, making the Maoris 8 against the Britishers' 0. The visitors strove valiantly to score again to avert defeat, but the Maoris were not to be denied, and the game ended in their favour, amid a scene of the most intense excitement. "We visit Australia now." said one sturdy warrior, and the Maori team was much struck by the idea. The British team consisted of Ga.be, Llewellyn, Vile, Bush, Harding, Crowther. Bevan. Saunders, Trail, McEvedy, Jouett, Fisher, Paterson, aud Dobson. Bedell-Sivright, who was injured in Australia, played in only one match in New Zealand, and there is some probability that he will be unable to play again. The sinews of one leg are badly torn. The visitors received an enthusiastic reception at the railway station on the arrival of the express from Rotorua. They were expected about half-past eight, but owing to a break-down of the goods train near Tuakau the express was delayed fully an hour. The team were conveyed to the Royal Hotel in drags, where they were cheered by another large crowd. After dining the team were driven do\vn to the steamer. Despite the lateness of the hour there were quite 2000 people assembled on the wharf, and the of the team was a most hearty one. The steamer dropped down the stream shortly before eleven o'clock. She is due in Sydney oa Friday next.