NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 24, 27 January 1906, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS.

PREPARATIONS FOR A GREAT RECEPTION. A TRY THAT WAS NEVER SCORED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) WELLINGTON, this day. In connection with the arrival of the New Zealand football team in Auckland the New Zealand Rugby Union executive does not intend "spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar." The official welcome to the players is to be on a scale befitting the occasion. Representatives from every affiliated union throughout the colony are to be invited to attend, and the presence of Lord Plunket, the Premier, and Mr A. E. G. Rhodes (President of the New Zealand Rugby Union) is to be invoked. The managing committee of the Union is to be officially represented by Messrs G. F. C. Campbell (a vice-president), and Sir E. Wylie (hon. sec), and it is also likely that Messrs G. C. Fache, W. Coffey, and other members of the committee will be there to greet the team on its landing. At the official welcome a handsome gold medal emblematic of the victories over England, Ireland, Scotland and France will be presented to each member of the team. The manager has cabled to the executive of the Union that Glenn and Harper are returning home by way of Suez, while Seeling and Johnstone are coming by the direct route.

Private letters received here from members of the New Zealand team make it clear that the try gained by Deans in the Welsh match was a perfectly fair one, but that the referee was too far behind at the time to observe the actual grounding of the ball by the Canterbury representative. The writers admit that the backs were off colour, except Roberts, whose brilliant display was admired on all sides.

One of the New Zealanders asserts that at the conclusion of the match the Welsh line umpire and several of the Home players admitted that New Zealand had been robbed of a try. The team, as a whole, is said to have begun to detest the name of football, and is downright glad that the end is about reached.

Wallace informs a chum in .this city that, the best experts in British Rugby circles acclaim Roberts as the greatest half that they have ever seen. The Wellingtonian says that the fairest minded men in Rugby circles loudly voice the opinion that (iall&her's wing forward tactics are unquestionably ! abOYeboard.