FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12364, 1 December 1905, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

THE NEW ZEALANDERS AT HOME. BRITISH PRESS COMMENTS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, November 30. Tho London "Daily Chronicle," dealing with the Somerset football match, j says:—The Home team put up a fine j game against their powerful opponents, j but the style of the sides d.ffered materially. The Home team relied on | the old forward game, and New Zealand jon the rapid transfers. Somerset were always on the ball, and their clever tackling somewhat upset the visitors, : who, however—once settled down— completely outplayed their rivals. The "DaJy Telegraph" says that, in the absenoe of iiuuter and Smith, tho team had not their full strength when they met Somenset. It was ai&o stated that several members of the kam were beginning to feel the effects of the tremendous energy wnich cha act-rites tneir effort.. Beaten pointless though Somerset were, the game was by no means onesided, but tne Co.on.m_s ohowea marked superiority in getting the ball away bom i tno scrummage, aim their better conj dition giaduaUy told. The attendance . wa» far in exoess of any pievtouo match jin the district. Whatever result tno visitors' triumphs may have on the Rugby game, their is certain.y arousing an astonishing amount of enthusiasm. Regarding the Devonport match, tho "Daily Chioniclo" considers the game was ono of the finest ever wilneecd on the Rectory ground, and produced a Titanic struggle until midway in the second half, when tho Aibions tired. ■ The impression the score would give, however, is entirely fallacious, as on the strict matter of pay in accordance with tho rules, the A'Dions were as clever us their doughty opponents, but lacked the speed and recklessness of the New Z alandere, who always meant getting there, with heedless regard as to how their desideratum could' be acheved. Judged on the first half, English Rugby haa little to learn from colonial methods. The New Zealandeis' oassing was certainly bewildering. Tho journal concludes that the moral is speed and utamina. The "Daily Telegraph" says that among their miny victone- none redound to the New Zea'anders' credit more than Devonport, which is admittedly one of the strongest teams in tho country. While the New Zea'anders fully deserved their victory, they owed jt more to speed and stamina than combination. So lona as the Aibions were able to keep pace with their weighty antagonists, they fought on even terms, and their football displ&y suffered nothing in oomnari&on with that of the Colonials. Uo to a point the Albion did much to vindicate the reputation of Engl : 6h foot*ball. Although only recent followers of the New Zaalanders' methods, the Aibions adopted the Colonials' formation of five-e;ghths. They acquitted themse'vrs with conspicuous success, and the half-back on the whole was the master of his opponent, Roberts. The paper adds that the snlendid finish of their attacks was a feature of the visitors' display.