OUR CONQUERING FOOTBALLERS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12377, 16 December 1905, Page 4

OUR CONQUERING FOOTBALLERS.

A3IAZING DEFEATS OF BLACKHEATH AND OXFORD.

CAMBRIDGE'S GOOD FIGHT.

(noil orm own coß»rsTOSiaa«T.) j LONDON, November 11. Things have come to a remarkablo j puss when a defeat by 14 points to 0 ie looked upon as quite a " moral Yet 6uch is the outcome of this week's match between the New Zealand footballere and the University of Cambridge. The Cantabs are insufferably conceited because they prevented tho New Zeelandere tscoring more than 14 points— the low«et score but one of their whob tour, so far. They pass lightly over the fact that the Cantab scoro wee— nil! Nor is undue straa laid upon the astounding fact that at tho time I write tho New total score- ie 554 points against England's almost miserable total of 15, while the Nfcw Zealanders have won every cno of tho seventeen matches they have yet played j in the Mother Country. "In some of their matches," remarks the special football writer in tho "Daily Telegraph," ''the colonials have won by a larger margin, of points, but they would probably regard their latest triumph as their finest achievement. As far as it was poasiolo to they wcro ect a heavier task tlian in any or their previous games. Included m tho Blacklieath fifteen wero pliryere ot proved ability and experience, mnny ot them having gained International honoili-s. The Homo forwards had worsted a strong pack of the London Scottish, and in the three-quarter lino wero one English and two Irish International. .According to our standard, Blackhoath had a side good enough to opnoso tho rest of tho country with a fail , chance of success, but, iinplcnsanfc as the fact may be to. admit, they wero outclassed on Saturday. Thoy did not lciJa through auy lack of determination or want of condition, but simply because they met opponents who vero freatly their superiors in general comination, knowledge of the"finer points of the gamo, individual skill and resource, and abo\-o all pace- Tho comparative impotence of the Blackheath men came i\s a great shock to tho crowd, which numbered probably close on 15,000, but disappointed as tho spectators muet havo been at the inability of the home fifteen to inako even v a decent fight, they had at least tho satisfaction of seeing the New Zealanders right; on tho top of their form." It is remarked by "The Sportsman" that "tho historic Blackheath ground has witnessed - many a great International strugglo in tho wvst, many a great club game, bub nono to surpass for all-round efficiency tho marvellous display of the colonials. To thQ ordinary followed of club Itugby, the wonderful skill, speed, backing up, and adaptability of tho colonials cumo as a -revelation; to tho Soccer enthusiasts, of whom many were present, they provided a rare feast for tho eye and many interesting points of comparison." NEW ZEALAND r. OXFORD UNIVERSITY. On Tuesday in this week iinbtlicr triumph was gained by tbo Now Zoalanders at Oxford, the University fifteen being beaten by four coals and nin<S trios to nothing. It was scarcely expected that the New Zealanders would bo checked at Oxford after disposing, of other opponents in such summary fashion. Tho Oxford men-are- eaid to have fought gallantly to tho end in a hopeless game. The weather was delightful, and some 8000 spectators assembled to witness the Dark Blues attempt to do what "few English sideshave yet succeeded in doing, namely, to give their "wonderful opponents a good game." It is said now that tho Oxford lif teen is scarcely up to tho usual average, and a sporting paner observes that "at would have had to bo very much above tho average to have etood the ghost of a chance of victory. Tho New Zealandprs gave a dazzling display, and except for tho first seventeen mmutee, when then- passing woe wild,'looked like-making a. good fight of it, they seemed all dash and paco. -Their backs wore yards faster than those of Oxford, who, in comparison, seemed dilatory and without paoe of any, sort, whilo the latter's tackling each time that New Zealand scored was conspicuous by its absence, simply because the players seldom goi to their men in tune, or missed them as they sprinted by. When a man was brought down tho ball had left him usually at the psychological moment,- only to change hands in such a whirl of electrical Telocity that before the Oxford backs knew whoro they wero the continuous spnnt, m which sometimes seven or eight Now Zealanders had taken part in relaya, had culminated on tho other sido of tho Oxford line " Tho teams werer-Oxford University; D. Dv-mes (Jeeus) (back), A. M. P Lvle (TWy) L. Parker (Christ Church), A.: h (Wersity), and A. A. Lawrie (Trinity) (three-quarters backs) P Muiiro (Christ Church) (captain) and-H*. C. Jackson (Exeter) (half-backs), W. W. Hoskin (Trinity), 11. S. Wax (Brasouose), % (Trinity), H. V. Hodges (Trinity), N. T. White (Trinity), H. A. Hoadlcy (Kcible) N. F.. Howo Browne (Oriel), and G. D. Roberts (St. John's) (forwards). ' • New Zeakndore: Gillett (back), McGregor, Wallace, and Booth (threequarter backs), Hunter and Mynott (fivo-» eighths backs), Itolerte (half-back), Nicholson, Casey, Tyler, Corbett, John- j son, Glasgow, Newton, and Gallagher (forwards). ■ Referee: Mr A. Lindsay Slopor (London R.U." Society of Referees).

It is observed that the New Zealandore have- performed with such consistent brilliancy that no surprise- can bo felt at the result of the match, though the good fight which tho Dark Blues made at Leicester on Saturday had encouraged hopes that they would mako a decent show. "So far from doing that, however, they wore more 6oundly beaten than any. previous side save tho Hartlepools, against whom 15 tries were obtained. Tho Oxonians did not fare quite as badly as that, but they had their goal-line crossed thirteen timc6—six in the finst half and seven in the second. With the knowledge that they had an easy tack the New Zcalandens did not put their, 'beet side in th 3 field, Stead and Smith, of their back division, and Cunningham, their crack ■lock , forward, ibeing given a rest, but tho men chosen for tho occasion entirely outplayed the Oxonians. . . Unfortunately tho ground was greasy, but aftor come early mistakes tho New Zealanders handled the elippery ball with remarkable accuracy. Like thoir opponents, Oxford played seven forwarde, the three-quarter line being strengthened by White, of Trinity, who had put in a fair amount of tackling, and justified his selection as an extra back. Firom tho outset the New Zealand forwards were much ""tho smarter in obtaining possession of the ball, and with their quick heeling afforded their backs many chances. For the first quarter of an hour the Dark Blues succeeded in keeping their line intact, but they only escaped through the faulty passing and handling of their rivals. The New Zealandfcre, indeed, missed several opportunities during the early stages, but, settling down, they gavo a brilliant display. Some of their tries the cutcome of magnificent combination, while others were the result of individual effcrte. Hunter, who was in tremendous form, gained four tries in the first half, and "\Val!aco and Johnson also scored. Two of thego six tries were converted, so.that at the interval tho colonials led by 22 points. In the second half the play was even more ono-eided, and it was oaiy by determined tackling that Oxford, averted, an. «v©o heavier ecqx©

being recorded against them. Hunter obtained his fifth try, Booth twieo croseed tho Oxford line, and trice were ateo soared by Wallace, McGregor, Roberts,' and Glasgow, Wallace and Tyler each placing a goal. The Oxford forwards stuck well to their work, but were quito to control the ball in tho ecrummago. Not onpe during tho game did the Oxonians seriously threaten to score, being almost entirely engaged in defence, and like most of tho sides who have mot our visitors, being; outclassed." NEW ZEALAND v. CAMBRIDGE. Very' great surpriso '■;. was felt; bnd expressed when the result beca.no known in .London of Thursday's match, New Zealand V. Cambridge. It was quito expected that Cambridge would have suffered a defeat equil to that experienced by Oxford two days previously. The Oantabs, however, played euch a splendid game that they have received as much congratulation, and .praise as if they had won the,match , : or at.any. rate, as if tliey~ had scored any pbinte^-- 1which they came near doing once , or twice. As a rule, a. margin of l.goal and 3 tries is a pretty convincing evidenob of superiority, but this woe not considered co at Cambridge, and it is thought that if the luck had inclined to-, wards tho University instead of'towards the New Zealandera, the* sequence of the successes scored by tho , visitors would liavo been. interrupted—at the least liy a draw, possibly by a defeat. Tho' University had quito of the game, thanks to the .splendid work of the forwards and the brillianfc defence and. kicking of tho backs, and if luck"had inclined at all their way, "the surpriso of the season might have been' effected." . ' • The ground was in. excellent order, while in the absence of, wind, rain, and eun, the ganio being played under a dull grey sky, the conditions could hardly have been more favourable for the play. Cambridge's 'record is the eecond best during the tour, and'until the last f<iw minutes it appeared likoly to be the best as frequently the University were on the verge of ecoring. A hotter or more exciting game ha.* never been witnessed in the University town, and the Home side were, it is held, certainly deserving of a, better fate. . Tho attendance numbered between 7000 and 8000. v '"■-■-.'■■ ':'■■■■ Every critic of tho game, without ex*' oeption, begins his account of' ;the, match by expressing tho greatest surprise that the Oantabs were able to give tho New. Zealandcrs such a splendid fight. They are said to have giveu one of the finest exhibitions of football that one could wish, for, and it is remarked that tho 14 points bywMch they lost by no means represented the merils of. the i two tcanis on tlie day. lt-waa not, *ays" "Sporting Life," by any moans an. ' off doy' for "tho visitors, as ;they fully played up to their best form, but they must have marvelled, as did ■ the big crowd, at the wonderful form of ih«» Light Bliios, who had previously had a most disastrous season. They were without their three best forwards, J. Horsfall, E. C. Hodges and A.' Fomaan, and j jet their exposition was about as fine a3 could be. By a good many the visitors were , expected to obtain a victory by a larger margin than they did against O\foid, but, instead, they found the Light Blues a great side, their captain (L. Jjl. Mjacleod), playing an extraordinarily brilliant game, and hnlf-en-honr ©lapsed before New Zealand crossed their rivals' line." / Tho teams were:—University— J. (I. Scoular (St. John's), back; J. BurtMarshall (Clare). K. G. Macleod (Pembroke), W. M. Penny (Jesus), fL. M. Macleod, captain (Pembroke), and *fL-j F. P. Hearson (King's), three-quarter-j backs; J. V. Young (Emmanuel), and T. G. Pitt (Emmanuel), half-backs; i'H. G. Monieith. (Pembroke), / 'B. G. Harris (Pembroke), F. J. V/ Hopley '■ (Pembroke). R. McCosh (Trinitj-), W. C. Currie (Trinity), J. W. Alosondcr (Claro), and B. Gibbins (King's), fo--wards. New Zealand—X. E. Booth, back; D. McGregor, G. W. Smith, and H. D. Thompson, throo-qnarter-backs; W. "Wallace and G; Deans, five-eighths-, F. Roberts, half-back; AY. Ciuininghain, J. O'Sullivan, G.. Tyler, S., Casey, G, Gallagher (captain). Glenn, F. Glasgow, and G. Nicholson, forwards. +Signifies an international. ,'Signifies an Old Blue. Referee, Mr J. Crauford Findloy. , Reading the various accounts of tho match—the seventeenth unbroken victory gained by the Now Zeakindcrs, ■whose scores now stand at 654 to l>— wo come across exclamations of surpri.ie iiich as the following:—"There was a prevalent idea that the Cantabs would be hopelessly beaten in their encounter with tho Colonials, but this was rudely diipelled, for, dtapito an adverse ecote, they ■ oavo the visitors one of tho hardest and oast fought-out games, of the tour."— (" Sportsman.") "A better oc more exciting, game, has. nover been witneesod in tho University town, and the Home rado were certainly deserving of la better fa'to. It is no cxaffgcration -.to assert'■;, that, the . wJio?o side made* few uiistaiee,. and tlic points tliat TKSSti obtained for the visitors were

only the, result of euperii smwtineasj" ("Sporting Life;") "The New Zealandens expeiuenoed far' more. difficulty.; in pianino than.'•■:'■ had been; expected." ( ('(Telegraph.") "To.' hive kept :tho/ score of such a team down to a matter;; of four tries, counting <m\j< the timee* on which their>line tree crossed,;;»ntT also t» hare ■ missed ecorimg on two 00-; casions. themselves only, .by the merest : , circumstance,was;*'feat or; which the.;; University may;be proad ;■ the match : will-live. long in tho memories of ith'ej seven or eight thousand persons who' saw it." ("Standard.") "Cambridge: has almost in. a moment been trane-: formed into a ; great '"md»4-: :li;.". ':■. bridge astonished everyone who had. eoen the side'in rte other <trials;- they «howed*pace and fitness) , oonALned with ' superb footwork■;. among the forwarde' and great edull in drop-kicking fit three- ' quarter. Footballere had heard a good deal of ; the ,, Qambxidge/ , three-quarter;; lino, but/ yesterday ,wae the first , time it has «*ver ;got .', going." >.'C , Post.") 'There was one period "of 'the/; game dining which the act uai- victory ' of the Home aide' seemed ''a far from improbable: results>« (''The-Tufta*. "Cambridge played remarkably_ > well, and they ought really',to/haire^put a - couple of v Eooree tiiemselves agauoet the: colonials. , " point- of view of. the; spectator, the difT : ;i feremee between themdee.wae ooinparatively slight, and the general opuiiwv was that the svore flaitors the winners." ("Chronide."). And co; on. !:. € * ■•"•-; Ujsq^^tx^N&rMof :!; This week's issue of contains half a .column,of "Newt iZealand-vZig* )■.. Zags," as .learned from the usual journalistic eources-r-1-. That tho Antipodes can j>roduoe a.dpeen'; better teams than; the" eWrArte'iuJWi;;: touring_iii, this /courilry.i ; B.V Thabstlieljf team at'; present engrossing attention, • was cent over for arid change, and is undet v ndore U>; '&> a.iThajb ''': i—— and;—— eedenUry; employment down under, i but*got; a little oroquot on Saturday' ifternooiwV 4; That the;j«hillblain ; on HtUe toe is progressing 5., ; That one of the moet 'etrikinß point* itt the behaviour o;f the colonialfl.ie their extraordinary .•humour, ,mt- the doee of play. 0. That, amongst; other things, the •Maorilandcre'. ,^:^are:V teaching ; ue': moderation in language t , Jtr .iHxon, their - manager, stating that so - far he in eatisfiod with the financial aspect of the tour, sand is inclined to think ifc willbe !self-eui>porting ; oh an average feat* 'of' £000.. 7. That the .sensitive to, onr climntio conditions, end England may win in »'fog. .8." That , history repeats iteelf, and' 'Seote-'-yh* hae wi , Wallace * bled r . are' hoi unlikely, when again brought, in : contact;; wiw him, -to renew ■ tjnia rwinful experience;" ' "Punch" also contains a" clever ekit on the emzre for international football, in which if is stated that in <ie year 1912; playing Russia afcßlackheath before a crowd estimated at 260,000 tatore, "Great Britain," with a. ride composed of fourteen New Zealandere and one had their •trongeet possible combination in tho field I.' r ~ ; "Judex ,, (the Hon. Captain Southwell FitzGerald) admittedly one' of the ltighest authorities on the Rugby ganw', writes:-—"At. the present monfeni we have 3XOW among us a team from flk*'"of; our colonies who ai*e ehowing, u« 'at Home'—aa.colonists always t*lk of England in their own colony—nob only a reformation, but a revelation in .o»ir Rugby football. The New Zealandere commenced their present toy r on the 16th of last September, and eince then they have beaten us foot and dragoons. In Rugby football we are very conservative j wo hate reforms, and we detest nothing more than /the innovation, of being soundly beaten by a team which up to- last September had never set foot in England, and was unknown to the general Rugby public. I have written—and 1 still hold the same view—that the New Zealanders are the finest team who have ever played Rugby, football. . .. Holding as I do this'view of'the excellence . of" the i New Zealanders , prowese, I should have thought that when, we Britishers had been beaten, as wo have been up to nbw, we should have consoled ourselves with the thought" that we lad been defeated by the finest Rugby combination -we have as yet seen.. I know it is very hard on ns, in thb lrftle Island (of ours, to bo beaten by njetephoricj ally our Rugby football children: We naturally do nol like being' beaten at essentially one of our most British games, but this is no reason why w* should endeavour, to bolster up oar defeats by excuses." , ~ . '

{ Lieutenant Basil Madear, who played 6O finely for Blackhetth on Saturday against the 'IAU Blackfl," eaya that the Ncw\ Zcalandero are tho best' team he ever saw. He attributes, their eucoess<« to eplendid organisation; perfect traiiiing, and. attention to tactics. They. all ho added, part* of a emoothly-\rorking : -machine.; . Thpre was no such thing as forward vork' inthe'lrish acceptance \of: thp term, no solid shoving, no fierce ropen' dribbling rushes. Tho 3S T cvr Zenlanders had the advantagei over Wj»lce in that the latter jlfioindea a. lot on their fpnrnnla; ;,

|iv<

Mr Kaye outlined what had been done at the public meeting. The deputation camo before- tho Major \rjth a request that a special meeting of the committee should be held to consider the matter. . Tho Mayor asked if it: was desired to call a special meeting of the whole Council or the special committee set up to deal with the question. Mr Kaye replied that this would rest with, the Mayor. Time was the main object. In a tense the city was passing through a crisis. It was a question of a Town Hall now or none for a great many years. Probably some of the councillors would take a different view of the matter after the meeting. 3lr Revrnisli Mearas ako emphnsiv?d the point that no timo was to be lo?t in coming to a definite conclusion on tho subject. Mr Frostick said his presence w.ns in no way connected with tho Hall Company. He was there as a citizen who" wished to see the hall preserved to the city.

Tiie Mayor said ho ivould hare great pleasure in complying with the request of the deputation th.'it a special meeting of tbo Council should bo held. He thought it AyouLd bo better to hare « special meeting of tho Council than to cell the special committee together. They could not take a vote of the ratepayers under sis or seven, or probably eight weeks, and his engagements would not admit of «i special meeting being held before next Thursday or Friday. He explained the procedure connected with tho taking of a poll of the ratepayers to show that it would bo well not to waste any time. He did not propose to discuss the project! which had caused bo much feeling and agitation, but there was one point: which had been OTerlooked. Assuming that the ratepayers vetoed the proposal, would it not bo* wise, he asked, on the part of some of the public nitm to approach tho directors of tho Kail Company, asking them to preserve the building in its present state? He pointed out that ere long Cliristchurch would have an up-to-date theatre. A new theatre was to bo erected, and the my would then have all it required in Hit respect. Why should they have twi theatres, or why should £2000 or £300 i. be spent in spoiling what was a very decent concert hall to convert it intc what would bo only a second-rate theatre? Would it not bo better to approach tho directors and request them not to interfere with, the existing building? If tho proposal to acquire the hall was not acceptable, he threw out tho suggestion that action should be taken on the lines he had indicated. He took it that Mr Frostick was there as a lover of music and *is a member of the Musical Union.

Mr Fergueon interjected that tho deputation was there ac citizens, and not* ac, representatives of tho Musical Union—they were there to view the matter in a broad light. Mr Devenish Meares concurred in. these sentiments.

I The Mayor replied that ho was simply ! giving hie views, which were based oq the statements of the gentleman who had started the agitation, and ho thought ho was justified in coming to the conclusion he had. However, nothing would bo gained by discussing the matter further. He would call a special meeting of the Council for next week— probably Thursday or Friday. Mr Kaye informed his Worship that the directors had been approached by ouo or two individuals to preserve the hall in its present state, but, as business men, they decided to take the other i course. The present opportunity, he ! said, would not occur again. .Mr Marriner asked if the Mayor would communicate with the directors of the Hall Company, asking if they would postpone tho contemplated alterations to the building. . ' Mr Gray replied that he could not, comply with this request.' The last letter he got from the directors was very curt, and he cou!d not see why he should put himself in the way of being snubbed again. y i Mr Frosripk (who is a director of the Company): I object to that remark. | There was no intention of snubbing the J Mayor. - . v .. " ,-" * xrWL plaeA'-'tlw letter before yori "aira'jtistfncKftwn'ef the • remarks I have afade. 1 Suiting the action to tho word, "he despatched the town clerk for the letter, which was read ac follows:— i

"His Worship the Mayor, Christ-church.—-Sir,—l am instructed by the chairman to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th Vofemng to tho proposed purchase of the Canterbury Hall, and stating that no discourtesy was intended by the action of your Council efc its meeting on the evening of the 11th met. The matter, therefore, is now closed.—Yours faithfully, H. H. Secretan, secretary." The Mayor: I can scarcely bo expected to reopen negotiations after that. Mr Meares said he was sorry that tho Mayor had placed the interpretation he did on tho letter. It appeared to him that it could bo construed in the other way.

The Mayor smiled and closed the discussion by once more intimating that ft special meeting of the Council would bo held next week.

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