RUGBY PROFESSIONALS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 14, 11 October 1907, Page 5

RUGBY PROFESSIONALS.

,; • • • - ■ • ■ AIL BLACKS No. 2. ' ' OVERWHELMING DEFEAT OP • BRAMLEY. LINE CROSSED TWICE. By Telegraph.—Association.—Copyright. 1 London, October 9. The New Zealand football team which is Visiting England with tho object of playing matches against thirtcons under tho jurisdiction of the Northern Union opened their tour to-day at Bramley, Yorkshire. Tho visitors reached England a week ago, and havo been in' active practice. That they are in good form was amply evidenced by tho easy manner in which they ovorcamo A their adversaries. A porfect ground made for fast play, and it was fast from beginning to end. ' From tho kick-off tho New Zcalanders assumed tho upper hand, and when "no sido" sounded had won by a ■': substantia! majority, the scores being :— New Zealand 40 ' Bromley 6 The score of the winners consisted of fivo goals and five tries, while two trios were scored against'them.

The Bramley team nt the end, of son-1905-6 (the latest-season,for which; statistics are .available), occupied the twenty-third position in -tho table of the Northern, Rugby Union Football League, in which competition thirty clubs'take part.': The team played 2G" matches;; of which 9 wore won, 15 lost. and. 2 drawn. fihSs total score of the Bramley team was 23 feoals, 25; tries (total points 121), .whilst 30 goals, (M tries (total points 252), were scored.. against. the team; The Leaguo points secured wore 20 and' percentage 38.46.. .'..-'. ~' . ■:'" The scoring in the League vis two points'for a win and onc'for-a draw. The' four clubs having the .-best percentage of points, with respect to ;the number: of possiblo points at April 2 of year, play off for the Championship, Cup and medals, ■ ...... The Jluddersficld team, which; the Dominionites moot on? Saturday, occupied) : ih the same season the eltSVonth. .place, having played 30 matohes, won 17, lost 11; and drawn 2; scores for, 31 goals, '64 trice V(g6ints 224); i scores'' against, 27 goals 40 tries' (points 174); League pointß, 86; percentage, 60.00. '■■ The nowß of the. first match •bf the ."All Black Professionals" was waited for with'keen, interest yesterday.' The win by,so'big a margirLcameas a surprise. It was generally thought that the Now ZeaJ hinders wore to bo pitted against weaker teams' in. their opening matches so as to. afford-them an opportunity of gaining, 'a : : knowledge of the, game. as played hy the Northern Union, which differs slightly from the Now: Zealand game; and it. would appear from tho result that the "All Black Professionals" have quickly grasped'the North of England style of play. _ Tlie Amateur, All Blacks . commenced their tour in England with an easy, victory, defeating Devon by 55 to 4(a potted goal). ■ ■: ; . ■'. Thenext game to bo played willi.be on jSaturday,, when Hnddersfield are to be met.-The other matches to bo played this' mouth arei—Widnes, October 16; Broughton Rangers, October 19; Wakefield ' Trinity, October 23; Leeds, . Octo- : ber 26; St. Helens, October 30. .;.