WIDNES MATCH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 54, 27 November 1907, Page 8

WIDNES MATCH.

WON COMFORTABLY AFTER EXCffINQ

CONTEST.

/'BOOMPER RAOGHT."

SUCCESS OF AUCKLAND BACKS. ATTACK THE BEST DEFENCE. .(By A. H. Baskerville.) New Zealand .... ~. 26 Widnes "..\ ... .'i.. ... ... 11

■ Tho.'Now. Zealandors ' mado their dobut in Lancashire to-day. .Tremendous interest is being,taken in their movements, so that when they arrive at a station, crowds assemble to ■ greot them. Widnes, in proportion to its size, , gave them a royal recepr *tion. A largo assemblage met them at,the station at noon, and tho affair assumed tho shape' of a triumphal ■ procession.

All roads led to Widnes. Large crowds came from Liverpool and Manchester at excursion rates,.so that over 6000 people lined tho enclosure. It. was: a full house, and a re- ■, cord for tho ground;- and very good considering J the ! 'population'of the town is only, about 30,000 soul*. Tho numerous railway companies are in a measuro responsible for our popularity, as they : aro organising excursions from-the surrounding districts to every match. .'■;.'.'•;• NEW "STARS.", , ' The ■ "All ' Black" team was—Turtill, W.rWynya'rd.R'owo, .Wrigley, Tyno, M'Gregor, Kelly, Tyler, Lilo, Trovarthen, Cross, Wright, and Pearce. It was thought tho ''stars iwcre being rested .'for next Saturday's match with Broughton'Rangers, Manchester, , which is held up as our hardest match of; jthe tour. But before tho gamo finished more "stars" wero discovered in the team playing, as .aftor-evonts will show.. Widnes ,won tho toss, and played down .hill, and with a frestf breeze. The other weather and ground conditions were perfect. '". Wright kicked off, and the New Zealand forwards.wero after,the.ball in a way which is causing local critics to jokingly call them "All Backs." Widnes 1 marked with difficulty, and kicked well, down with the wind. ■■ Turtill and thoir backs started an extraordin- - ary kicking duel which lasted quite a while. Eventually the ball rolled over tho New Zeaiand dead ball line.; ■ , _ ' Play then hovered near tho centre Widnes were penalised for offside, and Wrigley found tho line well in their territory, but offside on our part then nullified tho advantage gained. ■ From a' scrum about half-way Widnes-secured, but Wrigley brokp up the passing',attack. Again Widnes wero penal- '•■ for, putting tho ball unfairly .in the'scrum. ■ A']"' ■ . iWRIOLEY SCORES FROM M'CRECOR'S / ■ •' OPENING. :■■- The kick brought. play back into Widnes .territory. A scrum took placo and New Zealand . secured. Kelly passed out to. M'Gregor, to W. Wynyard, who was just downed in the nick of time. It was a fino -rush: Tho forwards"'chipped in antl bore a '.hand. One of them snatched'the ball ap and passed well out to'M'Gregor again.-Ho, made a' good opening and handed bri-.iq • Wrigley, who dashed over botween the posts. p Ho took'th'ekick at goal-himself, buff ailo'l. Not ten minutes had passed by before the scoring had started. W. Wynyard and others again -brought the "play back to their opponents' ground. Wright then put in a good run. The pressure was relieved by Widnes ' being awarded a free kick for Kelly putting the ball in. the scrum unfairly. Again the Black'forwards threatened tho citadel, and sonio hot. work on their lino, took plaw.-' , Rowe .was--'given air-opportunity, and nearly ran over. ■'

Kelly then passed out from a scrum. A .fine passing rush saw Wrigley again over ' under the bar, hut ,; the final pass was a trifle forward, and a scrum ■ was ordered. Some more close work on their line resulted —the "All Black" forwards making it very ■willing for a time. Two or three of our tacks were almost over the lino on occasions. WYNYARD'S MARVELLOUS RUN. The Widnes men rallied and got play back to the centre for a while. Wright stemmed a threatened attack by finding tho lino. 31'Gregor secured from the scrum, and broke away .with tho ball, but offside on our., part (brought it back again. Rowe then relieved the pressuro by \ snapping up smartly and running-.'Well. , ' He is becoming . quite a specialist in the former department. Play still hovered; about the New-Zealand ,'twenty-fivc. There AV. .Wynyard secured 'kick, and got to tho. half-way lino as soon as the ball; and, spoiling their catah, resecured it. Ho was' tackled and turned a complete somersault, but regained his feet, still with, tho ball. He raced 50 yards within-'.a. foot, of,-the touch lino with them all in ..pursuit,- and scored a try near tho. corner. - It was the-best run of the tour so far. ...Wrigley again, failed with the kick. ; Twenty-five minutes had elapsed, and the . game !: was practically ..won. . v '■.-..- ~;WINDNES RALLIES. Widnes-camo along with tho kick-off and • Wero dangerous until driven back by a free ; kick—given against .them. New Zealand •then attacked. W. Wynyard eventually secured after a scrum had given ' riso.to a passing attack. Ho ran- well and almost ■ succeeded in breaking through tho <,■ defence. .Even play about tho -half-way line took place until Widnes came along. First M'Gregor, and then Rowe, relieved by short, runs. Turtillwas fielding as safely as one.could wish, iiitid -in spite ,oT the breeze Vas kicking exceedingly well. - At length Widnes wore rewarded 'for a fine piece of work. They, seouredr from a. scrum in the Black's twentyfive,' and- by. excellent passing "Barber scored for them... .The,try was not converted. New '■• Widnes.3. ' '. ... This-raised their hopes 'a bit, so they rvc'r:. ncwed.tho attack,, with vigour. Tho play was gradually removed into the "All Blacks" quarters, by their kicking high, aiid so taking advantage of the wind. In a scrum noar our lino, Widnes wero awarded a free kick. Davies then augmented their score with a fine kick, and sent ■ AVidnes' stocks up several points. Wrigley re-taliated a few minutes later by doing exactly the samo for New Zealand. This made tho scoro —Now Zealand 8, Widnes 5. It i remained . thus until half-time sounded. ... ■ ■ ■ • , NEW ZEALAND'WITH THE WIND. Upon, resuming play, it was easily seen that New Zealand meant business now that conditions were in their favour. They lost no time in getting to work, and soon pressed Widnos. Kolly secured from a scrum, and , started the machinery, M'Gregor carried on and passed to Tyno, who passed it back again to M'Gregor. Tho latter then smartly dashed over and scored in a good position. Wrigley added the necessary two points with a fine kick. ■ . New Zealand then had somo defending to , do, and tried to relieve tho pressuro by & passing rush. However, Widnes intercepted a pass, and Taylor scored a soft-looking try. Their, failnre to convert it loft tho scores — New Zealand 13, Widnes 8. Both teams wore doing their best to attack , tmd did not think of defence. This is a distinctive feature,. of tho Northern Union gam<\ which is,aided by the rules. Thoy seem to fit in-with tho advice —"tho best system of defence is attack." TWO GOOD TRIES. Widnos secured another leaso of life with tho increase of their score, and worked into our twonty-fivo. Wrigley raised the siege by kicking and finding the line. New Zeajand secured tho ball near the half-way'line. Kelly passed it out and M'Grogor, Wrigloy, Rowe, and Wynyard handled it. The Jafcter's fine run earned for him a "star" distinction,' and a try also. The movement altogether was as brilliant as one could wish to seo, and deservedly received enthusiastic applause. ' Wrigley failed to convert the try. Wright was the scorer of our next try. Ho made an amazing ' run, completely,, through

tho Widnos team. By sw.ery.ing, sprinting, shouldering opponents off,'onco half-tackled, and part of the way on his ; hands and feet, our captain ovontually' got thoro, and went 'straight to tho heart of 'tho ; Lancashire barrackers. "Boompor" Baoght's try will bo talked about in Widnes for a , long time. Wrigley failed to convert— leaving tho scoro 19-8. . : ■/ : Looso ■; play—full of , 'incident—kept tho spectators in* a continual simmer of oxciteniont. New Zealand forwards, Cross in particular, wero still, ripping into tho game as vigorously as when they started. They wero keeping their opponents well in hand. TYLER SAILS FOR T^ E POSTS. . ' M'Gregor secured and mado an opening. Ho nassed to Lile, who cleverly drew all tho opposition. Tyler then 'received tho pass, with groat deliberation ho glanced over each shoulder, saw the'disposition of the defenders, and then with head down sot sail for tho goal posts, nearly 40 yards away. The pursuers wore not in tho hunt with him. Turtill converted his try, and after some - givo and tako play occurredj ■ placed a fine goal from a mark neatly secured by Kelly. This brought the "All Blacks" total to 26 points. .. < . ..' Tho next incident was a fine', dribblo by Rowo. Tho same player was within inches of scoring a little later, Kelly aud Wynyard having passed out,to him. . Widnes made'a final rally. A. scrum occurred'in tho Black's twenty-five. Kelly secured and .tried''to kick,. but Davies literally, picked tho ball off'his'too and finally scored for Widnos. Tho kick was a failure. Thus the game ended—tNow Zealand 26, Widnes 11.' /- .' ■": V .

''Talk about exciting . games 1 Why tho second spell of this game; ', was marvellous. The spectators, a large number of whom wero outsiders owing*; to it being a Wednesday match, wore the most impartial we have encountered so far.. They cbcored good play on both sides. Thus a' continual roar of applause.was tho result, when the players settled down and got into their, stride. .It is a funny thing b'uij '.every team we have met so far has, to use", a .local term, "played the game of. their lives." Their supporters say they perform far better than the most sanguine thought them capable of. This causes great; local pnthusiasm, of course, and naturally they want to seo us again. 'In fact, somo •' talk. of/ satisfaction in a way which makes ihe think our programme of matches could ,he gone through twice with advantage, and it is certain bigger "gates" would result in. some cases. ! : ,' CRITICISM^ •■ All our backs performed, well '.at Widnes. W. Wynyard mado his. name. , His every effort was a brilliant one.

Wriglcy's defenco. was 'decidedly, weak. I think he' was looking towards Brpughton on Saturday, and was-'taking!.';no brisks. , -, His attack though was, .'as,'usual, ■'very .good; M'Gregor mado several "of,;his:'characteristic, Bwift, arrow-like dashes at-openings. ■: Rowo (is another surprise 1 ypapket of the tour. Aucklanders- wbufd novpr; recognise iii

his, play the work of .the...'smart Newton three-quarter. Ho/ has .improved out of sight.'. ! ..'•... '' , - Turtill gets . universal .praise in every match. Both' Press and,ppople admire his admirable dexterity.' He is' a human magnet to tho ball. -.-...' Kelly, the Petone half-back,, did very well in this, his first' English match. ~ Cross and Wright appoarod to' me to play tho best gamo thoy ever did, and I havo seen them in every match of importance these last few years. Tyler was tho usual box- of. tricks, although buried at-intervals- in the scrum.' His try was a meritorious, .but intensoly araiisirig one. . His happy/Jcnaclc of getting' there is inexplicable, .yet -he '.-'gits thar" ,overy match. / -. - >-\ Pearce and Lilo-.used their weight to ad'yaritago in tho ruck.. Tlioy shift things wiion they get moving." Their pace in tho .open is in no way handicapped by their weight—a remarkable thing.for men of their .'physique Trovarthen gave us his best exhibition so far, and is now regarded as one of the best forwards in the team.

A "Daily Mail" impression of tho match: "The New Zealanders played a groat game, always interesting; and at .times absolutely onthralling. ..■ . Taken all round the side may bo said to be what might be called thoir second team.' There must bo a first side when Messenger, Smith, Todd, Johnston, and Maekrejl are included." Howover, wo are beginning to think that, there is no second side. There certainly is not in tho forwards. ,

Next Saturday comes the tug-of-war. Wβ moot Broughton Rangers ,at Manchester. If wo beat them we are capable of winning every match of tho tour. They are'girding up their loins, having special training, and of course are confident of lowering our .standard. We shall see about that though. But to be beaten by Any one of the Northern Union teams. is no disgracb, They play a :grand game, as Ne.w Zealanders may have an opportunity of judging some. day. Our team for Manchester on Saturday is Turtill, ■ W. Wynyard, Smith) "Wrigley, Mes•sengor, Todd, R. Wynyard," Gilchrist, Trevarthen, Wright, Cross, Byrne, and Johnston. . ~ : :' :'/■ The gate at Widnes was about £256—a record for the ground,/even Saturdays taken into account. It was very, satisfactory for a mid-week fixture, considering tho isolation of tho town. i