NEW ZEALANDERS AT HOME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 71, 17 December 1907, Page 6

NEW ZEALANDERS AT HOME.

TWO MATCHES REVIEWED. FIRST LOSS. BEST POSSIBLE TfeAM DEFEATED. Merthyr Tydfil—Won by 27 points to 9—3 goals 7 tries to 3 tries. Wigan—Lost by 3 points to 12—1 goal and 2 tries to 4 trios. BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTSIOHT. (Rec. Dec. 16, 5.25 p.m.) Sydney, December 16. Commenting on the Wigrin match, the "Daily Chronicle" states: The New Zealanders have suffered their first defeat. Wigan, one of the strongest clubs of the Northern Union, opposed tho "All Blacks"-' with the finest contingent possible, and gained a victory by 12 points to 8. The match was fought out in tho stornest manner before 3U,000 spectators, and.'provided exciting episodes. The New Zealanders wero represented by their best team, but air their arts and skill failed before the determined methods of Wigan. . CAME FIERCELY FOUCHT. Before the game was three minutes' old, the Home team had forced their way over the line. Tho Homo team then repelled several attacks, but at last'their stubborn defence was broken down, when a pretty piece of passing by Wynvard, Todd, and Wrigley ended in the latter crossing the line. Messenger failed to convert. At half time Wigan led hy 6 points to 3. The second half was contested in the fiercest spirit. Desperate efforts to score ended in Laytham (Wigan), who was undoubtedly the hero of tho game, puttiug another try to his sido's credit, after boating both Wrigley and Turtill. Then Jenkins, who had been mainly instrumental in giving chances to his captain, dribbled the leather right into Now Zealand's camp, and, catching it on the bounce, had 110 difficulty in scoring a fourth try. With the end of the game in sight, tho New Zealanders attacked in force, and from a forward rush Lile was able to ground the ball over the line, and Turtill placed a goal. This completed the scoring. j TACKLINC WEAK. The "Daily News" says that tho New Zealanders suffered their first defeat at'- the hands -of worthy opponents. Thero was tremendous enthusiasm whon Wigan finally won, well on their merits. The club played fine football throughout. The Colonials did not undor-estimato their opponents, and their team was absolutely the best they could put in the field. The Colonial forwards wero less successful in getting the ball out of the scrums than were the opposing front rank, and their tackling at critical moments failed badly. Not until tho last moment did the New Zealanders give up hope, and their pluck was rewarded by their scoring towards the closo' of the game.