THE FIRST TEST MATCH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 218, 8 June 1908, Page 6

THE FIRST TEST MATCH.

-0 — The first of tlio series of three Test football matches between the Anglo-Welsh team and the representatives of New Zealand, played at Dunedin on Saturday, naturally cxcitcd a great amount of public interest throughout the Dominion. The visiting team has been somewhat of a puzzle to Jiugby 1 enthusiasts. it has shown glimpses of brilliancy which have fulfilled the highest expectations,, and has again, on occasions shown surprising weaknesses. It was generally felt that the real test of the team would be made in the game against the' pick of New Zealand on the Carisbrook ground op Saturday. Despite the absence from the ranks of the visitors of two of their most sterling forwards, Harding was. very, confident that his team would give a good account of itself. Judging from the reports of the play, it acquitted itself well and played a hard and plucky gamo throughout, but was beaten by the greater dash and vigour of the New Zealanders. The superior "hooking" of the New Zealand front-rankers, which gave the Colonials more frequent' opportunities for securing the ball, appears to have been a big factor in deciding the game, and bears out the advocates of the New Zealand style of arranging tho scrummage. The tour of the visiting team is even yet too young to make 'it at all certain that we have seen it at its best. On appearances there seems to-be every probability of New' Zealand winning the, remaining Test games, but tho visitors will no doubt further improve in combination as the tour progresses, and with their full strength in the field may be relied on to give an attractive exhibition against the pick pf our llugby champions.