FIRST TEST MATCH.

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

FIRST TEST MATCH.

BRITISH FOOTBALLERS, DEFEATED COMPLETELY OUTCLASSED. NEW ZEALAND, 32; BRITAIN, 6. IB* IBLEGHAPH—PRESS. ASSOCIATION.! ... Dunedin, June! 6. Tho first test match,' Britain v. New Zealand, was played.at Carisbrook ground this aifternoon in the presence of fully 19,000 spectators. Many, people came into town from all parts of tho province to witness the contest, and numbers who had come in earlier in. the week to attend the Winter Show remained oyer tlie day to 1 see'the match. The Railway Department had made capital arrangements- for bringing .'the people into town, and taking them away.'.again in the evening. Tho Committee: of Management having provided a 'host. of-.turnstiles ;the public ■had no difficulty in gaining, access to the ground, and ' means of exit . being' plentiful, ' the. big crowd ,was dismissed ' with easo. Notwithstanding' tfytt Zealand ; Rugby Union had fixed the .entrance' fee at 25.,' tho attendance. outnumbered that of the previous Saturday by at least 5000. Towards : the"end of the week there !was talk of pulling down -the fence,:-but nothing like that eventuated; in fact; tho crowd wa'B most ordorly, Throughout; the %o hpiirs':'before the start' of the match,; people! began! to' fleck ,out to' the ground,,, and at a 'quarter .to three, which was' tjie jfciine fixed for'the commencement of hoitihtiegj the 'ground was almost taxed to : its 'utliiost' capacity... The playing-area was in' : excellent order,'-: wearing .well throughout the" game,' despite the ':fact :that' a few showers had' .'fallen early in the morning. Thtire'was p. light breeze from thp ' southweH; but it-died away tp, nothing before half-time. , Mr.- James" Duncan' wais referee; and; the game jfas "played in two 'spoils of '40 minutes each. . ■" '■r / THE TEAMS. The'teams constituted as follows:— ' BRITAIN (RED AND WHITE). Full-back. —Jackott. Three-quarters;—Gibbs, Vassall, "Ponty" Jones,. J." L.'Williams. .'' ! : . Halves.—Laxon and Davey. forwards. —Harding (captain), Dibble, Oldham,^Kyrke,'Ritson, Archer, ' Down, and Jackson. 'W : ISJEW ZEALAND (BLACK). ; Full-back.—Cpleman. \.;' - : Three-quarters. Cameron, Mitchin'son, and Thomson.' ~Fiye-iighths.—Hunter and Stead (captain). Half.—-Roberts! • •: • ' ' <. forwaras.—Casey, Hughes, Francis, Cunningham,' Wilson'/ Seeling, "M'Donald, and Gillett.' : • -" FIRST SPELL.

The • contestants exchanged ringing cheers on entering tho field at five minutes to three. Stead won'the .tess, and elected play towards the eastern :goal-line,!'the BritishPrs having/ the disadvantage for half pn hour of a strpiie/ sun in. their eyes'. Jackson kicked the;.ball, oyer;the touch-line, and it was ordered baok. When the oval was fairly in play, Now. Zealand , began /to press, but' A smart -. screw-kick ;;by Gibbs/'sent 'the ball to. neutral territory.. A good rush of- thp New Zealand forwards carried the leather to the twenty-five line, where some 1 fast play ensued. '' Jicke.tt ■kicked /driwn' the field, ; bnt again tho Blacks came with a determined swoop', / M'Donald- 'and -Seeling being in the. van; arid l Britain/forced down: Play still continued ih\the.:?iciriity of the .'Red-and/Whites twenty-five flag- Hunter set off, but jiva's collared before'lie had timo to pass. .A' 'freekick for off-side • play 'by a Britisher was awarded to' New Zealand just outside the quarter line, and Roberts had a shot at goal without result: 'Wilson smartly followed up tlio' kick-dut, and, play was. again 'soda, in the visitors', tiyentyrfivo. For off-sido play in the scrum, the Blacks got'a,freo-kick, and Roberts was entrusted with the shot at goal.- "'Oldhamland Gibbs ran out before the ball had; been'placed, and ".no charge " was ordered.' ftobe'rts took-a steady kick, and landed 'an unmistakable goal. This was seven minutes after'the start.

New Zealand 3 Britain ... ... ... Nil From a scrum at the centre, the visitors initiated a pretty and effective run. -Vassa.ll went off like a shot, and passed J. Williams who. sen't'~the ball on to Jones. The. last-named, who was brought'down by Cameron, passed, in the nick of'time; to Vassall, but the attack was .carried no further, Vassall being hemmed in beforo he could kick. Play was carried to the centre, where >';ho •Blacks v came- away in an open rush", but -a peiialtvkifck' to' Harding's' side saw play located in New. Zealand territory. Davey got in 'an admirable screw-kick,' sending the ball out' within a few yards of the Blacks' goal-. line.':A; timely kick by-Roberts staved off the onslaught, but got tho ball, and with* a strong and well-judged kick returned play :to the same quarter. The New. Zealand forwards, with' Francis and Hughes prominent, sot up a looso rush, but Gibbs stoppfed. it, - ':and- carried; tho 1 ball back to the Blacks twenty r fivc. ' Vassall 'kicked down once more, carrying'play in dangerous proximity' (56 the" New goal-line.' Then from a scrum,,the Blacks forwards broke up fast,' and sot off : in an'open- rush, which' did not. end until" th<i. ball -reached- Britain's quarter flag, where Ritson kicked' into touch. Then from a serum TKonisoii got" into'possession,' and- dodging past a'.couple of opponent; including Jackettj- scored about 10 yards from, the corner. .Roberts placed a goal.' -. New Zealand . ... .... 8. points .Britain ... ... Nil-," '..This was nineteen minutes after the start. The .visitors, then out"on.a.passing rush, but Jones; was brought down by'-' Stead at the* centre."Britain',- again becoming' aggressive,'tried dribbling tactics, but.'Mitchinson canie' to his | side's relief with •' a serviceable kick. : An interchange of kicks' ended in the leather .'going' out' at ■ midfield.'"' From ' a scrum the. Blacks,.., forwards; agailr came through with; admirable combination, and rushed tho ball' past Britain's , twenty'five, where Jackett managed. to _ get in," a' smart kick,' which 'sent' the- ball into:.-touchj midway, between the centre and Britain's quarter Jirio.' From a!scrum, >the .ball went to Gibbs, who set out at . a great pace until lie was grassed at ; the .qentrp. .. New ; Zealand then invaded tho territory in force, and after some hot ' work thirty, yards in front. of the goal- posts; Hunter/snapped up tho leather and. shot it away to MV-chinson. The, latter, made off, and then made a low piss to 1 Cameron, spoiling a . good chance. From a scrum, Roberta got'the ball and a. beautiful. pass ,to Hunter enabled the latter to travel V&en • yards before he'transferred to Mitchinson, who ran in without any trouble: ' Gillett kicked a piretty goal. . New Zealand ... ... 13 paints Britain ... ... ..7 r Nil Twenty-eight minutes had , elapsed from the start.' Play, was now in New Zealand ground for three minutes, though a good way from the line "and the Blacks then shifted it to the'other end of the field. Just outside the British quarter-line a fine passing run was started. From ono back tho ball went to another, and Hunter was on the verge of'getting over, when, he slipped and lost his chance. Rising smartly ho passed with, tho greatest coolness to Cameron, who was in waiting, and the last-named player got over at the corner. The kick i$ goal was a success.

Now Zealand ... ... 18 points .Britain Nil Tho visitors again invaded, tho Blacks quarters, but their look in was brief. The New Zealand forwards catne out. with an irresistible run past the centre, andi one.of the' Red' and' ' Whites in: his''anxioty (to stop the stampodo infringed, the' rules,, giving' a freekick, to New' Zealand. Gillett was entrusted: with tho. kick at-goal, but the ball went, wide. Iu loose, play, Davey.got into possession; and with only Coleman, between him and .'(the . goal-line, hp kickod over the full-back's head. ' He might'havo passed to Williams,: who was' handy,,but did not see his chance. - As : it . was the Blacks got on to the-ball .smartly, and what, at one time looked like ascertain, score for Britain was nullified. -Some hot and reckless play ensued in; the Blacks' quarter, but, a strong kick into ffcouch by Mitchinson steadied thiiigs.i In'another, miiiute Britain was again' defending,' the" scene" ofowratiom

boing immediately'in front- of tho goal posts. The ball somehow' reached Roberts's 'hands and in a twinkling that speedy player was across the line with a Britisher on top of him. Gillett 1 s' kick was "fruitless. New Zealand ... 21 points Britain ... ; ... ... Nil The visitors carried play into the Black domain, and tho ball was in tho vicinity of the quarter flag when half time sounded. SECOND SPELL. At the,opening of the second spell Jackett got :in a splendid kick, which sent the ball out on New Zealand's side of the half-way line, but the home team soon removed operaneutral territory. Hunter and Thomson put in ifiho work, but were checked by " Ponty ", Jonijs. A free kick'to Britain immediately afterwards, enabled the visjtors to shift play to the homo 25. Here Britain started a-nice passing rush, but Jones failed to' tako a pass, and tho chanco was lost. Tho home team forced their opponents back to the r half-way. Excellent footwork by Haiding and Jackett put New Zealand in .tho .defensive, but a free kick brought relief. An irresistible • rush by the New Zealand .forwards ; tobk .-the ball right up to tho visitors' lino, and from a scrum Roberts got away on . the .blind side, and scored at tho corner. Gillett failed with the kick.

New Zealand ... 24 • Britain !.s ... "... nil. 1 Next was a free kick to Britain near the half-way.'''Gibbs ha!d a shot at goal from"a yard: or two' outsido half, and made an excellent- effort. The ball travelled the distance, btife'did not go quite straight. Play then hovered-hear half-way for a while, after which the.N.ow Zealand forwards initiated a passing rush, .-which danger for tho visitors,' but Jackett cleared in fine style. An ■ interchange of kicks resulted in' favour of-Now Zealand, and a little later the visitors were busy defending. The British forwards broke' away splendidly, and took the ball to the 1 opposing full back, but Coleman was equal to the occasion, and sent tho ball back past'half-way.'- Clever footwork by Britaiti, aided by fast, following up, resulted in Coleman being collared inside New Zealand 25.' ■ Davey got tho ball and made a dash, but could not get through! the defence. A free kick to the home team brought no relief, and the'visitors,'who were getting tho ball frequently at this stage, gave New Zealand a bus/ time staving off attacks. The home team then forced the Britishers for a time, biit excellent play by Gibbs and Laxon resulted in the '"defence being almost penetrated A fe\v minutes later Jackett got the ball close to, the touch line, near half way, 'ahi had. a'pot at goal. His kick was a remarkably. fine one; but the ball fell just under the .bar. Fine work by Gibbs was re-' sptiisiblp for keeping New Zealand on tho defensive," but. the' visitors could not" press the attack home, and play was removed to midfield. ! Oiie: of the ; finest bits of play in tho game! th'en took placed From a scrum Davey! got tho ball'a.way, initiating a splendid passing.bout. The ball went to Williams, and then! to Jones, 'who,- when collared, passed to Vassall. The last named made a finp.r,un, and! then passed "to Gibbs, who cut in and beat 'the opposition, scoring in a favourable position ten minutes before time. Jackson converting..' . New Zealand ... ... ... 24 Britain '... ... ... ... 5

Fipm the kick out the British backs again broke away,; ; and the '/bill eventually went to Archer, who got in a clever kick after being tackled. VpssallV' failure to' field tho ball let New Zealand away, and Thomson put in a splendid ./un, getting within a few yards of the opposing team's lirio; Britain drove Now Zealand back to tho 25, but the latter again.asserted themselves, and clever passing resulted in Hunter scoring beside the posts, Roberts failed with the'kick. New ... ... ... 27 Britain ... 5 From the kick-out the homo team again attacked strongly, but/Jackett, with a remarkably fine effort, ; cleared. Tho respite was, short, however, for the; ball was kicked across .to . the' .opposite side, where Gibbs and Vassall failed to field it, and Mitchinson.secured possession, and dived over near the corner. Francis converted with a good kick. ' In tho few minutes' remaining New Zealand got to the British tweiity-fivo, where the game ended, the. final scores being:— Now Zealand ... ... ... 32 Britain ' ... . .... '... ... 5 NOTES. Tho winning team eclipsed their opponents in' nearly all departments of play. The New Zealand forwards, who' were a fast lot, played well, together in / the loose, sweeping down the. field timp aftei; timo. \ . : At times:'the British, forwards displayed remarkably clever footwork,' getting the ball away on ' seemingly/impossible occasions, but there was; a/ lack of combination, and often', when. a'!, man overran or missed the ball; there was'no ono at hand to support him. Tho tackling all' round was determined, and certain, but the winning -forwards probably showed to better advantage than their opponents/ in J, this , respect. On the line-out honours wero about evenly divided, but in the 'serum ; Britain was more successful in hooking the balL Owing to the smartness of the New Zealanders in getting round the scrum, however,,'the'Britisli half had great difficulty in sending the ball away. ' In the .back division New Zealand had a decided' advantage..-Roberts got the ball away'splendidlyand gave' the other backs fine opportunities,' of which they' generally made the best/use. They were quick off the mark;'and"generally ran straight for the opposing'line,; taking a lot of stopping. They played' well' into each others' hands, and only -the'deadly tackling' of the' Britishers could ■ cheek-'them. Only during a brief period in "the:-second half did the British backs, appear at' their best. Owing to inability to 'get the ball 'away from the scrum they did ;iiot.-get very many chances,' and even when,they did get an.opportunity, they were seldom able to make • headway. Ponty'v. Jones, who put in-some good work in the, other'; departments, was lamentably weak in;'taking the ball, and almost-on every occasion' either missed the ball or knocked on.'' _ '• The bout which" led'to Britain's score was a very pretty one. . The leather came out smartly from the" scrum,-and the backs were set in mbtion splendidly. After' being collated, Jones gave-Vassall a good pass,' and the latteri'ahd Gibbs, with a remarkably fine effort, beatthe''opposition badly. It was a. glimpse/of'the visitors' best form", but, unfortunately.' for the. spectators, was not repeated... Both fullrbacks shaped very-well, showing excellent in finding the line with powerful kicks.. Britain showed rather more resource ih -footwork' -than tho home team, but did : '_n<)t stop rushes with the same determination. . The visitors offended the off-side rule frequently, ' New Zealand getting several free.kicks in consequence.

COMMENTS ON THE MATCH. THE PLAY AND THE PLAYERS. (BY TELEOBAPH.—SPECIAL COEBESPONDENT.) New Zealand was always on top throughout the desperately, fought game. Nothing better in .loose dashing forward play and crisp, swift passing by'the New Zealand forwards , and backs has ever been seen in Dunedin. On a dry ground, fast as an atlilotio. field, Britain, with its flying rearguard of internationals and solid phalanx. ot forwards, was given a reasonable chanco in (today's ■ struggle. The wind, which prevailed slightly in the first half, did not, however, favour Britain's chances, and tho visitors were, moreover, handicapped by tho sun. These- circumstances, 110 doubt, told somewhat against . tho Britishers, showing their best; form in tho first half of (the game, but, throughout, Now Zealand was always in tho van. The element of luck, a frequent happening in Rugby, did not at any stage of tho gamo enter into tho nrgument. It was one of the most desperate struggles which has taken placo between Britain and New Zealand. The British team had instructions from Captain Harding to jump into the game from, the outset, and, not. jet down until tho call-of time. From (tho kick-off, they swept into the game with, the vim and vigour, of a highly-trained international side at the out-

Britain in to-day's game was not represented by its full strength. J. F. Williams, tho Welsh international forward, who is recognised as one of tho finest forwards in tho team, was oh the touch-line, hobbling on sticks through injuries received in a practice gamo a fow days ago. Another lino player in Edgar Morgan, the Welsh international reserve forward, was also nursing an injured leg in the reserved grandstand. This player, who weighs over List., would have improved the vanguard, which was recognised as a solid, hard-working pack. Every man was out to win, and played superbly. Mistakes made on tho Athletie Park at Wellington, and. on tho Carisbrook Ground against Ot-ago wero not to bo repeated in the first test. Although tho game was brilliant in,many spots, it was at times slow and wearisome by reason of the many line-outs and scrummages wjiich took place. But the vast multitude of spectators never knew for a single moment what was going to happen next, and the unexpected always took place.; Britain were clearly outclassed in almost every department of the gamo, but played as desperately at'the' finish as they did at tho kick-off. . New Zealand were not. one unit th'eir inferiors in. this respect, and it would indeed bo hard to say which was tho fresher team at the finish, though both sides were no doubt glad whon the whistle blow. MERITS OF THE PLAYERS.

THE BRITISHERS. Jackett, the famous English international, was much, in 'tho public vision. Ho was, probably, the idol of. today's crowds. His superb line-kicking and acurcate finding nursed his forwards remarkably. On occasions when tho Ne'jv Zcalanders _ burjjt; through, he invariably accounted for his man but there were always up to half a dozen New Zealaanders in tho attacking Much was expected of tho famous British three-quarters. No doubt tho crowd' wero disappointed at their showing. Handicapped through lack of tiho ball they'rarely got au opportunity to attack. Gibbs, who had nursed himself in Dunedin for a week prior to the match, was only in evidence on faro oocasions, but, whilo.. lacking opportunity of attack, he showed up in sterling and desperate defence. One chance the Welsh international three-quarter had, and he made /Jie best possible use of it, scoring a brilliant try after an exceedingly swift and clever run. What has been said of Gibbs must, in great measure, apply to his colleagues. Vassall got few chances to show that speed and alertness which have made his name famous. It was Vassall, however, who was maihiy responsible for Britain's score. Ho passed Hunter like a flash and eluded Mitchinson in the samo stride. When opposed by Coleman ho sent tho ball oii to Gibbs, whose swervo carried him papifc the Now Zealand full-back- "Ponty" Jones, who was playing centro with Vassall, was much in tho public eye, being at all times strong'on attack.and defence. He fiolded the ball with delightful certainty, but before ho had time to think tho New Zealand forwards were on top of him, and frequently bagged him willi tho ball in hand. In the second, half, Jones frequently fumbled and failed to take several passes. Williams, who was playing on the left wing, rarely got a chance to show his scoring ability. He is the fastest back on the British side, but save for one crisp run from the British twenty-five that of New Zealand, he never got a chance. ' ' Behind the scrum Laxon was handicapped by Jack of the ball, and was -bustled into uncertainty , and ' ; inaccuracy by the '. Nqiy. Zealand, wing-forward. Laxon had as * " his partner • Davoy, tho English international half, who in recent international games made a fine showing. Davey rarely ever got far on attack. On tho defence he had much to do; and he showed up well. v Every one of the forwards was at times more or loss in evidence. ' Now it was Harding, tho British captain, and Dibble, tho English' international, and again Oldham, Arcner, and Jackson. Tho last-named player was the most prominent of the' British forwards on the long line, and was responsible in the main for .a-.majority, of the ■ British passing rushes initiated fropi this department.

• THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. ; Coming to tlie New, Zealanders,' too . much praise cannot' be given. Backs and forwards played a superb game. Coleman, tlie New Zealand full-back, played the game of liis lifo. He had little defence to do, the" only noticeable 'occasion being when Gibbs so cleverly swerved .past him, scoring Britain's only try. His accurato fielding of tho ball and hi slon'g and accurate line-kicking were feature's ot his play, and in this ' respect lie was not outrivalled by Jackett, the- Englishfull-back. . '• The New Zealand three-quarter line wero ever on the attack. Thomson was first'to show up for 'brilliant hins, the Wellington flyer frequently eluding 'the defence' of Britain, and piercing it to its final line: He >ook his passes beautifully, and once in his stride was hard to catch. Mitchinson, at'centre, played a fine game, and was in'most of tho . attacking 'movements'' initiated by the New'-Zealand backs.. The praise which, has' been meted out'to Thomson 'and Mitcliinson '"must : also" be tendered to CaraeroiK ' He. was always more or less a source of danger to-the enemy. V Of the five-eighths, the' elusive Hunter was much in evidence, taking the ball with certainty from his-half-bick, aiid' transferring' with swift precision to tho three:quarter 'lino. Hunter rarely ever' attempted to go far 011' his own. ' Tliis was owing to tho fact that'he wished to give the flying threequarters' every opportunity.' •' Sto'ad was probably tho least noticeable of the brilliant back division, but he took part in a majority of passing'rushes, making an able captain, and leading'; his men splendidly, not that the New Zealanders wanted leading in to-day's game. '• ■; Roberts, behind the scrum decided success. He never hesitated fortaiisj.ligle moment to send the ball on •dispatch. On the defence, Roberts had something to do, and he always proved equal to the task.' Of a fine lot of forwards—and the New. Zealand forwards wero indeed a fine lot—it would bo hard to single out»tho best players, for all played so hard and so well. The two front-rankersj Casey and. Hughes, hooked the ball with great certainty. Francis, Seeling, and M'Donald wero always prominent, and invariably headed the New Zealanders in dribbling rushes. Cunningham held the scrum compactly together, while Gillett made an excellent wing-forward. There iwas only one jarring note, and . this was on an occasion when Harding; the British captain, got, into holds with a New Zealand forward, but the incident was quickly forgotten in the excitement of the game.

THE CANTERBURY TEAM. (by telegraph.—press association.) Christchurch, June 7. The following have been selected to play for Canterbury against the Anglo-Welsh team next Saturday:— Full-back.—A. E. Doell.' Three-quarters.—F. C. Fryer, R. G. Deans, and W. 13. Fuller. , Five-eighths.—E. B. MT)onald and 6. D. Gray. Half.—P. Burns. Wing-forward.—D. .M'Pbail. Forwards.—J. Mahony,' T. Bond, W. Menzies, J. Baker, B. Hopkins, C. Evans, and T. Bain. A GRIEVANCE. Ist lELEOEArn—ritEsa association.) P.almersten North, Juno 6. The Manawatu A. and P. Association decided yesterday to charge' the Now Zealand Rugby Union 33 1-3 per cent, of the gross takings for tho use of tho show grounds on tho occasion of tho British match here. (BY CORRESPONDENT.) Appended is tho revenuo derived by the Manawatu A. and P. Association from the Manawatu Rugby Union for tho last six years. The local union aro. dissatisfied at tho price asked for tho nso of tho showgrounds for tho British match, and pending some mutual arrangemont will probably havo tho match played on tho sports ground. Tho figures are; —1902, £27'135. 6d.; 1903, £38 17s. 3d.; 1904, £63 7s. 4d.; 1905, £96 10s. 2d.; 1906, £63 Is.; 1907, £59 Bs.'

For BronaMal Coughs talw Wood's Grout Peppermint Cure. Is, (3d, and ?s. fld., CBl