THE BRITISH TEAM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 230, 22 June 1908, Page 4

THE BRITISH TEAM.

A WIN AT NELSON. NO SCORE IN THE FIRST HALF. (BY TELEGRAPn.—TOES3 ASSOCIATION.) Kelson, June 20. Tho British team met the clect of Nelson And Marlborough to-day, and -succeeded in . winning by 12 points to nil. THE TEAMS. The teams were ao follows ij— ' * BRITAIN. . Full-back: Jackott. Three-quarters: Gibbs, M'Evedy, "Ponty') Jones, J. L. Williams. Halves: W.' Morgan and Tuan Jones. - Forwards: Dibble, Jackson, Morgan, Down, Green, Ritson, Archer, and J. F. Williams. NELSON AND MARLBOROUGH. Full-back: J. C. O'Brien (Marlborough). Three-quarters: H. Saunders (Nelson), A. Sandel (Nelson), C. Costello (Marlborough). Five^eighths: Smith (Nelson), Manning (Marlborough). , ' Half: H. Oben (Marlborough). Winger: W. A. Terrill (Marlborough). Forwards: Clouston (Marlborough), F. Bowman (Marlborough), J. M'Donald (Marlborough), H. Granville (Nelson), G. Richmond (Nelson), C. Hegglun (Marlborough), P. Hannigan (Nelson).': FIRST SPELL. / The- local team won the toss, and Smith ' Kicked.off. Jones relieved, the ball going . into touch.- The Britishers got the ball, and with a good forward rush carried it to tho Nelson 25. Nelson were given a free kick for off-sido play, but no. material advantage was gained. For not putting'the' : bair straight in the scrum, Jackott,. for England,' got a freo kick, but Richmond marked, and returned the ball T.-011. . Following this, Richmond got'{he .ball and passed to Smith, who put in- a good mil and finished with a fine kick. Trom a scrum, Britain got tho ball out, but Terrill followed up well,-'and stopped the visitors, l'lay livened up, and a good passing rush was stopped by.'O'Brien,,„syho put in a strong kick.: From a mark. : by Sm'ith, Saunders took a ,kick at goal, but failed. Mulling by tho visitors resulted in Nelson nearly! scoring, but Jackott saved. Next the ball -was knocked over the ,lino,, but the score, was not allowed'*; Tho visitors put in some good passing, but Saunders saved,'and soon after the same player ' got' tho ball; and : . put in a good kick from midfield. ..The home., forwards pressed hard, and took tho ball into British territory, but no score rosultod. Nelson put in some grand' passing work at this stage./ The ball came from the scrum, and 1 then to .Oben, who passed to Smith, but the ball was lost after it had been carried well down tho field; Tho combined team were now pressing hard,;! and only." good defensive .play by Jackott saved the visitors from a dangerous situation; From'a scrum, Obo'n got the ball, and passed it to Manning,' who transferred to Sandol,. but the lattor sent into touch. When tho ball was in. motion again, Manning got possession, passed .again to Sandel, who in turn gave tho leather to Costello, but this player let the ball bounce on his chest, and an opportunity, was lost. Tho British backs, especially Morgan and Jones, put in some good passing, ■ but Sandel's collaring was sound. After some uninteresting play, <the' 'Nelson forwards got; the ball in their own 25, and did not let itgo until it w»s well within the British 25. Nelson then had tho bettor of the game for a time. ] Sandel put in a grand run, and found touch near the corner flag, and as soon as .tho ball, was in motion onco more, Nelson again returned to 'the attack, but too hard kicking let tho visitors force. Nelson wore now pressing hard,; and' some pretty passing ■was put in by Smith, Sandel, and Costello, but no score eventuated. Tho British/backs put in'some good passing after this; and an almost certain score was averted by brilliant work by Oben, Terrill, and Granyillo,' the homo*team getting the ball, and by really good play carrying it into British territory. Nelsoh'kept up the attack, aiyl Sandel, by a good kick,-sent;the ball well into tho British lines. Tho visitors then took a turn at attacking, bilt through fumbling by J. Williams the chance of. a lively score was lost. The' visitors took a s'pnll. at .attacking strongly, hilt' Manning saved well, and the whistle sounded with no. score.

1 SECOND SPELL. Soot" after resuming, M'Donald, for tho home team, got offside, and -tho Britishers were awarded a free kink. Gibbs took the kick, .but tho attempt at goal failed. ,Tlio combined team rushed tbo kick; and Gibbs had another attempt, but ho again failed. From a line-out at midfiold the Britishers, got the ball, and M'Evedy put in a very fine' run, but lost the leather, though not before he was well in Nelson territory.' The British team wore now pressing hard, but Saunders, with: a splendid kick, saved. ' After some uninteresting play Gibbs got tho ball, and passed to Sl'lCTedy, and the leather 1 was transferred to " Pontj " Jones, thence on to J. L. Williams. , The latter, after a fine run, scored near the corner. Gibbs failed to convert. Britain; • ... •... I ... ... 3 Nelson and Marlborough ... ... 0 On resuming, the homo team put in somo good work, .and Manning was responsible for a, fine run,, but passed ■ forward. Play was kept about tho centre of the field for'a timo, and then, the visitors pressed, and Tuan Jones received tho ball from the scrum, passed-to J. F. Williams, who scored near the corner. Jackson failed with the kick. Britain ' ... ... ... ... 6 Nelson and Marlborsugh ... ;: ... 0

. As'Boon'as the'ball was set rolling again Nelson attacked, but Jackett saved. O'Brien had a shot at goal, and put in a good kick, but failed; Jones relieved , for England, and made a long'run, aftor which the' home team pressed in earnest. Smith got tho ball, and lookod liko scoring, hut Jackett brought him safely to earth. The Britishers took a turn at attacking, and pressed vigorously, hut tho ball went into touch in goal A little later "Ponty" Jones secured a mark, and Jackson put the ball-between the posts. Britain " ... 9. Nelson and Marlboroufeh ... 0 A solid attack.by tho home team followed, but Jackett was unpassablo. After a short attack by the local men, the British forwards secured possession from a scrum,' and carried the leather well up the field. A great passing rush by the visitors followed. Tho hall was secured by Morgan,. who passed to Tuan Jones. Tho ball then went to Williams, and then to "Ponty" Jones, who passed forward. Towards the end of the game tho British back division was again set in motion by Morgan, and a brilliant bout of passing ended in a, try being obtained by "Ponty" Jonesj .The'kick at goal was taken by Jackson, but failed.

Britain ... ... 12 Nelson end Marlborough 0 Nelson then pressed strongly, and Smith and Granville were almost over, but the game ended with the score:— Britain ... ... 12 Nelson and Marlborough ... . 0 Mr. A. B. Charters was referco. REVIEW OF THE SOUTHERN TOUR. THE SECOND "TEST" MATCH. VISITORS EXPECT TO PUT UP A BIG FIGHT.

The British team, which concluded its tour of the South Isknd on Saturday, returned to Wellington yesterday, and, with tho exception of Captain Harding (who is staying with Mr. T.' M. Wilford, M.P.), tiio members' aro staying at the Grand Hotel. In ; the courso of conversation with a Dominion- reporter, Mr. Harding (the general skipper) briefly touched upon,'th'o : matches' held in the South Island. '. Owing to injuries tho claims of Vossall, J. F. Williams, Dyke, and himself could not, he said, bo considered in connection with the Otago match, which they. had fully expected- to win. In that match, • Griffiths was tried for the first timo, and, under the circumstances, di'd well, Tho team, however, did

not play up to form—the forwards woro boaten in the loose, ospecially in the second half, and the backs never got going at all.

Although the team mado a poor start in the Southland match, it afterwards showed to hotter advantage than in any of the previous matches.' In-the'scrums the forwards woro successful, anil the backs mado some splendid runs. The new players in that match woro Jerry Williams, Hind, and Thomas. In connection with tho first "Test" match, tho claims of J: F. Williams, Edgar Morgan, Dyke, and Green could not be considered, owing to their injuries. Ho himself had made a great mistako in playing, as his ankle was not fit to hoar the strain. The match needed little description—they were beaten in the serum'" and out of it. A number of tho members played much below form. The New Zealanders, however, wero not so superior as tho seoro, would lead ono to suppose. 'Pile South Canterbury team played two wing-forwards, who were allowed considerable latitudo. At; times they were almost on top of the three-quarters before the ball had left the hands of the half. They lost Vassal! within fivo minutes of the commencement of tho game, and lie himself had played when lie really ought not to have done so. . In tho match, against Canterbury, tho fact that a try was disallowed them early in tho game had a disheartening effect, so much so that the team never'got going properly.. At half-time the referee had apologised to the acting-captain for the mistake. His team should have drawn their opponents during the last five mitjutes. Their forwards hod-taken the; bajK over tho goal line, hut Ititson, who was in tlio'Van, being under the impression that he was off-side, did not fall upon it,'. neither did two others who were supporting him. The fact was that the forwards had in previous matches been penalised so frequently for off-side play that sometimes they refrained from playing the ball when under ordinary ; circiimstancos' they would havo no hesitation in doing so. For the first timo during tho tour, Green, thigh had i been; injured, played at Greymoiitli; " The members of the team were delighted with the refereeing both at Greymouth and Nelson.

.-With-reference .to the second " test 'j, on -Saturday, ,;they • wore.v confident that they would make si" bettor show than on the occasion of the first " tost;" i; In fact, thoy hoped to put up a great fight'. ;;His modical adviser considered that, unless ho hurt his ankle again during training, he would bo able to participate; ; , If-..-there .were any signs'of weakness, however; Ije. would on no account play. - They had liqpcs'>that Vassall would be able to take part if selected. By the end of the present week, thcjjteariv should be sounder than at" any other period during the tour.

It was probable, remarked Captain Harding in conclusion, that the members of tho team would 1 be among the visitors at tho interIslarid match on Wednesday. Thoy had now obtained a thorough grasp of tho rulings in forco in tho -Dominion? With somo of them, however, they disagreed entirely. Their team for the second "test" would bo .selected early in the. week. ' ' ;■ INTERVIEW WITH THE MANAGER. "Wo have seen some truly magnificent scenery during our tour in tho South," said. Mr. G. HU Harnett,'in tho courso of a brief conversation with our representative. Ho.referred- in glowing terms to tho scenic wonders of the Otira and Buller Gorges. "What was your impression oi ( the calibro of our southern footballers, Mr. Harnett?"

" Excellent-," ho replied. "We wore rather disappointed over losing.two of our matches though." ' One feature of the tour which greatly-im-pressed tho visitors was tho almost regal hospital it,y which was extended to them whorever they went,v •. . jtr. Harnett wished to express particularly their indebtedness to Messrs. George Thomson and. Ge'orgd:."Mason, who, through the courtesy"ofr'tho ;Ne,w J Zoaland Rugby Union, accompanied the. team during the tour. '

BRITAIN V. HAWKE'S BAY. HOME TEAM SELECTED. '• (ny ; TEmGEAPH^MESS' : 'AS33a'ttTION*i)'' Napier, June 20;" "■ " The following team: has boon chosen\to rdpresont Hawke's Bay . against the Anglooh July 1: — Jhilf back—Symes (Waipawa). Three-quarters — "Wall (Hastings), Baker (Hastings), and M'lntyre (Hastings). Five-eighths — Kenyon "(Hastings) and Smith (Napier). Half—Payno (Hastings). Wing forward —Walsho (Napier). Forwards—White'(East Coast), Joll (Hastings), Nicholson (Napior), Bailey (Waipawa), Hackett (Napior), Evans (Napior), and Hughes (Waipawa). v., Emergencies—Backs: "Wilder (East Coast) and Pointon (Napier); forwards: Thow (Hastings) and Hay (Napier). : A NARROW ESCAPE. (BT .TELEGKArU—rRESS. ASSOCIATION.) Nelson, June 20. All the members of tho British team were delighted with the magnificent scenery of tho Buller Gorge. A sensational incident occurred at Longford, whore' two sporting members of the team, in--,attempting to cross t)io Buller in a small boat, were' carried over a rapid, narrowly escaping drowning.