BRITAIN V. NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 235, 27 June 1908, Page 6

BRITAIN V. NEW ZEALAND

„ SECOND TEST MATCH. BOTH TEAMS CONFIDENT. Tho second trial of strength between teams representative of New Zealand and tho Britishers will tako place 011 tho Athletic Park this afternoon. If tho weather proves favourable thero should be a record attendance. Among the visitors - will be His Excellency tho Governor and staff, the Right Hon. the Premier (Sir Joseph Ward) and Captain Tudor, of If.M.S. Challenger and staff. Yesterday there was a largo influx of visitors, tho result being that accommodation was at a premium. In particular, the expresses from Wairarapa and Manawatu were the heaviest for some years. Should Britain again bo defeated, tho New Zoalanders who are the favourites, will liavo secured the rubber. In conversation with a Dominion reporter last night Mr. Harding, captain of the visiting team, remarked that ■ lie was quite confident that his team would put up a much better fight than on the previous occasion. Owing to tho soft- condition of tho neld it was decided yesterday not to hold the schools representative match, Taranaki cllington, prior to, the tost. This match will now tako placo on tho Recreation Ground at Petone this morning, Tho grandPark will bo opened at. one 0 clock, and tho gates at an earlier hour. J) or the convenience of tho public thero will bo a telegraph office 011 the ground. During the day selections will bo rendered by the barnson Band. The teams will be entertained at a banquet at tho Grand Hotel in the evening.

Since the first tost, which resulted in an | overwhelming victory for New Zealand by 32 points to 5, the Britishers have attained gi eater combination, and may, therefore, bo expected to give a much better account of themselves. On this occasion the visitors « C r ?P rosented by their strongest fifteen, all of whom are reported to be thoroughly sound m wind and limb. Noticeable improvements oil the team which met New Zealand at JJunedin are, the inclusion of M'Evedy, who is a very experienced back, and Edgar Morgan. who is a forward of more than, average ability.

On paper, the New Zealand combination is hardly as stro.ng as the ono which represented tho Dominion in the first test. Owing to injuries, Roberts, Thompson, and. Colman, who played in tho last contest, and were selected for to-day's match, had to resign their positions. Of tho players who have been chosen to fill tho vacancies Fryer, who takes Thompson's placo on tho threequartor line, is tho only ono who has represented New Zealand on a former occasion. Last season ho , showed brilliant form, but in tho mter-lsland match on Wednesday was not given many opportunities to display his abilities. Burns, who mil be seen in Roberts's accustomed placo bohind tho scrum, ranks next to tho champion half-back of tho Dominion. The position of out-fivc-oighth, which was occupied by Stead in tho first test, will bo filled by Gray, who is well-known as a very reliable player, both in attack and defence. Other new playors include Hamilton, tho Southland wing-forward. Although this player cannot compare with Gillett in strategy, ho is more skilful in line-out play, and has greater paco. He' may, thercforo, be expected to prove a constant sourco of annoyance to the visiting- backs." Ready and Murray, tho front rankers, are not generally considered to be as expert as their predecessors, Casey and Hughes. On his performance on Wednesday, Patterson, wlio replaces M'Donald in the back row of tho scrum, ranks as a. beau ideal forward in loose play. In some of the dribbling rushes his efforts were almost super-human. THE TEAMS. Britain. Full-back: Jackett*t, (Cornwall). Three-quarters: M'Evedy (Kent), Vassall*t (England), "Ponty" Jones* (Wales), and J. L. Williams*+ .(Wales). Halves: Morgan' (Kent) and "Tuan" Jones (Kent). ■ Rover: Gibbs*t (Wales). E. Morgan (Glamorgan), Dibble T- (England), Smith (Leicester), Archer* (Somerset), Down-' (Somerset), Cap-, tain Harding*! (Wales), and Hind (Kent). * Member of British team in first test, t International players.* New Zealand. . Full-back: (Wellington). Three-quarters: Fryert (Canterbury), Mitchinson* (Wellington), and Cameron* (Taranaki). Five-eighths: J. Hunter*J (Tarauaki). and •Gray (Canterbury), Half: Burns (Canterbury) l . . Wing forward: Hamilton (Southland). Forwards: Front-rankers; Ready (Wellington) and Murray (Wanganui); lock, Cunningham*! (Auckland); supports, "Ranji" Wilson* (Wellington) and Francis* (Auckland); rear-rankers, Seeling*J (Auckland) and Patterson (Otago). * Member of. New Zealand team in first test.

t Gained his cap in 1907. I Members of All Black team which wem Rome. ■

JACKSON'S SUSPENSION. F. Jackson, the Cornwall and AngloWelsh representative, whose suspension by tho English Rugby Union, on a chargo of professionalism, has caused such a sensa-

tion in New Zealand football circles, left for Home yesterday, via Sydney, by the Maitai. There are all sorts of rumours abroad regarding the alleged offence, but there is somo reason to believe that Jackson has been charged with an infringement of tho Rugby professional laws, committed some years ago, on the report of a club for Which ho then playod. The decision of the English Rugby Union and its action have , been commented upon unfavourably by footballers generally, who contend that as tho matter

had beon practically dead for quite' a considerable poriod, the governing body would have been wise in waiting until the AngioWolshruen 'had finished their tour, when tho charges could have been investigated ill a proper manner. General sympathy has been expressed with Jackson in his trouble, and just before the boat left yesterday ho took a most affecting leave of his football chums. Jackett, who was a elubmate with Jackson for seven years, ovidently folfc tho parting most _ severely, and he had to be lea away by his friends before tho steamer left the wharf. Jackson informed a Dominion representative that ho had had no knowledge whatever of the exact nature of tho charges. All he wished to say was that he desired to thank the football public in New Zealand for the kindly manner in which he had been treated by them. It is stated that Jackson may settle in Sydney.