THE N.Z. FOOTBALLERS ON TOUR.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 20, 23 July 1903, Page 6

THE N.Z. FOOTBALLERS ON TOUR.

THE TEIP ACROSS TO SYDNEY. NOTES BY THE WAY. LIVELY INTEREST IN THE TEAM'S DOINGS. (By the Special Representative of the Evening Post.) SYDNEY, 18tb July. Fueling on good terms with themselves after enjoying the hospitality of the New ¦Zealand and Wellington Unions, and experiencing a hearty send-off from the large crowd on the wharf, the members of the team made an early night of it, and were soon comfortably settled in their cabins. Sunday was a somewhat unpleasant day, and only the more hardened members of the team were on deck, the rest wisely waiting for more settled times. Monday showed a decided improvement, and all hands- were on deck bright and early, where, under the leadership of the juvenile and versatile Duncan, they spent the time at deck cricket and other ships' games in addition to practising their warcry. In the evening a concert waa held in the saloon, but was hardly up to the average of such functions. Tuesday was beautifully fine, with a smooth sea, and some good work in the shape of scrimmaging was done on deck, During the evening we ran into a hard blow for a few hours, which considerably upset things on board, and sent all but the most hardened sailor's to bunk much earlier than uqual Fortunately we soon ran out of it, and arrived at Sydney shortly before 9 o'clock on Wednesday morning, ¦ thus making the smart run 61 3 days 12 haul's. Our early arrival took everybody by surprise, and there waa consequently very few on the wharf to meet us beyond the officials of the Itfew South Wales and Metropolitan Unions and the Referees' Association. The reception committee appointed by the local New Zealanders were too late to meet the team, and wre much disappointed at their failure. Everything was in readiness, and the men were soon comfortably settled down in their quarters at the Grand" Central Hotel, a commodious hostelry in the centre of the city, but withal in a quiet Ideality. In the afternoon the team visited the University Oval to witness the match Queensland v. New South Wales. The play, which was fast- and open, was closely watched by our boys, who, however, were of opinion that there was nothing particularly- striking about the game, and that their opponents were not so formidable as had been stated by Sydney New Zealanders in their letters. The game had a distinct New Zealand flavour about it, as Mr. T. Pauling had charge of the whistle and Messrs. Norris arid Hyams of the flags. The losers were somewhat unlucky that they did not score a win, as they . were only beaten by the fine place-kicking of jWickham, who formed one of the team which toured o,ur colony in 1901. On the play the Queenslanders had an advantage and scored two~"tries to their opponents' one. The full-back of the Queensland team, St. John, excited much interest from the fact that he has no right hand, he having 1 been without it from birth. In spite of this disadvantage, ' however, he fielded the ball really well, while the rest of his play was of a high order, his kicking being very powerful, while one try which his side scored was distinctly due to his cool heady play. It is probable, however, that his infirmity 'would handicap him very much against fast forwards. The first evening ashore was spent very quietly, most of the men putting it in at the Tivoli Theatre. On Thursday morning the team had a useful practice at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where the first match is to be played. Scrummaging, dribbling, passing, and kicking Avere indulged in, and some of the men in addition went in for a good steady run round the ground. At 11.30 all were aboard the drag en route for the Sports Olub rooms, where the official reception was held at noon. A very large crowd w,as present, all branches of sport being represented. Mr. J. J. Calvert, President of the New South Wales Union (who fifty-two years ago kept goal for Oxford University) welcomed the visitors in a short pleasant speech, and was followed by Mr. Bennett, manager of the Queensland team, several other officers of the union, and Mr. W. E. Woods (representing the resident New Zealanders). Mr. Norris suitably responded on behalf of the team, who, in response to repeated calls, gave their war-cry. Several other toitsts were honoured, to some of which vie team sang a Maori version of "For he's a jolly good iellow,," a very pleasant time being spent. In the cfvening all attended a smoke concert at which, the bulk of the .local senior players were present. A very good programme of songs was gone through, towards whioh Messrs. . Tyler and Spencer contributed. The interest manifested in the coming matches is something phenomenal. Football is the one topic of conversation throughout the city, and provided the weather be fine a record attendance is certain on Saturday. The New Zealanders resident here are worked up to a high pitch, and all day long the vestibule of our hotel is thronged with anxious enquirers as to our probable chances. You can not get away from the one subject, and if you do succeed in exhausting the probabilities of the match, football remains the topic of- conversation, and numerous enquiries are made as to the whereabouts and doings of former players who, having retired, are now engaged in blowing the referee's whistle of their own trumpet. A good useful practice was held on Friday morning, and in the afternoon the party were taken for a pleasant drive to the South Head Lighthouse, and of course shown " where the Dunbar was wrecked." The night before the battle ¦was spent very quietly, a goodly number attending the exhibition match between Stevenson, the English billiard exponent, and a local marker. The match was arranged by Mr. Joynton Smith, formerly of Wellington, who very kindly invited the party to attend. This (Saturday) morning the weather is still beautifully fine. The health of the men is excellent. Wallace has quite recovered from his recent slight injury, but Spencer is still a trifle lame. .Nicholson has to stand out of to-day's match owing to his having slightly bruised his hip on board ship, scrum work being on that account somewhat painfuL Having beaten the Western Districts, the New Zealand team— the fourth to visit Australia from this colony — is now on the threshold of the match that has provided the downfall of the last two New Zealand teams in Australia. On Saturday, at Sydney, the visitors will play the second representative match with New South Wales. The 1893 team was beaten by New South WaLes in the second match by 25 to 3, though it won the first by 17 to 8 and the third by. 16 to nil. The 1894 team was beaten by New South Wales in the &econd match by 22 to 8, though it won the first by 13 to 8, and the third by 26 to 3. These two defeats were the only defeats the 1893 and 1897 teams sustained in Australia. If the 1903 team wins all its matches it will have emulated the feat

of the 1884 team, which alone came back unbeaten. Such a performance by the 1903 team would be, however," of greater merit, for it will meet not only the elect of New South Wales and Queensland, bub the elect of both — which, no previous team has done.