NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS IN AUSTRALIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1903, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS IN AUSTRALIA.

THE MATCH AGAINST NORTH NEW SOUTH WALES. i NOTES ON THE GAME. [By our Special Representative.] SYDNEY, 15th August. After a train journey of 24 hours we arrived at Maitland at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, and were met by the officials of the Hunter River Union. At 11 o'clock the team was welcomed and entertained at the Town Hall by the Mayor, after which a light practice was held to get rid of the stiffness caused by the long railway journey. The Northern team had been weakened by the dropping out of the three men selected to play for Australia, while the New Zealand team was practically the same that had played so well at Brisbane. The weather was fine, thougih it might have been cooler, and there was a record attendance at the match. It would be wearisome to attempt to give any account of how the fifteen tries were scored. The New Zealanders took entire charge of the game, though the local men played up plucklly. Shortly after the start Wood received a knock on the side and retired, D. M'Gregor taking his 'place as centre three-quai*ter, while R. M'Gregor went aa five-eighths and captained the team. Tyler, who had not previously scored, was the first to get over the line, <is the result of some passing .amongst the forwards. Perhaps the most dashing piece of play during the match was a fine run from the halfway flag by R. M'Gregor, who dodged through the opposing team and, when held on the goal line, passed to Cooke, who scored his first try. The last try of the day was secured as the result of a strong run by Wallace, who, when blocked, passed to Gallalier. The ball was sent on to Kiernan, and the latter scored his second try. Asher had lota of work to do, and soon became a favourite with the crowd. On one occasion he received a hearty ovation for jumping clean over the full-back and securing a try. Wallace had "a day off" with his place-kicking. Curiously enough the 1897 team also scored 53 points against the Northern District, though on that occasion the latter obtained five points. The game was played in the best of spirit. The crowd was a singularly fair one, and impartially applauded the good play of both sides. This was in pleasing contrast to the behaviour of the crowds in Sydney and BrM>ane. An early start was made for Sydney on Thursday. The Queen slanders selected in the Australian team and the officials of that union travelled down by the same train. As soon as we had shaken the dust of travel off our feet we were once more in the thick of entertainments. We attended the Newtown club's reunion that evening, and received a very cordial reception. The special event of the evening was three rorands of light boxing between Cooke and the captain of the Newtown club. Much amusement was caused by the fact that Judd, who was mixed up in the incident which ended in Cooke being ordered off the field in the first match, acted as his second on this occasion. A light practice was held on Friday morning, after which the team to play against Australia was picked, the task taking nearly two hours. The conference between the representatives of New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand was opened last night, Messrs. Norris and Beck representing New Zealand. The laws of tbe game will be tackled every day until the team leaves for home.