RETURN OF THE N.Z. FOOTBALL TEAM.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 16, 19 July 1905, Page 6

RETURN OF THE N.Z. FOOTBALL TEAM.

EXPERIENCES IN AUSTRALIA. OPINIONS OF ONLOOKERS. WEAKNESS IN THE FORWARDS. The New Zealand team of footballers which has just concluded a short tour of New South Wales returned to-day by the Moeraki. The team was met on tho wharf by a large crowd of local followers of the game, who gave three hearty cheeis to the horae-comers as tho boat neared the wharf. The men report having had a really good time in Sydney, whero every ha^itality was extended to them. , The manager of the team, Mr. N. Galbraith, speaking to a representative of the Post, said tho form of the New South Wales team in the second match was considerably ahead of that displayed iv the first game. In the first game the New Zealand men .were not in the best of form, having had no time to train. A weak spot in the forwards was • the-front-rankers, i\Sao were beaten right throughout the rtip. Altogether tho scrum was not satisfactory, some difficulty being experienced in getting a "lock." Mr. Galbraith does not think the forwards are as good as those of the 1902 team. The backs, however, are quite as good, but they were handicapped by being unable to obtain the ball from the scrum. Mr. A. Bayly, who went across with tho team, on being interrogated, questioned whether the New Zealand sybtein. of seven forwards i was as gqod as tho formation of eight. It certainly did not come off in Australia this trip. On their play in Australia he did not think the present New Zealand team, was as formidable a combination as he had seen over there on previous occasions, but when suitable front-rankers wore placed in the scrum he looked for a marked improvement. If the forwards could only hook the ball it will be hard to get a team to beat the present one. He considered! there was an improvement of quite 50 per cent, in the play of the New South Wales team between the first and second matches. Their form in the last game took tho New Zealanders by surprise. Mr. Bayly admitted that there are one or two weak spots in the team, and one or. two of the men may coneider themselves lucky in getting the trip Homo. The New Zealand men appeared to be unable to form a good scrum, and could not hook the ball. In his opinion they played their very best in the last match, but, they played hard, without judgment. Altogether, ho does not think tho team has shown its best form, and it is capiible oi much better things. Of the forwards ho considered Johnson was the best. Speaking of the backs, it was mentioued that Hunter injured his hand, in the first match, and ho will be unable to play again for a couple of weeks. The play of Roberts at halfback impressed Mr. Bayly as being very good. The only fault he^had to find with the three; quarter line was that it is weak iv defence. Altogether the backs have great dash and pace. Mr. Bay 4 y considers that the Australian team which is to visit New Zealand next month will provide some very good games with provincial teams. Speaking to one of ths players, the opinion was given that the Australian team played a great game in the final match. The New Zealand team could not get going, being hampered considerably by the referee, who penalised the men for the slightest breach. The player, who lias been in Australia on previous occasions, thought the backs of the present team superior to previous ones, but the forwards are not so strong. "With this back team and the 1904 forwards we could beat anything," continued the New Zealander, who regretted the absence of men like Gross and Cook from the vanguard. In the last game the New South Wales men played above themselves, and our informant has never seen an Australian team give a better exhibition. A Wellington resident who saw the final game against New South Wales gave it as his opinion that the New Zealand team was "fair licked," and was very lucky in coming off as well a3 it did. The New Zealand team is to proceed South to, engage in the matches arranged at Dunedin and Christchurch. It will return to Wellington at the end of next week, and leave for London by the Rirautaka on the 29th. Enquiries made amongst the members of the New Zealand team to-day elicited the' fact that the protest reported to have I come from the team against the appointment of the /'coach" was nob actually delivered. The movement was suppressed soon after its inception. A 1 member of the team, however, stated that the majority of' the team are against the "coach" I being sent. The New Zealand team, which is to leave for the South by the Rotomahana to-night, will be in charge of Mr. A. Bayly. Seeling is leaving the team at Wellington in order to make a 'visit to his people in Wanganui.