FOOTBALL.

Evening Star, Issue 11642, 31 August 1901, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

NE"' ZEALAND v. NEW SOUTH WALES. [By Qur Own Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 30. • The leading topic of tie town is Which team will win to-morrow's match? Great interest is taken in the result, the colonial combination being strong favorites. The impression that the visitors have been saving themselves for the match and have something up their sleeve has gained ground during the last forty-eight hours. There are not a few tipsters who fancy their chances, and are prepared to accept anything like decent odds. Itissaidthatalarge sum of money is available to back the New South Welshmen at satisfactory odds. In one instance £l5O to £IOO was taken. So far the weather gives every indication of keeping fine, in which case the attendance is expected to eclipse previous records. The visitors' team was.picked this afternoon, though there may be changes at the last minute. Judd, who on form during the tour has proved forward, in the visitors' vanguard, received injuries in the Canterbury match which will probably preclude him from playing, Wickham, the crack three-quarter, and Maund, the fullback, are not altogether fit to play, bub in view of the importance of New South Wales fighting with the greatest strength at their command, they will almost certainly be found upholding their State'B honor when the teams step on to the field. This evening Mr Henderson, the manager,' gave me the composition of the team, as follows:—Full-back,, Mllahon (who generally plays wing three-quarter); threequarters—Lindsay, Wickham, Barton, and Hughes; halves, W. Shortland and Finley ; forwards—Beaumont, Underwood, Berdon, Harrison, -Judd or Lutge, C. Shortland, Lamb, and Costello (captain). It is likely that Maund may replace M'Mahon, the latter exchanging with Hughes in the three-quarter line. Costello, who has not played since the Wellington match, will play lock instead of in the front row, the latter being his legitimate place, but in view of the injury to his head it is considered inadvisable for him to take his usual position. Henderson informed me to-night that his team are going all out tomorrow to win the match. Though physically not so strong as he could wish, he is yet confident that with favorable weather conditions they would extend the New Zealand combination. Every maa is determined to do bis best. _ This afternoon- the team had good practice, the majority of the members being very fit, despite the excessive travelling of the past few weeks. Duncan, whose choice as captain was unanimously approved by the members of the colonial crew, is not afraid of the result. He tells, me that he considers the New Zealand team is exceptionally strong in all departments. The reports going around that Udy is not playing are incorrect. He will, however, be displaced by O'Dowda-in the front rank, Udy dropping into the back row; otherwise, there is no alteration from the team as originally selected. I understand that Udy has been suffering from a mild attack of measles. It is said that the reports as to the poor form shown by tho New Zealand team against Wellington were greatly exaggerated. Allen played a really fine game, quite up to his form of , previous years, while O'Dowda was very conspicuous in the vanguard. The truth'is that several of the members of the New Zealand team had not properly recovered from the effects of their recent travelling, and felt very seedy. One judge of the game, who was present, tells me that Mackenzie and Jacobs were really very nfuch off, though the latter was credited with giving a good exposition. Mackenzie certainly was awful. Mr Evans (ChristChurch), who has been chosen to act as referee, arrives by the Mokoia to-morrow. Mr W. G. Garrard was requested by the New South Welshmen to officiate, but would not accept the position. This evening tho two teams witnessed the opera of 'Mignon' by the Musgrove Company. They will be entertained at dinner to-mor-row evening, and taken to a day's bay outing on Sunday. Though only arriving on the afternoon of the match after a rough voyage from Lyttelton, Burt played a rattling game for.the New Zealand scrummers against Wellington. He is not by a long way the worst 'forward in the colonial -ranks. WELLINGTON, August 31. 'j.ae football community are seething with excitement over this afternoon's match, nothing else occupying their mind. The town is full of visitors, and the weather is magnificent. At the time of writing these notes there is a slight northerly breeze, which does not give any indication of increasing in strength. As the

visitors have proved their ability to make the game, fasfc free, and open, and intend adopting thisame tactics this afternoon, the contest should be a very progressive one, especially as the. Now Zealand team say they will go at it from the jump, and .that an open deal will suit them admirably. The members of the colonial crew are fit as fiddles, and express their opinion that the crowd will see quite a different display to that Exhibited at Wednesday's match, when they were not in a fit condition to do justice to themselves. Mackenzie, the ex-Otagoite, feels "very keenly the strictures passed on him foe his Wednesday's fbrm, and is determined to retrieve himself to-day. The effects of the heavy rain of Thursday had in a great measure disappeared from the Athletic Park turf by last night, consequently the ground should be in decent order. * It is anticipated that the number of spectators will beat, all previous records, though I doubt whether it will exceed the number that were present on the occasion of the visit of Stoddart's team. My opinion is that New Zealand will win with a comfortable margin, as the visitors' excessive travelling is telling its tale, in addition to which some of their players are more or less knocked about At 2 p.m. the weather was almost dead calm, and crowds were pouring into the ground. It was doubtful until the last minnte whether Judd, the crack forward of the visitors' team would play, but it is most likely that he will do so. Maund definitely stands out, M'Mahon playing as full-back.