FOOTBALL.

Evening Star, Issue 11943, 20 July 1903, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

THE NEW ZEALAND TOUR. NEW ZEALAND~WIN THE FIRST /■•■••■ > ■ CONTEST. BEAT NEW SOUTH WALES BY 12 POINTS TO NIL, 30,000 PERSONS'PRESENT. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. • SYDNEY, July 18. Fully 30,000 persons, includiug* Lord Tennyson (the Governor-General) and Sir .17. Rawson (the State Governor), witnessed the first trial of strength between the New Zealand and New South' Wales representative football-teams. The teams were as follow: New Zealand.—Backs—Wallace. Ashcr, M'Gregor (2), Wood, Duncan, Kiernan; forwards—Armstrong, Tyler, Gallagher, Funning, Cooke, Long," M'Miim, and Given.New, South Wales.—Back—Maund ; threequarters White. Johnston, Carew, and Flitter ; halves—Autezark and if anning ; forwards—Joyce, Judd. Hirschbers;, Moir, Wright, Burden, Barton, and O'Donnell. From start to finish the local men were outclassed at every point. A regrettable incident occurred a few minutes before the closing of the game. An altercation between Cooke ami some of the local team landed in Cooke (Canterbury) being ordered from the ground by Mr Pauling, the referee. In the first half some unpleasantness arose !>ver a struggle between M'Minn and Judd, the ball being out of play"at the time. Now South Wales kicked off, and Asher by a fine punt Eent the play into the New South Wales twenty-fire, But a free kick to the local men returned the play to the centre. The New Zeaknders then became aggressive, and a fine bit of passing between Kteraan, Duncan-, R. M'Gregor, and Wood resulted. The latter handed the ball back to M'Gregor, who passed it on- to Aslier, enabling the speedy Auck'ander to put up the first score within five minutes of the start. Wallace was entrusted with tho kick at goal, but his effort to convert was futile. New Zealand had New South Wales continuously on the defensive, the local men playing without much combination and fumbling frequently when the advantage was with them. Occasionally penalty kicks, produced by the New Zealanders in their eagerness running round the scrums, relieved the tension on New South Wales; but a piece of off-side play "*-■ on tho part of the Welshmen gave Wood a show right in front of goal. His effort, however, was a feeble one, and the local men got a fine rush on, but M'Gregor saved the situation with a timely line shot. Then Long removed the scene of operations to the New South Wales twentv-five, where Kiernan got possession' of tie ball and passed it along to R. M'Gregor, who dashed over the line. Wallace was again entrusted with the shot at goal, but failed, though he made a. fine .kick, the. ball cannoning off the outside of the post. On resuming, the New Zeaknders soon invaded New South Wales territory. The visitors got possession from a line.-ont, and all the backs figured in a passing rusk close up to the local goal-line, where White tackled and secured Asher on the corner, both falling over the line. A scrum was formed five yards out, and here Cooke played with what appeared to be unnecessary roughness. Another forward rush by the visitors was stopped by Burden, but Manning (the New South" Wales skipper) got off-side, and New Zealand were awarded n. penalty kick, from which Wallace scored the major point. Score: New Zealand,. 9 points ; New South Wales, nil. Just before the first spell concluded the New Zealanders were penalised in quick succession for offside play and not giving ten yards, but no points were scored from them. The play was next removed to neutral ground, but only for a time. Duncan, gaining possession, handed the leather.to Cooke, who was brought down by Maund. The visitors were not to be denied, however, and the team, playing splendidly as a whole, hotly pressed the Welshmen again and again; and to save themselves the local captain was compelled .to force. A mighty kick by Johnston transferred play to New Zealand's twenty-five, but the back division saved nicely. Asher was once more beginning to loot dcrgerous when White threw him out, and the first spell ended with the New Zealanders 9 points to their opponents' niL After the half-time sped M'Minn was cautioned by the referee for his treatment of Judd. The second half saw a better game, the local men showing more combination, and from a line-out rush—in which. Joyce and Burden -were prominent-Harried the play'down to the New Zealand line, the 'visitors being compelled to force-down. Time after time the Welshmen oharged.in New'-Zealand territory, but Wallace never blundered, and nullified their efforts every tirae. ' From a scrum, which ended in a decent piece of passing, Futter got the oval, and had a shot at goal, but failed, New Zealand forcing. White was playing a fine Same on the local side, and on several occasions brilliantly foiled good rushes in which Duncan, Wood, and Asher were prominent. Ashef, indeed, seemed to be a rubber man from the way in which he sinuously threaded tlirough bis opponents. From a mark secured by R. M'Gregor, Wallace failed to increase the score. Then Kiernan got the ball in the New Zealand twenty-five and passed to R. M'Gregor, who eluded White, and passed to Asher, who attempted his hurdle business in endeavoring to evade Maund, but the latter pulled .him down. Nothing daunted, the New Zealanders returned to the attack, and immediately Wood made an opening, from which he'himseif could have easily scored, but seeing R. M'Gregor in close proximity- generously passed to him, and scored. Wallace kicked from an awkward angle, but failed to convert. New Zealand, 12 points ; New South Wales, nil. After the kick-off Johnston made a creditable shot at goal, the leather just falling under the bar. The local men returned to the attack, and were gradually pressing the visitors back, until Asher relieved by a. splendid kick down the line. Kierpan was next prominent in a great rush, which ended in an exhibition of strength. New South Wales managed to get possession, and, headed by O'Donnell, Moir, and White, removed the scene of play right up to the New Zealand line, where Wood got his kick in and saved. Again the ball came into the New Zea.and twenty-five, but a free kick for handling spoiled a chance of scoring. A little later on Manning had a shot at goal from' a mark, but failed. The same player a few minutes later looked like scoring, but overran the ball, and play was worked back to the Welshmen's twenty-five. Here Cooke was ordered from the field, as previously mentioned. "No-side" was sounded without additional score, the New Zealanders thus opening their tour with a win by 12 points to nil.

A RECORD ATTENDANCE.

PRAISE FOR THE VISITORS.

NEWSPAPER CRITICISMS.

frew Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

SYDNEY, July 20. (Received July 20, at 10.6 a.m.) The official figures show that 32,000 persons were present at the match, which is a record attendance for any football match m New South Wales. The New Zealanders were aggressive all through, although in the second half their dash seemed to flag, due possibly to them not being yet in the best of condition. Their back play was infinitelysuperior to that displayed by the locals. In the first half the quickness of the New Zealand forwards in dribbling rushes was noticeable. Cooke, Asher, Kiernan, Gallagher, Wood, and Wallace, played a fine game. Duncan thinks that with more combination the team are capable of inflicting a .severer defeat. He is not altogether satisfied with the scrumming organisation. Manning, the local captain, states that as far as he could see the game was player! in" a very fair spirit on the whole. In the second-spell, when pressing the New Zealand goal-line, the nlay was a bit rough, but one side was ad much to blame as the other. The victory, in his opinion, was due largely to the quickness of the backs and accurate passing and handling in the rushes. • ..

ihe Herald' says that the exhibition of Kagby. as shown by the visitors, was of a very high standard. On Saturday's play the New Zealanders were undoubtedly- m, a ""Milan, to show the home team a .good

many points, in legitimate football, but softie of the visitors mdulged in work of an objectionable character, such as tackling and throwing when there was no nece'ssity at-all for it. The game was a hard one all through, but a good deal of desperation was introduced which was quite outside the requirements of true sport. The 'Telegraph,' while apportioning most of the blame for any roughness to the New Zealanders, says.it may at once be said that New South Wales was outplayed, and this was the case with both backs and forwards RUGBY. —Results of Matches.— Alhambra 3 v. Zingari-Richmond 3. Southern 5 v. Dunedin 3. Pirates 6 v. Kaikorai 5. University 12 v. Union 6. The following are the Saturday's games: —Alkambra v. Zingari-Richniond.— Contrary to expectations, the Zingari- . Richmond made a close fight of their game with the Alkambra., whose display was of a very mediocre description. The match was played at Carisbrook, and after a closelvcontestcd straggle ended in a draw, each side scoring a'try. Tha Zingari plaved a .sterling game from the jump; their forwards beat their opponents in the loose; and the backs gave a brilliant display of defensive work. The Alhambra'rearguard spoilt numerous chances that came their way, and seemed to be able to do nothing right. Their fielding of tho ball was poor, and their kicking also suffered in comparison with that of their opponents, who also showed the 'Bamas' backs points in stopping rushes. In the first spell the Alhambra played with the wind, and so determinedly aid the Colors settle down to their work that they kept the- Reds on the defence for the first quarter of an hour or so. The 'Bamas then put in their say, and, getting possession of the ball in the scrums, the backs endeavored passing rushes without effect. Their passing alt through, in fact, was of a feeble nature, and the Zingari tackling ir great, style gave the Reds very few chances of breaking. through their line of defence. Patterson, of the Alhambra, lost one good opportunity of scoring through throwing the ball carelessly away —no doubt he called it a" pass—when within a yard of the line. Heenan also got over, but the ball was held; and Bennet lost an easy chance of kicking a penalty goal from almost in front. A few minutes to time the Ziugari again attacked, and Caradus, getting possession, scored a well-earned try. out no goal resulted. In the second spell the TJamas were aggressive at the start, but after that the Zingari gave them a very warm time of it, and they too had hai'd luqk in not scoring more. At the commencement a passing rush ended in Bennet kicking, a£d Knowles, racing for the ball, touched down. Mackay failed to convert. Ibis was a heady piece of play ou the part of Bennet, who wisely kicked, seeing that passing rushes all through had been most ineffective. Play hoveied about mid-field for the rest- of the spell, with occasional attacks by both tejmis. A clever bit of play by Caradus almost resulted in this player scoring another" try. Mackay also missed a penalty kick in a good position. The Zingari had their opponents hard pressed on their line when the whistle sounded time. The Zingari showed dashing form all round. Their forwards "hooked" the bail almost every time in the second spell, and were particularly brilliant in the loose, the men playing well together. The backs are not adepts at the passing game, but in every other respect the}- excelled themselves. The Alhambra forwards, although they played better than the backs, did not show any of tho form displayed by them in the Southern match. Several of them did not seem to work as hard as they might have done. The backs, when they found that all their efforts to pass were useless, might easily have changed their tactics to advantage. They, however, did not get the ball heeled out to them so often in the second spell, but in the first spell, when they had the opportunities, they failed to rise to the occasion. Collie and Bolt played brilliantly all round for the Zingari in the back division, while of an even set. of forwards Stewart, Spiers, Abbott, and Caradus were about the best. Knowles, Johnston, Bennet, and Mackav (backs), King, Mitchell,' Johnston, and M'Donald (forwards) were about the best on the Alhambra side. Mr W. J. Wilson acted as referee, and by a judicious use of the whistle helped in no small measure to make the game fast and open —-University v. Union.— • Tho fierce easterly wind that stung the. faces and .chilled the onlookers at Tahuna Park on Saturday had the more serious effect of completely spoiling the game between the University and the Union teams. The balk was blown out of their hands; it was impossible to judge its twirlings and erratic flights in a pass or a catch; and at one point of the game a Union back wlio had tripped was seen following on hands and knees tho wind-driven leather as it danced from hillock to hillock. Under such circumstances regular football was out of the question. This must have been specially aggravating to the 'Varsity men, since they tried repeatedly to score by passing, and from the attempts made one could see that they were trying to add this to their accomplishments ; but every effort in that direction w;is spoiled on both sides not so much by the tackling as by the mastering gale. Union played with the wind in the first spell, and at once p 'nned the Blues, looking dangerous for Rlout ten minutes, when Wi Repa's fine run brought his side relief, and O'Kane's judicious play helped largely to keep the game for a while about the centre. Union then pressed their opponents again, thanks in great measure to the efforts of Simp?on, Hislop, and Watts, but no score resulted until the expiration of half an hour of play that so far as most of the men were concerned was of a wild and scrambling nature. At that stage the Union became entitled to a penalty shot, and Munro with a fine long kick cleverly scored a goal. Just before the finish of the spell Munro tried the same thiug again, but could not give the ball its desired direction. For more than a quarter of an hour at the beginning of the second spell the game was very much like the opening. The 'Varsity'men held a distinct advantage, but could not score. Once the spectators thought that O'Kane had got over, but the referee ruled that it was not a try. The. Union team had fought the ir way to the centre, when the Blues got a penalty kick for off-side play, and Adams kicked a goal, thus making the score even. A quarter of an hour later Wi Repa and Lomas started a passing rush in the centre, and Watts neatly intercepted, streaking away lik a mad, with two Blues chasing him, the others having no chance. For several strides it was a fair match-; then O'Kane, oneyof the pursuers, spurted and jumped forward to collar, but missed his man and fell sprawling, after which Watts ran in at his. leisure. Munro's kick went a bit wide. From the kick-off the 'Varsity men charged in such a compact body that the Unions were shut out, and Adams snapped up the ball and ran over before anyone else seemed to realise what had occurred. The kick proved resultless, but the score was again even. A few minutes later the wind dropped and the game became fast and interesting, good runs by Watts and Wi Repa being the features of some pretty play. When thus able to show form the 'Varsity team held a distinct advantage, and a little before the call of time two tries Were gained—one by Pefeer Buck out of a loose rush, the other by Wi Repa from a passing run the initiating of which was due to Lomas. Neither kick made a goal, but the added points left the 'Varsity winners by - 12 points to 6. On the winning side the best play was shown by Wi -Repa, O'Kane, Adams, and Blackie; of the Union men, Simpson, Hislop, Watts, and Munro were most prominent. Mr J: Williams ably discharged the duty of referee. —Southern v. Dunedin. Considering the kind of football 'weather that Saturday afternoon provided, the spectators who went out to the Caledonian Ground got good value for their money A cold wind swept diagonally down k the field, strongly aiding the team defending the goal at the harbor end of the ground Both clubs 'were represented by about their full strength, though Stalker's absence in New South Wales necessitated some slight change amonjr the Duaedin backs. Dale

was moveo, irom lull-back to wing threequarter, and Drumm was brought mto the team again at full-back. Dunedin started off with the wind, and though they naturally did most of the attacking in the first spell, the general opinion seemed to be that Southern, from the way they were holding their opponents, would win comfortably enough at.the finish. As a'matter of fact, thev prevented.Dunedin from crossing their line, although they were forceddown four times'during the half, and the only score put up against them was from a penalty kick. Paton scoring a goal from about midway between the twenty-five-yard line and halfway. The play had been fast and open from the jump," but the wind seemed to baffle the players, and though the Dunedin backs particularly were making plenty of play with the ball, Southern only seemt'd to tie in real danger once or twice. A good many of Dunedin's passing rushps started from near the pavilion touch-line, where the wind was tending to keep the play, but in more than one case they ended in the whistle being blown for a forward pass. The trouble was that Dale, on the. other wing, was keeping rather far out, and whenever' Don tried a long pass to him the wind carried the .ball forward. On one of these occasions Dunedin had looked certain to score, as Dale had a clear run in of only a few yards. Don was, however, playing a very attractive game, and one dash of his straight for the goal pleased the crowd, as he jinked three of the opposing backs, and was only collared when trying to recover after a stumble. A still titter run was a bolt down the middle of the field by one of the Southern backs,, who, after passing to a comrade, cut in again, but was eventually stopped inside the Dunedin's twenty-five. Half-time was called with Dunedin a bare 3 points ahead, and as soon as the second spell started tfc looked as- t&ougb. it would prove all too little, for Southern pressed them hotly. The Black-and-White backs, who had not had many chances of doing any attacking work in the first spell, wore making up for it now, but only force-downs resulted. They were over-eager, too, and free-kicks to Dunedin for off-side play got that team out of more than one tight corner. Before the middle of the spell was far past a great change came over the game, for after a good try at goal from a mark, Casey getting the "ball tantalhingly close, Southern did but little attacking. Dunedin played up with rare vim, and repeatedly rushed the ball up to and past their opponents' twenty-five. From this out the football was of a high standard, and the game provided a very exciting finish. Twice in rapid succession Teesdale put in dazzling runs, the first in particular gaining his side a lot of ground. Wind and all in, the Southern looked more, like being scored against than scoring. Their backs, headed by Popham and Casey, once got on a very nice passing rusk. Dunedin came up to the attack again, but were stopped by a penalty lack against them. Goodman took a shot'at goal from halfway, and Dunedin were forced from a big kick. It wanted now only a few minutes to time, and barring accidents the Dunedin looked like winners, for they were going very strongly, while the Southern team - appeared to have had about enough of it. Those few minutes, however, made all the difference. Their forwards took instant advantage of a mistake by Dale, and with an irresistible rush took the ball from near halfway to over the- Dunedin's line, and Simpson scored close to the post. Adding the major points seemed a foregone conclusion, and Bennet made no mistake about it. After the kick-off there was little time for much to happen, and Southern, who were attacking again as time was called, won, perhaps a little luckily, a sood game by 5 points to 3. Mr W. Hobbs, as referee, pleased both players and spectators. —Pirates v. Kaikorai,— The fact that the majority of the Kaikorai First Fifteen had been disqualified by the Committee of the Otago Rugby Union caused more interest to centre in this fixture than would probably otherwise have been the ease, and when it became known that a. number of the old players of bygone davs— Davis, Torrance, M'Laren, Canning, and R. Wilkinson—were coming forward to fill the vacant places there was much speculation as to how they w<suld got on, and what would ultimately bo the result of the match. Indeed, speculation was so keen arid argument so rife that shortly after the second spell commenced two enthusiasts, teniporarily fiied with the undying wrath of Achilles, adjourned behind the pavilion, followed by the crowd, in order to settle in'a pugilistic way a difference of opinion which had sprung up on the touchline. Fortunately, a Rugby Union official came on the scene, and the pains and penalties of the law.havkog been threatened, the argument was adjourned sine die, and the crowd went back to the match. Neeedless to say ; the plucky manner in which the old "Kaikorai members had come forward in order that their club might be able to keep their engagement met with general approbation, and as the team left the dressing room they were loudlv cheered by the spectators. Davis, the Kaikorai skipper, won the toss, and Logan kicked off, the Pirates for the first spell playing against tho wind. In the first five minutes the Blacks carried all before them, but Davis ultimately shifted play off his own goal line, and the Blues' forwards working hard the Pirates soon had their tum at defending. Then plav settled on the southern touchline, Kaikorai having rather the best of it. Halfwav through the spell the Pirates, led by Kircaldy aud Logan, got into the Blues' twentv-five, and Hislop getting the ball away nicely, the Blacks treated the spectators to a 'bit of pretty passing, Nicholson getting in at the Bishopscourt corner. 3—o'. Millar's kickout for Kaikorai gained two-thirds field, the B'.ues setting up a strong attack. 1/ogan dribbled back past halfway, but a kick by Hislop being charged do'wn, Torrance and Spiera led the way to the line at the top corner, where Davia got over but was called back. From a free kick at halfway, and straight in front, J. Torrance had a shot which came to nothing, as did another taken by Sim from the twenty-five mark immediately after. Davis then made an opening for his backs, but erratic passing between Goyen and Carroll let the -ball on to the ground, and MLlar kicking far too hard, the Pirates were easily able to force.' After the kick-out Hislop broke through the opposing backs, and a rush, in which Kircaldy and Stuart were prominent, brought the ball up in front of thet Kaikorai posts, but Spiers and Canning soon showed up in a counter-rush which once more had the Blacks in trouble. In the last few minutes of the spell a series of scrums took place near the Pirates' chaik mark, from one of which, Davis snapped the leather, and deceiving the defence with one of his old-time feints, threw himself across, and scored amid cheering. Sim's kick failed to enhance, and the spell ended with ti.e score standing 5 all. In the second spell the Pirates made the pace as hot as possible, evidently with the idea of wearing out their opponents, manv of whom were naturally suspected of being out of condition. In this, however, they were not successful, for, although thev had rather the best of the spell, Kaikorai forwards, among whom M'Laren, Torrance, and Spiers were always prominent, stuck to their work right to the call of time. Where

Kaikorai were at sea was- among the backs, and their uncertainty in taking and returning the ball having disclosed itself during the first half, the Pirates' rearguard (Hislop, Wyinks, and Fairclough tested them in this direction very severely. The only score of the spell. was the result of a nice piece of passing initiated by Hislop. Fairclough made a very pretty opening, and Nicholson eventually- getting the ball put on the second try for his side, the game thuy ending in favor of Pirates.by 6 points to 3. Mr D. M. Munro held "the whistle.