OUR TOURING FOOTBALLERS

Evening Star, Issue 12732, 5 August 1907, Page 8

OUR TOURING FOOTBALLERS

SECOND TEST MATCH. WIN* FOR NEW ZEALAND. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright BRISBANE, August 5. Tho return match between Australia and Now Zealand was "laved on the Cricket Ground this afternoon. The weather was line, but a strong breeze was blowing. Tho attendance w;u> estimated at l>etwecn 16,000 and 17,000. The teams were as follow : Australia.—-Full-back, DLx ; three-quar-ters—Parkinson. Russell, Smith, Messenger : halves, Wood and Mandible; forwards—OxJade, Oxenham, Barnett, Burge, Caniffe, Fihelly, Flanagan, and Richards. Nkw Zkalanp.—Full-back, Coleman : three-quartere--Wallace, Mitchinson, and Fryer: five-eighths. I [miter and Mynott: half-back. Roberts; forwards—Gillett (wing). Casey, Hnghes, Cunningham, Niehelison, Francis, Johnston, and Seeling. Oxlade, having won the toss from Hunter, elected to play with the wind in tlie first spoil, and Francis started the game by kicking off for the visiton-;. Ruasell took tho leather, and returned it to tho halfway flag, where it went into touch. From the line-out tho Blacks rushed tho ball up the field, and began to look dangerous, when they were forced out within Australia's twenty-five. On the ball being thrown in Oxlade arid Eihelly got going, and carried the scene of play back to the halfway, where Coleman stopped further progress by gathering un tho ball with despatch. Although hotlv pressed, he relieved his eido by finding tho line at tho half distance From the line-ont the Australians broke away with the ball at their too. Wallace raced along in front of them, a.nd gaining posseisfiion. attempted to work 'hks way round the held, but ho was grossed by Fihollv. and tho local pack kept the bail rolling in the direction of the New Zea-landors' goal line. Wallace again attempted to check the advance, but he war, carried off his feet. Messenger kicked the ball over the line, and a great scramble for po-Boesion ensued. Merscnger was the first to reach it, and eventually he touched down, drawing first blood. Ho took the kick himself, and registered a goal.—From the kick-out the Black's forced the A astral ianis' right back on to their line, and the danger was only averted bv Dix. who. by putting in some fine feetwork. removed play to halfway. The Australians then continued the attack, 'fing on with dribbling rushes, and the New Zealand line was for a time in serious danger. By concerted play, however, the visitors gradually but surely forced their opponents back into neutral ground. For tho rest of the .spell tho ball went hither and thither, but was mostly in New Zealand territory, where it was when the whistle sounded for half-time. The cooping then road : Australia 5 points. Now Zealand nil.

Mereenger opened the second spell with

a kick to Mynott, who returned the ball. The Blacks at once began to mnvo for ward. Mvnot.t t-ieoured possession, and minted high. I>ix fumbled tho leather. and In 1 fore lie had time to made rodrws >'<Tlinu' war' en \o]i nf him. Seeling kicked the ball <.v-r t'ne line and fell mi ii. reentering the lir:-i eaere for the visiters. Wallace took" the kick, and equalised the scow by i>ultin;; the ba!! between (lie posts. From the kick-out the Blacks; \"~ ea.i.eo offen-jive. though, if anytliinc. with ini-;<\-i.-->d vi;_"">". and they cained coridder able. '.'iT.iinil by ulceus of Hrib-hlincr renh'-f;. Sorm they get within the heal men's twenty-five, where ore 1 of the visitors ski---'] t.he ball te I >ix. who secured it. and v.-ill i his mt.nni foun<l i-he line. Xo Gooner was the- ball in olav arain than the Australians were forced back within their twenty-five, where Hunter snapped mi the oval, and afier makinc a groat rim pasr-ed to Wallacx who crossed the line near the corner. Francis essavd to kick a coal, but- the attempt was futile. On resuming, the Blacks were not loir.: away from Australian territory, and T)ix. making a further mix-take by dropping a very simple tih'ti'_r. crave Fra.nois an opportunity to r -.i"w. of which hj" rjuieklv availed himself. He failed with the kick at goal. The ball was Bcarr.elv in play acain before the Hlacks were once more at the Australians' throats, and were within a,n ace of scoring. Fihellv jnfit Bavins: bv kicking into the dead-ball area. The cn-mo continued, however, in the local team's twenty-five, and a. serum wa.s formed rirht on their line. From this 'Roberta cainod pcfiser-v.ion of the Ivall and passed it on to 'Wallace, who ra<ed round and touched down behind the posts. ITe was entrusted with the kick, but no coal resulted. On rcßiiminrr. Die Australians rushed the bail down t.he field, and carried plav well into the vi-si-tej-s' quarters, but (xdeman Raved with a fine punt, which placed his side once more on the offensive. A free kick to the local men relieved the pressure, and a little later on a similar permitv cnahled the, Australians to enter tho Blackis.' ground. The local team were, however. Gent back bv Cohmtan. who fonjid the line at the halfway. For a time rmintororcting play took r.laoo in neutral territory, but eventnallr tho Australians broke away, and were looking dangerous when the ball went out in Xew 7e.ala.ndt; corner. Almost immediately afterwards the whistle sounded for no side, and the came ended, the scores bc-inc : New Zealand ]4 points. Australia 5 pointa. AUSTRALIA v. XF.W ZKA.LAXD. —Won by—lOO.v— \ew Zealand. Sydney. 22—3. 1905—Xew Zealand. Dunedin. 14—3. 1007—New Zealand, t-vdney. 26—6. 1907—XVw Zealand. Brisbane. 14— o. HOW TTII-; XFAYK WAS KFCFJVED. The first cable message reached Dnnedin at 6 p.m. tin Saturday, and the information that at the end of the first spell Australia ivd a lend of 5 points was quietly received. When a, few details 'oncoming Webb'.s victor,- over Towns were posted at Mendelsohn's some time later (the. result, of the wiilling championship having been announced endi'M) tiie crowd cried "We -want football." showing how anxiously the final score was being looked fur. This came to hand exactly at 7 p.m.. and when our "extra" appeared statinc that the Ail Blacks had won the Second Test by 14 points to 5. and thtiis [titled the -uestion of Rucby supremacy over the combined States, cheer liiiiiM>iii'""i<niT , mi uir"ii i' '*' jl.um L^ —

l, l»-• •;' ■•' »• t!>- air. A novel method of iiiivi- *U,:.) hi patrons was rcs;o,rted to by .Vr vi,t ,',,;V.ns. Before the biograph picture.;, were lihown the result of both tlie milling clwmniar.6hip and the Australia-New Zealand football match were thrown on to the screen, and the dual win of the Dominion was received with a great demonstration—indeed it is safe to hazard the opinion that no item on the attractive programme provided was received with I greater favor than, tbia enrtain-raiser.

THIRD TEST MATCH.

At a meeting of the Queensland Rugbv Union the suggestion by the New South Wales Union that tho New South Wales team play New Zealand in place of the Australian team in tho third test was considered. It was decided to forward the following lottor:— "That the Queensland Rugby Union are amazed at the action of your union in wishing to abrogate, without, giving any reasons, the existing agreement between the two unions. Regarding the test matches against New Zealand, my union regard your unprecedented request »s extremely detrimental to the best interests of Australian Rugbv. and calculated to endanger the pleasant relations existing between our respective unions. We would remind you that in this season's interstate .matches, as indicated bv play and scores, there is very little difference between onr respective* teams, and wo regret that it is the evident desire of your union to play the last match of the present series without Queensland. lam directed to state that wo wish tho match to remain an Australian fixture, as arranged, and therefore regret, in view of tho existing agreement, that wo are unable to assent to tho proposal contained in yours under reply."

The New Zealand Rugby Union, replying to the application by Now South Wales Union for an alteration in the fixture, decided to raiso no objection to the change suggested, " provided the concurrence of the Queensland Union were obtained."

Under the circumstances it may be concluded that the original programme will he adhcr.d to. 'Hie match takes place at Sydney on Saturday next, and this will end the tour.