The Defeat of England.

Feilding Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 109, 4 December 1905, Page 2

The Defeat of England.

Five Tries to Nil. Played Before 80,000 People. Teitit/rapb Press Association Coovrisbt London, Dec 2. Favored with fine weather, tha test match England v. New Zealand, established a record attendance for Rugby football in England. The enormous crowd was estimated at quite 80,000. The ground from previous rains was terribly heavy and the condition told palpably on the players, inasmuch as towards the end of the game many of the contestants were fagging. The greatest care had been taken in selecting a team to do battle for the Old Country, with the result that a fine lot was got together, which included seven old international players. V. G. Gartwright captained the home team, and associated with him were Godfrey and A. C. Hind (Leicester) and Shewring (Somerset). The Home team played five threequarters, with J. E. Raphael (Oxford) as rover. In the New Zealand team Gallagher (Auckland) and McGregor (Wellington) replaced Mynott (Taranaki) and Smith (Auckland), the latter having injured his shoulder in the Limerick match. Newton (Canterbury)took the place of Cunningham (Auckland), otherwise the team was the same as last Saturday's. Reversing the tactics of the match against Ireland, the Colonials took the initiative and, opening with a hot attack, invaded England's twentyfives, and the latter were hard at work defending their line. From scrums inside the quarter-flag McGregor got possession and whipped over the line, thus registering first blood for the Maorilanders within six minutes of the start of the game. Wallace (Wellington) had a shot at goal, but the ball went wide. On resuming the New Zealanders followed up their advantage with renewed vigor and continued to press the home team, keeping them penned down. Various efforts to cross the line were fruitless, until about ten minutes later than the first score, when McGregor again got through, but Wallace failed to add the major points. New Zealand 6, England nil. When in play again, England showed a stubborn defence and successfully checked further scoring until just before the end of the spell, when McGregor was once more in evidence and placed a third try to his credit. The ball was placed for Wallace, but the score was not increased, and the spell ended — New Zealand 9, England nil. McGregor was playing in rare style, and his brilliant dashes for the line elicited cheers from the immense crowd. The opening of the second half was a repetition of the first, the visitors still being on the offensive, and for a quarter of an hour Eng land were sorely pressed, though the Colonials were unable to break through their defence. Eventually the Home forwards took a hand in the game and by a fine rush the scene of play was removed into New Zealand s territory, where it remained for some time. Then ensued give and take play, followed by a determined rush by the New Zealanders. and at the end of half an hour's play Newton (Canterbury) registered the fourth try for his Colony. ! Wallace's star was again not in the ascendancy, and no further points were added as the result of his shot at goal. New Zealand 12, England nil. In quick succession McGregor added still another try to his credit, and this time the ball was placed for Gillett ( Canterbury), but his effort was attended by no better success than those of Wallace In the last few minutes the Britishers rallied somewhat and made a desperate effort to score. Pressing hard, they rushed the ball over the New Zealand's line, but the Colonials kicked it into the dead area, and thfc game ended — New Zealand... „ ... 15 England 0