SPLENDID VICTORY FOR THE COLONIALS.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 530, 25 March 1908, Page 4

SPLENDID VICTORY FOR THE COLONIALS.

[OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] February 10. I am indebted to the columns of a rell-known weekly athletic paper for ho following report of the big latch. Saturday, February 8, in the Nor fhrn Union calendar, was to be a day f history. The responsible officials lad long recognised that if progress ras to be made an extension of area iras necessary. Further, it was (-."11---idered advisable that opportunities hould be given of witnesuig the ;ame of Rugby football supporters than those of Lancashire and forkshiro. London held out poisijilities and some time »ro nogotiaions were opened with the Chelsea ifficial, the sequel of which was seen in Saturday, when at Stamiird !3ridge a professional Rugby match vas played lor the first time in I .onion, the game being the second of :ho three test matches arranged between the full strength of the Northjrn Union and the New Zealanders. The most important object of the Tamo to the official mind oi tho Union was that tho nlay must be spen, and that the ph-iyprs oil l-olh sides should do their best to ronv'.nco Rugby enthusiasts that professional rules wero superior. The powerful side representing tho Rrig!l-.h Union was considered equal : n this respect to any demands, and a f;reat game, with a comfortable margin, was considered to be well within the bounds of probability. These anticipations were strengthened when it was found that, through minor injuries, at 'oast four of the supposed superior players in tho colonial combination had to be left out. But how soon were these ideas <)ispelled. In the first ton minutes-, after one or two brief periods of defensive play, tho All-Bliiks had found their feet in tho best sense of t!if. term. Their forwards wero •'rummaging in surprising form, and the first try was only a forerunner of brilliant scores to come. Jt was Georgo Smith who opened the scoring. He received from Wynyard, somewhere about micifield, and recognising that unorthodox play was jK)ssible, ho drew the defence in the direction of Messenger. Right well wero England outwitted, for both Llewellyn and Eeeles were crowding about Messenger, when Smith swerved towards the centre, and, rounding Taylor, raced away for the line, which ho crossed with ease. Messenger mado no mistake with tho goal kick, and New Zealand were five points to the good. This well-deserved success encouraged them to persevere with more aggressivo play, and Taylor's fine defence alone saved the English line, although a good drop at goal by Wrigley nearly achieved its object. England responded well, but if the All Blacks' aggressive work was surprising, equally so were their defensive tactics. Timo after time did j Jolley and Baxter endeavour to get tho men behind in motion, and although some brilliant passing was seen, neither Loytham nor Eccles was able to overcome the determined opposition for a lengthy period. At last reward came in the shape of a try to Leytham, but tho brunt of the effort had fallen to Jenkins, and the Wigan centre-thrcequarter gave his captain a clear run in. The scorer could not improve with tho goal kick, and another misfortune befel England when Percy Eccles, after a nice run clown the touchline, was tackled by Turtill. The Halifax player found his knee had gone wrong, and he was forced to retire, Ruddick being brought into tho three-quarter line. Play ruled even until the interval, when New Zealand still led by their score of a goal and a try n points) to tho Northern Union's try (3 points). Despite the absence of Eccles, the English side were distinctly superior during the opening period after the interval. Tho colonials, however, wero suro in their checking, and broke up the combination of the opposing three-quarters in a fashion which implied that their lead was not only to be retained, but would be improved. This was brought about by a clashing run by Messenger, who, when seriously opposed, passed to Wynyard. Then the ball was handed to Johnston, and with a crash which fairly roused tho Chelsea crowd, the big colonial forward hurled himself over the lino near the corner — a position too far out for Messenger to improve. This was after fifteen minutes of tho second half had expired, and for the next quarter of an hour, England had a most troubled time. Eccles had returned, but the New Zealanclers would not be denied, and the try of the afternoon was duly recorded. It was again George Smith who proved his worth, for, receiving the ball from Wynyard, the colonial centre obliged with a delightful dodgy run, and when I-ieytham forced him to transfer, the ball was thrown accurately to Todd. Taylor was yet to bo beaten, but Todd just scraped past the Hull full-back, and though Llewellyn, Jenkins and Leytham started in pursuit, Todd ran half the length of the field, and finished tho brilliant effort by safely grounding tho ball between the goal posts. Messenger, of course, improved; and scion more hustling work by tho colonial forwards took play to the English quarter. Here some scrambling play took place, "but the All Blacks kept the ball on the move, and some passing on the line ended in Wynyard dropping over in the centre, for Messenger to place another goal. England at this stage seemed well beaten, but a surprising rally took place five minutes from time, which resulted in Eccles scoring, after good work by the half-backs and threequarters. Jolley could not place the goal, but New Zealand were not content with their big lead, and in the closing stages more fine passing resulted in Todd being held at the corner, whilst on the other wing, Messenger actually crossed, only to find the touch judge against him. It was a near thing, but time was called with the score — New Zealand, 3 goals, 4 tries (18 points). England, 2 tries (6 points).