THE PROFESSIONAL TOUR

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 9 January 1908, Page 5

THE PROFESSIONAL TOUR

NOT AS GOOD AS THE "ALL BLACKS."

BIG FINANCIAL SUCCESS.

U'RESS ASSOriATION.")

SYDNEY, January 8

In 'reference to the Times' comments on the New Zealand football team, cabled on the 3rd December, the extract was from a lengthy article by a correspondent, who, in the course of a review of the playwrs and their doings, says that the visit waß a much more serious affair than was generally anticipated. The team certainly was not as good, man for man, as Gallagher's team, but the writer's impression is that at their best they were quite as strong individually and collectively as a fair international side in this country. Unlike Gallagher's team, however, they had not been careful to keep in good condition. In regard to the financial success of the tour, the 70 per centum of gross gates which was theirs by arrangement with the Northern Union had already brought in nearly twice the guaranteed £3000. It seems to have demoralised several members of the team who, when home, were merely wage laborers, who were well content to earn £2 a week in the field or factory. It is highly probable that the majority of the visitors will eventually accept engagements with the Northern Union.

In the course of the article the writer says that there is no doubt the New Zealanders have been and still are handicapped by the unfamiliar and unnatural rules invented by the Northern Union. These they have not yet overcome. Their natural desire is to try to take the ball away from the tackled player.

"The recent defeats of the New Zealand professional football team, their narrow -margins of victory, and the more than respectable aggregate of points piled up against <them (generally } to date, have jwyfc surprised those who watched their opening games" (writes the London correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald). "In point of fact, their defeat had been predicted with confidence some time before it actually eventuated. They beat Merihyr a week or two ago, but The critical Welsh crowd looking on summed them up as very inferior to the amateur team of last year, amd set up an ingenious comparison of them with the All Blacks by dubbing them the Phantoms ! Their forwards have been so outclassed in many games that the admittedly excellent three-quarter line has been unable to get into action. Moreover, their defence has proved none too strong when opposed to more than ordinary fierce attack. The defeat at Wigan was compensated for, to 6ome extent, by the gate— the biggest of the ■tour so far— about 25,000 spectators being present. On the same day, at Stamford Bridge ground, in London, 70,000 attended an important 'association' club match, and the aggregate attendance at 10 association games in the metropolis on that day was upwards of 200,000 — effective witness to the hold of the winter game in this country. The Combined Northern Union team" is expected to vanquish the New Zealanders easily, and, altogether, whatever may be the financial result, the first professional touring venture has not been the football success that was anticipated. The amateur Rugby bodies are naturally elated, as they hope that thie result will give the professional movement a setback, or, at least, prevent that spread of its influence which might have been feared from the triumphal tour of these New Zealandew in any tray resembling that of the 'All Blacks.' "