FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13815, 31 July 1905, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM,

THE WELLINGTON MATCH. [Pee. Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 29

The New Zealand team, met their first defeat to-day. This also was the first time Wellington has played a side representing the whole province, and the result seems to argue in favour of continuing the practice. The game was played on a ground sodden with water, and, though the ultimate difference was only three to nil, yet the chosen players of Now Zealand made so poor a showing a;S to give cause for grave reflection upon what may happen to them if they meat some of the strong Homo teams on wet turf. They screwed the scrum at times with success, but did not seem to carry the ball with thorn, and in loose play the. forwards were quite overmatched. It is true the conditions were entirely against good play, but still a picked team should at least hold its own under any conditions against a provincial fifteen. When they played with the wind they allowed a try to bo scored. Against it they were put to desperate shifts to prevent further loss.' In this game, Abbott, who has gained great reputa-tion'-in club football, made his first appearance. It was asking a great deal of a man to shine under the circumstances, but he displayed a great turn of foot, and once cams very near scoring. There was little scope for back play; still some excellent kicking was done, ©specially by the Wellington mon. The local forwards played a great game, smashing up their opponents again and again, and driving clear, through them. Watkins was especially brilliant, and was easily the best forward on the ground to-day. Ins following up on the boggy turf was remarkable. Notliwithataiidiiig the miserable weather, there was a capital attendance, about 4000 being present. At the time for beginning the game, thick rain was drifting up the ground before a cold, southerly breeze, and in this the crowd were kept waiting for half an hour. No one had thought of bringing a ball. When one was obtained it proved to be useless, and there was a further wait, so that it was nearly 3.30 before the ball was kicked off. By this time the vain had cleared, and no more fell, but the ground was in a hopeless state, water squelchin" up at every step, and pools and patches of mud were scattered hoio and there. A/s New Zealand wore black, the Wellington men turned out in virgin white, but at th© end theic was not much difference in the colours. One result of the delay was ■ tjiab the game hadrto bo confined to thxrty-fh o minutes’ spells. , w , Now Zealand won the toss, and y o--lington kicked off against the wind, iho ball at once became sodden and difficult to handle, and in a few minutes most of the men had their clothes so laden wu-a mud that their movements were considerably iuipsded. The play does not lend itself to much description, it was mostly a series of scrambles and scrimmages over a slippery, heavy bad flirt could neither bo kicked, dribbled 01 held with any certainty. . Occasionally a back got in a steady kick if he had plenty of time, and then th© scramble was renewed, the ball disappeared into touch, or was forced over the line. At first there was some loose play near the New Zealand line, whence a long kick removed it, and Gillett. had a shot from a penalty kick without avail. vvoLington were forced down, but retaliated with a fine rush, and took the ball to the full-back, Gillett, who hannmd it with encouraging coolness, borne tree kicks and scrums followed m the centre, from one of which the spectators secured, much amusement by seeing a Wellington man hurled full length on his face through a mud pool. Ho went in whits and rose parti-co.ouied. In Wellington’s twenty-five the Now Zealand backs started a passing rush, but were foiled by Sm’okmai*, and the next moment the position was revorsed. Thomson, attempting a run, was hrmly collared by Watkins, and as they, happened to choose one of the mud holes for their meeting tho crowd obtained further amusement at their expense. Tho White forwards too* possession tor a while, and chiefly through nne following bv Watkins penned the Blacks in their own twenty-five. Thors _ was a period of wild and aimless rushing and dodging backwards and forwards, this and that man grabbing fruitlessly at the ball. Then Dodd, 'VVatkiu and Jt Spencer burst through with it, toll over tho lino together, ami tnc last-named scored a try, amid hearty applause. G. Spencer took the kick, but the distance was too great. Wellington 3, New Zealand nil. After a free kick to Wellington, Abbott was seen sprinting at a great pace down the side of tho ground, but be was thrown out at the corner. Several more free kicks, from which nothing came, were awarded to tnc. Whites, and the spell ended. . On resuming, Abbott got under neigh again till stopped by Fume. then Wellington rushed through to New Zealand quarters. G. Smith got tho hall i >[ front of goal and saved tho situation with a neat kick. Tho Wellington fonvahds continued to worry, tiici-r opponents, and when tho lattei did puu son a spurt a piece of off-eido play stopped them. With the help of a freekick they at last worked into Wellington quarters. Seeling picked up the ball and made a strong dash, hut just as he seemed about to score ho elected to pass, and Wrigley, with a powerful kick, sent the ball up the ground. It was brought back, but New __ Zealand made nothing of their advantage, and this was about the last time they ever looked like scoring. Afterwards the game was always in the centr»_of tho ground or near their line. Keeping together well, the 'Whitm. got on a line rush, charged Gillett’s kick, and nearly got over. Immediately afterwards G. Spencer, Wellington's full-back, wno was close up, let drive at goal and just missed. This was a really fine attempt, and was warmly rscognie&cl. _ O’Leary also got in another good kick, New Zealand being forced altogether three times in succession. Roberts made a brief opening, but was not backed up closely, and while looking lor someone to pass to was collared. The game was mostly in the centre at this stage, and though the end was rapidly approaching. tho New Zealand men did not give tho impression that they were greatly exerting themselves. Too difficulties of the ground might be responsible for this, but their general style was net what is looked for in a New Zealand team. Presently they had difficulties of another kind to contend with. Wellington, playing compactly, and with renewed vim, burst through them again and again, New Zealand was a beaten team, aiid fromthis onward they were buoy trying to prevent a further score, without thinking of acting on the aggressive themfislvcs. Thera is no disguising tho ■fact that the selected forwards are at present far from being the forwards who so magnificently overpowered tho Englishmen on the same ground a year ago. ’ The Whites repeatedly charged down to their lino, and the- ball crossed it several times. Wellington looked good for another score at any moment, but New Zealand managed to save this stigma, and confine the total to tjiat already given—Wellington three,' 1 New ; Zealand nil. A FAREWELL CONCERT. [Pee Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 30. A farewell smoko concert to the Now Zealand football team on the eve of their departure for the Old Country, was held in tho concert room of the Town Hall hast night. The attendance was only moderate, and did not by ‘ any means come- up to expectations. Mr

G. F. 0. Campbell, vice-president of the New Zealand Union, was in the chair, and was supported by Air Seddon, Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Massey and Mr Hislop, Mayor of Wellington. The Governor telegraphed expressing regret at his absence. Mr Sodden, who proposed the toast or the New Zealand team, was enthusiastically received, the company rising and singng “For He’s a Jolly Good rellow.’- Ho said ha felt satisfied that tlio team would worthilv uphold tho honor of the colony and represent it in a fit and proper manner. “ Tho Britishers are panting for those ashes,” ho remarked, “and don’t let them’ get them.” - Ho believed the trip of tho team would bo of great benefit to the colony, as it would bring it very forcibly under tho notice of the people of Great Britain, . and must also tend to draw the colony closer to tho Mother Country. Mr Dixon, manager of the team, in replying, said that bo considered that the team very fairly represented tho football strength of tho colony, and that it would worthily uphold tho good name of Now Zealand.

Air Gallagher, the captain, also responded, and expressed the opinion that the team would justify itself both on and oil the field. Th© Mayor of Wellington proposed the toast of tho Parliament of New Zealand, to which Mr Seddon and Air Alassey replied. The leader of th© Opposition, who received a very cordial reception, wished the team a good time, a pleasant voyage and a safe return.

Sir Joseph Ward proposed tho toast of tho Now Zealand Union.

The Premier announced that it was desired that the team should bo kept in touch with the people of tho colony', and with that object in view, it had been arranged that any cases of illness or accident should bo immediately reported to th© High Commissioner in London, who would cable th© lact to th© Government. The High Commissioner would also from time to timo cable to the Govfemmont the doings of the team, Mr Seddon adding that this had been- decided on after consultation with his colleagues and Air Massey. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July 30.

Judging by the attendance at the farewell “ smoker” to the New Zealand team, the amount of interest felt in that combination is practically nil. Outside the officials and visitors and other “deadheads,” there were only ten. persons present who had paid for their tickets, and the chief feature of -the proceedings was a beggarly array of empty chains. The reason given by one football enthuieast is the unpopularity in Wellington of the New Zealand Rugby Union, but it must have been very unpleasant to the departing representatives, all of whom, by the bye, were not present, to find that only a few officials had assembled to wish them good-bye and good luck. Things should have been managed differently. DEPARTURE OF THE TEAM, [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 30. At nine o’clock this morning a good crowd boarded the ferry steamer Admiral and accompanied the New Zealand football representatives to the Rimutaka’s side. Brief farewells were said, the little vessel swung out and the big liner headed for the Pacific, to th© accompaniment of fog-horns and hearty cheering. Near the Heads the ferryboat Admiral drew near the Rimutaka, a final cheer was given, ‘ Auld Lang Syne” was sung, and half an hour later the steamer was lest to view. NEW ZEALAND REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 29. Delegates representing practically every Referees’ Association in the colony met at 'Wellington yesterday and to-day, to discuss the formation of a New Zealand Referees’ Association. It was decided to form an Association, but the approval of certain provincial Associations whose delegates were not given absolutely a free hand has to be sought before attaching them. The,Governor will be asked to accept the office of patron. The headquarters of the Association will bo in Wellington till Easter of next year, when the nest conference will be held and the location of headquarters for the nest twelve mouths decided. OTAGO v. MANAWATU. DUNEDIN, July 29. The following have been selected to play against Manawatu next Satur-day:—Full-back, Adams .: threcqu alters, Gilray. Rennet, and M’Pherson; halves, Collie/ King and Ongley; forwards, Spiers, M’iAtyre, Low, Mitchell, Adamson. Given, Sheehan, and Port-eons. LOCAL MATCHES POSTPONED. Though the weather was not absolutely hopeless at noon on Saturday, the football grounds were in such a bad state that the Canterbury Rugby Union decided to postpone all matches under its control. 1 The members of the Manawatu football team arrived by the s.s. Pateena yesterday, and will leave this morning by the first express for Invercargill. They will play Southland on Wednesday : Otago, at Dunedin, on Saturday; South Canterbury, at Timaru, on Thursday, August 10; and Canterbury, at Lancaster Park, on Saturday, August 12. !. Imperial defeated PhilhpstowJi by twenty-four points to nil. T'ho scorers were B. Grey 4, S. Bayliss 2, LI. Stevens 1 and B. Robinson 1.

Owing to the heavy 1 rain the North Canterbury Rugby -Union trial match for the selection of a team to play tho Canterbury Juniors, could not be played on Saturday afternoon. Tho representative match is to take place at Hangiora on Saturday next, and the Domain Board has granted the Union permission to charge sixpence admission to tho Recreation Ground.