FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13888, 24 October 1905, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

THE NEW ZEALANDERS’ TOUR. COMMENTS BY THE ENGLISH PRESS. United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received October 23, 11.8 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 23. To-day’s English mail brings Press cAmmonts on the first two football matches. Regarding the Devon match, the “ Daily Mail” says:—“ The New Zealanders’ dash and fire reminded one of the best Irish teams, while their in-and-out passing and backing up was in the best Welsh stylo.”. The “Daily Express” says:—“Apart from the wing forward, there wa:s little or nothing ij> the play of Now Zealand to which a purist could take exception. The forwards packed like the Welshmen, and in the loose and line-out were quite up to the Irish standard. Their dash was immense, and in only one respect were they at all disappointing. They broke up rather slowly, and their tackling was none too sure.” The “Daily Chronicle” says:—“ Devon, to put the matter mildly, completely lost their heads and hearts. They displayed neither pluck nor resource, and, in popular language, simply lay down and let the New Zealanders walk over them.” Commenting on the wing forward, the writer says : “ He is such an irritating person, and plays such a decidedly unlawful game from eur point of view, that his prudence in wearing shin guards may be commended. The winger ■ showed fine scorn of certain Sections ef Rule 11. If ha had met his deserts ho would have been penalised into ineffectiveness. For the rest, the New Zealanders are a splendid side. The forwards have robust, dashing methods in the loose, and pack splendidly. The backs are all fast and clever. A pleasing feature was the strong individuality of the backs in running.” Referring to the Cornwall match, the “ Daily Mail ” says;—“ Success was due to tactics as intelligent as they are original, superior in every way,to anything witnessed in English football. Backed up as they are by running, passing and kicking of the highest class, it is indeed difficult to say What British team wall check their victorious career. As a- factor in the attacking abilities of the team, the wing forward is of undoubted value, if only for the fact that ho is an extra man outside the scrum. To this and the admirable wedge formation in a large measure success was due.”