THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13933, 15 December 1905, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS.

A FAMOUS VICTORY. THE NEW ZEALANDERS AT THEIR BEST. GREAT DISPLAY AGAINST BLACKHEATH. [FROM OUB. CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, November 6. Groat is the "maim" of the New Zealanders Their reputation for in- | vincibility on ihe football field lias capI tured the imagination of the British public from Land's End to John O'Groats, from Dover to far Donegal; while as for London, by their triumph over Blackheath, on Saturday, the colonials have fairly taken' the metropolis by storm. It was a brilliant climax to a long and unbroken series of victories. England's senior club, with its strongest fifteen in the field, was hopelessly outclassed, and the display given by the- New Zealanders will long live in the memory as a wonderful'exposition of the Rugby game. It is no exaggeration to say that they played magnificently. The weather on Saturday was very bleak and dull, otherwise a larger crowd than 15,000 would have faced the uncomfortable journey out to .Blackheath. All the stands were filled up, for the tickets had been snapped up days and weeks ahead, and standingroom at the back of the crowd was all that was left when tho teams lined out. Fifteen thousand may not seem a. particularly large attendance to those who have seen as many as twenty thousand "roll up" to a big match at Wellington or Auckland, but in reality it was a great compliment to the fame of the New Zealand team. A Rugby match between two English teams would scarcely have drawn fifteen hundred cut to Blackheath on a day like Saturday was. Until the arrival of the colonials, Rugby was quite overshadowed by the Association game, so far as public interest jvas concerned. Now Zealand, however, has changed all that. Besides, the tickets for the stands at Blackheath could have been sold twice over. For the first time in the tour, there was a stand specially set apart for New Zealanders, and had this been twice its present size, it would have been filled to overflowing. So it was with the rest of the seating-accommodation on the ground. The New Zealand stand, by the way, was reserved for the occasion by the London New Zealanders' Association, whose_ honorary secretary, Mr Bockmaster, did Trojan service in carrying out all the necessary arrangements. Need I say that the welcome given to the team on their appearance, hearty though it was' throughout the crowd, reached its height in the stand set apart for their fellow-New Zealanders? Even if the blue ensign with the Southern Cross had not marked them out, the roar of cheering, mingled with snatches of Maori war-cries, would have proclaimed them as. kinsmen of the "All Blacks." For the first time," too, the team treated an English crowd to their Maori " haka " by way of salutation to their opponents. Halting inS; front of the New Zealand stand, "they welcomed the Blackheath men with the old chant which representative teams in New Zealand have long since made their own, beginning J Ka mate, ka mate! 'Ka ora, ka oral ! and ending in a fearsome yell. " Their war-cry was terrible," said one of the London papers next day; "but it was not so full of terrors as their play." , By great good fortune the rain, held off, though it had come down in tor- j rents early that, morning, and again I after the match. Tho Blackheath ground is well turfed, and though a bit slippery it oonld not be called heavy. Certainly it did not. prevent some astonishing" exhibitions of pace on the part of the "All Blacks," and with, a dry hall they played a splendidly fast am'd open game, to the intense admiration of the crowd. London crowds, being so largely cosmopolitan in their, elements'; are generally "spotting," end quick to applaud good work on either side, and though sadly disappointed by the failure of their own team, they freely acknowledged the superiority of the victors, and thoroughly enjoyed the game. Fortunately, too, the referee, Mr Percy Coles, enjoyed the confidence, of all concerned. There was no "■whistling fantasia" about this match. . And what a match it was I 'i'hose who wore privileged to watch it need never wish, to see a better display of Rugby football. Indeed., I doubt' whether it would be possible. New Zealand paid its opponents the compliment of placing its international team in the' field, and with the Blacks at the top of their form they treated us to a most exhilarating game. It was riot flawless, of course; the team that can play with .mechanical perfection' from start to finish has yet to be discovered—or invented. It would be easy to point out that the passing was ragged here, and that .the forwards kicked too hard there, and; that kick or that was faulty. But a. display of ideal precision would not have been nearly- so interesting and exciting. The extraordinary resource quickness with which th© New Zealanders covered up every mistake, and even turned it to account, was as notable a feature of the game as their pace and their passing. The touchline kicking was splendid, and the "backing-up" so good that time after time it nonplussed the Blackh.eo.rn men. In addition to its skill in attack, tlie New Zealand side proved' itself a one by rising superior to faults of play. One or two blunders committed, on Saturday would have meant certain disaster to an ordinary team, but the great pace and resourcefulness of tlie colonials never failed to retrieve the error and keep their line intact. And the way they managed it was almost as good' to watch as those brilliant passing bouts with which, time after time, they swept down the field. But they shone at almost all points of the game; and thirty-two points to nil, great score though it is, is not the full measure of their superiority over the home team. The great outstanding feature of their play was lie versatility. On© minute they .would be- equalling a crack Welsh team in the pace and precision of their passing; at another you would see a Now- Zealand back cutting out a run "on his own" in a way that recalled the great days of Stoddart, Wade and the Maori team of 'B9. Tho " Daily Telegraph's" Rugby critic, whoso opinions on the game carry more weight than-those of any other writer in the .country, declares that tlie Welsh teams at their best have never excelled the exhibition given by the New Zeaia-nders. "Our visitors, however," he adds, " did not content themselves with the orthodox methods of passing as mid down in the Welsh game; they varied their plan of campaign by reverting to the style of back play in vogue in the eighties, when more scope for individual ability was permitted than is the case nowadayis. The backs, or more particularly the

five-eighths, often ran' with a directness that our players, who have' a fit-ran go tendency to make for touch instead of the goal-line, might well take to heart; and when the moment came for a concerted movement the men raced away at a great pace, passing with a precision that was paralysing. It has long been clear that club and county sides have no chance of success against the New Zealanders, and on the form shown in last season's international encounters it may bo doubted wiiethor the representative fifteens will be able to hold their own." Blackheath had whipped up what was thought to be a very "hot" side for the " occasion. Throe men were brought over from Ireland, and half tho team wore international players. [ They were in good condition, too, as was shown by the way their heavy forwards lasted out tho game; and they played a hard up-hill game, with any amount of determination. But condition and grit were unavailing in the face of a team playing vastly better football. New Zealand, moreover, for the first time during the tour had. all' their "stars" on duty—Wallace, Smith, M'Gregor (probably the fastest three-quarter line in the world), Hunter, Stead and Roberts, with Gil-let-jb at full-back and a strong and dashing pack. The Blackheath forwards played a strong and resolute game, and in footwork and hard scrummaging were quite equal to the Blacks, if not bettor; but their heeling out was slow, and they could not live in. "the open alongside the speedier New Zealand forwards. Besides, ■ the Blackheath back division was very disappointing What chances their forwards' gave them were frittered away, and, several golden opportunities of scoring were lost through the failure of the " Heathens" to back up the man in possession of the ball. This weakness was tho moro glaring from the fact that the New Zealanders owed, a good deal of their success to their splendid backing-up. Always there was a man at hand to take the ball, and if he dropped his pass, or lest the ball unexpectedly, a comrade stepped into the breach on the instant. As good an instance as any was the last try scored by the colonials. Smith was racing for the lino, supported by M'Gregor, with apparently a clear field, when Maclear, by a great effort, cut across and grassed him from behind. Smith threw tho ball to M'Gregor, but the latter had overrun, it, and Blackheath would have saved their line had not Stead been following up close behind the two " fliers." Stead raced after the ball, and dribbling it across the line, was able to score in a good position. Blackheath, on the other hand, threw away what looked like a certain score by leaving all the work to on& man. One of their forwards broke through unexpectedly, and with a fine dribbling, got clear away, with no one between him and the New Zealand line. Smith and M'Gregor set out in hot pursuit, and it needed all their tremendous pace to overhaul the runaway and bring him to earth. But once he was caught, all danger was over. He had no one to pass to, and New Zealand were prompt to turn the tables. Instead of backing up their man, Blackheath had calmly stood and watched the proceedings like so many spectators'! The story of the match is soon told. New Zealand scored within the first, three minutes, M'Gregor, on the left wing, kicking across field to Wallace, who picked up and easily outpaced.the. opposing three-quarters and full-back. Wallace added a goal, making the score five points to nil. Blackheath forwards responded with a strong.rush, but the "visitors forced them back, and after some fairly even play a free kick to New Zealand for off-sido play by a local half, resulted in Wallace adding a penalty goal to the score. This made eight points to nil. Soon after Roberts set his backs in motion, and Smith gave Wallace an easy run-in, tho Wellington, sprinter finishing up his run behind the posts. This time he missed an easy kick at goal, and the score read | —eleven points to nil. The third try was gained in just the same fashion, ' and again the speedy Wallace was the j scorer, this time touching down near the corner. Gillett negotiated the difficult angle with a fine kick, making New Zealand's score fourteen points to nil. Tne.Blacks continued to keep the upper hand, and it was only a matter of minutes before another of thoir fiery onslaughts let M'Gregor, " tho living Scotchman," in for a try. Gillett's attempt at goal was unsuccessful, so _ that tho score stood at seventeen points to nil; and with this handsome lead, the New Zealanders began the second spell. Blackheath played a better game in tho second half, and had more of the. play than before. Once or twice their backs came away at a good pace, but good tackling and lack of support told their inevitable tale. Not only did the Blackheath backs fail to put sufficient dash into their attacks, but also they had to repkon with a team which .seemed to have a perfect genius for rising to the occasion. Tho tighter the pinch, the better did the All Blacks 'seem to play. Their defence was severely tested now and then, but they showed themselves as sound in this department as they were brilliant in attack, and the way they would' develop a counterattack out of their defensive work was a treat to witness. Glasgow scored the fifth try, after some dashing play by Hunter, and Wallace placed a beautiful goal, bringing the total to twentytwo points. M'Gregor accounted for try number i?ix, tb.an.KG to his pace and the fine opening made by Smith, who was playing a masterly game as centre-three-quarter. Again Wallace goaled, and the score road: New Zealand 27 points, Blackheath nil. Tho last fifteen minutes were as exciting as any in the game. The Blackheath forwards were playing up with splendid grit, and even the loss of their wing- for ward, Rogers-, through his twisting a. knee, failed to dishearten them. But although the "Heathens" broke' through at intervals, New Zealand kept them hard pressed most of the time. Amongst the crowd the excitement grew apace as the end drew nigh. In the New Zealand stand everyone was anxious to see another score go up, and at intervals a band of excited young colonials would send up a shout which could be heard all over the field : "We—want—Thirty!" " You won't get 'em, shouted back the English crowd; but they did get them, after all. Thanks to a fine dash by Smith, and the invaluable following up of Stead, the latter, as I have already described, was able to score tho seventh and last try of the day. As the ball was placed for Wallace to _tak-e the kick there went ivp another mighty shout from the New Zealand stand: « We—want— Thirty—Two!" And. they got them, toot Wallace sent the ball over the orcesi-bar, and when time was called a moment or two later even the merciless New Zealanders were well content with the score. And well they might be, for thoir team had put up a display which for all-round brilliance- has never been surpassed—and some say never been equalled—on thi« claesic Rugby ground. . i The teams were as under: — | Blackheath: Back, H. Lee; threequarters, W. H. Newton, B. Maclear, H. J. Anderson and S- F. Cooppcr; halves, J. C. Joughlin, C. G. Robson; forwards, B. 0. Hartley, B. A. Hill, W. L. Rogers, C. J. Newbold, W. T.

Cave, W. S. D. Craven, J. E. C. Partridge, C. G. Liddell. ... New Zealand: Back, G. Gillett; three-quarters, D. M'Gregor, G. W. Smith and W. J. Wallace; five-eighths, J. ■ Hunter and W. Stead; halt, F. Roberts; wing-forward, Gallaher; forwards,. G. Tyler, S. Casey, J. O'Sullir van, W. Cunningham, F. Glasgow, C. Seeling and W. Johnston. Referee: Mr P. Coles. : —? ~ A DARK BLUE DEBACLE. OXFORD UNIVERSITY SMOTHERED. RECORD SCORE AGAINST THE OXONIANS. • [From: Ook Correspondent.] . LONDON, November 8. When 'the New Zealanders left London last- Tuesday morning to try conclusions with the Oxford University team there were doubts as to whether the day would produce football of any sort. London w r as enveloped in fog, and tho early reports from Oxford were to the effect that the conditions l there were, if anything, worse. Happily the fog had entirely disappeared by the time the team got to the ancient University city, and by the time the match was due to begin almost summerlike weather prevailed. There was no question, of course, as to. which side would win, in fact the only hope I heard expressed by an Oxonian was that the 'Varcity team would score and stave off anything worse than a twenty point defeat. The Dark Blues had done fairly well against Leicester the preceding Saturday, scoring a goal'and a try against a dropped goal and two tries, and as 'Varsity teams have a habit of rising to big occasions they were expected by outsiders to pake quite a decent show against their redoubtable opponents. But the men themselves were by no means sanguine. The team, as chosen, had only played-together once before, namely, at Leicester, many o 9 the men were very far from "fit," 'and compared with the New Zealanders- the Dark Blu&<! were a team of light-weights. Physically there was no comparison between the two fifteens', some of the Oxonians l being mere striplings. Size, weight and strength wore "all-in favour of the "Blacks," and, as wasi demonstrated very / early in the game, they possessed a very marked superiority in pace and cleverness. Only in one respect w-as the Oxford teaan the equal of the New Zealanders and that was in 'pluck. Their collaring was, as a rule, good when they got to their man, but still it was.only occasionally that they managed to smother man and ball. Usually the New Zealander collared was able to make his pass or get in his kick. The'-crowd, which numbered about 10,000, was not particularly enthusiastic. Some of the New Zealanders' most' brilliant work passed almost unnoticed save by .certain, enthusiastic undergratudates, who know a good thing when they see it, whilst anything! in the nature of an attack by the Blues elicited excited shouts of " 'Varsity, 'Varsity." a In spite of the enormous superiority of the visitors at all points of the game Oxford ought •to have scored twice, once in the first half from a kick across, which resulted in Gillett touching down, and once in the second when the New Zealand full-back failed to field an awkward screw kick from Munro. Other less obvious l chances: were missed through the apparent reluctance of the Oxoniaoi back division to try the pass>ing game. When they did get the ball it hardly ever went through more than two pairs of hands before an attempt to kick into touch was made. Seldom, except in the case of Munro, did those kicks gain much ground, and whenever they failed-to find touch Hunter or Gillett'was ready, and and accurate returns transferred operations to Dark Blue territory. 'During tho early stages of the game the Now Zealanders' play was marred by a good deal of wild passing, knocking on, and forward passes, but later they gave theTspeotators of their best concerted work, and fairly ," mazed " the Oxonians by the swiftness of their passing. The 'Varsity.men tackled with any amount of "vim" throughout, but it was an exception for them to find the man they had stopped - still in pofiseesion of the ball. The man of the" day on the New Zealand side was undoubtedly Hunter, at five-eighths, who scored five tries. Booth, on the left wing aiso played a very fine game, as also did Wallace and M'Gregor, ana Mynott. Gillett had not a. great deal to do, but he did what was asked of him in a sure nonchalant manner that marked him as the right man in the right place. ' THE GAME. ' The. team which took the field in the presence of some 10,000 spectators were as follow©: Oxford University.—Davies (Jesus), back; Lyle (Trinity); Parker (Christ Church), Wood (University), and Lawrie (Trinity), three-quarters-backs; Munro (.Christ Church), captain), and Jackson (Exeter), half-backs; Hcekin (Trinity), Wix (Brasenoeo), Gardner (Trinity), Hoadley (Koble), Howe Browne (Oriel), and Roberts (St John's), forwards. New Zealanders.—Gillett, back; M'Gregor, Wallace and Booth, threequarters ; Hunter and . Mynott, fiveeighths; Roberts, half-back; Nicholson, Casey, Tyler, Corbett, Johnson, Glasgow, 'Newton ' and Gallahor, forwards. The referee was Mr A. Lindsay Sloper, of the London Rugby Union, and performed his duties to the satisfaction of both sides.

The 'Varsity kicked off, and the colonials at once went 'in for opening out the game.. They got the ball from the first scrum, but the 'Varsity had a free-kick, and Booth, making, his mark, gained little ground. A "dribble by the 'Varsity forwards carried the game to the visitors' twenty-five, but the New Zealand backs got the ball, only to.be stopped by a throw-on. Tho 'Varsity's tackling was of the keenest description, and another free-kick to the 'Varsity for off-side gained the Dark Blues some ground. A clever movement. on the right took the colonials on. to the 'Varsity goal-line, where first a pass forward and then another Tree-kick to the 'Varsity' for- off-side prevented the New Zealanders crossing. So _ far the visitors' passing had been wild, and this led to several openings being missed. Still, the colonials Were getting the ball every time from: the scrums. Once Booth kicked across and Davis only just touched down in time as three eager Blacks bowled him over. For a quarter of an hour the 'Varsity defended well, and then from a scrum in the Dark Blue' twenty-five Wallace received from Roberts and ran over, dodging three' opponents.. Taking the kick himself, from an easy angle,-Wal-lace placed a goal. A bewildering hout of passing among the colonials' backs and forwards marked the recommencement, and Wallace unsuccessfully tried to drop a goal. HUNTER HUNTED IN VAIN.. • A dribble by the 'Varsity forwards carried the game to the centre, where Hunter gained possession. Showing a magnificent turn of speed, and with, a clever swerve, he beat seven or eight, opponents and gained a try. Wallace took the place, and kicked a capital «oal. By means of charging down the colonials' return, and through good touch-kicking, the 'Varsity reached the visitors' twenty-five. Here Munro picked up and out to Lawrie, who kicked across. ', The 'Varsity forwards were alive to the movement, and the ball rolled over the line, and Gillett had to touch down. It was a mere flash in the pan, however, as the New- Zealanders were soon in the 'Varsity quarters again. From a line out the "Blacks gained possession, and a moment laterTyler scored an easy try under the poets. Wallace, however, failed to convert, the ball hitting the post. A few minutes later Hunter ran m, after receiving from Wallace, and'again the place-kick failed. This try. was'the result of a dashing run through, Hunter worming and " bullocking" his way through ft host of players. Another try quickly followed, this being largely due to Hunter and M'Gregor. The latter swerved cleverlv, but being driven close to the line passed to . Hunter, who crossed easily for Wallace to again fail. Then, from a line-out near the "Varsity "twenty-five," Hunter got possession. Swerving cleverly, and running like a hare, he went clean through the 'Varsity defence, and planted the ball hetween the posts. On-.this occasion' Hunter took the kick himself, but he also missed- goaling. New Zealanders, two goals four tries. 'Varsity, nil. . v After the interval, a wild pass by Mynott enabled Oxford to work into the visitors'' half, and a free-kick was awarded them. Lyle made a clever punt, which was followed by Jackson making his mark, and a "scrum'' was formed on the visitors' /'twenty-five. Smart passing got them out of difficulties, and M'Gregor and Hunter racing away, a series of lightning exchanges ended in the last-named crossing the. line. The place failed. Resuming, Oxford assumed the offensive, and a fine effort brought the ball right down, and for tho second time the visitors touched down. They were soon attacking again, however; and, after some brilliant passing, M'Gregor ran m under the posts, and Wallace kicked an easy goal. The Oxford forwards then made a/ fine rush down the ground. It was checked by Mynott, and promptly assuming the offensive again, Roberts, scored a soft try, which was not improved upon. Oxford had a free kick, which gained them a lot of ground, and the forwards took the ball into the visitors' half. It was soon back again, however, and ,Glasgow, picking up, got in without an of-, fort. Oxford then played up with considerable vigour, and Munro landed' the ball into touch, close to the New Zealand "twenty-five," but immediately afterwards the opposing hacks got going again, and Booth ran in. _ By come very wide, but accurate, passing on the right, Wallace notched another point, and then Hunter ram in from the centre of the 'ground, being entirely unmarked. This try being converted, New Zealand were thus left victorious by four goals and nine tries (forty-seven points) to nil, the largest score ever registered against tho University fifteen. THE SCORERS foi' New Zealand were as follows: . Hunter five tries, Wallace two, Booth two, Johnston one,. M'Gregor one, Glasgow one, .Roberts one.