FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 13949, 4 January 1906, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

THE TRIP THROUGH AMERICA. [FROM Ora CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN, January 3. Concerning the Premier’s offer of a passage to the New Zealand football team via Canada and the United States the “Star” says editorially:- “ Despite tne somewhat jaundiced remarks of a northern paper we venture to say that the Premier has gauged public sentiment with his usual accuracy In offering the New Zealand football team a return trip via Canada and America at the colony’s expense. We are prepared to go further and say, looking at the matter from a mere £ s d point of view, that the cost of this complimentary holiday will be a quite disproportionate recompense for the material advantage likely to accrue to the colony as a. result of the interest excited throughout the United Kingdom by the doings of our famous representatives. Thousands of people (at both ends of the world) who take small account of football as a rule have been moved to interest and even excitement by the overwhelming superiority displayed by the Now Zealand hoys in their contests with the pick of the Old World players, and it is only right that the feeling of proud satisfaction which prevails throughout the colony should find such definite and representative expression as is conveyed in Mr Seddon’s offer on behalf of the Government and people. A surly minority may talk about ‘ waste of public money,' but the spirit of the vast majority will respond alertly to the Premier’s suggestion, while the money will be well spent, even looking at the matter in the most prosaic and unsentimental light. Canada and the United States, are not likely to be backward in manifesting interest in the little band of visitors whoso fame has gone out into all lands, and New Zealand is sure to reap some material advantage. Questions regarding the condition and prospects of the colony will be asked end answered. Various information will bo imparted with a due sene© of patriotic responsibility, and in many ways it may bo possible for the team to do service to their distant homo during their passage through the great western continent. One practical suggestion may be offered. Why should not the Government, request the manager of the team to further the interests of the New Zealand International Exhibition by means of interviews, Press notices, or by other suitable means? In this way alone the cost of the return trip might be earned three times over. We close with an expression of hope that our triumphant footballers will thoroughly enjoy the holiday tour which the Premier, in rue name of the people, has offered them, and which in recognition of their wonderful doings they richly deserve.” "■ Calculating on such details as are to hand (says the Wellington “Post”), it seems that, leaving out the French match, New Zealand scored 204 tries, so that of the 829 points 612 are tries, and 217 are goals. It seems, also, that the goals included five penalties (fifteen points) and two pots (eight points), totalling 23 points, deducting which from the 217 goal points leaves, 194 points for converted goals, or 97 converted goals out of 20,4 tries. The figures may be subject to slight correction hereafter. THE TRY-GETTERS.

Gilletl-, Gall alter, Newton, O’Sullivan (all forwards) one each. (Gillett also plays full-back, but scored as a forward.) Twice Hunter scored five tries in a match—once against Oxford and once against Bedford—and twice he got four tries in a match—Hartlepool and Northumberland ; that is, he got nearly half his total tries in four matches. Smith scored four tries in one match —Devon. Three times Abbott scored three tries in a match—Hartlepool, Munster and Cheltenham. Wallace did this twice—Devon and Blackheath. A tally of the goal-kickers credits Wallace with 61 goals—s 7 converted (114 points), 3 penalties (9), one pot (4), or a total of 127 points. Adding his 21 tries (63 points), Wallace contributed 190 to the New Zealanders 529. Others are credited with the following points ;—Gillett, 9 converted goals, 1 penalty goal, 1 potted goal, 25 points; Glasgow. 4 converted, 1 penalty, 11 points; Cuuningharn, 4 converted, 8 points; M’Gregor, Sconverted, 6 points; Harper, 3 converted, 6 points. Only two goals were potted by the New Zealanders throughout the tour. Gillett potted one against Somerset, and the last- act of the official tour was a pot by Wallace which pulled the Swansea match out of the fire. Two goals were potted against New Zealand, by the Devon full-back, Lilliorap, in the first match, and by E. D. Simson, international half, in the Scotland match, _ _ N The thirty-nine points recorded against New, Zealand comprised, besides the two potted goals (8), two penalty goals (6), two converted goals (4), seven

tries (21). It will be admitted that 204 tries., to seven is good going. Of these 1 tries, the English teams Durham aud Midlands scored each one, Scotland scored the third, Wales the fourth, Cardiff two more and Swansea the seventh.

The try-getters are: Hunter , , Wallace , 37 21 Smith , , 18 Deans18 M’Gregor . 15 Roberts, ,' , 13 Abbott , 11 Mynott ' . . - 10 Stead 9 Thomson 8 Seeling (forward) 8 Glasgow (forward) 6 McDonald (forward) 6 Nicholson (forward) 6 Booth 5 Harper 4 Johnston (forward) 3 Tyler (forward) 2