FOOTBALL.

Nelson Evening Mail, 24 August 1905, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

AUSTRALIA V. NELSON COMBINED. WIN FOR THE HOME TEAM. The long-looked for match with, tho Australians is at la*t «. thing of the past, amd Nolson is now boiling over with enthusiasm over tbe victory of the home team, wbo after a hard tussle with the visitors, won the match by tho handsome I margin of 12 points to 3. That the Better team won there is not tho slightest, doubt, and they are to bo congratulated upon the excollent* manner in which tbey play eid the game. A fresh southerly toreeae swept down tho field, whioh was m rattling condition, and was aa m favour of good play. Tbe attendance was large, numbering something like 2000, and the spectators were very enthusiastic and generally impartial. Tho Rugby Union axe to be congratulated upon the excellent manner in whioh they carried out the arrangements of'the imatch, and overyono seemed to have a good view of the 'ground, the people being kept right back 'behind the rails, ♦ » * * Although the visitors wero beaten by I*2 points to 3 and did not cross the Nelson line, better things may be looked for from them as the tour advance****.. Playing with tbe wind in the first spell, the Australians gave the combined team any amount of defensive work, and they • were dangerously closo to the line on several occasions. But their play was not what was looked for or expected, and Nelson did remarkably well to put up such a creditable showing against such a strong wind, » » » » Playing with the wind in tha second spell (which had dropped considerably during tjje interval) Nelson soon put all doubts at rest as to who would win. The Australian forwards are a likely lot, and invariably secured the ball from the scrum, but the wingers on the home side spoilt a lot of good passing. Tho backs played pretty weU the same game as *they played previously in New Zealand., but they* havo adopted the centre kick, which' was woriVed with such good effect in Australia last season iby tbe English team. The visitors sbowedi some good tackling at times, and on tho whola handled the ball more cleverer than their opponents. Tho scrum half scooped the ball away from tho strum from almost impossible positions, and away it went to the five-eighths to centre and back without variation. The passing* at times was pretty, but it was not at all effective, there being too much running across and no straight running. The backs at times passed recklessly, and when in a corner threw the ball away and trusted to luck. The Nelson Marlborough, Buller, and West Coast team played a fine game, and the place-kicking of O'Brien was ft feature of the game, especially so the last goal.