FOOTBALL.

Nelson Evening Mail, 24 August 1905, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

(Continued from pa-g-e 2.-*) For the local team O'Brien, at full-b*ck, played a magnificpnt giame, his taking of the ball, kick-; tng, aiid collaring t*eing all that could be desired. McPike played a dashing game, his taokling and kicking being oxcellent. Dansey played a good, Hale game, hits line kicking iwd t,ajckling hieing excellent. Park was decidedly off. Smith d"UI a iot of hard work, but not getting the ball from the scrum he diid not have an opportunity of showing what he really could do. McEally, at half, was very poor, and did not come up to expectations. Boon and Learmout, the wings, played well throughout tne game, botih men doing a lot of good work. We have hot seen Boon to Iptter advantage, and he Sully justified his inclusion. Of a dashing lot of forwards bhe best were Glover, Macdon-ald, Denoehy, and MtcCullocli^ • * # # The visitors' back division Is very weak, nnd did not como up to expeectations. Woods, the scrum half, played a fine game, and Anlezark at five-eighths also played well. Wickliam and McLean weie the pick of the threequarters. Of the forwards S wound and Oxla-dc did a tremendous lot of hard work. Both teams, as guests of the Unions interested, dined together at tho Ajasonig," CHoitel last evening, the JMayor, Mr H. Baigent, being present. There were also a number of Rugtby TJntton officials present. The toast of tite King having l*fcen honoured, Mr Bai,gont propoiScd the toast of the Australian team. He was well pleased with the giame and congratulated the visitors for the good spirit shown throvigih'O'ut the game, and he also regret'voj thiat tlhe stay wtas so short in Nelson. He also trusted that t-hey would come again. Mr Henderson, manager of tho Australian team, thanSod them for the manner in whicli the uoast had been drunk, and he could only say that the team had been fairly and squarely b'aaten, and were greatly surprised at fhe strength of their opponents. He said that he was •akoj^aliber against winig forward play, and he contended tihat to make the giame fast and open wing forwards should be discarded. Tttiey had dontJ so in Australia, and they found the public appreciated the change. On bdhalf of tho team he acklnow lodged the hospitality of the local Union and the Mayor. Mr Wickham, the captain, endorsed all that tne manager had said, and added that they had Oix-n led to 'Ix-li-ove before leaving Wellio-gton that tlhey had a "soft thin-*"" on in Neleon. But he was satisfied now that it was not a "soft thing." HJe proposed tho toast of the Nelson Rugby Union. Mr Smith responded. The. president of the Nelson Kugby Union, Mr E. Cresswell, on behalf of tho combined Unions inforested, proposed the New Zealand Union. Mr Weir responded, and said that the Australians on thejr to,ur would meet wqakur te;j(ms than they had met that day. Mr Ooff"y also spoke. Mr Stephenson, secretary of the local Union, spoke of the financial success of the undertaking, and said that thc Union had had an anxious tlmt, 1 in armnig-ing for this visit. Mr Judd proposed the health of the Mayor, and thc latter responded. The gathering was brought to a close shortly after ten o'clock.