FOOTBALL.

North Otago Times, 24 October 1905, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Dy Electric Telegraph-Copyrlg!it< Psr Press Association^ liecoived Oct. 23, at 11.8 p.ni; Sydney,. Oct, 23. To-day's ftiglish mail brings press comments on the first two football matches. Of tho Devon match the Daily Hail suys • " The Now Zcalanders' dash and fire , reminded one of the best Irish tennis, while their in and out, passing and badiing up was in the best Welsh style. The Daily Express snys \ " Apart Iroui their wing forwards there was littlo o! nothing in the play ol tho New Zeivlanders to which tho purist could take exception. The forwards packed the littlo Welshmen, and in' the iooso and lino out wcro quite up to Irish standard. Their dash was immense,- and in only one respect wcro they at all disappointing.- They broke up rather slowly, tackling none 100 sure.'- 1 The Daily Chronicle fays: " Devon, to put the matter mildly, completely lost their, heads and hearts. They displayed neither pluck nor resource. In popular language they simply lay down, and let tho Nuw '/(inlanders walk ovor them." Com-' inenliiig on tho wing forward, tho writer says: "Ho is such an irritating person, and plays such a decidedly unlawful garno from our point of view that his prudence in wearing shin guaids may be commended. The winger showed a iiuc system. Of certain sections, rule 11, if it'had met its deserts, would have been penalised into inrtlcctivciicss. For the rest the New Heahinders are splendid side forwards, liavo robust dashing methods in tho loose, and pack splendidly, and tho backs are all fast and clever. A pleasing foat'uro was tho strong individuality of tho backs in running.'! Heferring to tho Cornwall match tho Mail says: " The success was due to tactics, as intelligent a s i'hoy are original, and were superior in overy way to anything witnessed in English football, backed up as they are liy runn ng, passing, and kicking oi the highest class. It is indeed difficult to say what Brit sh team will check their victorious career. As a factor in tho attacking abilities of the team the wing forward is of undoubted value, if only -for the fact th a t he is an extra man owtsjdo tho scram. To this and their admirable wedge formation iu a largo measure success was due."-