MATCH v. BEDFORD, Wednesday, November 15th.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 289, 13 January 1906, Page 15

MATCH v. BEDFORD, Wednesday, November 15th.

New Zealand team Full, Gillett: thxee-quartei s, McGregor, Deans. Harper ; five-eighths, Mynott, Hunter , half, Roberts; forwards, Casey, Tyler, Corbett, Newton, Nicholson, Macdonald, Seeling, Gallaher. Refetree, Mr. F. W. Nicholls, Leicester. The Bedford team for this match included B. Maclear, the Irish International, who played against us for Blackheatn- also, H. J. Andertson, another Irish International, and five other players from Northampton and three from Gloucester — a fairly mixed side for a club team. The weather was showery all the morning, and' we had a hailstorm just prior to commencing play. The limited accommodation of the ground was nevertheless taxed! to tihe uttermost, the Duke of Manchester and' party beting amongst those present.

The ball and ground were alike greasy, but, despite these drawbacks, an unexpectedly brilliant exposition of football was given by the New Zealanders, some of the passing bouts excelling anything previously seen duong the tour. The score at half-time was four tries (one converted), and at the finish four goals, one goal from a mark, and six tries- — 41 points to nil. The scores were got as follows . — 1. from line-out, Roberts high-kicked across to McGregor, on latter being tajckled Hunter dribbled over, try, Harper failed. 3 points 1 ; 2, scrum, Roberts, Mynott, Hunter try, Harper failed, 3; 3, from loose, Roberts try, McGregor failed, 3; 4, from scrum, Gallaher, Seeling try Gillett goaled, 5; 5. sorum, Roberts, Hunter, Deans try. Gillett failed, 3 : 6, dribbling rush, McDonaild try, Gillett failed, 3; 7, from mark by Speling:, Giilett goaled, 4, 8, line-out, Nicholson, Hunter, Deam=. McGregor try, Gillett goaled, 5 ; 9. scrum, Roberts, Mynott, Hunter. Deans, McGregor, Hunter try, Tyler goaled, 5 10, scrum, Roberts, Mvnotfc. Deans, Harper, Hunter try, Gillett failed, 3; 11, scirum, Roberts, Mynott. Harper, Deans, Hunter, Mynott try. Tyler goaled, 5; total, 41 points. Just prior to the last score occurred the most brilliant bit of passing of the tour. From the kick-out by Bedford, Roberts secured, and passed to Hunter to Roberta, to Hunter again, and then through a number of hands, several forwards participatimo;, to Harper, who was bumped out of bounds within a yard of the comer flag. A glance at the list of scores previously given will indicate the character of the work throughout the game, and will also indicate in a measure the fine work done by the forwards, who, one and all, played very finely in this match. Both in the tight and loose they fairly excelled themselves. Of the opposition, B. Maclear was the mast prominent. He tackled finely, and was responsible for a number of fine dashes, but behind a beaten pack got few opportunities. Mr. Nioholls refereed the game exceedingly well, being very prompt amd accurate in his decisions. On the next day (Thursday) we had a long day in tlhe train, arriving at Edinburgh a little after 6 p.m. We we>re met at the station by a crowd of New Zealand and Australian students, who accorded us a great reception. Friday, a cold, foggy day, was spent quietly, in anticipation of our first international, on tlhe morrow. There was a very sharp frost during the night, and on Saturday morning everything was white, no sun to be seen, and the outlook altogether being very unpromising. About 12 o'clock, in response to an urgent message, the captain and manager drove out to inspect the ground, it being thought by the> authorities there was a possibility of being unable to play. They found the surface frozen, but, as the sun had come out in the meantime, it was decided to go on with the match.