MATCH v. IRELAND, Saturday, November 25th, 1905.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 290, 20 January 1906, Page 15

MATCH v. IRELAND, Saturday, November 25th, 1905.

There was a good deal of ram during the night, but the ground was in excellent order, with no wind. In consequence of the limited space and! excessive demand' all tickets had been dasposed of beforehand, and no money was taken at the gates. Amongst those present was the Chief Secretary. The team got a great reception from the Irish crowd. The said crowd, it may be remarked here, were exceedingly good-humoured, and behaved 1 in a most sportsmanlike manner. New Zealand team: Full, Wallace; three-quarters, Smith Deans, Mynott; five-eighths, Hunter and Stead- halt, Roberts; forwards, Casey, Tyler, oullivan, Cunnincham, Glasgow, Seeling, Macdonald, Gillett. Referee: Mr. Crawford Findlay, Scotland. Gallaher was unable to play, owing to a kick received) in the bcoT.cn match. With one exception, the Irish team was composed of last year's internationals. Ireland won the toss, and NewZealand kicked! off, play immediately becoming fast and exciting. Jtay in 8 the first few minutes New Zealand

opened up seveial attacking movements which were frustrated by good tackling, and on one occasion Hunter slippeu and fell when he appeared to have a try at his mercy. During the following twenty minutes Ireland had, if anything, the better of the argument, and by means of a series of briliant forward rushes, backed up by long and 1 accurate lme kicking by the backs, thoroughly tested the defence of the All Blacks. The said defence was, however, equal to the demands made upon it, backs and forwards alike going down to the rushes in most fearless fashion, and tackling, fielding, and taking like cherubs. In such strenuous fashion half-an-hour elapsed, every moment bem,g full of excitement, and then, from a uneout outside Ireland's twenty-five, a beautiful passing movement, initiated by Gillett. and participated in by Roberts, Hunter, and Deans, completely broke down the defence, Deans scoring between the posts. Wallace made no mistake with the kick, and shortly afterwards half-time was called, with the score 5 to nil. T!-e second half opened with New Zealand attacking, and in the- first few minutes a passing run ended in Deans scoring his second try, Wallace again converting.

Thioughout this team, the run of play was in the All Blacks' favour, out the margin was not a large one, and they were compelled! to strain every nerve in order to maintain the advantage. Onoe Smith crossed the line, having snapped the bah from a hne-out, but, in attempting to get round behind the posts, was tackled, and lost the ball, a force-down resulting. The final score cam© from a loose scium on the Ir^sh line, Macdlonald picking up and crossing in a good position. It was a most exciting and exhilarating exhibition of football. Ireland relied almost entirely upon their forwards for attack, and what a brilliant set they were. Fast, fearless, and dashing, their headlong rushes down the field were of a character to stir the blood of the most phlegmatic. Little wonder then that the excitable Irishmen around the field were worked up to a state of almost delirious enthusiasm as rush suoceedied rush. Headlong as -were these omanes, however, there was nothing haphazard about them. There were always four or five, or more, participants, and the ball was, kept so close and foot-passed so cleverly, that only an exceptionally clever and fearless defence could have hoped to cope with it. I, personally, have seen nothing quite so good of its kind for many yearn ; ai tact, not since the "'Bo 's," when a similar classi of forward play was common m New Zealand. Behind the scrum, the Irishmen's best features were good' line-kickniig and sturdy tackling. In attack, they lacked finish, and rarely, u ever, did they give an impression of danger. Maclear made several strong individual dashes, but rarely got far. He is a very fine stamp of player — strong and fait — an ideal wing three-quarter in a clever team. Park, the other centre three-quarter, kicked very finely, as did also the the full-back, Landers. Ireland played a "7" pack, and! Wallace, who filled 1 the position of extra half, or winger, was very prominent. It us sufficient to say for New Zealand that they proved themselves a magnificent combination, each component unit in his allotted place contributing his full quota to the result. The forwards were veiy solid. Generally speaking, they held the advantage in the "tight," and not infrequently, especially in the second half, proved to the latter that the. Irishmen held no monopoly in the matter of fast dribbling rushes. The game was played in a most sportsmanlike fashion throughout. It was keen, vigorous, but clean football, and without a particle of vice or a sign of ill-temper on either side. The scores were got as follows 1 . — 1, line-out, Gillett, Roberts, Hunter, Deans try, Wallace goaled, 5 points: 2, scrum, Roberts, Stead, Hunter. Deans try, Wallace goaled, 5; 3, loose scrum on Irish line, Maodonald try, Wallace goaled, 5; total, 15 points. In the evening, the two teams were entertained at dinner by the Irish Union, the Irish president occupying the chair, -whilst amongst others present was Judge Barton, the cousin of Lord Plunket. Left for Limerick after lunch on Monday, and on arrival were met by a big crowd', who cheered (Irish fashion and a very weird fashion, too) again and again.