MAORI FOOTBALLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9209, 12 November 1888, Page 3

MAORI FOOTBALLERS.

THEIR ARRIVAL IN LONDON. INCIDENTS EN VOYAGE. THE FIRST MATCH IN ENGLAND. PARTICULARS OF THE PLAY. [from our own correspondent. J London, Ootober 6. The Orient s.s. Cuzco with the team of footballers from New Zealand on board, arrived at Plymouth on Wednesday, September '26th, after a pleasant and uneventful voyage from Melbourne. The team did not leave the ship at Plymouth, but came round to the Docks in her. Tilbury was reached about ten o'clock on Thursday morning, and two hours later the Maoris got their first view of the London streets, from Fenchurch-street station. Owing to the uncertainty which existed as to the time of tho arrival of the Cuzco at the Docks there were only a few persons at the station to meet the team, and most of the Rugby Union officials were conspicuous by their absence. However one or two did put in an appearance, and when the New Zealanders stepped on the platform thev received a hearty welcome from Messrs. F. W. Burnand, one of the Rugby Union Committee, and W. J. Olivey, the honorary secretory of Surrey County Union. To make up for tho absence of Rugby Union officials, there were plenty of inquisitive pressmen who crowded round the manager and captain and fired volleys of questions at them. With some difficulty the luggage of the party —which amounted to a very formidable pile—was collected, and then the team made their way to Broad-street, en route to Richmond. where they had taken quarters at the Greyhound, a very comfortable hotel, within easy distance of the Athletic Association's ground, which was to be the scene of their first match, and where they could practice for the few days betorts that fixture. When the men were safely housed at Richmond, it was possible to got a tew words with them about their journey. The voyage was a very pleasant one, and had been enjoyed by them all, though the want of exercise had made them a bit out of condition. It must not, however, be imagined that they took no exercise whatever, lor the team were up very early each morning, and went in for a run round the decks, while they also had regular spoils at such sports as are to be found on board ship. The amount of physical exertion expended over these amusements did not prove enough for some of the natives, who had a turn in tne stoKe-room to get rid of some of their superfluous energy. The Maoris were very popular with the other passengers ou board the Cuzco, aud no fault could be found with their behaviour, though it is rumoured that in the hot latitudes the captain had to suggest that the costume worn by some of the ingenious Maoris was a trifle too light and airy. The first match of the long list of ~>3 fixtures arranged by the Rugby Union for the .Maoris was against Surrey ou the 3rd ot October, so that the team had none too much time to get into training. They accordingly started practice ou Friday morning, in the presence of a few curious on-lookers, whose chief anxiety was to see whether it was really true that some of the Maoris played without boots. Their curiosity was satisfied, in so far that one or two members ol the team removed their boots betore trying place or drop kicks. The practice was repeated on Saturday, .Monday, and Tuesday, aud on the latter day the headquarters of tne team was shitted to tiie Giendower Hotel, South Kensington. On Wednesday, October 3, the first match of the tour was played at Richmond, the .Maoris being opposed by a fifteen representing Surrey County. Our county organistions are usually able to raise strong teams, though, ot course, they are to a certain extent scratch fifteens, as the men do not often have an opportunity of playing together. This was the case with the .Surrey team on Wednesday, which included several players who are quite in the front rank. Jueake, the Cambridge University half-back, who played for Surrey, is one of the best men in England in that position, and Dew hurst, who also helped his county, has often figured on the English side in international fixtures. The Surrey executive made even effort to gut their best team, and succeeded in putting a very good fifteen into the field. A very great amount of interest was felt in the match, aud in spite ot it being a Wednesday afternoon there was a big crowd of footballers at Waterloo .Station when I reached there on my way to Kieh mood. At the ground itself there was a larger attendance than has ever been seen there before, aud it is estimated that no fewer than MX) persons watched the match. Ol these a large proportion were ladies, in fact 1 have never seen so large a gatheriug of the fair sex at a football match before. The Surrey men were first on the field, but the> were soon followed by the .Maoris, who walked on to the ground with their mats over their shoulders. The Surrey men gave their opponents three hearty cheers, in which the spectators joined. The New Zealanders soon gut rid of tl eir mats and the opposing teams lined up across the ground. Xhcir names ave as follows :—

Surrey.--Fullback: F, B. Hannou (Harlequin). Three-quarterbacks: A. B. Whitehead (Old Leysians), C Jordan (Guy's Hospital), and 0. J. Prime (Guy's Hospital). llalt-Dacks: W. R. M. Leake (Cumbridgi University and J. H. Bryant (Guy's Hospital). Forwards : R. Alport (Clapham Rovers). IN. F. Henderson (London Seottish), A. Allport (Guy's Hospital), W. P. Carpmael (Blackheadi, captain), J. 11. Dewhurst (Richiiioud), T. A. M. Fordo (St. Thomas's Hospital), J. Gould (Old Leysians), T. W. Lambert (St. Thomas's Hospital), C. C. Moxon (St. Thomas's Hospital). Maoris.—Fullbacks : W. Warbrick. Three-quarter-backs : D. Gage, E. McCausland captain), and C. Madigan. Halfbacks: J. Keogh, C. Goldsmith, and \V. Elliott. Forwards: T. Ellison, w. Wynyard, R. Maynard, \V. Anderson, H. Lee, A. Webster, It. Taiaroa, and \V. Karauria.

Surrey having won the toss Keogh kicked ofi' for the New Zealanders, and the ball being badly returned the first scrummage was formed in the Surrey half. The New Zealanders penned their opponents at first, and compelled Surrey to touch - down. The Maoris continued to hold the upper hand, and McCausland had two drops at goal, both of which were ineffectual. Surrey now played up splendidly, their outside men putting in some splendid work, Leake and Prime being specially conspicuous. \V. Warbrick at back, however, put in some fine punts, and gave his side a chance of scoring. Jveogh got well away with the ball, but passed forward, and so threw away the opportunity. The Surrey forwards now had a look in.andaf ter some fine passingamqng them wlucli carried their bail into tiie New Zealanders 25, Dewhurst threw out to Whitehead, who got round his opponents, and scored a try close to the corner. The placekick was entrusted to Gould, who made a miserable failure. Half-time was now called, with the score one try to Surrey. Carpmael kicked off for Surrey, and sent the ball clean over the cross-bar, with the result that Warbrick touched down. The New Zealanders now played with great determination, and their forwards carried all before them. A fine dribble by Lee and Ellison carried the ball over the Surrey line, and Goldsmith falling on the ball gained a try, from which McCausland kicked an easy goal. Elated by their success the Maoris played finely and had much the best of the game. Elliott ran the ball right up to the Surrey line, where Hannen s kick was charged down, and Ellison secured a try. The place kick was much easier this time than the previous one, but McCausland failed to convert the try into a goal. From now to the end both sides played vigorously, though the Surrey men were decidedly out of condition. Prime very nearly scored for them, as he crossed the line, but was pushed into touch in goal. A few minutes later Gage missed a chance of scoring by muffing a pass from Wynyard. Shortly after this the whistle blew, and the game was over, the New Zealanders retiring from the field victorious by a goal and a try to a try. The spectators cheered the winners very heartily. Of course it is too early vec to venture upon a thorough criticism of the team, but still a few remarks on the play in the opening match may be interesting. The game was won by the forwards, although there were only eight New Zealanders in the scrum against nine Surrey men, the former repeatedly carried the tight scrummages. 'In the loose, too, they played splendidly, Ellison and Wynyard especially being conspicuous for their fine dribbling. The 'outside men were rather disappointing as regards juice, but their tackling was good, and their long punts were very valuable. .Wednesday's match has left a very favourable impression on tnose who saw it, and the general opinion is that with a little more practice the New Zealanders will render a very good account of themselves.