THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL TEAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9254, 7 January 1889, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL TEAM.

[from our own correspondent.] London, December 1. Since the departure of the last mail the footballers have bad a very busy time, playing seven matches within eleven days. They have been wonderfully successful, winning all of these fixtures except one. Their exertions, however, have told severely on the team, and no fewer than ten out of the twenty-five players are on the injured list. The teair has suffered at tremendous loss in the porsor of Madigan who sprained his ankle in tin match against East Cumberland. At first ii was feared that his ankle was broken, but ii turns out that the injury is a severe sprain which will prevent Madigan's appearance ii the field for the rest of ttie tour. This, as J have said, is a very severe loss, for Madigai has played splendidly, and was regarded ai the best three-quarter of the team. Accord ing to one of the sporting papers the New Zealanders are complaining of the rough plaj in the North, to which their long list ol injured is attributed. On the other hand there are rumours abroad, which seem not unfounded, hinting that the Maori's are not "more sinned against than sinning"in this respect. The record of matches now stands as lollows :—23 played, 15 won, 7 lost, and ] drawn. The Maoris have now scored 31 goals and 3.5 tries against their opponents' 10 goals and 17 tries. The seventeenth match of the tour wae played on Saturday. November 17, against the County of Cumberland. The scene of the encounter was at Maryport, where 400 C spectators assembled. The game was played in a torriiic gale, of which the New Zealanders had the advantage in ths first half. At the start Cumberland played off well against the wind, and scored a try. The Maoris responded to this with a goal, placed by Williams from a try by Keogh. Play wag even up to half-time, eacii side adding a trj to the score, the point for the Maoris being obtained by Ellison. In the second half the Maoris had matters all their own way, and Keogh, Maynard, Madigan, and Ellisor, scored tries in rapid succession. Only one oi these was converted into a goal, and Cumberland failing to aid to their score, the New Zealanders retired victorious by 2 goals and 4 tries to 2 tries. The following were the teums :— New Zealand.—W. Warbrick (back), W. \Yynyard, D. Gage, and B. Madigan (threequarterbacks), P. Keogh, F. Warbrick, and iaare (halfbacks), J. Ellison, A. Webster. G. Williams, li, Maynard, W. Anderson, Wi Karauria, R. Taiaroa, and Alf. Warbrick. Cumberland. — Lee (Bramptoii), back; Sutton (Whitehaven), Dove (Milloin), and Selkirk (Egreniont), threequarterbacks) ; Stamper (Egremont) and Murchie (Workington), halfbacks; Shimmins (Egremont; Wright (Whitehaven), Jones (Whitehaven), Mumberson (Aspatria), Cowen (Aspatria), Lewthwaite (Maryport), Smith (Maryport), Leek (Millom), and Buckett (Millom). On the following Tuesday the New *Zealanders met Carlisle on the town grounds in the presence of about 2000 spectators. The weather was fearful, sleet driving across the ground before a furious gale, while at one end the field was under water. Under these circumstances accurate play was out of the question, but the Maoris showed up very well, and in the lirst half, playing against the wind, they put on a goal and a try, while the home team failed to score. On changing over the colonials quite outmatched their opponents, and scored try after try. The weather grew so bitterly cold that seven of the Carlisle men retired before the finish, and their example was followed by several of the Maoris. During the last quarter of an hour there were only about 16 players on the field, and when time was called the Maoris were returned the winners by 2 goals and 8 tries to nil. The first match in Scotland, and the only one, as at present arranged, was played on Thursday, November 22, at Ha wick, against the local team. The weather was still wet and stormy, but the Borderers are very keen footballers, and about 5000 persons paid gatemoney. The home team won the toss, and played in the first half with a strong wind in their favour. They forced the Maoris to touch down twice in a few minutes, and soon afterwards one of their forwards scored a try, which was not improved upon. They continued to hold the upper hand, but nothing further was scored when half-time was called Crossing over, the Maoris had the benefit of the wind, and in turn pressed their opponont i S \ g°t a try right behind the posts, and McCausland placed a goal, which proved to be the winning point. The game was splendidly contested to the end, but neither side could improve its position, and the Maoris won by a goal to a try. Teams :— New Zealandkrs.—W. Warbrick (back), D. Gage, E. McCausland, and W. Wynyard (three-quarter F. Warbrick, C. Keogh, and Elliott (halfbacks). Ellison, Anderson, Webster, G. Williams, Stewart, Taiaroa. Karauria, and A. Warbrick (forwards). Hαwick.—Ruddle (back), Wade, Jackson, and Amos (threequarter backs), Laing and Boyd (halfbacks), Scott, Hogg, Gibson, Jardine, Waldie, W. Wilson, Crozier, E. Wilson, and Burnett (forwards). After the match the colonials were entertained at dinner by the Hawick Football Club, and a very pleasant evening was spent. An extra match was played on Friday November 23rd, against East Cumberland, at Carlisle. The home team were not particularly strong, and the Maoris had little trouble in winning by 3 goals and 3 tries to nil. It was in this match that Madigan met with the accident referred to above - *?-,-. — runninp— J "—*™ """ M ""n ™ touch-line, ~mm he was tackled by an opponent, the pair falling heavily into touch. The Cumberland man fell on one of Madigan's legs, iuid sprained the ankle so severely that the crack threequarter is hardly likely to make his appearance in the field again during the tour. On the following day, Saturday, November 24, the Maoris played the County of Weistmoroland, at Kendal, in the presence of 3000 spectators. The weather was very stormy — a strong wind blowing right down the ground, which the recent rain had turned into a quagmire. The Maoris started with the wind in their favour, but the home team were the first to score, Walker, their captain, obtaining a try after a brilliant run. Walker took the place-kick himself, but was unsuccessful. Just before half-time McCausland got the ball at the centre, and dropped a splendid goal, thus giving the New Zealanders the lead. The second half of the game was splendidly contested, but neither side could add to the score, and the Maoris were winners by a goal to a try. On the 26th the Maoris made their first appearance in Lancashire, at Swinton. They played the local team, one of the very best clubs in the county, and about 10,000 people turned out to welcome them. The New Zealanders, unfortunately, could not put anything like their best team in the field, as the hard work of the previous week had rendered several of them hors de combat. As it was one or two who turned out to play at Swinton would have been all the better for a rest. The game throughout was of a very even character, but the Swintonians succeeded in scoring a try in each half, while the Maoris were unable to gain a point, and were thus beaten by two tries to nil. Valentine, who is probably the best threequarterback in Lancashire, was responsible for both the tries for Swinton, and Paul failed at botli place-kicks. The follow ing were the teams : — Swinton.—Paul (back), Roberts, Valentine, and Plumpton (threequarterbacks), Mills and Bumby (halfbacks), Hotchkiss, Clayton, Coulthwaite, Kenyon, Rothwell, Pollit, Marsh, Walker and Hallam Maoris. —W. Warbrick (back), Gage, Wynyard, and l<. Warbrick (threequarterbacks), Elliott, A. Warbrick, and KeoEh (halfbacks), Webster, Taiaroa, Stuart, Ellison, Anderson, Kairauria, Rennie, and Goldsmith. In order to let the team have a rest before the Ireland match, which is to be played to-day, it was not intended to arrange any fixture for the middle of this week, but at the last moment the managers decided to play Liverpool and district on Wednesday. The Liverpool team can only be described as scratchy, and the Maoris 15 was about the weakest they have yet put in the field. The ground was in a fearfully sloppy condicion.and quite spoilt any hopes of a good game. As it was the colonials, alter the first few minutes, had till the best of the game, and scored one genii and six tries, while their opponents tailed to gain a point.