ATHLETIC NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12328, 21 July 1903, Page 6

ATHLETIC NOTES.

THE NEW ZEALAND. FOOTBALL

PRESS OPINIONS.

INFINITELY .SUPERIOR, TO NEW " ;■■ 'SOUTH WALES,. By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright. SirtXET, July 20., The "official figures show that 32,009 people were present"; at Saturday's i match, a record attendance for football in New South Wales.

The New Zealanders were /aggressive all through, although < in the seeond half their dash; seemed to Hag, due possibly to the fact that they were not yet in the* best of condition. Their back play was'infinitely superior to that displayed by the local men. in the first half/the quickness of the New Zealand forward;? in dribbling rushes was noticeable. • Cooke, Asher, Kiernan, ■ Gallaher, Wood and Wallace played finely. _ Duncan (the- New Zealand captain) thinks that with more combination the team would be capable of inflicting a severer .defeat.; He is not altogether satisfied with the scrumming organisation of- the team..: . " • Manning (the local, captain) states that so far as he could see the game was played in a very fair : spirit. on the whole.; In * the second spell, When tho local men were pressing on the New Zealand goal-line, the play was a bit rough, but. one side ] was as much to blame as the other. The victory, in his opinion, was due largely to the quickness of, the backs, and to the accurate/ passing and handling of the ball in- their passing rushes. ; The Herald'» says that the exhibition, ?;. of Rugby, as shown by the visitors was of a very •high standard. .-:/. On Saturday's play the New Zealandcrs are undoubtedly in a position to show the, home team a, good many points in legitimate football, / but some of the visitors indulged in work of an objectionable character, such as tackling and throwing when there was no necessity . ; at/; all for/ it. ~ The • game was a hard one all through, but a good deal of desperation was introduced which was quite outside the requirements of ; this line of Sport." ■ '/'> • ';" >V, ":;.,■, "-■'■', '.*./.;. i - ? '.'";'.'

The Telegraph, while apportioning most blame for any roughness to the New Zealanders, says it may at once be said that the Now South Wales men were outplayed, and that this was the case both back and forward. (Received; July 20, 11.35 p.m.) -.-•' Sydnkt, July 20. ...-.-'The Rugby - Union have received the report of the referee as to Cooke > being ordered off the field on Saturday. It was decided to hold an inquiry on Friday evening. Cooke "and others interested have asked to give evidence. (Received July 21, 1.12 a.m.) \ ■;■"-•, Sydney, July 20. : The New Zealanders were warmly welcorned at.Babhurst to-day. Mr. Norris, the manager, in responding to the toast of the team, said the intention was to win \ everything, if possible, but in doing this to carry out the game in a sportsmanlike spirit. In view of what happened,' it might be necessary to draw attention to the fact that members of 4 the team were not only men of good physique, but of fleet foot;' and necessarily play ■ must; be hard v and fast," and if: they came against ,; anything there ; would be ; a bump. However, there would be nothing unsportsmanlike. In the evening the visitors were entertained at a smoke concert. •

The following team has been chosen to represent the ', combined , Western ".Unions against the New Zealanders in Wednesday's match: Fullback, Kinghorn; threequarters, Hughes, Clayton, N. Hives, and: Sproule; halves, -.": Aniexark and McKival; forwards,: Gardiner, McCrymont, Moir, Wright; White, Green, ': Crago, and 1 Ross. ! Emergencies: Back, Dawson forward, MoFadden. .

ROTORUA UNION MATCHES. [BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] Rotortja, Monday. The second scries of matches in the third round of the cup matches under the local Rugby Union were played on Saturday. '; City met Kahukura, and it was a great game.' Good play was shown, on both sides, and it was fast and exciting. i There was no score, the match ending in a ; draw. .This result gives the championship to Kahukura, who have gone • ' through . .-■ without defeat, > City being second and Waikite third. *