THE NEW ZEALAND RUGBY TEAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12932, 31 July 1905, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND RUGBY TEAM.

MATCH AGAINST WELLINGTON

TOURING COMBINATION BEATEN

THREE POINTS TO NIL.

A' SCRAMBLE'' IN THE MUD.

[HI TKLXuiui'H.— PRKSS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Saturday. The New Zealand Rugby football team for England met their first defeat to-day, being beaten 3 points to nil by a side representing the.'whole of the Wellington province. The o-amo was played on a ground sodden with water, and although the. ultimate difference was only three points, yot the chosen players of New Zealand made so poor a showing as to give cause for grave alarm as to what may happen to them if they meet some of the strong Home teams on wet turf. They screwed the scrum at times with success, but did not seem to carry the ball with them, and in loose play the forwards were quite overmatched* It is true that the conditions wore entirely against good play, but still a picked team should at least hold its own under any conditions against a provincial fifteen. When they played with the wind they allowed a try to be scored against them, and had to defend desperately to prevent a more severe defeat. In this game Abbott, who has gained a great reputation in club football, made his first appearance. It was asking a great deal of a man to shine under the circumstances, but he displayed a great turn of foot, and once came very near scoring. There was little scope for back play, but some excellent kicking was done, especially by the Wellington men. The local forwards played a' great game, smashing up their opponents again and again, and driving clean through thorn. Watkins was especially brilliant, and was easily the best forward on the ground to-day. . His following up on the boggy turf was remarkable. Notwithstanding thu miserable weather, there, was a capital attendance, about 4000 being present. At the time for beginning the game a (hick rain was drifting up the ground before a. cold southerly breeze, and in this' the crowd were kept waiting for hall'-an-hour. No one had thought of bringing a ball, and whim one wan obtained it proved to be useless, and there Was a further wait, so that it was nearly half-past three o'clock before the bail was kicked off. By this time the rain had cleared, and no more fell, but the ground was in a hopeless stale, water-squelching up at every .step, and pools and patches of mud being, scattered here and there. As the New Zealand team wore black, the Wellington men turned out in white, hut at the end there was not much difference in tho' colours. One result of the delay was that tho game had to lie confined to 35-minut.e spells. New Zealand won the toss, and Wellington kicked off against the wind. The ball at once became sodden and difficult to handle, and in a few minutes most of the men had their clothes so laden with mud 1 Unit their movements were considerably impeded. The play does not lend itself to much description. It was mostly a series of scrambles and scrummages over a slippery, heavy ball, that could neither be kicked, dribbled, nor held with any certainty. Occasionally a back got in a useful kick,, if he had plenty of time, and then the scramble was renewed, and the ball disappeared into touch or was forced over the line. At first (hero was some loose play near the New Zealand line, 'from whence a long kick removed it, and Gillett had a shot at. goal from a penalty kick without avail. Wellington were forced down, but retaliated l with a fine rush, and took the ball to the full- , back, Gillett, who handled it with encouraging coolness.. Some free kicks and scrums 1 followed in the centre, from, one of which j the spectators were afforded much amuse- J ment by seeing a Wellington man hurled full length on his face through a mud pool, lie went in white and rose parti-coloured. In Wellington's 25 the New Zealand backs started a passing rush, but were foiled by Spackman,. and the next moment the position was reversed. Thompson, attempting a run, was finely collared by Watkins, and "M they happened to choose one of the mud holes for their meeting, the crowd obtained further'amusement at their expense. The white forwards took possession for a while, and, chiefly through the fine following up by Watkins, pinned the blacks in their own 25. Then followed a period of wild and aimless, rushing and dodging backwards and forwards, this and that man grabbing fruitlessly at the ball. Dodd, Watkins, and J. Spencer ultimately burst through with it, and fell over tho line together, the last-named securing a try, amid hearty applause. G. Spencer tookthe kick at; goal, but tho distance was too great: Wellington 3, New Zealand nil. After a free kick to Wellington, Abbott was seen sprinting at a. great pace down the side of the, ground, but he was thrown out at tho corner. Several more free kicks, from which nothing came, were awarded tho whites, and the. spell ended without further score.

Wellington 3 New Zealand 0 On resuming Abbott got underway again till stopped by Furric, and then the Wellington men rushed through to Now Zealand's quarters. G. Smith got the ball in front of the goal, and saved tho situation with a neat kick. Tho Wellington forwards continued to worry their opponents, and when the latter did put on a spurt, a piece of offside play stopped them. With the help of a free kick they at last worked their way into Wellington's quarters, where Seeling picked up the ball and made a strong dash, but just as he was about to score elected to pass to Wriglcy, who, with a powerful kick, sent the ball,up the ground. It was brought hack, but New Zealand made nothing of their advantage, and 1 this was about the last time they ever looked like scoring. Afterwards the game was always in the centre of the ground or near the Now Zealand line. Keeping together well the whites got on a fino rush, charged Gillctt's kick, and nearly got over. Immediately afterwards G. Spencer, tho Wellington fullback, who was close up, kicked at goal, and just missed. This was'a really fine attempt, and, was. warmly recognised. O'Leary also got in another good kick, New Zealand being forced altogether three times in succession. Roberts made an opening for New Zealand, but was mot backed up closely, and while looking for someone to pass to was collared. The game •was mostly in the centre at this stage, and though the end' was rapidly approaching the New Zealand men did not give the impression that they were greatly exerting themselves. The difficulties of the ground might have been responsible for this, but their general style was not what was to be looked for in a New Zealand team, and presently they had difficulties of another kind to contend 'with. Wellington, playing compactly and with renewed vim, burst through themagain and again, New Zealand was a beaten team, and from this onward they were busy trying to prevent further score, without thinking of acting on the aggressive themselves. There is no disguising the fact that the selected forwards are at present far from being the forwards who so magnificently overpowered the Englishmen on the same ground last season. The whites repeatedly charged down to their lino, and the ball crossed it several times. Wellington looked good for another score at any moment, but New Zealand managed to save this stigma, and to confine the total to that already given.

Wellington 3 New Zealand ■ „. 0 NOTES ON THE PLAY. [J)V- mKGBAI'H.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Sunday. The wind and rain and mud in which the New Zealand representative football ' team played its final match against a Wellington provincial fifteen on Saturday before embarking on its long voyage on the Rimtttaka for Home called to mind a similarly unkind meteorological benediction' that was poured upon a representative team visiting Australia a few years back. The elements were just about as unkind as they possibly could have been, and the ground was thoroughly soaked, so much so that the game resolved itself into a hotly-contested mud scramble. The result could not be taken as indicative of the relative merits of the team, I and the fact that the picked men of the colony were beaten by three points by the provincials need not occasion any undue concern about the chances of the losers at Home. Wellington went out to win, and the crowd barracked vigorously and consistently for the province. The Wellington for- ! wards got the best of the internationals in ' tho • scrum at first; the latter, in fact, had j a difficulty in holding their own throughout, ! and the provincials were right on top when ! "Time" sounded. The backs got few! chances, Smith and Wrigley being the most conspicuous of the rear-rank men. Rain fell almost without intermission during the first spell, but there was a slight improve- '' ment in the second. j

SMOKE CONCERT TO THE TEAM. [by telegraph.— association.] ; Wellington, Sunday. The farewell smoke concert to the New Zealand football team on the eve of their departure for the Old Country was held in the concert room of tho Town Hall last night. .The attendance was only moderate, and did not by any means come up to expectations. Mr. G. F. C. Campbell, vicepresident of ,the New Zealand Union, was in tho chair, and was supported by the Premier (Mr. Seddon), Sir Joseph Ward,' Messrs. Massey and Hislop (Mayor of Wellington). His Excellency the Governor, wired expressing his regret at his absence. Sir. Seddon, who proposed the toast: of ''The New_ Zealand Team," was enthusiasm I ically received,' the company rising and. singing "For 'He's a,- Jolly Good Fellow." Ho said he felt satisfied that the team would worthily uphold the honour of the ,colonyarid represent it in a fit and proper manner. "The Britishers are panting- for ' those' ashes," he remarked: "but don't let them get 'them." Ho believed the trip of the team would be of great benefit to the colony, as it would bring us very greatly under the notice of the people of Great Britain, and must also tend to draw the colony closer to tho Mother Country. '. Mr. Dixon, manager of the team, in' replying, said he considered the team very fairly represented the football strength of the colony, and that it would worthily uphold the good name of New Zealand.

Mr. Gallahor, the captain, also responded, and expressed the opinion that the team would justify itself both on and off the field.

The Mayor of Wellington proposed the (oast of "The Parliament of New Zealand,'' to which Messrs'. Seddon and Massey replied. The Leader of the-Opposition/who received a very cordial reception, wished the team a good time, a pleasant voyage, and a safe return.

Sir Joseph Ward proposed the toast .of "The New. Zealand Union." Mr. Seddon announced that it was desired that the team should be kept in touch with the people of the colony, and with that object in view it had been arranged that any ease of illness or accident should be immediately reported to tho High Commissioner in London, who would cable the fact to the Government. The High Commissioner woiild also from - time to time cable to the Government the doings of the team. Mr. Seddon added that this had been decided on after consultation with his colleagues and Mr. Massey.

DEPARTURE FOR ENGLAND.

[BY TKLKCKAI'II.— ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Sunday.

At nine o'clock this morning a good crowd boarded the ferry steamer Admiral and accompanied the New Zealand football representatives to the Rimutaka's side. Brief farewells were said, the little vessel swung out, and tho big liner headed for the Pacific to the accompaniment of foghorns and hearty cheering. Near the Heads the ferry bout Admiral drew near the Kimulaka and a final cheer was given, "Aula Lang Syne" was sung,, and half an hour later the steamer was lost to view.