THE AUSTRALIAN RUGBY FOOTBALLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12965, 7 September 1905, Page 6

THE AUSTRALIAN RUGBY FOOTBALLERS.

— ' MATCH AT PALMERSTON NORTH, ■ WON BY THE VISITORS. AN EXCITING GAME. ; [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Palmekstok North, Wednesday. The sky was clear and the ground dry and -.0 fast for the match, Australia v. Manawatu Knd Hawke's Bay combined, to-day. The teams were — Australia B. Smith, Wickham, Penman, Russell, McLean, Anlezark, Woods, Burden' Oxlade, darken, Lucas, Hirschberg, Juddj Swannell, Murnin. '}. '' ' - Manawatu: Skelley, Scott, Funic, Hewitt, }t§j. Stalker, Ward, Ongley, Munro, McCarthy] lf| Alex. McMinn, W. Smith, Carlson, MeNae' Johnston, Galloway, i' # The Rev. C. C. Harper was referee. The Australians made the pace very will- '■% ing, particularly the forwards. The. backs were clever and clean at taking the hall . but, with the exception of Woods and Pen- 0 man, were inclined to pass erratically or at 'it wrong moments, and thus lacked a certain, V ability to score. Woods, at halfback, played' if a great game, initiating almost' every pissing attack and defending cleverly." The, lino work of tho forwards was "superior while in the scrum they adopted a phalanxlike formation and screwed, but did not suein to beat Manawatu for the ball. Their two-A half , tactics came off superior as against oik; winger, the Manawatu half bei-ig pounced " ' upon before ho had • a chaiice to do anything. The first score took place after Hewitt extracted himself from several long " arms and kicked ahead. . McNfte and three others, following up smartly, kept the ball going. The threequarter and fullback failed to save, and then McNae, giving a final bump to the ball, fell over 011 it in scoring territory. Ward took the kick and con- ' verted. The ball was 110 sooner in motion V again than Oxlade got a mark, and, taking the kick from nearly half-way, Wickham plaoed a beautiful goal. , After sonic exciting play Woods .dashed away and passed neai tho touch-line to • Penman. Penman sent the • ball back to McLean, and the latter failed . : : over and scored. Wickham took the. kick, ¥- but did not convert. Half-time came and wont,- and the game waged as before, Australia holding Iho reds penned. Murnin, Lucas, and Swannell were a dangerous trio' Then for a. time Manawatu shook themselves free, and had Australia hard held, but only * for a time, for the colours came back again and the Mana<vatu fullback was,a busy man, . : ■ and ho often saved his side. It was' pretty' :-5 to see the Australian forward rushes. Again and again they went away together, sweeping over everything. " Furrio! Go it, Fur- ■' ✓ . rie!" shouted 5000 throats as the ex-cham- ' - pion sprinter was seen to get clear away. ;fi<: Fume dodged some and outpaced the remainder, but tho fullback got him .md the ' ' fi; chance was lost. The la.>t four minutes were fast and exciting, both teams striving hard. Then the visitors, with a great rush' returned, and Burden and Wickham ( were within" an ace of crossing, but it was not to be, and, though the excitement was intense and the play exceedingly fast, no further score was made, and tho game ended: Australia ... ... ... 7 Manawatu '5 " That's the way we play 011 a good and a dry ground." observed the manager of the team, Mr. Henderson. . " That's how the ' 5 game is played in Sydney." Certainly, it was one of the most exciting games "ever played in Palmorston. , '