THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL TEAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13006, 25 October 1905, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL TEAM.

FURTHER PRESS COMMENTS. By Telegraph Press Association.—Copyright. Sydney, October 24. The Times, commenting on the Nw* Zealand footballers, says that they gained a remarkable victory over Devon.' So unequal were the sides that no score would proportionately set out the overwhelming superiority possessed by the New Zealanders in pace and skill. "The wing-forward position, adds the Times, " is, however, a startling innovation—his position imperils his team under the off-side rule, and much trouble may be expected in future matches if his work is conducted on the same lines as in the Devon match."

• The Daily Telegraph (London) states that in the startling triumph achieved by, the New Zealand in their opening match the prestige of Devon football received a severe blow. That the visitors would' probably win was expected, but! no one to prepared for an utter rout. At all points tho visitors are clearly superior, and were in no way flattered by the score, heavy as it was. The New ' 1 Zealanders, who physically are a fine set/ of men, set about their task in a workmanlike maimer, and had their opponents demoralised - with astonishing rapidity. Quite the best feature of the New Zestlanders' play was the work of their seven forwards, who were more than a match for their opponents' eight. If the English teams were compelled, in self-defence, to play "a winger," the game from a spectacular point of view would not be improved.