THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13081, 22 January 1906, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS.

THE CHESHIRE MATCH.

HOME LINES CROSSED TEN TIMES.

BRILLIANT GAME.

[FROM our OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

London, December 15.

(Scores: New Zealand. 2 goals 8 tries, 54

points. Cheshire, nil.) At Birkenhead on Saturday, New Zealand scored her 26th successive football victory, on this occasion defeating Cheshire rather severely by 34 points to nil. Apparently no one expected that the result would be otherwise. The number'- present are variously put at 8000. 10.CC0. and 12,000, and it is stated that about 1000 spectators managed to gain admittance by the aid of bogus tickets, which had been freely sold in the neighbouring towns when it was understood thai it was to be a case of admission by ticket only. The conditions are described as having been in every respect favourable, the day being fine and the field iu good order. The hopes of the Ceslrians were raised by their clever victory over Durham the previous week, and a keen game was looked for. Herschell started off for Cheshire. The owning stages were fairly even, but a mistake by Tomes, the home back, let in the visitors, who scored in a scramble. Immediately following the opening scrums the New Zealand backs showed pretty and effective passing, but the movement was frustrated by Kendal. Continuing on the aggressive, the New Zealand forwards rushed down and a try was scored by Cunningham, but Deans failed to obtain the major points. The Cheshire forwards came away in good style, and Roberts gathering well, sprinted finely, but Anderson grassed him. Again the passing of tho lack division resulted in Nicholson getting over, but again the goal kick was not successful. Following this Hunter put in one of those swerving runs which has gained him fame, and threading his way past all opposition, he scored a try under the posts, which Gillett convened. The Cheshire-men were kept on the defensive, and in this department Kendal- and Hulme put in (ionic good work. Abbott and Thompson next scored tries, after delightful exhibitions of passing and smart running, but in each instance Gillett's kick fell short; at half-time the score stood at 17 points for New Zealand against Cheshire's nil. The second half was opened by the Clieshiremen with a bright movement, and' having the wind behind them, they were able for a time to hold their own. Gailaher, however, changed the venue with a fine sprint, but Tomes pulled him down when within a few feet of the line. A bout of passing, however, resulted in Deans again scoring, but Abbott failed with the kick, This point was quickly followed by a try from Thompson, and another in quick succession from Hunter. Cheshire etill struggled on, and matters were looking promising for them when Roberts broke away and passed to Deans, who concluded a splendid run by crossing the Cheshire line. Again the homo side made another good effort. Hulme, Kendal, and Hartley gaining a good deal of ground, and in one effort to break through Saunderson was nearly successful, being held up a stride or two from the line. Towards the close the visitors one* more took up the attack, and Roberts scored the tact try, which Cunningham converted.

THE YORKSHIRE MATCH. NEW ZEALAND "CLEVERNESS' HEATS YORKSHIRE "GRIT." TWENTYSEVENTH COLONIAL -VICTORY. Scores: New Zealand, 5 goals, 5 tries, 40 points; Yorkshire, nil. Not for several years past has such, tremendous interest been shown in a football match in Yorkshire as was .the case on Wednesday, when the match Yorkshire v. New Zealand took place upon' the grounds of tlje Leeds Northern Union Club, at Headiiigly. The gate was opened very early, and a continuous stream of spectators thronged the enclosure, with the result that when the game started there were fully 25,000 people present—probably moreand the "gate" amounted to some i 31150. The prevailing conditions for football were almost ideal. The New Zealanders once mote through their war chant, which pleased the crowd immensely, and which immediately put them in good humour, toward the visitors, and hardly had its fierce "staccato menace died away ere the 'fun,' as one burly Brad ford styled it, began." The New Zealanders once more gave a brilliant exhibition of passing and running, and the opinion is expressed that the Northern Unionists present must have been impressed by Jieir meteoric Hashes and wonderful combination.

The fun" began early, and was all onesided; the game was very fast. It waft not many minutes old when the colonists gave a taste of what, might be expected in the event of slackness." It was a typical bit of play that led up in the first try, registered at the end of eight minutes ; the Ikill was passed between Deans and McGregor,'who ran to within a few yards of the line, and Booth, and McGregor scored, but Wallace failed at goal from near touch. Shortly afterwards New Zealand got away, and, after a long round of passing, the bill went to Deans who, having a clear field, ran over, but Wallace again failed at goal. On resuming, Oughtred put in a fine dribble and punt, which caused the New Zealanders to defend, but Dobfon spoiled the movement by. allowing himself to he tackled in his" own half. The result was that Mynott got hold from a scrum, and .completely tricking the defence, by a fine, turn of speed, he ran over; this time Wallace landed a goal, the ball shaving the crossbar. Oughtred narrowly escaped letting in his opponents by missing the ball, but it was knocked forward. Auty relieved with a fine free kick, which gained 40 yards. Tho Yorkshire men were continually on the defence, but they played well ' under pressure. In a minute Mynott got the ball from Hunter and sprinted splendidly to Auty, then he passed to Deans, and" the latter easily scored, Wallace adding the goal points. This is described as having been a verv pretty movement, quite characteristic of the colonial combination. i New Zealand was iww 16 points to the good, and the game was only half an hour old. Wallace next put in a fine run, and passed to Tyler, but the latter, as he was going at full speed, was tackled by Auty : the ball, however, came out to Stead, and, after making a good opening, the latter gave the ball to Deans, who scored, Tyler converting the try. Immediately afterwards Mynott and Hunter indulged in a b.t of pretty combination, and the former ran over; in this movement the Yorkshire defence was "beaten all over theshop." The kick at goal did not succeed, and when the half-time whistle was sounded, the score was 3 goals 3 tries in favour of New Zealand, against nothing for Yorkshire.

At the outset of the second half the Yorkshire forwards showed tip well and held their own for quite ten minutes, and me fine buibt by Moss-Blundell looked like ending in a. score, which would have happened had it not, been for a daring save by Wallace. Eventually the- Yorkshire forward,-; were worn down, and the New Zealand scrum-

imagers, giving their backs possession, there was some splendid bancl-to-hand passingThis was shortly succeeded by another piece of brilliant back play, which ended in Hunter dodging over with a beautiful try, to which Wallace again added the goal point*. Mvnott was the next prominent person who tricked and passed Dohaon like a. flash, but he could not go far for he was borne down by numbers. Auty was conspicuous with a. brilliant save, and Pickering tackled Deans in a grand manner. Then McGregor filled the Yorkshiremen's cup of sorrow by running over twice before time; in the first instance he went over at the corner, and Wallace failed at goal: then ia the last stages of the game whe l the Yorkshire men played in desperate fashion, the ball was passed between Mynott. Hunter, and McGregor, who then scored, but Tyler failed at goal. In the second half the score was two goals and two tries for the New Zealanders. against Yorkshire's nothing, and the total for the afternoon was thus five goals five tries (40 points) to nil. Mr. Percy Coles, the secretary of the Rugby Union, refereed Lo everybody's satisfaction, and the general opinion after the match was that gallant little Wales is in for a very warm time on Saturday, at Cardiff."

The Time* remarks: "A magnificent exhibition of Rugby football was given, but it must he confessed that the Yorkshire fifteen were hopelessly outclassed." Tn the course of a special interview with the representative of a leading provincial journal. Mr. W. P. Reeves, being asked to what cause he attributed the New Ze* landers' success, replied: "First of all undoubtedly to the country and the climate from which they come, and in which they up bred: to the healthy and humane conditions of life there conductive to the breeding of a fine luce."'