THE PRO.-BLACKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13672, 13 February 1908, Page 8

THE PRO.-BLACKS.

.ON TOUR WITH THE TEAM. MATCH AGAINST WALES. > AX EXCITING FINISH.

' BY A V H. BASKEtIVILLE. '..,'■•

: ' ' . AsEnDAiiE, January 3. The Now Zealand footballers have just opened their international engagements. At Aberdare they mot a team chosen to represent Wales, "though it is stated that only three on the Welsh side have ever figured in Welsh amateur first-class football. Some 10,000 spectators woro present when play started. The New Zealand players were: — H. 3. Turtill (back), H. Messenger, 11. Rose, and A. Kelly (threcquarter-backs), E. Wrigley and W. Wyiiyard (five-eighths), B. Wynyard (halfback), W. Johnston, T. Cross, H. Wright, I). Gilchrist, C. Pearce, and W. Mackrell (forwards). For the first few minutes the visiting team had the better of matters, Messenger and Turtill being prominent with clever kicking. D. Thomas, the old Cardiff threequarter, however, held his own well on the left wing, and consequently play ruled even. Playing the five-eighths game, New Zealand commanded an advantage, Kelly on the right wing, after a brilliant bout of passing, scoring for the visitors. Wales just afterwards had an opportunity, thanks to the clever finessing by J. Thomas and Boynon at half. The Monmouth half got the ball, and in a twinkling it was in tho Wigan's half's hands. T. Llowellyu handled, and then away it went to Thomas on tho left wing, the Hali-fax-cum-Dewsbury man scoring a pretty try, which was not converted. The New Zealandors now played for all they wore worth. They made another flash in tho pan effort, which resulted in W. Wynyard notching a try, which was converted. Back came Wales to the attack, but the players could not cross, New Zealand leading at half-time by 8 points to 3. ~:

When play was resumed Wales went away with a bang. Forward they were doing well, thanks to Rees and Jones, but it fell to Franois to outwit Wrigley and the Wynyard brothers. The Bradford scrummagcr was doing but little in the more serious part of the forward work, simply filling as it were a roving position. Ho did well in this department, and eventually scored a pretty try, which again was not converted. Wales were now two, points behind, and excitement was at fever pitch. "Play up, Wales was the cry of tho spectators. Answering the call the Welshmen rose to the occasion, and just on the close of play D. Jones, the old Welsh international forward, was pushed across by D. Thomas, the Welshmen winning by the narrow margin of one point, the scores being: Wales, three tries (9 points); Now Zealand, one goal two tries (8 points).

Mr. Piatt, the secretary of the Northern Union, said thd takings at Aberdare were, roughly, £600, of which the New Zealanders will tako 70 per cent, as their share. We were disappointed with ■ tho result of , the match, but not with the play, which was always clean, often brilliant, and never below good. Wo were fairly defeated by a rattling side. ;. /- w ■■■■ - .■' General opinion among the crowd was that if they could be assured of fast,, open play, such 83 they had seen in that international, they would patronise it whether, the players were amateurs or professionals. Mr. Piatt said he was naturally jubilant with the result and pleased at the reports of support which came to him from all parts of South Wales; signs were unmistakable that professional Northern Union football would have a great future in the principality, • and that next year it would be played by good clubs in a dozen centres. •,-.

Welshmen who had seen the "old All Blacks" .play most of: their big matches could riot conceive tho present side coming within 10 points of them in nine matches out of 10. They place Messenger in the top flight, but on the form at Aberdare, as 'at Merthyr, the great weakness in the side was inability, to heel the ball to good backs. Among the backs, : top,.with. Todd standing down, .there is nobody of the outstanding merit of a Wallace or a Roberts or a Deans or a Stead, It is held that against most Welsh amateur clubs the present side of players would make rings, but Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Llanelly, if not Neath and Pontypool, would havo little difficulty in beating them.