ON THE BALE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7978, 8 December 1911, Page 4

ON THE BALE

NORTHERN UNION GAME. AUSTRALASIA BEATS ENGLAND. FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. LONDON, October 26. Tho all-conquering Australian team of Northern Union Rugby football plajers paiil a visit to London last Wednesday in order to swell their list of rictorics | at tho expense of an All England team. They succeeded in their object, winning a somewhat ragged and ofttimes very ''strenuous” game by one goal and three tries (11 points) to two tries (G points). 'The teams clashed at tho Craven Cottage grounds’ at T’niham, where some 0000 spectators collected. It was a poor crowd for an international match, tut it had not been well-advertised, and the Northern Rugby Union game -has lew followers anvwhere south ot the Trent. And WcdnWdays exhibition was not calculated to nervert the taste of any lover of the real Rugby game, nor to wean devotees of "Soccer” irom their first lot e. There were patches ot really fine work on both sides, but taken as a whole the came was a rather poor example of the professional Rugby code, and at ti™ "keenness” produced play which could only bo described as verging on the brutal. One result .was that towards the close \V. Farnsworth, one of the best of tho Australian team, was badly huit and had to be taken away on a stretcher, whilst Ciampitt was badly fouled and suffered damage. ~ Flay opened very raggedly, both sides failing to hold tho ball. Tho English three-quarters were the first to make headway, Wngstafle, Lomas, and Batten passing nicely, tho movement breaking down, on the visitors’ three-quarter line. The colonials forced the home men back, and after Francis had been pushed into touch near the lino Craig got over for tho first try. irimois was entrust cd with tho place kick, but ho tailed. W. Farnsworth got going luccly, but a timely tackle by Kitchen enabled England to become offensive. Wagstaffe ano Kitchen got away, but to no purpose, and later Kitchen was pulled up by Frasei, who' played a lino defensive game. The Australasian back division was set in motion by Fraser and good passing resultedV W. Farnsworth getting ovei behind the posts, Francis easily adding the goal points. , , Tho English three-quarters now assumed the offensive, and making much ground Kitchen was fouled when he looked like getting over. Lomas took the kick, ana just missed from an awkward position. Keeping up the pressure Wagstafto got over just before tae interval, nut Lomas failed with tho kick and half-time arrived with the score: Australasians, one goal one try (8‘ points): England, one try (3 points). . . . , Flay was mb re exciting in the second, half, tho* crowd getting enthusiastic _ as England had the better of the game, lor a long time England did all the passing, but the tackling and spotting ot tho Australasians were particularly keen. At length Russell broke through with a long pass, but Lomas effected a brilliant tackle night under the bar and saved his side. \V. Farnsworth, was then injured, but the visitors played up strongly, and Farnsworth got over, Francis adding the extra points. For n time the Australasians held the upper hand, but in the closing stages England rallied finely, ano White should hav.e scored, but fumble:, the ball when about to ground it. A fine bout of passing by the three-quarters enabled Kitchen to score-in tho corner, but tho goal kick failed. In the last moment England had a chance of getting or terms, but Jukes muffed a pass, and when the whistle blew the Australasians wore still five points to the good. Teams :—England; bharrocks (Wigan), Batten (Hunslet), Lomas (Oldham) (captain), Wagstafte (Huddersfield), Kitchen (Huddersfield), Smith (Hunslet), White (Oldham), Ciampitt (Broughton Bangers), Ward (Leeds), Avery (Oldnam), Ramsdale (Wigan), Jukes (Hunslet), alid Kershaw (Wakefield, Trinity). Australasians: . Fraser, Bussell, Gilbert. V. Farnsworth, Broomham, MoKivatt, W. Farnsworth, Francis, Gillett,

Craig, Noble, Courtney, and McQue. The Australians have won every one of the eight matches they have played in the Old Country, and have thus conlounded the critics who, on the strength of their opening match v; Midlands and South at Coventry, styled the visitors "a mediocre team." and promised them plenty of handsome beatings when they got among the Yorkshire and Lancashire clubs.

To-day these same critics are questioning whether there is "a team playing capable of blating the men from- the Antipodes." Here is the record, which certainly suggests that the critics' second thoughts were best: —

it will be seen that it was left to Wales to rbn the colonials to their closest victory, while Widnes failed to break through the Australasian defence. In the latter game four men were ordered off tho field, and very rough play was the order.

G. T. Pts. ' G. T. PtsAustralasians 6 20 Midlands and South .... .. 1 3 11 Australasians 9 33 Yorkshire 3 13 Australasians 3 4 18 Broughton Rangers .. 1 2 8 Australasians 5 25 Lancashire 2 12 Australasians 5 G 28 ' Wales 4 20 Australasians ........ .5 25 Widnes .. 0 0 0 Australasians 4 1G St. Helens 1 5 Australasians 3 11 England .. 1 2 8