FOOTBALL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8833, 13 July 1905, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

Electric TELEGitArH. —Copthight.]

NEW ZEALAND v. METROPOLITAN UNION.

(Per Pkess Association.) Received July 12, at 8 p.m. Sydney, July 12. There was fine weather, and 10,000 were present at tlie football match, New Zealand v. Metropolitan Union. The alterations of the New Zealand .team oil Saturday's team were: Booth took Wallace's place, and the latter took five-eighths in place of Hunter. M'Donald replaced Glenn among the forwards. The Metropolitan team were : Back, Hedley: three-quarters, Russell, Penman, Mandible, Ogaard; halves, M'Mahon, Woods: forwards, Clarken. Dudley, Harris, Judd, Burge, Burden, Barnett, Mnrnin. Roberts captained the New Zealanders, and won the toss. After sonic lively play, without much advantage on either side, Johnston got away fast, and passed to Nicholson, who was collared just on the line, and lost the ball. The local men removed play to the neutral zone, but only momentarily, the Blacks bringing the leather back with a fine rush, and M'Gregor secured the ball, passing it on. to Smith, who, when being tackled, whipped it back to M'Gregor, who in turn handed it on to Wallace, and the latter crossed the line. Gillett failed to convert-. New Zealand 3, Metropolitan nil. A little later i Hedley secured a splendid mark, but was charged at the same instant by Roberts, the result being that Hedley had to retire injured, and Cobcroft took his place. New Zealand continued to press the home team, until the strain was relieved by a free kick, but the ball was soon brought back by the visitors, and from a line-out Johnston jumped across and scored a second trv. Wallace was given the kick, but- the ball fell wide. New Zealand 6, Metropolitan nil. After a brief spell of play in the centre of the ground the New Zealanders rushed down again, fend Glasgow, struggling over, registered a third try, which 'Gillett .again failed to convert, though this time the kick was an easy one, and half-time was whistled, with tho score New Zealand 9, Metropolitan nil. The game up to this point was more interesting than the test match on Saturday. The home team showed to advantage in the line-out-, but their passing was fautly, and they -were frequently slow in availing themselves of openings. Penman and Murnin played a capital game, while Mynot and Roberts were prominent among the visitors, the former being specially con spicious by his clever kicking in tight corners. Shortly after beginning the second spell the New Zealanders were compelled to act on the defensive, and from a penalty kick, the result of handling the bal' in a serum on their goal line, M'Mahon kicked a goal. New Zealand 9. Metropolitan 3. Once in play again the New Zealanders warmed up and made the game merry, the local's first blood stimulating them to hard play. In a scamble from a line-out Mynotfc got away, then passed to Smith and M'Gregor, who, by brilliant play, carried the ball (lown to their opponents' full-back, when it was passed _to Wallace, who ran in. He took the kick himself, and scored the major points. New Zealand 14, Metropolitan 3. On resuming the Metropolitans made a desperate rush down to the New Zealanders' twentyfive, but Ogaard fumbling at a critical moment, the visitors sot possession, and removed the scene of the struggle to neutral territory. Here Mynott again got splendidly away, and if he had gone on must have scored, but he dropped the ball, and New South Wales forced. After the Metropolitans had once -more invaded the New Zealand zone, the tension was removed by a, long kick by Gill'ett. O'Sullivan followed up smartly, and tried to get the leather with a clear track in front of him, hut an unfortunate knock-on spoil e, what looked like a certain score. Th=n Roberts, from a scrum outside the Metro politans' twenty-five, passed to Mynott, who in turn passed it- to M'Gregor, who, by a, pretty feinting run, scored, and taking the kick himself converted. New Zealand 19, Metropolitan 3. Immediately afterwards Roberts kicked the ball over the opposing three-quarters and 'Wallace, who got possession, scored. Booth failed to send the bail over the bar. New Zealand 22, Metropolitan 3. After a spell of quiet- play the game ended with New Zealand 22 points, Metropolitan Union 3.