N. Z. FOOTBALL TEAM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13421, 23 October 1905, Page 5

N. Z. FOOTBALL TEAM

A WIN AGAINST SOMERSET.

Press Association—Bj- Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October 21,

(Received October 22, at. 4.21 p.m;) The match between the New Zealana footballejis and Somerset lvns played at Taunt-on, and drew an attendance of 9000. l'iio New Zeahnders led off by invading Somerset's territory, and at an early stage J" the game Mynott (Taranaki) crossed the line, and Wallace (Wellington) added the major points. For the remainder of the first half the local team made a, gallant resistance, repulsing tlie visitors' manv attempts to crass the line. Seeling (Auckland) eventually succeeded in placing a second try to the colonials' credit, but the shot at goal failed. When half-time was called the scores wore:-New Zealand, o points; Somerset, nil. The New Zealanders made the pace much faster in the second spoil, and ran over their opponents. Gillett (Canterbury) was ie fiist to draw blood by dropping a penalty goal with a well-judged kick. A ittlo later on Seeling added his second wii 10,1 Wallace converted. Then Wallace crossed tiie line, and Mynott secured another try, neither of which was converted. The game ended : New Zealand 22 points oomerset

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S Cable. The following message lias lx*n received W Zealand defeated fl? 0 T- " y I,y 23 P° i,lte (two goals, tnieo tries, and one potted goal by WaJwi u° ' / Triw WCTO ol)t<iill « d by Soiling (4 Mynott (2), and Wallace (1). &

NOTES AND COMMENTS. n -n BT " Back." it Till be noticed that the message eont to the Premier credits New Zealand with wmnmg by 23 points to nil, whilst the As . s ° 01lltl0 ". message gives the score 22 points to nil. The latter message is probably the correct oner. The Premier's message states (hat Wallace pottod a go al •nlictvas the press message credits Gillctt having kicked a penalty goal. This result accoull, ' i ' or *' 10 disorepancy in the

Oil learning tho rosuJfc of the match against Somerset County ono is inclined to remark, "Not such a big- win after all." Alter the hollow victories of tho Now Zcaland team in th o previous matchce—Durham excepted—nothing under 30 points to ml w satisfying. Wo entirely overlook tno fact that, while Somerset may not be a very strong country, the Now Zcalandere havo probably placed a comparatively weak tea-m in tho field. For example, ITunter, of laranaki, has been playing -fo brilliantlv and scoring three and four tries in every match that it is reasonable! to assume that againet Somerset ho has played the role of spectator, Mynot-t taking his place. AV-here Mynot-t would seoro two tries Hunter would score twice that number. The latest team to he defeated by NewZealand was composed of the host, playom drawn from all tho chlhs in the Somerset Oounlv. > season Somerset had rather an itiSlorioiK carccr. After beating Olonco'stor County by 5 points to 3 and Devon County ■\r* poinls +<> nil, and dnnying with lorkshiro (9 points eneh), Somerset experienccd several reversals, including a decisive boating by Devon by 30 points i<i nil, by Cornwall by 16 points to 3, and by the NVelsh county of Glamorganshire by 15 points to 3. _ The team which represented Glamorgan in this match was practically tho AVelsh international team of last year, so that the win of the New Zealanders'over Somerset indirectly serves as a 'guide to the New Zceilandors' chanccs against "Wales. It is, .hoimvev, yet early to speak of Hie internationals, but it may bo remarket! enpasrant that the Uolsh three-quarters against New Zealand will probably include. Llewellyn, Oabe, and .Morgan, who wore through New Zealand !.i-t year with the British train, In place of Vile and Bush behind the scrum play Owen and Jones and a good idea may bo conceived of tho strength of Walee, which lies in its flying rearguard. If the New Zealand forwards can hold their own against tho Welsh miners it will be a Titanic struggle. Tho contest . will resolve itself into a test of two systems—four three-quarter backs and two halves vermis threei three-quarters and two five-eighths. 11. T. Hamlin, the famous international full-buck, who played for England against Wales. Scotland, and Ireland in the reason of 19034. played for Somerset County in nearly 40 matches. Ciamlin, however, retired at the end of the season, and did not play for Somerset last year. Tlio famous international's loss is thus referred to by a London paper in summing up the prospects of the season: "Somerset will this season have to take tho field without H. 'I'. Gain-lin. What this means will lie apparent to everyone who has followed county football closely. As full back, and in recent seasons as three-quarter, tho famous player has made all the difference between victory and defeat to his side, and the county will have very great difficulty in replacing him. Of forwards thero aro plenty, but outside tho scrummage Somerset cannot expect to hold her own." The strength of tho Somerset team last season lay with the forwards, but while the backs were good on defence they lacked skill on attack.

Two Somerset players. 11. • Shewing (throe-quarter back) and A. Vickary (for ward), won their international caps playing for England against Ireland in February of the present year. Both Somerset representatives were, however, dropped out of the match against Scotland. After a laps-ei of nearly 17 years, no comparison can be made with the performances of the New Zealand Native team and those of tho New Zealand team at present touring England. Tho changes which have taken place in Rugby football in England during that time make this obvious. Nevertheless the fact that- the Native team played Somerset is sufficiently interesting to introduce it. An extract from a report of the match: "We met, here a really good team, which Included several internationals. At the outset it appeared Somerset would win easily, but tho contest ended in favour of tho Natives by 17 points to 4-. There was an attendance of nearly 3000."

Tho next match to ho played by tho Now Zealanders is the one in which English experts expect. Now Zealand's colours to he lowered. This is against the famous Devonport Albion, the champion club team of England last season and runners-up to the invincible Swansea for the champion club foam of Great Britain. The strength of Dcvonnort, Albion lies not so much in the individual brilliancy of the players, but, in tho excellent combination of the team. An English international plavcr, asked to select a tide to represent England. said the best team to represent England eotdd be obtained by substituting for five of the weakest players of the Devonport.'- Albion team five picked individual players from the rest of tho country, and then playing the fifteen made up of those five plavers and the ton remaining Devonport Albion players.

THE RECORD OF THE TOUR, Sept. 18, v. Devon—Wnn by 55 points to 4. Sept. 20, v. Cornwall—Won by 41 points to nil. Sept. 23, v. Bristol—Won by 41 points to nil. Sept. 23, v. Northampton—"Won by 32 points

to nil. Sept. 30, v. Leicester—Won by 28 points to nil. Oct. 4, v. Middlesex—Won by .14 points to nil. Oct. 7, v. Durham—Won by 16 points to 3. Oct. 11, v. Hartlepool—Won by 63 points to nil. Oct. 14, v. Northumberland—Won by 31 points

to nil. Oct. 19, v. Gloucester—Won by 44 points to nil. Oct. 21, v. Somerset—Won by 22 points to nil,