N.Z. FOOTBALL TEAM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13449, 24 November 1905, Page 7

N.Z. FOOTBALL TEAM.

ANOTHER WIN IN SCOTLAND,

Press Asspriation-rßy Telegraph—Copyright. : LONDON, November 22.

(Rceivea Nov. 23, at 10.7 a.m.)

Twenty thousand spectators witnessed the match between the New Zealand Rugby football team and the West of Scotland, at Glasgow. The turf was very soft. In the first- half New Zealand had the advantage of the wind, and pressed the home team from the start, M'Gregor (Wellington) obtaining a try within nine minutes. Wallace failed with the shot at goal. The Scots then livened up, and played brilliantly for 20 minutes, but failed to score. Smitli (Auckland) next got a. line try fair between the posts, which Wallace converted. Score at half-time: New Zealand 8 points, West of Scotland 0.

The brillinacy of the display by the home team in the first half was not maintained in the latter portion of the game, and they were outplayed and outpaced by the visitors. Roberts (Wellington), Smith, llynott (Taranaki), and Seeling (Auckland) obtained tries in quick succession, but only one—that secured by Mynott—was converted by Wallace. The game ended in favour of New Zealand by 22 points to 0.

The High Commissioner's cable says that it was raining during the game, and that the ground was heavy. NOTES AND COMMENTS. Bi Full Baok. Pressure of space again precludes more than a passing reference to the latest victory of the New Zenlantlers. Lest any misapprehension should arise, it must bo understood that the team met by the New Zealanders on Wednesday at Glasgow was ,not a picked representative team from the Western District of Scotland, but a representative city team. Commenting on the prospects of West of Scotland for the season a Scottish writer recently remarked that the " Wests," had a good team, and if their play was scrappy in the opening match of the season, which they won, it was nevertheless of a very promising character.

Th? West of Scotland team this season is as follows:—Full back, _H. Temient; three-quarters—'T. Stewart, J. Stuart, \V. Lyle, C. W. Stewart; halves—J. Ward and A. Tcnncnt; forwards—Seolt, Bcdoll-Siv-right, Thomson. Carson, Kemp. Kidston, lloncrictf, and Campbell.

The West of Scotland team furnished Iwo internationals—Bedell-Sivriglit and W. P. Seolt—to the Scottish teams of 1901 and 1905. Roth men are forwards, and played for Scotland against Now Zealand on Saiurdav !ar,l. Scott, in addition to being capfain of West of Scotland, captained the Scottish international team against Wales last season.

Speaking at. a recent meeting of the Scottish Rugby Union, the retiring president (Dr Simpson) said Iho year had been an ordinary year as regards international results. The 'Welsh and Trish matches had fen lost, and the English matcl; won. Scotland still wanted a few heavier forwards. With regard to tho visit of llio New Zealanrfers. a month a?o llicy did not know whether the team was going to bo good, bad, or indifferent. It was turning out. to 'he very good. There was a great deal of difficulty .in arranging tho Scottish matches, and with io the date of tho Scotland v. Now Zealand match, which was fixed for November, they bad not much idea of how their men were playing. As a matter of fact, Ihev had nolhing to go on but last season's form, and a number of men in tile Scottish loam might' not appeiu 1 in the other matches.—(Laughter.) Ho urged tho clubs in the union It) phiy two " forties" in the club maiclios. It was laziness that they d'd not do so. and their not playing two "forties" made Scotland differ in the internationals.

In view of the international match against Ireland on Saturday tho following item is interesting:—"Up to last season Ireland, more than any oilier nation, aimed at making its side as of Trish football as nlavcd by Irishmen in Ireland. It. was this laudable object which led Ireland in 1901 to roject O'Brien and M'Kvedv, tiie best wing llu-co-rpiartcrs in England. This clever pair, as New Zealanders resident, in England and identified with an English club and county, were, of course, eligible for lineland, and took part in English trial matches, vol Iheir sympathies were as entirely Irish as those of W. T. Ritchie, another Wv,- Zealnnder, were Scottish. Ritchie played for Scotland, though his onlv connection with Scottish football was an occasional '/nine wilh London Scottish. He was Scottish by descent. however, and was so strongly Scottish in his sympathies that lie would probably have declined to play fcr England. O'Brien and M'Evedy were Irish by d"sccnt, ami had strong Irish sympathies. They were therefore entitled to play for Ireland, though (hoy wore also qualified for England." O'Brien and il'Rved.v will ha remembered as having toured New Zealand last- year with the Tiriii~.li team. W. T. Ritchie, ilie ex-Scottish international, is a resident, of ihis city.

The New Xee.land team to play Ireland on Saturday can scarcely hone to reach Dublin much before to-day (Friday). The team would have a railway journey from filnsgow of something approaching 180 miles to Liverpool, where they would er.ich the steamer across the Irish Sea. a distance of 133 miles from port to port. Tito sea journoy will occupy from five to six hours. Pray us thai the New Zcalanders bad a. smooth trip across.

TIfE RECORD OF THE TOUR. Sept. IG, v. Devon—Won by 55 points to 4. Pept. 20, v. Cornwall—Won by 41 points to nil. Sept. QX v. Bristol—Won by 41 points to nil. Sept. K3. v. Northampton—Won by 32 points to nil. .

Sept. 30, v. Leicester—Won by 23 points to nil. Oct. •!, v. Middlesex-Won by 31 points to nil. Oct. 7. v. Durham—Won by 1G points to ". Oct. 11, v. Hartlepool—Won by Gil points to nil. Oei. i-!, v. Northumberland—Won l>y 31 points

to nil. Oct. 1!), v. filouccstar—Won by -U points to nil. Oct. 21, v. Somerset—Won by 02 points to nil. Oct. 20, v. Jjevonport Albion—Won by 21

points to .1. Oct. ?.S, v. Midland Counties—Won by 21 points

to ii. Nov. 1, v. Surrey County—Won by 11 points

Nov. 4, v. Blackhoatli— Won by "2 poinls to nil.

Nov. 7, v. Ox!oril University—Won by -17

points to nil. Nov. 0, v. Cambridge University—Won by li points to nil.

Nov. 11, v. Richmond—Won by 17 points to nil.

Nov. ]5, v. Eeittovtl—Won by 11 points to ml. Nov. 19, v. Scotland—Won by ]i) points to 7. Nov, 22, v. West o[ Sooihtml—'Won by 22 points to nil.

Summary.—^lafclio 6 ? playod, 21; won, !2l Points for, GJS; points against, 22.