PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13985, 19 August 1907, Page 5

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

NEW ZEALAND r. NEW SOUTH WALES. WT\ r FOR Tllfc VISITORS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDXBY, August 17. The. first football same between the professional teams representing New South Wales and I\ew Zealanil was played this afternoon in lino weather. Considerable interest centred in this match, which was tho introduction of professionalism in this branch of sport ill the Commonwealth and New Zealand, and tlio attendance was estimated at about 20,000. From the spectators' point of view tlio match was not of an interesting nature, as both teams lacked the necessary combination for good play, consequently Iho splashes of brilliancy were of an individual character. Of (lie two sets of forwards Iho visitors were the better, and played a strenuous, though somewhat uneven, game. The following wero tho teams: — New Sooth Wales.—Pull bask. Hcdley; lh<ree-qnartors—Clnadley, Stuntz, Messenger, and Fry; halves—Bosenfell rikl Mpuget; forwards—Haminil, Hennessey, Mable. Pearce, Moir, Graves, Brnokenrjgg, and Cann. New Zealand.—JVl lack, Turtill; threequarters Wrigley, Todd, and Rowe; fiveeighths—R. AYynyartT aiul Macgr&gor; halves— Tyno and Kelly; forwards —Walking, Pearce, Cross, Wright, Byrne, Gilchrist, Muckrell. For the first, half-hour the game was very even, play being chiefly in neutral territory. The local men put in some fine passing rushes, but in one of these the ball was intercepted by Wynyard, who, after making a capital run, lest possession. Wrigley was near at hand, however, and, gathering up tho oval, whipped it on to Wright, who dodßed aoroes the line. Turtill toot the kick at goal, but the score was not increased. Now Zealand 3 points New South Wales Nil On resuming tho home team put in several fine rushes, but tho New Zealand defeneo was too good to admit of a broach being mado in that quarter, Wrigley and luitill, particularly, playing fino 'games behind tho scrums. Gradually and certainly the Blacks pushed tho Blues back, and Wynyard, getting possession, ran across the field, accompanied by Todd. As they neared the corner Wynyard, seeing a chanco of a score, handed tho ball to Todd, who dodged an opposing baok, and touched dowji. Wrigley took tho kick, which was from a difficult angle, but lie, too, failed to pilot the ball through tho posts. New Zealand _6 pointo New South Wales Nil Ten minutes after the ball had come into play again tho Blues drovo Now ZealsnQ back into their territory, and from a passing J ush outside tho twenty-five, in which Dalpuget, Chcadle, and Messenger wero concerned, tho last-named got over the New Zealand line. Ho csayed a goal himsolf, but with no better succcss than that which had attended tho New Zealanders 1 efforts. Now Zealand 6 points New South Wales 3 points

Give-and-tako play followed for a few minutes, and then tho referee sounded the whistle for half-time.

Tho second spoil produced no startling play, but Wrigloy proved himself a tower of strength in ropeatedly checking onslaughts by tho Blues on tho New Zealand line. Shortly after tho spoil opened tho homo team had a shot at goal, and narrowly escaped scoring, the ball going just under the bar. For a time there was an interchanco of kicking between the backs, Hodley (the local full) and Turtill (who occupied a similar position for the visitors) proving themselves worthy representatives in their respective places. Messenger proved a dangerous thorn in tho aido of tho New Zealanders, and timo after time ho gavo them some anxious moments. Tho game had for a timo been hovering in New Zealand territory, but a passing rush shifted the scene info tho local team's twenty-five. The latter got possession from a scrum, but tho kick, in an endeavour to relieve tho position, was not a success, the ball going into the. hands of Wynyard, who promptly marked in front of the goal. Wrigloy placed an easy goal, and the figures read: Now Zealand 9 points New South Wales 3 points

No sooner wpro the players at it again than Messenger, with a. fine run, carried play into his opponents' twenty-five, and then kicked across to C'ann, who ran in. Messenger converted amid cheers.

New Zeaiand, 9 points Now South Wales 8 points From tho kick-off the Now Zealanders rushed tho ball down tho field, and a few minutes saw Cross get over tho line. Wrigley mado a poor kick at goal. Tu fact, Iho place-kicking of this and tho All Blacks is much below tho standard of former teams from New Zealand. When (he whistle sounded for no side the scores stood: New Zealand 12 points New South Wales 8 points MELBOURNE MATCHES ABANDONED. , August 18. (Received August 19, at 0,40 a.m.) Owing to the New Zealand professional team's steamer arrangements for tho departure to England clashing, the matches arranged by Mr Wren have been abandoned.