PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14185, 10 April 1908, Page 5

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

NEW ZEALANDERS IN SYDNEY. Press Association.—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, April 9. (Received April 9, at 11.47 p.m.) The New Zealand professional football team have arrived hero in good health. Tho New South Wales League welcomed them. The players are not inclined to talk about the financial aspects aaid certain incidents which happened during the tour. They had a fine trip, and were hospitably treated. Speaking generally, things went well in England.

•\V. Johnston said he thought hs never saw or played football till hs played the Northern Union game, which- was largely built upon giving spectacular displays at all times. The game was necessarily so open and fast that it was attractive at all stages. The greatest difficulty the New Zealanders experienced was not in learning the new but in forgetting tho okl rules. It was hard at the outset to grasp the opposing teams' tactics. Tho games were all exceedingly fust. The back divisions at homo occasionally gave glimpses of phenomenal form. Some of the most important games were played on sloppy and dirty grounds, and on the whole the playing areas were rather rough. Mr Johnston understands that the idea of the New South Wales League is to play 10 matches against tho New Zealanders, including three in Sydney, tlueo in Newcastle, and three in Brisbane. The team maintained exercise on the voyage, and are now in the best of form and able to do themselves justice.