THE ENGLISH TEAM IN 'AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 17 August 1888, Page 27

THE ENGLISH TEAM IN 'AUSTRALIA.

From the Argus of August 2,1 cull the following: — "A match was played yesterday afternoon on the Efist Melbourne ground, between the English team and a team chosen from the Melbourne Rngby TJniou. There was ari attendance of about 5000 persons, and considerable interest was manifested in the game. Dr Smith acted as umpire for the visitors, and Dr Willmott for Melbourne, and Mr J. 8. T. Hughes was the referee. - At "first the game was wsll contested on both sides. Melbourne scored first goal, {Scarborough making a good kick, but the Englishmen played up, and Stoddart soon equalised matters. From that out the game was never in doubt, and when the bell rang tho score stood : — England, 3 goals ; Melbourne, 1 goal." ■ ' ! " Goal Post," in the Referee, writes, thus :— " The team of British footballers played their first game in Victoria, under the Rugby rules, against an equal number of representatives chosen by the Melbourne Rugby Union on Wednesday. 1 TW attendance on the East Melbourne Cricket Ground was only moderate, owing to the some- . what unsportsmanlike and selfish arrangements made by out leading olubs for' agate match on : the Melbourne Cricket Ground, tPJhe competitors were ratber unevenly matched '■ as regards size and weight, the Brjtjshcrflooking. nearly as big again as their nimble' opponents.' •The latter, however, made an excellent game of it, apd at every point held their own in a skifful manner, except at the scrimmaging, in which the .extra weight of the visitors. told its tale. The outcome of the match wris^a win foi England by three goals (nine points) to Melbourne's one goal (three points). The'gamfe prbvoked very little enthusiasm oh* the part of the spectators, the majority of whom were ignorant of the rules governing this method of footballing, and those who had an inkling of them, were unable to rouse up an , excitement over the" interminable scrummages, kicking pub of bounds, in working along the boundary line, and throwing the ball from one "to the other. Of course opinions differ. The skipper of the English team thinks that the Rugby is infinitely superior to <;he Australian game, beoaase; all the/

players are. kept, in motion throughout the •contest; b'iit if -this.is its only recommeu'dattoii' 1 it is a very poor 6'ne. The Aus1 tralasian game* gives- everyone : plenty to "do, and affords* infinite > variety in running and bouncing the ball, little marking, long kicking, dodging, and -keeping the play well within the boundary lines, whilst the competitors are well protected from unduly rough or' foal play. In the Rugby game half the time is wasted by the scrummaging; 'which is neither skilful 'nor graceful, but sheer bulldogism ; and the working the ball up the boundary lines by deliberately kicking it out of play seems an absurdity, -whilst the ludicrous attitude assumed by the player placing the ball for a shot at goal must be witnessed to be appreciated. No arrangements appear to exist- by which any punishment is inflicted for players wilfully knocking each other about ; consequently accidents are numerous, and cafch-as-catch-can contests constitute an element in the game' which 'is - one hardly likely to gain • f ivour in this community." Sydney, August 9. The English football team beat the Bathurst by 20 points to 10. August 11. The English football team played a match against the Sydney University yesterday and won by 8 1 oints to 4.