THE NATIVE FOOTBALL TEAM.

Otago Witness, Issue 1942, 7 February 1889, Page 26

THE NATIVE FOOTBALL TEAM.

(From Oob Own Cobbbspondbnt.) London, December 14. Since the departure of ihe last mail the New Zealanders have been doing very well, though they have not been quite so successful as in the previous fortnight. The record of the team from December 1 to 14 is — Six matches played, three won, two drawn, and one lost. The New Zealanders have gained great kudos for their decisive defeat of the Ireland International team, though it must be admitted that the Emerald Isle did not have at all a representative Fifteen. The weather was flne, but there i was a strong wind blowing, which made it rather unpleasant for the 3000specfcators who assembled to see the match. Ireland won the toss, and Elliott kicked off for the visitors against the wind, For a time play was pretty even, but the Irishmen began to get the upper hand, and Waites gained a try from which Stevenson placed a goal. The Maoris now played up better, Keogh especially being conspicuous, but nothing further was scored up to half time, though the Maoris had a try disallowed. The teams then crossed over, and Ireland continuing to press tbe New Zealanders. Woods gained a try, but this was not improved upon. From this point the Irishmen collapsed entirely, and the Maoris had matters all their own way. From the kick out Keogh got clean away and scored a try, from which M'Causland placed a goal ; and a I few minutes later Elliott made a fine run and j passed to Keogh, wbo again got over the line, M'Causland being again successful with the place kick. Elliott and Gage also added tries within a very short space, M'Causland placing a goal from the latter. Ireland now woke up a bit, and carried the ball over the Maoris' goal line, but W. Warbrick was on the alert and kicked it dead. A bit of bad play by the Irish full back enabled Elliott to gain another try,and Wynyard added still another to the score. Both these tries were converted into goals by M'Causland, and the call of time a minute or two later left the New Zealanders victorious by four goals and one try to one goal and one try. The play during the nm^i «j ;, by no means first-class, the Irishmen going all to pieces in tbe last half" hour. Keogh did most for the Maoris, but all the forwards worked hard. It may interest some of your readers to know that the Freeman's Journal claims Keogh as an Irishman, and calls him " Paddy Keogh of Enniscorthy." The 25th match of the tour was played in College Park, Dublin, against Trinity College on December 3. The weather was dull and threatening, but there was a large and fashionable attendance, including Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar. The University had a very good team, but the Maoris were weakened by the absence of Keogh and W. Warbrick. In the first half the Collegians played with the wind in their favour, and had considerably the best of game, Walpole scoring two tries, from one of which Johnston placed a goal. For the first part of the second half the Trinity men held the upper hand, but, as was the case with the internationals on Saturday, they suddenly slackened and let the Maoris obtain two tries in very easy fashion. Anderson gained the first try, and no goal resulted, but from the second, scored by Wynyard, Williams placed a fine goal. The Trinity men now seemed to recover, and for the last 10 minutes they pressed the Maoris, but nothing further was scored, and the game resulted in a draw, each side being credited with a goal and a try. The third and last match in Ireland was played at Belfast on December 5 th, against a strong team representing the North of Ireland. The Maoris were not very well represented, as they were anxious to keep their best team for the Lancashire match on the following Saturday. The weather was fine,'but the ground wasjo bid condition. For the first half of the game play was very even, neither side scoring, but after half time the Maoris had the advantage, After some neat passing among the forwards, Gage gained a try, and shortly afterwards Wynyard ran in. Williams was unsuccessful in both place kicks. Nothing further being scored the Maoris were left winners by two tries to nil. Returning to England, tbe Maoris played Lancashire county at Whalley Range, Manchester, on December 8. The county had not got its strongest team, and the New Zealanders were by no means well represented. The match created a great deal of interest in the neighbourhood and abont 10,000 spectators wore present. The Maoris started with the wind behind them, and at the outset rather pressed the Lancastrians, but before the game was many minutes old Hastings made a fine run, and passing most unselfishly, enabled Kent to secure a try, which was not improved upon. This was the only point 6cored in tbe game, j which was grandly contested from start to fioish, the call of time leaving the county vie- j torious by a try to nil. On Monday the Maoris paid another visit to Yorkshire, when they played Batley at that town. The home club is a very strong one, and they put a good team into the field against, a moderate New Zealand fifteen. In the first half the Maoris held the upper hand, and scored one goal and one try against one try by their opponents. Ou changing ends, however, Batley penned the Maoris for some time, and scored four tries in rapid succession, while the New Zealanders added one try totheir score, Fortunately for the Maoris, the Batley place-kicking was abominably bad, and not one goal was obtained, tbe game thus ending in a draw, each side having scored 5 points — the Maoris a goal and two tries, and Batley five tries. > On Wednesday the New Zaalandnrs played Yorkshire County at Manningham. The match did not create very much interest, for the York-, shire Executive had selected what was practioally a Second Fifteen to play this match, and tie result was never in question. The Maoris at once took the lead, and at half-time they bad scored one goal and two tries to two tries. Ellison was responsible for two, of the tries and Wyhyard for the ,other. In the second half the' Maoris still kept np the pressure,

and Gage soon got a try, from which M'Causland kicked a goal. Keogh and Warbrick both added tries to the score, and Yorksbiremen also increased their total by a goal and a try. The game thus ended in a victory for the New Zealanders by two goals and four tries to one goal and three tries. (Per Press Association.) London, January 30. The Maori football team played Fifteen of Devon County to-day, winning by two goals and seven tries to nil. February 2. The Maori footballers defeated Gloucestershire by one goal and a try to a try.