THE NEW ZEALAND UNION TEAM'S TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2056, 20 July 1893, Page 32

THE NEW ZEALAND UNION TEAM'S TOUR.

WITH THE TEAM.

(Fhom Oub Special Corbespondent.) Sydney, July 10. THE NEWCASTLE MATCH.

The team left Sydney ,at 650 on Wednesday night, after a .most eßjoyabJe day on the harbour as the guests of the union, and reachc.d Newcastle a little after 10 p.m. They were escorted to the Grand Hotel .by the officials of the local union, and informally welcomed. The next morning they were formally entertained at the Town Hall' by the mayor, speeches ibiing made by the mayor (Mr J. , Wood) and the 'secretary of the local imion. There were about 2509 spectators at the match, which was played on the .cricket ground, "which was as hard as stone. £h,e following were the teamsi : —

New Zealand.— Full back — D'Arcy; threequarters—Jervis, Bayley (captain), and Good; halves— Shannon and Butland ; wings— Gardner and. M'Kenzie ; forwards— Stuart, Murray, Cockroft, Lambie, Speight, M'lntosh, and Pringle. Northern Districts (White). -Full backNorman : three-quarters— H. Miller, White, and Cummins; halves— E. Miller and Scott; forwards—Appleby, M'Leau, Malone, Owen, Tizard, J Wood (captain), Watson, Edwards, and Miller.

Messrs Forgie and Mowlem were line umpires, and Mr J. Miller referee, and excepting for one mistake the latter gentleman was the best offioial we have yet had. The home team won the toss, and played against fche wind, Stuart kicking of! as usual.

The return kick was a very feeble one, and play settled down in the local twenty-five. A free kick to the home team gave a little relief, but Bayley returned with a high kick, which Murray got under. He passed quickly to Butland, who Bent on to Good, Norman sendiDg the latter ' out at the corner. M'Kenzie gob the ballon the throw in and passed to Stuart, who gave 1 Shannon a chance, which he made the most of, and scored close to the posts. Jervis placed a goal. s—o. Line out work followed the kick oub till Appleby got possession and made a shorb run, Shannon collaring him. Once more some line-out play followed, Butland trying very hard to start the backs. Edwards, Tizard, and Owen gob away with a loose dash, which Shannon stopped in good style. Butland made a short run, and then he and Speight showed out. More scrums till Stuart broke away and' made a good dribble, but Miller gob his kick in, and Bayley kicked out. Stuart again gob away, and short passing between Murray, Butland, Bayley, and Good gained a little ; but a rush by Malone, Wood, and Edwards aud a good kick by Miller saw the ball at the Blacks' twenty-five. Shannon got away with a pass from Speight, but the White forwards stopped him and brought the ball back. Bayley got away, bub Cockroft was off-side and Newcastle gob a free kick. The play was slow for a time, the local players not having a very bright idea what to do with the ball when they got it, while the Blacks' passing was generally stopped owing to the ground being on an angle. Cummins made the besb local run of the day, fending very fcttongly till Butland Collared him. Shannon gob the ball from the scrum and passed to Butland and Good, who failed to tako it, and Owen, Edwards, and Tizard came along with a rush which took all the energies of the Blacks' backs to stop. Cockrofb and Lambie put in some good work, but the local men were warmed to their work, and kept ab it, bub found the defensive work of the backs good. A free kick to the Whites, and from Appleby'a kick New Zealand were forced. This was the first force registered against the team in the four games. Some of the Blacks' forwards were in front of the ball ab the kick oub, and a scrum resulted. Lambie came through with the ball, White picking up and making a run as far as Jervis. M'Kenzie took charge, and ran up to Norm in, but instead of passing to Butland he kneed the ball and lost it. Short passes between Shannon, Bubland, Lambie, Speighb, and Gardner enabled the latter bo score, bub the line umpire decided he had gone inbo touch. Butland was feeding his backs the whole time, and from one pass he sent bo Bayley bhe labter passed badly to Jervis, who, however, picked up aud potted a goal with a good left foot-kick. 9—o. Following the kick out play was slow for a time till Shannon made a big run, Cummins upsettiDg him, bub Stuart gob the ball and with Murray, Gardner, and Pringle went on till the latter kuocked it into touch Butland again let Shannon away, the latter passing on to Bayley and Jerviß. The speedy three-quarter made a quick das'i and touched down, but again the crooked ground caused the score to be disallowed, and a scrum was ordered at the twentyfive. Stuart came away with a rattling good dribble, and picked up close to the corner, where he was sent out. The Whites' forwards mada a great effort to clear their line, bub play was still in their twenty-five when half-time was called.

Butland, returned the kick off into touch. Shannon got the ball on the line oub, but his kick struck the charging forwards, and a great rush, in which Owen, Tizard, and Wood were conspicuous, took the ball over the Blacks' live, bub they were .brought back for hand ball. Lambie broke away for a few yards, and then Newcastle gob a free kick for Jervis obstructing Cummins. Appleby. took the kick and made a poster of it, bnt the referee decided that it was a goal. 9—3. Stuart was slow with the kick off, and the home forwards stopped it, but the Blacks' forwards made the fiaesb rush ef the day, and took the ball over the line, but Norman managed to kick it amongst the spectators. The kick out was stopped by Murray, who has a fondness for that kind of thing, and M'Kenzie, Pringle, Jervis.'and Bayley bqok the ball back to the home line. Scrums followed, till Shannon let Butland away, who gent on to Bayley, who crossed near the corner, and ran behind the posts. Jeryis placed a goal. 14—3. Butland brought the ball back from the kick out. and play was in the home twtnty-five till Scott took the ball from Cookrof b's toe and ran up the field till Jervis collared him. Bayley spoiled a good chance by passing wildly. Cummins kicked down the field, and then Scott made a dash through the forwards, but-found Jervis an impassable barrier. Play was slow for a while till Butland passed to Bayley, the skipper starting Good off, the latter making a good run and touching.down, but the referee decided against him. The Black forwards were npw showing some of their real form, and pressed the home team hard, bub the weight of their forwards saved them. At lasb Lambie got possession on the line-oub and, running over Norman, scored close to the corner; Jervis failing with the kick. 17—3. Good was slow in returning the kick out, and play was on the Blacks' side of the half flag. Malone, Edwards, Appleby, and M'Lean made a grand charge, but Jervis took the ball from their toes close to the line. Cummins and Scott put in some good defensive work, and their forwards playing up fluftly made a couple of fine rushes, from the 'second of which the New Zealari ders were forced. Play was painfully clow after the kick-but. Eventually JPringle passed to Shannon and Jeivis, the latter getting up to the line before lie was stopped. Miller got the Whites oub of 'trouble) but the Blacks' forwards, getting under a kick of Bayley'e, kept possession till Speight score's, Jervis easily placing a goal. 22—3: More slow play, with occasional passing rushes by the Blacks. W. Wood collided with one of his own men in attempting to collar Good, and sustained an ugly cub on the head Shannon had the ball heeled out to him, and, running round the scrum, wa3 over the Ijne very quickly. Jervis made nothing ' of the kick. 25—3. Nothing' of any importance took place before time was called, except two fine rushes by the kfi&l forwards, which Bayley and Jervis stopped, and time was called with the ball in neutral territory. ' The majority of the forward? were stale and sore, and played a long way below their usual form. White, Cummins, and Scott were the 'raoßt useful of the local men.

THE FIRST DEFEAT.

Sydney was reached about 11 p.m., the team being very pleased with the prospect of a quiet day on Friday. The weather wob again fine for Saturday's match, which was looked forward to by the committee with very uneasy feelings. It wa3 feared that the large number of light forwards as compared with the few genuine scrummagers had thrown far too, much work on the latter, some of whom had played four matches in eight days. Hiroa, too, was not well enough to play, and the committee were compelled to play Gardner and Mowlem in the pack. Ellison's knee was troubling him, bub he decided to play, and Lambie and Murray, who were really unfit to play, were compelled to do so. The local team had profited very I much by the first match, and their play

in every respect was a copy of that shown by the New Zealanders on their first appearance in Sydney. The most noticeable improvement in their play was the use the backs made of the touch line, and the way in which the forwards passed back front the line out. The Blacks' forwards, on the contrary, played sluggishly and without' any dash, there being a noticeable absence of that following up which had so troubled the home backs in the first match. The following were the teams :—: —

New South Wales (Blue).— Full back— Cobb ; three-quarters — Surman, Abbott, Roberts ; halves— Barrie, Galloway ; wings— Henlon, Fraser (captain) ; forwards— Veech, Hiddlestone, M'Murdo, Sawyer, Wickham, Alcoolr, Allport.

New Zealand (Black).— Full back— Wilson ; three-quarters— Jervis, Bayley, Good ; halves— Shannon, Gage ; wings— Ellison, M'Kenzie ; forwards— Murray, Stuart, Lambie, Cockroft, Speight, Gardiner, Mowlem.

Messrs Herrold and Arnold were line umpires, and the Rev. Mr Hoatson made a capital referee.

Wynyard and Butland were to have played, but were both lame, Good aud Shannon taking their places.

Fraser kicked off to Jervis, who sent the ball back to Barrie, the latter kicking into touch. From the line out a rush of Blacks, with Lambie leading, was stopped by Cobb, who kicked into tchich. The Blues' forwards got away from the line out, and Barrie gebting possession started Roberts off, who was sent into touch by Wilson after making a good run. Stuait came ' through the' scrum, and got up to Abbott, and then the Blues' forwards came down the field with a fine passing rush till Wilson gob possession and relieved in good style. The Blues were getting the besb of the scrums, and their halves were playing with great dash. Jervis was called on to stop a strong run of Barries, which he did in good style. From the line oub Henlou passed to. Barrie, who sent on to J. Abbott, the latter kicking and following up fast. The forwards charged down under the ball, bub Good managed to secure a mark. Barrie returned this kick, and Murray kicked into touch. The Blacks' forwards pulled themselves together, and held their own in the scrums for a time, and Cockrofb, Lambie, and Stuart broke through and made a good dribble. Barrie kicked to Gage, who passed to Bayley, and he made a good dash till Henlon collared him. From a free kick to the Blues, Cobb had a good shot ab goal, and Hiddlestone following fast took the ball over the line, Gage and Wilson carrying him out again. A long scrum resulted, through which Lambie came with the ball, till Surman speculated across to Abbott, who kicked into touch.- V» ech was playing a flue game for the home team, and was coming through the scrums in fine style. Gage kioked, to Cobb, who kicked out well inside the' Blacks' twenty-five. Speight passed to Ellison, who made a sharp dash, Roberts and Barrie upsetting him. Roberts gob a pass from Galloway, and ran through the, forwards, but Jervis stopped him. Mowlem was instrumental in stopping Surman when going strong, Gage picking up and' kicking into touch. Line-out play followed, in which Speight stood out, and getting possession gained a little ground till Abbott kicked to Good. The latter returned to Surman, who made a short dash to M'Kenzie. Barrie was doing some fine kicking into touch, gaining ground each time. Speighb passed to Bayley from the line out, who ran and kioked out into the home twenty-five. Fraser, Barrie, and Henlon relieved with a passing rush till Speight stopped the latter and kicked into touch. Roberts stopped a dash by Ellison, but Surman picked up. The Blacks got a free kick, and Ellison made a poor attempt at goal, Abbott returning to Good, who gob his kick, though Abbott collided with him, and Good sustained a nasty knock on the head. Abbott stopped a good run of M'Kenzie's, and kicked to Wilson. The latter's return was touched by a Blue man in its flight, which put the-Blacks on-side, and the forwards got possession close to the home goal, but threw away a chance of scoring. Abbott kicked info touch, but the Blacks' forwards got the best of the line out, and came back to the Blues' territory. Cockrofb ran outwards from the line out and passed to Jervis. The Auckland crack sailed for the line and went over at a great pace, carrying Cobb with him. Wilson made a fair kick without success. New Zealand 3, New South Wales 0. Gage returned Abbott's kick into touoh, and Galloway, getting possession on the line out, passed to Barrie, who kicked to Wilson, the latter making a good return. Fraser broke away on the line out, and passing between Henlon, Abbott, and Galloway, was stopped by Jervis. Play was confined to scrummaging for a time till Ellison gob a free kick, and sent oub. Cockrofb and Speight were prominent on the line out;, but the game was slow for a time. Veech came through a scrum aud Gage marked, and had a drop at goal without success. Abbott ran the ball oub and kicked into touch. Galloway passed to Abbott, who made a rattling run up to Wilson, when he passed badly to Surman, the ball going into touch. The Blues' forwards kepb the ground gained till B»yley nipped a pass and kicked into touch. Cockroft, Mowlem, and Speighb gained a little ground, but Cobb regained it with a fine kick. Ellison started Gage, M'Kenzie, and Good off, but Surman was too fast for the Taranaki man and sent him into touch. The home forwards got on a good dribble, which Henlon stopped by being off-side, and the Blacks had a free kick. Cobb kicked back, and Speighb gob away, bub Alipbrj; took his pass and came back again A free kick to New South Wales, and then Abbott passed to Surman, but Good stopped him. Fraser broke away with a dribble, accompanied by Galloway, Henlon, Veech, and Hiddleßbone. Wilson made a poor attempt to stop them, and Hiddlestone scored. Cobb failed with the kick, and the score was even— 3 points each. Gage kicked oub, and Speight, 'following up, stopped Roberts's return. Sawyer sent to Surman from the line out, and he kicked to Wilson, and getting down on him stopped the return. Bayley collared Galloway, and the Blues' forwards came along with a good rush. Abbott made a long kick out at the Blacks' corner, the line umpire giving the Blues the ball though Wilson claiimed'he had not touched it. Surman threw in quickly to Henlon, who had no difficulty in scoring. Cobb's kick was a gopd one, bub wenb jusb outside the post. New South Wales Q, New Zealand 3. Roberts failed to return the kick gut, and scrums followed till half time.

Fraser, the local captain, played on the wiug during the sepond spell in order to stop Ellison, but the latter went into the scrum, and Mowlem took his place on the wing. Abbott returned the kick off into touch. Galloway sent Barrie off, and he/passed to Abbot!;, who kicked. Jervis marked, and his forwards following his kick got on a fine rush, which was stopped by off-side play by one of the Blues. Mr Hoatson ordered a scrum, through which Sawyer came with the ball, Shannon stopping him. The Blues were playing with great dash, and Abbott made a dodgy run into the Blaoks' territory till Bayley stopped him. Galloway passed to Fraser, the Jumbo of the team carrying Gage and Wilson over the line and scoring. Cobb easily kicked a goal. New South Wales 11, New Zealand 3. After an exchange of kicks Roberts followed up a kiok by Barrio, \

and getting, the ballon front, of .Wilson,, easily' scored. Gobb was again successful., with the kick. New South Wales 16,, New Zealand 3. This was very quick work, and the Welshmen, elated by their success, kept up the pace. A scrum was ordered at half way, Ellison failing to send the ball 10 yards. The ' Blues came, fchr'ougb, but Gage picked up and wriggling through passed to Jervis, the latter ■ kicking to Gobb." Gobb and Wilson did some good kicking, and then Sawyer, Henlon, and Veech came along with some good passing, Gage saving by kicking out. Barrie passed to Surman, who let Roberts away, Wilson running the latter out. Alcook got the ball cleanly on the line and sent to Abbptb, who passed back to Fraser, the captain scoring between the, posts. Gobb kicked another goal amidst great cheering. New South Wales 21, New Zealand 3. Abbqtb took the ball from the kick off and made a 3 strong fending run, and play was again in the Blacks' territory. The Bluesy forwards were running over the backs of the Blacks, and Henlon find Galloway came away with a dribble. Good failed to stop them, but Gage [ ran back and picking up ran into touch. The Blacks' forwards' made a rally, and took the ball - up to Surmau, who kicked down the field. Alcock was off-side, but played the ball, and Ellison claimed a scrum up the field. This was evidently a novel proceeding to,the local players, who looked on while Ellison put the ball down, and with Cockroffe, Murray, and Stuart took it over the line, Cobb just managing .to force. Abbott kicked out into touch, and Speight getting the ball started Ellison, Gage, and Jervis off— Cobb collaring the Auckknder. Alcock and Roberts made a short dash, which Wilson stopped ; and then Bayley managed to stop Fraser before he got away. Surmau potted, and Sawyer getting the ball sailed for . the line, but M'Kenzie collared him. Speight was doing good work on the line oub.- Barrie passed to Abbott, but Bayley intercepted and kicked up the field, and, getting down on Cobb, stopped his return. VeDch started a rush of the Blues, which Jervis stopped. Galloway passed to Surman,\but Gardner got on to him before he could get away. The Blues pressed hard, and Bayley stopped them by knocking on. Had the Blues appealed for a mark they could easily have kicked a goal ; but an appeal was made for knock on, and a scrum. Resulted. From the scrum Barrie kicked high, and Shannon marked on his goal live and kicked out on the Welsh side of his twenty-five flag. Mowlem' came away with the ball at his toe, but Galloway picked up and passed to Surman.' The sprinter dashed down the line and passed to Wilson, bnt Good cut across and ran • him into touch. Abbott returned a free kick off Gage,' and Shannon made a short ran. I Abbott, Good, aud Barrie then exchanged kicks, the ball going out in the -Blacks' twenty* five. Speight got away, but "Surman got his kick and prevented Wilson returning. The Blues carried the scrum and went over the line. Henlon touched down, but .was brought back for hand ball. Barrie passed to Abbott, who let Surman and Roberts away, Wilson sending the latter into touch. The Blacks' forwards came through the scrum, and Surman marked. Gobb took the kick, the ball striking the post and going over the bar. New, South Wales 25, New Zealand 3. - PJay was slow for a time after the kick-out, the home team being glad of a spell after the fast game they had been playiog. G»ge xgave Bayley a pass, and he potted, Cobb running the ball out a^ain, Jervis" took a pass from Gage, and, making a short run, potted without success. Cobb kicked into ' touch, and Speight made a Btart from the lineout, Allport returning and Wilson kicking back to Cobb. The Blacks claimed a scrum for offside, through which Cook came and passed' to - - Abbott, who kicked to Wilson- ' Aljcoek, Barrie, ■ and Abbott put in some , good passing,' and Speight and Lambie gained a little ground. After some long kicks batween the backs) Barrie dashed over the line, bnt Jervis and Wilson forced him out again. Good stopped a rush of the Blues, and then'Speight dribbled to Roberts, who kicked and 'forced the Blacks. The Blues made things merry for the last few minutes. Jervis an ugly rush, and then Gage passed to M'fKenzie, who made a short run. Gage gava Ellison a chance, and he went up to Gobb, with Stuart handy, but the • skipper declined to pass.- Wilson had an unsuccessful -shot at goal from ' a mark by Shannon. Gobb kicked into touch and time was called, the home team winning by 25 to 3. The Sydney .Homing Herald ascribes the defeat of the team to their stateness, consequent upon too much work in a short time ; and there is no doubt that is the true reason. The majority of the forwards were bruised and sore, and would have been' none too fit to play with a week's rest. ' Speight i* Ja6ted better than any of them, which is possibly due to the fact of his having played in fewer matches than the others. His play in the second spell was of a high order. Cookroffc and Lambie worked hard, ' but the latter was not in a fit state to play,' having been kicked in every match he played" ' up to the present. Gage put in some good defensive work, but his kicking was weak. ' Jervis played well all through, and Bayley at intervals. Good was weak on' the defensive, and so was Wilson, , ■ ' • For the home team Cobb at full back was brilliant and safe, Abbots was seen at his best, and Surman did some good, useful work. Galloway was the better of the two halves; • while the forwards were a very even lot.

In the evening the team were entertained by bhe local union aba banquet. Considerable annoyance was caused to bho local ofnoialA and player 3by the intemperate language of Mr M'Manaway, who evidently considered himself slighted by Mr Hoatson, having been asked to acb as referee. The chairman and gentlemen connected with the union were, however, so' sincere 'and profuse in their apologies, ancj fie, evidently carried so little weight, that no notice was taken of ib by the team. On Sunday a . mosb enjoyable day was spent at the National Park, a very beautiful place. ' ' '