NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION TEAM'S TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2058, 3 August 1893, Page 32

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION TEAM'S TOUR.

N. Z. TEAM v. WESTERN DISTRICTS,

Bathurst, July 26,

The match between the New Zealand team and the Western Districts Fifteen was played at Bathurst to-day before a large attendance. The weather was beautifully clear, but cold, and more like their own climate than the visitors have yet expeiienced. The team 3 were constituted a3 follows :—: —

New Zealand.— Full back — Wilson ; threequarters—Good, Bayley, and Jervis ; halves— Butland and Shannon ; forwards — Mowlem, Oliphant, Lambie, Cockroft, R. M'Kenzie, Gray, Watson, Murray, and Hiroa. Western Districts.— Full back — Hurford ; three-quarters — Suttor, Colquhoun, Olaytcin ; halves— Barry and Dibley ; forwards— Read, Fish, Britten, Sambrook, Maloney, Parker, Gardner, M'Kewen, and Wibura.

Read started tho game by kicking off for the local team, who played in white. Jervis returned well up the field, and Lambie passing to Mowlem, the latter gave the Auckland crack a pass which took him to the goal line, where the ball slipped from his hands. The Whites responded with good will and forced the game to the centre of the ground, but the scene was quickly transferred to their lines. Smart passing between Mowlem' and Jervis again put them in danger, and Bayley also gave Good a chance, but the latter missed the ball and it rolled out of touch. From the line out Murray secured the ball and charged over the line, but Wilson failed to convert the try into a goal. Some fine passing between Butland, Shannon, and Bayley enabled the latter, with a dashing run, to reach the line, but he was collared in the nick of time. The local men relieved the pressure by a dribbling rush, the effect of which was discounted by a long punt of Butland's, which again placed the Whites on the defensive. Dibley stopped a determined rush* but the Blacks had now warmed up to their work and were not to be denied. The ball was worked close up to the line, and, coming into Oliphant's possession, that active Poneke player lost no time in getting across. Jervis kicked a neat goal from the try. As soon as the game was resumed, Jervis, with a beautiful kick, sent the ball up the ground, and Gray following fast, compelled the Whites to touch down in self-defence. Bayley then came with another fine run and passed to the Aucklander, who got close to the line before he was thrown into touch. His next effort was more successful, far receiving the ball from Mowlen and Oliphant, he easily crossed the line. He took the kick himself, but failed. After the kick out Colquhoun secured the 'ball, and, after a fine run, passed to Read and the latter to Clayton, who mulled it. Hiroa was chiefly responsible for regaining the lost ground, and took the game into the local twenty-five, where Gray lost a chance of scoring through preferring to pass.- Read headed another rush by ' the Whites, which Wilson stopped, and then there was an exchange of long kicks between the backs in the centre of tbe ground. Then the Whites charged home, but lost their advantage through Butland intercepting a wild pass, and Hiroa kicking the bill over the line, the local men were again forced down. Following up the kick out well, the Bathurst men gob into their opponents' territory. This was the only, chance they had, and they made the b j-st use of it. Maloney passed to Fish, and the latter to Sambrook, and, keeping up their pace, Sambrook transferred to Head, who succeeded ia | scoring. Colquhoun kicked a goal, and halftime was called, with the score New Zealand 11 to 5.

Lambie kicked off, and the New Zealanders immediately put on steam. A dangerous rush ' was stopped by Barry, but after some loose , play Bayley got possession and, travelling at a great pace, got over near the corner. The kick was at a difficult angle, and Wilson failed to increase the score. Shortly afterwards Butland got over, and Jervis increased the score by kicking a goal. Upon getting to work again Colquhoun had a pot at goal, without success, though a good kick, and the Blacks were forced down for the first and only time. Play then returned to the centre, where Butland passed to Shannon, who with a fine run eluded all his adversaries and scored a try, which Jervis converted into a goal. Wiburn and Read led a big rush into New Zealand territory, which was stopped by Bayley securing a mark. The Blacks charged back again, and Shannon gave Butland a pass which enabled him to get very close to the Whites' line. No further score, however, was obtained before time was called— New Zealand winning by 2* points (three goals and three tries) to 5 points (one goal). The advantage of the inclusion of the four new men from New Zealand was manifest in the scrums. Oliphant and Gray played an excellent game, while Lambie and Hiroa were prominent among the forward division. Butland and Shannon (the two halves) and Bayley (,three«quarter) were the piok of the

backs, the latter making several strong rushes. The local forwards were very strong, but ltck of combination was apparent, and they were badly supported by the backs. Jervis did not appear to be in his usual form, and the absence of his brilliant dashes for the line was conspicuous ; yet at times his kicking was all that was to be desired. '