THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 41

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN AUSTRALIA.

EASY WIN AT ORANGE. Okange, July 8. This being the first visit of a New Zealand team to Orange, the inhabitants exerted themselves to make the visitors welcome. There was a mayoral reception to-day, while the union entertained them at a banquet after the match. The weather was perfect, but the ground was the reverse, being as hard as a clay floor without a vestige of grass. There was a large attendance. What was expected to have been a stiff match proved the easiest of victories for the New Zealanders, who won by 27 points to 3. The local men were outclasted iv every department of the game, and the play of the New Zealanders must have come aa a revelation to them, especially after the Bathurst match. The Orange team were kept on the defensive almost continuously. Harford, th»s local back, retired hurb early in the match, and Cummins replaced him. A rush headed by Pauiing gave Smith a chance to get in. but Wilson failed to convert the try. When the game was eet going again Wickham made a dashing run, but could not pass Orchard. The New Zealandera drove Orange back to their own ground, and from a line-out Hardcastle gob the ball and dashed over the line. Allen placed a goal to the credit of his side. Aloaoat immediately after the ball cime into play, Allen, from a smarij pass by Bayly, gob over, bat failed to kick a goal. After a good deal of play in the centre half tima was called. On resuming, tha local men were twice forced, the New Zealanders pressing hotly. From a struggle on the lice Calnan fell over, and addnd another try, but Allen failed to put the ball between the postj. For handling the ball in a scrum a peealty kick was awarded to Orange, from which they successfully pl*ced the bsll over the goal. Then New Zealand tcored rapidly. From a p*S3 from Hardcastle to Calnan, and from the latter to Fftuling.thelast-named scored atry, which Calnan

safely negotiated. Cummins stopped another dangerous rush, but the advantage transitory. Daly was about the only local player who showed anything approaching brilliancy, and he narrowly missed getting home. Orange made a number of futile rushes. M'Kenzie from a rush scored, and Pauling negotiated a goal. Daly again made a clever run, and beat all but Orchard, who threw him out of play. Wilson carried the ball back by a dashing run, and Bayly passed to Allen, who transferred to Smith, and the Aucklander with a fine dodgy run scored ; but Calnan failed with the kick. Time was then called. Orchard's line kickiDg was splendid, and Mills also played well. Blair in tho scrum stood out conspicuously, while Bayly played a great and dashing game, aud Smith's and Allen's passing was nearly perfect.