NEW ZEALAND v. AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 61

NEW ZEALAND v. AUSTRALIA

A WIN FOR NEW ZEALAND.

The weather conditions prevailing on Saturday were such that football was generally considered out of the question, and much disappointment was consequently felt as to the anticipated meeting of the New Zealand and Australian (combined New South AVales and Queensland) team. It was found, however, that there was one ground in Dunedin where play was quite possible, and consequently on Saturday afternoon over 3000 football enthusiasts fortified themselves against the weather and made their way to Tahuna Park, where the match was played on No. 2 ground. The ground was in surprisingly good order, the 6andy soil having literally drunk up the rain, and it was evident, as events proved, that the state of the ground would not interfere at all materially with the game. A drizzling rain fell, however, throughout the afternoon and made the ball slippery to handle. A fast and interesting game was "witnessed,

] with which the spsctators bad reason to bfr ' satisfied. Tt was unforiuuate, however, thao the first New Zealand match proper held in Dunedin should ha%e been played under such conditions, as, given a fino day, a very large- attendance at the Caledonian Ground could have becn^ looked for. Although New South Wales and Queensland; football teams have separately visited the colony on different occasions, tho present Australian team is the first combination

om these two colon'es to visit New Zealand, and is on that account the more thoroughly representative of Australian Rugby football. The teams were constituted as follows :— •

Austhalia (Colours). — Full back, A. P. Penman; three-quarters — S. Wickham (captain)', M. Smith, B. Smith, and D. J. M'Lean; halves — E. A. Anlezark and M. Dore , forwards — A. Burden. E. A. Oxlade, J. darken, H. A Judd, G-. W. Richards, W. Hirsehberg, B. J. Swaanell. and B. Lucas.

New Zealand (Blacks). — Full back, Turtill ; three-quarters— Gilray, Bennet, and Macpherson ; five-Dighths— Wrigley and Smith ; haif back, Burgess, forwards — Dodd, Watkins, Cross, E. Purdue, Francis, Spencer (captain), C. Purdue, and A. M'Minn.

Australia winning the toss took advantage of the wind, against which Spencer kicked off for New Zealand. Dore returned, but offe'de play by Judd brought the leather back, and the Blacks rushed it into the visitors' twenty -five, where M'Minn was conspicuous in a good piece of dribbling. Tho ball then went out to the New Zealand backs, who failed to get away with it. and Australia was awarded a free kick. An exchange of kicks favoured the Colours, and the ball came out nicely to their backs from a scrum, but was nob well handled. A' free -kick was then awarded the Australians at midfield, and "Wickham, with the aid of the wind, sent the ball with a place-kick just toone side of New Zealand's goal, and the Blacks forced down. Swannell marked tha kick out, but lost the advantage when one of his side got in front of the ball, and M'Minn broke away, but M'Lean neutralised matters by noat play. Pretty passing followed among tho New Zealand backs, M'Minn, Wrigley, Bennet, and Maspherscn carrying play into Australia's twenty-five, where the Blacks attacked strongly, rushing the ball over the line A scrum on tho line-out was the only result, and a ires kick enabled the Australians to avert thp danger for the moment. New Zealand continued to press. M. Smith dribbled smartly clown through the Blacks, but Turtill sent the ball back into Australia's twenty-five, and Swannell broke away, but Bennet returned the ball. A nice display of passing among the New Zealand backs then ended in the first score of the game after a little more than 10 minutes' play. The ball came smartly from the scrum to Wrigley, and was carried on in succession by Bennet and Macpherson, the last-named transferring again to Wrigley, who came along the outside and scored near the corner. M'Minn's kick at goal was a poor one. The kick-out was returned by T.vtill into touch in his own twenty-five, and from the throw-out the New Zealand forwards came up the field with, a fine rush, but Anlezark recovered the ground with a long kick, Turlill finding touch smartly in the. Blacks' twenty-five. Play remained here a minute or two, till Turtill kicked into Penman's hands, the Australian full back, with a well-judged kick, finding touch near the corner flag. Some smart passing here, in, which Smith and M'Lean were conspicuous, . enabled the last-named to cross New Zealand's line and score. Wickham's kick at goal was rcsultless, being at a difficult angle. New Zealand 3 points, Australia 3 pointe. Play hovered in New Zealand's territory a short time, but the New Zealand forwards changed the scene of play with one of vaeir irresistible rushes, and Penman found himself in difficulties. Australia's .line wag seriously threatened, when Orofs took tne ball offside, and with a penalty kick the Colours found relief. Agais the New Zealand forwards pressed their opponents hard, and Penman got in a timely kick, which Wrio-ley marked, and Turtill had an unsuccessful kick at goal, Dore returning into touch at halfway. A lot of up-and-down play followed, M. Smith hanging to the ball too long when play was in New Zealand 3 twentv-fi%-e, and a chance to score by passing offered. The ball again came out to the Australian backs, and was w«ll handled by Anlezark, M. Smith, ami B~ Smith, who sent it on to Wickham, who was blocked, and unsuccessfully attempted to pot. New Zealand then rushed play rio-ht up to Australia's goal, where Macpherson put in a smart run, but was unable to get over, Smith then throwing away all the result of the fine work by the forwards by punting over the line, Australia forcing down unopposed. Good kicking by Bennet and Burgess and hard play by the forwards, led by C. Purdue, again set the Colours on the defensive, and from a penalty award for off-side play Wrigley had an unsuccessful shot at goal, and the visitors forced. From a free kick awarded Australia a minute later, "Wickham sent a high punt to Turtill, who was hustled and failed to get in his kick, and Gilray also failed to pick up the leather, which was carried over New Zealand's line, Turtill forcing down just in time. Play returned to halfway, and M'Minn was conspicuous in brilliant footwork that carried play almost to Australia's line, where Penman, saved. Half-time was then called witii play in neutral territory. 1 With the wind behind them the New Zeaiandevs were expected to have considerably tho upper hand in the second spell. Their efforts against the wind in the first spell had, however, obviously lofh I them none too fresh, and the Australians played a -\ery determined defensive game B. Smith and Penman changed places in the Australian back team. Play was faster and more interesting than in the first spell. The Blacks quickly set up an attack, and Bennet potted at goal ineffectually, JVI. Smith removing play by good work to NewZealand's twenty-five. An exchange of kicks, followed by good tackling by tho New Zealand three-quarters, ended in Turtill's kicking into touch in the Colours' twenty-five. M'Minn headed a rush tluifc seriously menaced Australia's line, but a free lack enabled Anlezark to find touch at. the twenty-five flag. Anlezark then broke through the attack, and play came to "midfieM. Burgess whipped the ball away froia tho scrum smartly, but Wrigley did not send it on to the three-quarters. Doro put in a smart bit of work, and play became very fast. From a. scrum about Australia's twenty-five line M'Minn broke away, and, dribbling cleverly, scored in a. good position. C. Purdue failed with the kick at goal, the ball skidding off the side of his foot. New Zealand 6 points. Australia 3 points. Passing among the New, Zealand backs initiated by Macpherson. threatened Australia's "line, bul Gilray was* 1 collared with the ball. With M'Miun ag*H|

to the fore the New Zealand forwards came down once more on the Colours' line, a' force-down resulting. Lucas led a retaliating rush by the Australian forwards that carried play into the Blacks' twentyfive, and Watkins was conspicuous in play that again invaded Australia's territory, Where B. Smith pat in a serviceable kick, and the ball went into touch in the Colours' twenty-five. By cleverly cutting off a pass M. Smith was instrumental in {removing play to halfway, and Anlezark '(initiated a passing rush by the Australians which ended in M'Lean being collared. jßag-ged play followed about the centre, "the Blacks having apparently a chance '(when Bennet knocked-on. A great rush by ■the New Zealand forwards was cleverly ' etopped by M'Lean, who found the touoh3ine, and Burgess subsequently was seen in a pretty bit of play, cutting in and beating two or three men, but having no support. Play became hot near Australia's corner,, and from a scramble M 'Minn scored tiis second -try amid cheers. Spencer made a good attempt at goal, but allowed too touch for the wind. New Zealand 9 points, 3 points. The New Zealand forwards came again to the attack, and the Visitors' defence was severely tested. Pass--ing between Wrigley and Bennet and Gilray followed, and a score was certain had the last-named not failed to take Bennet's . {pass. By uontbined work Australia took -^jlay up to New Zealand's twenty-five, but - -«nly to see the -ball sent back into touch fin -their own 'twenty-five- by. a fine kick . - from Turtill. The Tiext incident was when .Smith- passed "to" Gil "ay, and the Otago _ tolayer, after a -xlodgy run, passed to the Jorwayds, who were supporting him;- and ,XJross, eventually getting possession, scored- ' Jn'.a good position. ' Francis ,placed a good ; goal. 'Nfew Zealand- 14-" poinfe, Australia 3 points, Stimulated by the reverse the Dolours put forward a- final effort, and parried play into New Zealand's twentyJive, where passing between Anlezark, B. ■Smith, and M'Lean ended in the latter (being collared -when~ all but across the CBlackV line. New Zealand had one more

'chance in play in which "Macpherson an:l Rennet ,took part, the former making a smart run down the .line, and giving a jpretty pass in to Bennet, -who was backing shim., up. Unfortunately for has side the iNew Zealand centre failed to take the bail.

{and the opportunity was lost. From a | -jpenalty' award -Francis had an unsuccessful talaee-kick -at goal, and -the Australians were a moment later again forced down. Wime was called -with play in the Colours' •vtwenty-five, the final score thus being: «w '%$. Z. ... 14- points. Aubtralia 3 points. The" game itself does not call for a great Heal of comment. Undoubtedly the superior /team .won, but undoubtedly ako the Australians a determined -game, and the Worm shown by the team was rather surprising -after ife "defeats -at the hands of Canterbury, Wellington, -and "Nelson. The Wfeplay of- football was, generally, speaking, Mot " of -a, particularly 'high, order, .as neither &cam showed any high degree of combination — this -at least not being, expected from ythe-JSew Zealand- team. This fact, howjeyer,_with.:tthe 7 absenee of much 1 ' of the. usual: informality - -attendant" on a big 1 football jfirture," : one jeaaily -to lose the imjipfession that 'New- Zealand' and' Australia iwere- ( struggling for football supremacy. £The gome was, however, very keenly oon)tested, and at* alltiioes fast and interesting. . -£The New Zealand w forwards had "the advantage in weight,. and, while they aescrtedfc superiority over.their opponents, had- their kraTk"'cnt'..oai, for • the ' Australian forwards "- kept .at 'their work splendidly, and played . Ii capital game, holding their own in the £crum, -though not being -equal to the New Bealanders in the loose, the latter putting in -some great, rushes; which the Australian J>aoks found .extremely difficultto stop. The te&istralian backs ■ shaped poorly in the first .spell when -chances came their way; their fcfcefenoe was not too sound -and their fieldSng uncertain, while .their attack was quite In the; second spell, though Called on fbr'some veryhard defensive work, iheir "display was. much better; their tackling was determined, and their i>lay toona confident. Individually the New Zealand backs played well, but the five-eighths were, a weakness as regarded'oombined play t*ehind the scrum. In. the scrum the New Zealand forwards did not -appear to unduly *"xerfc" themselves, but atoned in the looee and 1 on .the -line-out. The final score was, fairly- indicative of the merits of the teams, ihough" it should have been different had either .side had any fortune in the matter of- goal-kioking. The slipnery state of the fcell and the lumpiness and heaviness of the ground wene-jio doubt responsible for- some

erratic play at times. Of -the New Zealand *acks, '.Turtill gave a really good display -■at-, full back, his line kicking being excellent. .Not many* opportunities cause to the'.thiree•quartera,vbut of, these Maopherson was about the best. Wrigley did some clever individual work. at five-eighths, .but Smith, ■o£ 'Nelson,

wae< uncertain'in his play. Burgess shaped at- the sorum.whenhe got the chance. jOf-the forwards, M'Minn played a brilliant game as. wing forward, beiiisr a particular fchorn-tohis opponents, and Cross, Francis, »nd Spencer completed a very prominent Quartet. Penman, the Australian full back, fcame cut of a difficult ordeal well on the Whole, his kicking being good. Wickhani Jund M'Lean were the best of the threequarters, while Anlezark at half back was a iower of strength to has team, his defensive *ork being particularly good. Judd, Oxladie, Lucas, and Swannell might bo singled out *s playing a specially good forward game. iThe game was played in an excellent spirit, •«.nd ably controlled by Mr J. Williams.