A WIN AGAINST LEICESTER LONDON, September 30.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 61

A WIN AGAINST LEICESTER LONDON, September 30.

The success of the New Zealand football team in their previous matches aroused considerable interest in the match in which they were engaged against Leicester to-day, and quite 12,000 persons witnessed the game.

In the previous matches the New Zealanders had the best of the game from the jump, but this was, not so to-day, as the Leicester men held their own excellently for the first half-hour, and the Colonials were unable to break through the home team's defence. Towards the end of the spell, however, the visitors livened up and made things very merry. Smith (Auckland) wound up a fast run by crossing the line and drawing first blood. Wallace (Wellington) was entrusted with the kick at goal, and scored the major points. 5 to 0. Immediately the ball came into play again the visitors returned to the attack, and Wallace, snapping up the ball, crossed the line. He took the kick himself, and successfully piloted the ball over the bar. 10 to 0. From the kick-off the Leicester men were again placed on the defensive, and Abbott (Taranaki), getting possession, dashed through the opposing backs and registered. New Zealand's third try, which Wallace failed to convert. Half-time was called with the score: New Zealand, 13 points/; Leicester, nil.

The second spell was an eye-opener to the Leicester team, who, encouraged by the fact that they had successfully held their opponents in the early stages of the game, were quite unprepared for the exhibition of wonderful passing and running i which the Colonial three-quarters and fiveeighths displayed. The local team were bewildered by the elusiveness of their opponents. •A, fine , forward rush terminated in Tyler (Auckland) securing the fourth try, which Wallace again converted;- and the score stood : New Zea-, land, 18 points ; Leicester,, nil. Mynott (Taranaki) was playing brilliantly, and added a couple of tries in quick succession, each of ' which Wallace converted. New Zealand, 28 points ; Leicester, nil. Leicester's efforts to cross their opponents' line were unavailing, and the game ended without further score in a win for the New Zealand team by 28 points to nil. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. ' WELLINGTON, October 1. The following cablegram has been received from the High Commissioner: — "The New Zealand team beat Leicester today by 28 points to nothing. Tries were obtained by Smith, Abbott, Wallace. Tyler, Mynott, and Nicholson (one each), of which five were converted into goals. There were 15,000 present. The New Zealand team met with a great reception, though the crowd anticipated a win over the visitors." SUMMARY OP THE TOUR. Against Devon County. — "Won by eisrht 'goals, four tries, and one penalty goal (55 points) to a potted- goal (4 points). 'Against Cornwall. — Won by four goals, seven ; trjes* (41 points) to nil. Against' Bristol. — Won by seven goals, two. ' "tries (41 . p|bints) to nil. Against Northampton. — Won by four goals, four t tries (32 points) to nil. Against Leicester. — Won by five goals and one try (28 points) to nil. WELLINGTON, September 28. In response to an urgent request by the Press Association to supply prompter and fuller reports of the football matches at Home, the Australian Cable Association I -has agreed to do so. It states that it " will make the quickest possible arrangements to secure what is asked, though, it may not be practicable to carry it into full effect for to-day's match."