THE MERTHYR-TYDVIL MATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 63

THE MERTHYR-TYDVIL MATCH.

SYDNEY, December 11. Commenting on the match between the New Zealanders and Merthyr-Tydvil, the Chronicle says, that the New Zealanders signalised their first appearance in Wales— by a decisive victory. Merthyr-Tydvil elected to kick up the field. They gained the visitors' twenty-five, but were penalised, the ball returning to the centre. Play was kept up at a great pace. Twice [ Messenger failed with penalty kicks. Then Maddison, of Merthyr-TydvQ, broke away, but his pass went astray. For a time ; Merthyr-Tydvil pressed, but a gooo» kick . by Messenger transferred play, and from ' a bout of passing Todd got over the line, | Turtill converting. Encouraged by this ' success, the New Zealanders continued to j attack, and, after Lavery had got over, ! Row© added another try*. Bees then crossed ■ the line for Merthyr-Tydvil, and at half- I time the New Zealanders led by 11 points J to 3. j Shortly after the change of ends Me*- I senger put the visitors further ahead with ' a try. Thecr Rees got over for MerthyrTydvil. Messenger then dropped a beau- | tiful goal from halfway, and Todd put on three more tries, Messenger converting one. Nearing the end a- fine bout of passing ended in Bevan obtaining a try j for Merthyr-TydviL This proved to be j the limit of the- scoring. j The Merthyr-Tydvil half backs were ' superior, but in the forwards the home side were overweighted. | The Telegraph says the colonials were vastly superior in the open, their run- j ning and passing being particularly fine. | The Daily Mail says: "That the present team of New Zealanders is not so good a side as the giants who visited Wales two years ago is the opinion of everybody who saw the match. The. greasy ground might account for the failure of the viai- ; tors' forwards, but of the backs one mustspeak with admiration. Messenger and Todd are artists of the- first water, and Lavery is also good. The All Blacks were unfortunate in losing Gilchrist, who injured his knee early in the first half." The Daily News says: "MerthyrTydvil did not deserve to, lose by so large a margin. The play of the New Zealanders, excepting Messenger, Rowe, and Todd, did not impress the Welsh critics, Merthyr-TydviL lost so heavily because of the superior speed of the New Zealanders and the fine opportunism of Messenger and Todd."