NEW ZEALAND v. WIGAN.

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

NEW ZEALAND v. WIGAN.

SYDNEY, December 15. i Commenting on the football match" be* tween the New Zealanders and Wigan* the Daily Chronicle states : " The News Zealanders suffered their first defeat., Wigan, wMch is one of the strongest' clubs in the Northern Unions opposed th« All Blacks with the finest contingent posjjj eible, and gained a victory by 12. pomtfl ito 8. The match was fought out in the* sternest manner before 30,000 spectators* l and it provided exciting episodes. Thq ! i New Zealanders were represented by theii\! best team, but all their arts and akiU failed before the determined methods ' adopted by Wigan. 1 '" Before the game was three minutes old the home team, had forced their way over^ their opponents' line. The home teaity then repelled several attacks, but at lastf the stubborn defence was broken down** when a pretty piece of passing by Wyn<f yard, Todd, and Wrigley ended in thei last-named crossing the line. Messenger ; failed to convert. At half-time Wigaqf led by 6 points to 5. ] " The second half was contested in the | fiercest spirit. Desperate efforts to score j ended in Laytham (Wigan), who was unVj doubtedly the hero of the game, putting | another try to his side's credit after beatf j ing both Wrigley and Turtill. Then Jen-^ kins, who had been mainly instrumental in giving chances to his captai^ dribbled | the leather right into New Zealand's campf and, catching it on the bounce, had no" , difficulty in scoring a fourth try. Wit?/ -the end of the game in sight, the Neva, Zealanders attacked in force, and frojni a forward rush Lile was able to ground I the ball over the line, and Ttrrtill place* ; a goal This completed the scoring." i The Daily News says that the New>J Zealanders suffered their first defeat aVj the hands of worthy opponent*. Therer was tremendous enthusiasm when Wigan? finally won, well on their merits. The* ( club played fine football throughout. Th* colonials did not underestimate thejf ' opponents, and their team was absolute!* the best they could put in the field. The? colonial forwards were less successful iif getting the ball out of* the scrummages than the opposing front were, and their tackling at critical moments failed badly* Not until the last moment did the New 1 Zealanders give up hope, and their pluckf was rewarded by a score towards tha close of the game. *