NEW ZEALANDERS IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 53

NEW ZEALANDERS IN AUSTRALIA.

MATCH WITH NEW SOUTH WALES. EASY VICTORY FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. ’ SYDNEY, July 12. The first match between New Zealand and New South Wales was played on the Sports Grounds yesterday. The weather was fine and the ground hard and fast, being in favour -of the home team. The following were the teams: New South Wales. —Full back, L. Dwyer; three-quarters —E. Carr, H. Wogan, H. Jones, D. Suttor; five-eighth, W. Tasker; half back, F. Wood; forwards— W. Watson, C. Prentice, H. George E. .Fahey, C. Wallace, J. Duffy, F. Thompson, H. Baker. New Zealand. —Full back, O’Brien (Auckland); three-quarters—Lynch (South Canterbury), Roberts (Taranaki), Loveridge (Taranaki); five-eighths, Ryan and Black; half back, E. Roberts (Wellington) ; forwards —Cain (Taranaki), Francis (Wellington), Irvine (Otago), M'Neece (Southland), Wilson (Wellington), Bruce (Auckland), Downing (Auckland), Murray (Canterbury). New South Wales took the kick, and, following it up after poor defensive work by the New Zealanders, within half a minute Carr had scored a try for New South Wales, Wogan failing to convert. New South Wales continued pressing, when from a melee the New Zealand backs got going, R. Roberts making a brilliant run down the field. Flay settled in Australian territory, and from close work near the line Cain scored for the Maorilanders, but E. Roberts’s kick failed. Fast work on both sides followed. The New Zealanders were awarded a freq kick, and R. Roberts taking it notched three points for the visitors. Close forward work in the centre was now the order of the day, * neither side making headway, when from a melee after a line-out Loveridge was laid out and removed from the field, Taylor taking his place. From a melee in the Maorilanders’ country the New South Welshmen started a three-quarters rush, but good work by the backs saved the situation. Undaunted, the New South Wales forwards again attacked, but the i situation was again saved by the Maorilanders’ kicking. The New Zealanders now assumed the aggressive, and forward work took the play into the home team’s country, when Taylor slipped over the line, planting the ball between the posts. R. Roberts’s kick failed. Open work in the centre •■was followed by the Australians pressing their opponents. They took the ball into the Maorilanders’ country, and were granted a free kick, which failed. Black found touch at the centre, when the whistle went for half-time. Scores: New Zealand 9 New South Wales 3

On resuming, the Australians, following a fine kick, took the play down the field. The New Zealanders being awarded a free kick, play was returned to the centre. A brilliant run by E. Roberts . and Taylor was repulsed by the Australian backs. Very fast forward play on both sides followed, when E. Roberts made an opening for Ryan, who scored a try, but R. Roberts failed to convert. The Australians followed up the kick out, and Ryan found touch in their territory, but the Australians cleared the ground, when Lynch, making a fine kick, the New Zealanders followed up hard, and from a scramble near the New South Welshmen’s line Bruce scored. E. Roberts’s kick, however, failed. The Australians attacked fiercely. From a fine kick by Lynch Dwyer got the ball, but Taylor collared him before he could kick. From the melee which followed M'Neece scored a try, and E. Roberts again failed to convert. From

loose play in the centre Suttor, Jones, and George made a brilliant run. Ryan cleared the attack, and Lynch following up, Ryan took, the ball and scored, but his own kick failed to convert. From a passing run by the New Zealanders Tasker intercepted. A brilliant run followed by Baker, Duffy, Wood, and O’Brien, and the last-named, being illegally tackled, was awarded a try. Wogan’s kick failed The New Zealanders, undaunted by this reverse, returned to the ’attack. E. Roberts passing, Ryan again notched the try points, but R. Roberts failed to make an addition. From loose play E. Roberts passed to Taylor, who was pulled down. An instant later E. Roberts passed to Ryan, Black, and Lynch, who scored a try, his own .kick failing to convert Fierce forward play in the Australian territory followed. After a fine kick the Australians followed up and were attacking when the whistle blew. Final scores; New Zealand ... ... 27 New South Wales 6.

A crowd of 15,000 watched the match. The New Zealanders’ victory was a triumph of combination and' skill over individual play.

PRESS CRITIQUES. SYDNEY, July 13

Commenting on Saturday’s game, the Daily Telegraph says:—“The New Zealanders’ methods were truly in accordance with the traditions of the greatest Rugby country on earth. The feature of the game was the splendid exhibition of Roberts, who ‘ did things' and left the opposition and the crowd literally agape. Despite the licking New South Wales got she was not disgraced. Had there been anything like consistency in the goalkicking New Zealand’s score might havereached 45 points.’’ The Herald, says:—“lt was the old New Zealand story over again; there was always one All Black too many, and he was generally in a scoring position. The seven New Zealand forwards more than held their own in the scrum. A short tricky run capped by a lightning pass was the forte of the All Blacks. The passes of their three-quarters seldom missed, while the wing men were never overcrowded of forced over the touch-line.” AUSTRALIAN TEAM. SYDNEY, July 13. The team selected to play New Zealand on ©Saturday is thoroughly representative of Australia. It includes five Queenslanders. It is claimed that the changes have considerably strengthened the team, which is constituted as follows : Fullback, Dwyer; three-quarters—Fran-cis, Flynn (Queenslanders), Carr, and Wogan; five-eighth, Tasker; half-back, Wood; forwards —Williams, Murphy, J Thompson (Queenslanders), Watson, Wal lace, F. Thompson, Baker, and George. A MELBOURNE INVITATION. SYDNEY, July 12. The New Zealand team has been invited to play a match at Melbourne, but owing to the fixtures already made it is probable that it will be unable to accept the invitation.