AUSTRALIA V. NEW ZEALAND.

Colonist, Volume XLVII, Issue 11432, 11 September 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

AUSTRALIA V. NEW ZEALAND.

WIN FOR NEW ZEALAND. (Per United Press Association. ) * Dunbdin, September 2. Th<J match between Australia and New Zealand was played on Tahuna Park. There has been P™ ctlca JJy. n ° rain since the middle of May, Jut it get :in on Thursday night, "»**■• continued ever since. All ground wete under water, but Tahuna Park, the portion playedf on beingr * n wonderfully good order. , The aub-s6il ij ail sand, and as there is only a light top dressing of soil, there was no* a drop of Water on the ground, which, though slig&tly heavy, was aB dry as a bone. Considering the weather and the change of ground and lack of facilities for getting to it, there ! was a surprising attendance. The groand was a little rough, but the visitors admitted that their defeat by U to 3 was in no way due to the groand. A stiff breeze blew with the slope of the ground, and New Zealand had to contend against bora Ifl the first spell, in spite of which they Were attacking for most of the time. Australia won the toss, and played with the wind. New Zealand attacked, and in the loose dribbling rushes held the advantage. The ball came out, after a lot of play, to Wrigley, who sent it on to Bennett, and McPherson, who got to within a few yards of the line, when he passed on to Wrigiey, who dashed over. The kick at goal was unsuccessful, l.tte Australians then became aggressive, and when in New Zealand's 25 McLean picked up and scored, no goal being registered. Sides changed over with the score equal. In the second spell the Australians assumed the aggressive, and disorganised tho back play for some time. The New Zealand forward* then broke away, and McMinn, dribbling from the 25, scored a try, which was not converted. New Zealand again attacked, and ! several chances of scoring were lost through faulty handling by the backs. Eventually, from a scramble on the Australian line, McMinn again scored. Nine to three. Australia then attacked, and passing among the backs let McLean away, but he was tackled on the line, New Zealand forcing. New Zealand again attacked, and from a loose rush Cross scored, Francis kicking a "goal. Fourteen to three. No further score resulted, and the game ended as above. The Australians played a good game, especially in the second half, the defence being particularly sound. [Private information received states that Smith (Nelson) played a good game.]