NEW SOUTH WALES V. NEW ZEALAND.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 12017, 19 August 1907, Page 2

NEW SOUTH WALES V. NEW ZEALAND.

WIN FOR NEW t ZEALAND. Reeeivad August 'l7," 8.46 p/raV ' ( Sydney, August it; The first f ooball game between the professional teams representing New South Wales and New Zealand, was played this afternoon in fine weather. There was 'considerable interest centred in this match, which was the introduction of professionalism in this branch of sport in the Australian Commonwealth, and the Dominion of New Zealand and the attendance of the public was estimated at about twenty thousand. From the spectators 1 point of view the match was not of an interesting nature, as. both teams lacked the necessary combination for a good game, consequently [splashes of brilliancy were of an individual char* acter. Of the two sets of forwards the visitors were a better class than their opponents, and they played & strenuous though somewhat uneven game: For the first half hour the game was very even* the play being chiefly in neutral territory, wherft the local men put in sumefirie passing rushes; One of these was in* tercepted by Wynyardj who after a capital run> lost possession, but Wrigley was near at hand, and gathering up the oval, whipped it on to Wright, wko dodged across the line. Turfcill took the kick at goal, but the score was not increased. New Zealand 3, New South Waled nil.

On resuming the Welshmen put ill I "several fine rushes, but New Zea« land's defence was too good to admit of a breach being made in that quarter, Wrigley and Turtill particularly playing a line game behind f ,the scrum. Gradually and cettainly the Blacks pushed the Blues back, and Wynyard in possession ran across tbe field, accompanied by Todd. As they neared the corner Wynyard, seeing a chance of a score, handed the ball to Todd, who, dodging the opposing bask, touched down. Wrigley took tbe kick, which was at a "difficult angle, but he, too, failed to pilot the ball through the posts. New Zealand 6., New South Wales nil. A few minutes after the ball was in play again, the Blues drove New Zelaand back into their territory, and from a passing rush outside the twenty-five yards, in which Dalpuge, Cheadle and Messenger were concerned, the latter got over the New Zealand line. He essayed a goal himself but with no better ,suooess than that which attended the New Zealanders ' efforts.. New Zealand 6, New South Wales 3. Some give-and-take play followed for a few minutes, and then the referee sounded half-fcimt.

The seoond spell produced do striking play, but Wrigley proved himself a tower of strength in repeatedly checking the onalaight by tbe Blues, on tbe Mew Zealand liae. The home team shortly after tbe ipell opened had a shot at goal and narrowly escaped a score, the ball going juat under the bar. For a time there was an interchange of kicks between the backs. Had ley, the local full, and Turtill, who occupied a similar position for the visitors, proving themselves worthy representatives in their respective places. Messenger proved a dangerous thorn in the sidaof Ibe New Zealanders, and time after time he gave them some ! anxious moments. The game had for a time been hovering in New Zealand territory, but a passing rush shifted the scene into the local it Lin twenty-five. The latter got possession from a scrum, but the kick, in the endeavor to'reiieve, position was not a success, the ball going into Wynyard's hands, who promptly marked in front of the goal. Wrigley placed an easy goal, ar.d the figures read— New Zealand 9, New South Wales 3.

No sooner were the players at it again than Messenger with a fine rnu carried * the play into the opponents' twenty-five, and then kick-v ed across to Oann, who ran in. Messenger converted amid cheers. New Zealand 9, New South Wales 8. From the kick-off the New Zealanders rushed the ball down the field, and a few minutes saw CroBS cross the lint. Wrigley made a poor kick at goal, in fact tb§ place-kick-ing of these "All Blacks" is much below the standard of former teams from- New. Zealaai. The score stood at— New Zealand 12, New South Wales 8, whei tk« whistle sounded "no side. "

* Received August^, 0.40 a.m. |I3S»BS8K!Z: August£Lß. |Owingfto' the New.! Zealand? professionßl£,team's steamer arrangements foijdeparture to England clashing£witb|th«i matches arranged by Mr Wren they have been abandoned.