FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8014, 28 December 1905, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE SCOTLAND MATCH. " DAILY MAIL" COMMENTS. WON ONHIE POST. MOST EXCITING FINISH. Received 27, 6,45 p.m. Sydney, December 27. The " Daily Mail" says: "The New Zealanders set the seal to their fame as Rugby footballers at Edinburgh when, after being 4 point to the bad five minutes before the call of time, they found the weak spot in Scotland's armour, scoring twioe in rapid succession, and actually finishing up with five points to the good, after the most exciting finish over witnessed on the Inverleith ground. While Scotland was unfortunate in getting beaten on the post after holding the lead for the groater part of tho game, it must be admitted that the New Zealanders would hate been still more unlucky to have lost for on the general run of the play they were undoubtedly the better side.

j With a quarter of an hour to go, tho j crowd became too excitod to cheer the Scottish backs, who were playing for safety and giving nothing away, kick, ing into touch whenever possible. Minutes seemed like hours to the fanxious Scotsmen, and like seconds to the supportors of the fern loaf. A succession of scrums looked as if Scotland would succeed in keeping the ball close to the end, but at last, when it seemed as if all were over, bar tho shouting, the ball camo out to the N.Z. backs and in a flash it went across to Smith on the loft. That player, sotting his teeth in grim determination, and calling upon every ounce of his strength, ran straight for the goal lino. Owing to the cleverness with w]iich the movement was guided, tho only man who had a fair chance of tackling Smith was Scoullar, tho full back. He was in a trying position for a young and comparatively inexperienced player, and Scoullar was more to be pitied than blamed for allowing Smith to got past him. A wild yell from tho students announced that Smith was over. The place kick was not converted, but, to clinch matters, in the verylast minutes, Cunningham touched down after a brilliant bit of play by Mac Donald.

It was not one of the Now Zealanders' b#st displays, as the backs never got properly together. Both Wallaco and Hunter seemed bothered by the frost-bound, slippery ground, The hero of the afternoon was Smith, who played with raro judgment throughout. On such ground swerving or dodging was impossible, besides which 'lie ball was difficult.io hold, Kennedy, of the frisliTOion, refereed with the strictest impartiality and fair r ness, but at times was unnecessarily strict in liis interpretation of the " kuock-ou " riile, though both sides were treated alike in the matter.

The Scottish tackling was very keen, and they controlled the ball with remarkable skill, They mode a series of incursions which the New Zealand backs appeared for a time unable to check. It was from tho fiercest of these inroads that McCallum scored Scotland's try. So hard did the visitors find it to time the ball, nnd so frequently were passes intercepted, that Scotland might easily have scored in the first five minutes. Shortly afterwards, how. ever, tho ball was got away smartly from the scrum by Munro, who whipped it out to Sanson, who in a twinkling snap-kicked a goal.

This early reverse acted as a good stimulant to the New Zealandors, and for the next quarter of an hour they had all the best of the game. Only the magnificent dofence by McLeod Brothers, and the good touch kicking of Sconllar, saved the Scotch oitadel, Right through tho game the com* batants were at it hammer and tongs.

NEW ZEALAND V. CARDIFF. A NARROW VICTORY. London, December 26. There were forty-five thousand, spec, tators. Cardiff was represented by a strong sido, including five internationals. Pretty passing by Bush and Gabo enabled Nicholls to score, Winfield ! converting, | 0 Sullivan mot "witli an accident through coming in contact with another player, and fractured his collar, bone. Thomson scored a try just on half time, Wallace adding tho major points, making five all when the whist' o soundod.

In the second spell Cardiff pressed strongly, till they m&do a mistako and tlet Nicholson scoro, •Wallace' Conver-

The home team made great efforts to draw level, but the New Zealand defence was excellent. Just beforo time, however, Thomas got an opening and crossed, but Winfield failed to add the coveted points. New Zealand... ~, ]() Cardiff ... o

The Government cable states that New Zealand beat Cardiff by 10 points (two converted tries) to 8 (a goal and a try). Nicholson and Thomson scored '' ' 10 colonials. In tlio first spoil O'Sullivan broke his collarbono. THE MAORILANDERS' RECORD

The results of the arc as follows.:— Match. Devon ' Cornwall Bristol ... .'. : Northampton Leicester Middlesex ... ] Durham Hartlepool Xorthivnburlaiid Gloucester ... j Somerset Devonport Albion Midland Counties Bldckheath Surrey Oxford Cambridge Richmond ' Bedford ' Scotland West of Scotland Ireland Minister i England " Cheltenham Cheshire Yorkshire Walos J " watches played for. Pts, agst, ... 55 4. - 41 « 41 0 ... 32 e ... 28 0 ... 34 0 .. 16 3 ... 63 0 31' 0 ... 44 0 22 ft 21 3 1 21 s ... 32 ft .. 11 A •• 47 0 - 14 ft .. 17 g ■ 41 D ■ 12 9 22 e •• 15 «. . 33 0 .15 J) . 18 ■ 34 40 JMBU (ilaiiiorgnn Newport Cardiff ... . 9 { . 6 . 10 j Xotdl: ■ , 826 ,