FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12844, 30 November 1905, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALANDERS AT HOME. MUNSTER BEATEN EASILY. United Presg Association—Per Electrio Telegraph—-Copyright. LONDON, "November 29.*Five thousand spectators were present at the match between the New Zealanders and Munster. The weather was fine, and the ground in fair condition". The Munster men were outclassed from the start, Abbott (Taranaki) scored two tries easily in the spell, while Glasgow (Taranaki) placed a penalty goal. Then Glasgow and M.-Oi £- gor (Wellington)," and Roberts (Wellington), obtained a try, each, one of which* was converted, all before half time. The score was then— New Zealand 20 Munster o In the second half Munster showed improved \form, and fast and .exciting play ensued. Booth (Otago). Roberts and Stead (Southland),.each..got a try, of which Glasgow converted two. Time was called with the score-:—• ■"•*,... New Zealand ... .... 33 Munster : 0

I BRITISH PRESS COMMENT." INTERESTING DETAILS AND CRITICISMS. Received 6.28 r>.m.. November 29th. SYDNEY. November 29. •The London "Daily Mail" says that the d:r,p!ay in the Somerset match w'as in many respects the worst the New Zealanders had yst- e-iven. The team was not so good at Gloucester? as the side which they defeated. Their combination was inferior, and did not possess the same dash; The absence of Roberts \(the scrum half), was perhaps the most severely felt. He has to receive all the hard knocks, do all the dirty wcrk. he gets none of the credit if things go right, and all blame him if they go wrong. The little man who forms the connecting link between the two great pieces of machinery is scarcely noticed, but if his work is hot done expeditiously the machinery is liable to break down. " His work may not be so shov =• as that of Smith, Willace, and Hunter, but if the New Zealanders are to be beaten probably they will be when this quiet, unobtrusive player is absent.

If the backs in the Somerset match did not reach the usual standard of excellence, the forwards were as good as ever. Somerset was always famous for its forward team, and did not disgrace its best traditions The colonials had to deal with a pack almost as powerful as themselves. 'Hie tackling on both sides was strenuous, but there were /no casualties. Though. beaten in the tight scrums, the Somerset forwards were very good in the loose rushes, while their following rip was as keen as that of the New Zealanders. The ground was uneven, rough/,, and decidedly narrow. defeating the Devonport Albions the New Zealanders incidentally gave the" Devonians ah object lesson "in the art of try-getting, which should prove of practical value._ It was < tie of the hardest, games t=e New Zealanders were called -upon to may- For the first time they met a combination and not a collection of individual units. It speaks volumes for the originality of their methods and the genius of ■the players that after having none the better of a keenly fought 'first half, they gradually wore their opponents down, and at the close scored pretty muchi as they chose. The first forty minutes of the/ frame will long be remembered by the New Zealanders. At the start the Albions anreared to be'suffering from stage fright. They allowed the colonials to score a soft try in the;-first few minutes. The ease with which it was obtained seemed to slow the penetrability of New Zealand's armour. Thenceforward the Albion forwards took the game in their own hands, keeping the ball as close as they could. They initiated their opponents'into the art of wheeling the scrums, broke through time and again, and swept up the field in an irresistible phalanx with the ball at their toe. Every moment a score appeared to be imminent, : but,the pluck and coolness of Stead and the brilliant kicking of Gillett "prevented a score. Right up to half time did the Albion men keep up their (heroic effort. Although five points down they had none the worst of a fast and exciting struggle. In the second spell everyone expected the local men to go even better, but whether their tremendous exertions had taken too much out of them, or whether the New Zealanders had improved their game, the fact remains that there was onlv one team in it after the change of ends The second half saw the New Zealanders at their best, the backs giving an electrifying display. Combination, interspersed ■n-ith individual efforts, which bewildered then- opponents' ability to change their tactics to suit the occasion was one of the chief charms of the New Zealanders' play. The men are opportunists in the best sense of the word. Red tape is entirelv absent in their methods. Smith was very much in evidence and his pace made hfm a prime favourite with the crowd.