FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5057, 17 September 1894, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

Kew South Wales v. NewZealand,

It is easy to account for tbe New Zealand team's downfall. Saturday's play revealed a terrible lack of combination. The backs Boon got fairly well together, bnt right through the forwards seemed to be imbued with the idea that each man _was called upon to play a "lone hand," and the old motto of " Unity is strength was absolutely and completely forgotten. The New Zealand Eugby Union is nob altogether freo from, blame for not. proTiding for even a moderate- amount of praotice together for its seleotion, and it was somewhat painful to notice a team of splendid individual players beaten by a body that even itself must admit " its inferiority were the conditions of combination equal. This lesson, at least, was taught by Saturday's game, and tho result may after all bring forth good fruit in the future. The play was very even; each team scored a couple of tries, the Sydney men converting one, and had Balch, the Kaiapoi captain, been as accurate as usual in bis goal kicking, Naw Zealand would have won the game. The play was not at all interesting or skilful. The superiority of the New South Wales forwards not only destroyed the individual work of New Zealand in the same department, but also smothered, in a great degree, the baok play of that team. The Australian backs were below the quality of New Zealand's, but at the same time were very safe and -, kioked well— points of excellence that, : under tbe circumstance, fitted in admirably. The looal team also had bad luck through A. Bayly, its captain, being forced ; to retire from the play half-way through { the seoond spell, but there can be no doubt that tbe lack of combination for- ; • ward gave New Sonth Wales the victory, j The afternoon was a glorious one for ; football, and olose on 4000 people were : present. The ground was rather soft, but ; not unfavourable for good play. MrFache, . of Wellington, aoted as referee, and thongh ; bis derisions differed a good deal from j those of all the local referees, be was ; scrupulously fair, and, if slow by com- j parison, his decisions had no influence on | the result. Bhortly after 3 p.m. New Zealand took ! the field clad in black jerseys with a silver fern leaf on the left breast and white' knickers. Their physique attracted favourable comment. They were soon followed by the light blue Sydney team. The following were the tean»_— New South Wales (light blue).— Full baok, W. Cobb; three-quarter-backs, G. B. Lusk, F. Surman, H. P. Parish ; five.- . eighths, O. Eiley ; half-back, W. Galloway ; forwards, P. M. iane, A. Hanna, J. Carson, T. Alcook, N. J; Lohan. G. Wyburd, A. T. Scott, W. Edwards, E. Eyre. New Zealand (blaok). — Full - back, D'Arov (Wairarapa) ; three-quarter-backs, W. Baiob (Canterbury), A. Bayly and H. Good (Taranaki) ; five-eighths, H. Batland (Went Coast); half-back, A. E. Ceok (Canterbury) ; forwards, J. ___mbie, D. Hughes and W. Bayly (Taranaki), M'Keuj_ie, Swindley and Maber {Wellington), Humphreys (Canterbury), S. Cockroft (Hawke's Bay), Stewart (South Canterbury). Cheers having be9n exohanged, Wyburd kicked off in a northerly direction, D'Aroy returned, and Surman marked. His kick went straight out at tbe centre, -md from the line-out Swindley led a good New Zealand rush across the line, forcing New South Wales. Play still bovered .about tbe Sydney flag until Alcock broke away, and ended a clever run well ia New Zealand ground. Good relieved the pressure by a fine kick, and centre play followed. Then came a fine forward rush of New South Wales, Lohan and Edwards being in the van. Heavy scrummaging at the Blnck flag followed, and apenalty gave Lusk a shot, which fell short, and was marked by Swindley. Surman kicked back, and the ball went out at New Zealand's corner. A long attaok was Instituted, and Lohan was almost in. Lambie, M'Kenzie, and Humphreys came away nt last, but were ordered back for a breach of the rules, and it was not until Balch got in a neat kick, and Cockroft and M'Kenzie showed come good foot work to the centre that ehe siege was raiaed. Good kicked lustily and bigh, and W. Bayly's faßt following up emothered Parish's return at the Cornstalk's flag. Then, came a fine ruah of Sydney forwards headed by Lane, Alcock, Lohan and Wyburd, and their combined play centred again. Balch kicked back, but good work by Eyre, Surman and Lusk got the ball well past the centre, and Lohan and Lake dribbling forced the Blacks. The attack was hotly maintained, and at last Hanna daitid over. from a scrummage and Cobb converted — 5 to nil going np amidst applause. -Lambie w.s prominent after tbe kick-out and fixed play in Sydney territory, and Bayley made . a nice run until be was npset by Eiley close to the visitors' line. Lane dribbled nicely to the centre, but a fine passing cbarge, in which Cook, Britjand, Bayly and Balch were conspicuous, enabled the last-named to dash as far as the flag before be was grounded by Soott. Then came a beautiful pass from Butland to Balch, and the Kaiapoi crack was almost in. Immediately afterwards Butland got a neat paes over to A. Bayly, who beat Cobb and crossed the line amidst cheers. Balch failed witb the kiok at goal, ond five to three was signalled. Lane dribbled away after the kick-out, and D'Arcy fumbled, but exeouted a lucky kick into touch whilst on the ground. Balch made a neat, run through the visitors' ranks, and soon again aroused enthusiasm by executing a brilliant and clever run olobo to tbe line. Hard fighting followed until Cook passed neatly to Humphreys, who scored. Baloh again failed to register the main point, and six to five was noted. A force soon followed from a long shot of Batch's from Good's mark, and more centre play succeeded. Car_on gained ground for Sydney, and- Lane seconded his efforts; with a good run to New Zealand's line, Lusk being tackled just in time. Cobb punted over the bar, a force following. -and more fighting in midfield came until a long kick by Good forced the Blues. Neutral play succeeded until M'Kenzie made a fine run to the New South Wales flag, but his work was nullified at once by a rattling forward rush of the Blues, and Scott and Wyburd menaced seriously, D'Arcy showing some good tackling. Cockroft and Humphreys at last broke through and centred play as halftime was called. Scrummaging in midfisld was noted at the st__rfc of the second spell, but the Blue forwards gradually lifted their opponents back, and a neat kick by Parish went out at the corner, a fcrce-down following. Cockroft broke away from midfield and roade a nice run well into Australian ground, and although Surman made a short dash back Balch overcame the opposition with a beautiful run down tbe field to the Sydney line and a long attack followed. Good made a couple of deter- . miaed attempts to score, and was only ! foiled on each occasion by an inch or two. Lane at laßt came away in front of a fine dribbling rush, and Cobb had a long shot from a penalty. Good answered with a fine run and a well-judged*ick, but nice passing between Galloway and Eiley threatened the home team again. Good relieved, bufc Lane and party dribbled back, And D'Arcy taking a flying kick near his line, missed the ball, and Eyre, following up fast, took poa-ession and went over unopposed. Lusk's kick went wide —sight to six. Good made a short dash afterwards, and A. Bayly was stunned by a severe collision, and was forced to retire. Good made another fin 9 run to the line, but the Blue forwards at once drove play to the other end. At this stage the Sydney man took thingß leisurely, in spite of the urgent appeals from the onlookers not to waste time, and as the local team also unwisely indulged in a lot of line play, the game became very slow and uninteresting. Band-balls and constant florumma'f>inp in neutral ground were prominent, but by degrees play waß shifted nnder New Zealand's bar. Passing by the visitors fumbled by their backs lost them ground, and Hughes put in a nice dribble to the centre. Edwards, Alcock and

|BBfIaMMBWMWWMMW-__-a_WM_»W-_-_waiM***-************i ■ *■ „. Leb an returned to the attack, and Good mis3-kioking, allowed the visitors an advantage. Maber, Lambie and Hughes executed a good forward passing rush into Sjdneyground,andM'Kenziesupplementr.d this- witn a dash to tbe line. Then Ba ch had a charge, but was Btopped by Surman just in time. The Blacks were driven back, and a mark to Lusk put play at their flag. Good picked up an awkward pass in splendid style, and made a magnificent run right into Sydney quarters, and as time wae approaching the excitement amongst; the spectators tecame interne. Tbe Blue forwards, however, easily pushed the Black 8 Dack, and. a mark went out at tbe . C-ntie. Balch swooped down again in good style, and tbe Blacks gaining a penalty, he made an excellent shot at. goal, only missing by about a foot. Centre play followed the kick-out, until the Blues came on determinedly, and a high kick of Lust s was fumbled on the line by Butland ]uafc as Mr Facbe announoed no-side. The matches played between New Zealand and New South Wales have resulted as follows :— '1884, May 31-New Zealand won by 2 goals 1 try to 1 884 1 , June 7— _. ew Zealand -won by 3 goals 3 tries 18S4, JOT-H—New Zealand won by 3 goals 1 try to 1893? July I— New Zealand won by 1 goal 4 tries to 1 goal 1 try. • ■ , _ . , _ 1893, July 8-^New South Wales won by 4 goals 2 tries to 1 try. . , , „, . , 1893, July 29— New Zealand won by 1 goal 4 tries to 1894, Sept. 15-p-Ne-. South "Wales won by 1 goal 1 try o_s tries. , _. , In the evening the New South Wales, New Zealand and Canterbury representative teams were entertained at a supper in Hobbs's Assembly Booms by the Canterbury Bugby TJnion. Mr A. E. G. Bhodes, president of the Canterbury Bugby Union, occupied the chair, and was supported on j his right by Mr S. Surman, captain of the I New South Walea team ; Mr G. F. C. Campbell, vice-president of t tbe Wellington Bugby Union; Dr Jennings, vicepresident Canterbury Bugby Union ; and Mr M'Mahon» manager of the New South Wales team; and on his left By Mr W. Balch, vice : oaptain of the New Zealand team ; Mr W. J. Cotterill, a member of the Selection Committee New Zealand Union ; Mr E. D. Hoben, honorary secretary New Zealand Union j Mr L. A. .Cuff, vice-president Canterbury Bugby Union; and Mr A. E. White, captain of the Canterbury team. The Chairman welcomed the New South Wales team to Christohurch, and congratulated it on beating the New Zealand, representatives that afternoon. He proposed the toast "The New South Wales Team," which was enthusiastically honoured and responded to by the Captain. The other toaßta were : "The New Zealand Team," proposed by Mr Surman, and responded t6 by Mr W. Balch; "The New . Zealand Bugby Union." proposed by Mr M'Mahon, and responded to by Mr Hoben; "The Canterbury Eugby Union," proposed by Mr G. B. Lusk, and responded to hy Dr Jennings; "Kindred Sports," proposed by Mr T. % Cresswell, and responded to by Messrs L. A. Caff and W. B. Eyre. Some capital songß and recitations were given in the intervals between the toaats. The proceedings were very enthusiastic throughout, representatives being present from nearly all the football and athletio clubs in tf-'ie city. The supper was provided by Mr J. Freeman, and Mr Harry Boasiter supplied the music, . Yesterday afternoon the New South Wales footballers were taken fora drive to Sumner. They will leave for the West Coast tbis morning. It is quite probable that a return match between the New South Wales and New Zealand teams will be played at Wellington after the former have completed their engagements. The North Island representatives in the New Zealand team left for their homes on Saturday evening. Before leaving the Canterbury Bugby Union's supper, they were acoorded hearty cheera by the New South Wales and Canterbury representative teams. t " _,_ ■ ■_. ■_. A meeting of the committee ot the East Chrißtchurch Football Club was held on Friday evening. The sub-committee appointed to carry out the dance to celebrate the closing of the season reported a most 'satisfactory Bale of tickets.-