LEAGUE TEAM LOSE BY TWO POINTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18057, 18 January 1927, Page 4

LEAGUE TEAM LOSE BY TWO POINTS.

GOAL WAS DROPPED ON CALL OF TIME. (B}- E. H. MAIR, Coach and Team’s Manager.) HARROGATE, Eng., December 1. Our game with Swinton last Saturday will be remembered for many years to come. This club is considered the best club in England, and on its performances this season is entitled to the honour. They have several internationals in their side, but the outstanding feature of their success is that they play the open, unorthodox game of League football, which delights the crowd, and the whole team is a machine. The tragedy of the game is that we were very unlucky in not defeating them, which would have been a greater honour than beating England in one of the tests, for they are certainly a better combination side than the representative thirteens proved. Poor Kicking. When the New Zealand team was originally selected, Dufty was full-back, but having strained a ligament in training, had to stand down. This left the side without its principal goalkicker, and Mouat was chosen in Wright’s place to fulfill this part. Mouat has always been, and still is, a splendid kicker, and possesses the right temperament. He has always risen to the occasion when asked, but this day proved to be his off day, and the match went against us because he could not kick goals, and later on Gregory also

missed from in front of the sticks. Swinton scored two tries to our four, but their goal-kicking was more accurate. The odds were all on Swinton, and the New Zealanders were not favourites by any means. The Rev. Frank Chambers was referee. Up to the present we have won 13 matches. Under normal conditions we would have won at least 18 or 19 for certain. I have since changed my mind about the possibility of the team beating Baskerville’s record of 19 wins and two draws. However, there is one thing that every one on this side will be unanimous— that the results of the tour, whatever they be, are not by a long way a true indication of the standard of New Zealand Rugby League football. Attendance Affected. The Swinton ground, at Chorley Road, is one that the officials there can be rightly proud of, and has a capacity of 25,000. The fog last Wednesday was the thickest experienced for a long time. The races at Manchester and the Rugby League county game at Salford, two miles away outvside, had to be postponed on account of the fog, as was the final of the Cup game between Huddersfield and Wakefield at Leeds. It looked as if our game with Swinton would go by the board also, but the fog temporarily lifted, too late, all the same, to allow of a record gate, which would have eventuated. Towards the end of the game it became quite thick, and shortly afterwards it was not possible to see many yards in front. Allowing for the big part the fog played, the attendance and gate takings were satisfactory—£64o being taken at the turnstiles, which makes the total £12,003 for 22 matches —aja average of £545. The day was the longest to date, we leaving Harrogate at 9.30 in the morning. The fog held the train up and we did not reach Manchester until 1.30. To make matters worse, after the game the fog again made it three hours before we arrived at Leeds at 10 p.m., and wc had to wait for the 10.45 train, which did not leave until 11.15, and we arrived home at 12.15 a.m. Heme Side Leads. New Zealand won the toss, in the presence of 12.000, their team being: Fullback, C. Gregory; three-quarters, L. Brown. 11. Cole, B. Davidson and W. Desmond; five-eighth, H. Brisbane; half-back, F. Delgrosso; forwards, F. Henry, A. Carroll, E. Herring, N. Mouat, L. Petersen and B. Aver}'. Within five minutes of the commencement, the international. Evans, broke through and gave to Res wick, who touched down. Morris goaled for Swinton. Avery, Peterson, Mouat and Desmond figured in a passing movement, the latter being pushed at the

corner flag. For lifting, the. Swinton forwards were penalised, and Mouat landed a goal. Swinton 5, New Zealand 2. It was delightful football for the next ten minutes, both sides taking risks in throwing the ball abotit. New Zealand hemmed Swinton on their line for some time. Cole eventually breaking through, and gave to Herring, who touched down behind the posts. The referee ruled no try. Peterson was caught off-side, breaking from the scrum too fast, and Morris raised the flags for Swinton. Half-time came with the score unaltered: Swinton 7, New Zealand 2. Backs in Form. Early in the second spell Cole passed to the referee, in mistake, and the crowd urged the third man to change his togs. Brisbane received a misfield, sent to Petersen, to Avery, to Desmond, who went over. Mouat’s kick was a failure. Swinton 7. New Zealand 5. Shortly afterwards, Davidson picked tip, and after beating several opponents, ran Brown into position, and a race ensued for 50 yards down the touchline, the Aucklander getting there just in time. Mouat missed bad13*. New Zealand 8, Swinton 7. Davidson, Avery, Mouat and Brown combined nicely, but the referee ruled no try after he had touched down. Not to be denied, Brisbane fielded neatly, gave to Avert', to Desmond, who scored his second try. Mouat again failed. New Zealand 11, Swinton 7. Swinton goaled frojn a penalty, reducing the lead by two points. New Zealand's next try, scored by Brown, was again Davidson’s, who received the ball just outside his own twentyfive. Again he beat several opponents, and running Brown into position sent away the speedy Aucklander whose pace enabled him to outstrip the fast following Swinton men to score under the posts. To the dismay of the New

| Zealanders Gregory missed the kick in front of the posts. It seemed as if it : had not to be, for only one goal out of many attempts succeeded. New Zealand 14, Swinton 9. The Deciding Goal. Time was rapidly drawing nigh, and from a scramble in front of the New Zealand posts Halliwell forced his way over. It was no try, but the referee was not in a position to see Halliwell knock the ball on over the line. This try meant the game, for the goal was kicked, making both teams level. Full time was now up, and the referee was waiting for the ball to go dead, when Swinton’s full back fielding just outside the tenty-five line risked a drop kick, and it went over, making the final scores 16 to 14 in Swinton’s favour. It was a disappointed New Zealand side that filed into their dressing room, but they were just as spontaneous in their congratulations, to the famous Lions, a Swinton is dubbed, as their usual modesty when victory comes their way. Noted Sportsman. Having a chat with Swinton’s president, Sir Lees Knowles, after the match he said that it was the best football match he had ever seen—excellently played, fast and even. “ The goal from the field in the last few minutes, awarding the win to Swinton,” he said, “ was a wonderful piece of good fortune. I must confess I would have preferred it to have been a draw.” Sir Lees Knowles is well known to Aussies and New Zealanders. Years ago he played for Lancashire, and was invited on several occasions to play fro the North of England. In athletics he held the famous Rugby School’s Cup in distances from 100 yards to the mile. He was president of tlje Cambridge U.A.C. and won his “ light blue ” for several distances. He took the Oxford and Cambridge team in 1901 to Montreal and New York to compete against the Universities of Canada and America. The Oxfordians decorated him with the “ dark blue,” and he is the only dark and light blue. A very interesting function eventuated on July 3 of this year at the Cafe Monico in London. It was the occasion of the meeting of the Amateur Athletic Association, over which he presided. Twelve nationalities were represented in the 150 pre§ent, and the opportunity was taken by Mr J. W. M’Holm, of New Zealand, to present to Sir Lees the Silver Fern Badge, which he treasures highly. Lady Nina Knowles is the youngest daughter of the 10th Earl of Seafield. The Seafield family settled in New Zealand about 1866, and stayed there until 1892, when they left some of their kith and kin behind them. Lady Nina still keeps in close touch with relations in New Zealand, and interests he ; rself especially in the Waitaki High School, of which she is very proud. Sir Lees presented our captain, Bert Avery, with the Swinton badge, as a memento of his visit.