FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8981, 15 November 1907, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE "PRO-BLACKS." MATCH AGAINST BRAMLEY. PARTICULARS OF THE GAME. FINE WORK BY WRIGLEY AND MESSENGER. By- Telegraph—Press Association. Received November 14, 9.9 p.m. SYDNEY, November 14. The opening game of the :New Zealand footballers at Home was played against Bramley, a club by no means the strongest in the Northern Union. The game was not so wildly oneaided as had been predicted, butthe result was decisive enough to satisfy those who believe the New Zealandera to be as good a contingent as their predecessors the "All-Blacks." At present the visftors are struggling with the subtities of the Northern Union rules, which in some vital instances are different to the ordinary Rugby Union regulations. The absence of the line-out crippled the New Zealanders' idea of attack, and the half-back rule, which make it imperative that every wan not a j scrummager must stand behind the pack, prevented the "winger" from doing anything under the pain of penalty. The method of punting into touch as a method of attack also frowned upon the colonials. However, they had good tuition, and cleverly assimilated their instructions. They gave a very good but not perfect exhibition of the new game, and demon-1 strated their individual brilliance, i When they are sure of their ground and combination grows in cleverness | they will be a grand contingent. There was a large attendance at | the match, and the spectators gave the previous members of the "AllBlacks" team a hearty welcome. During the game Messenger and Wrigley were particularly well watched. The New Zealanders tried to work the pack with five forwards, against six of their opponents, with a 3—2 formation, but Tyler, who was claying wing forward, soon got in the way of the referee, and his five colleagues were obliged to have his assistance in stemming the rushes of the Bramley scrummagers. The Yorkshire Club never played so well or so pluckily. The game was only two minutes old when a kick gave Messenger an opportunity, and a goal was placed. Later Rowe ran over the line, and '.Messenger converted. Smith then gained a try, and half-time arrived with the score in favour of New Zealand by 10 points to 6. The second half saw the visitors push their attack to a better finish with two tries scored by Tyler and one by Wrigley. Messenger converted Tyler's tries, but missed Wrigley's. Messenger kicked a goal from a penalty after a piece of bad play by Hogg, the Bramley captain. The New Zealanders, especially Messenger, kicked splendidly. Their passing was bright, but not always accurate. Several good chances were missed. A fine piece of work by Wrigley and Messenger just robbed the New Zealanders of a try by an infringement on the touch-line. The visitors are not quite equal to their task and have not yet mastered the science of a reduced number of players, and their idea of trying to screw the scrum and if possible dribble the ball through their opponents did not always result in success. The game ended: New Zealand ... 25 Bramley ... 6

The Ceylon papers speak highly of Wrigley's play in the ma-'ch between New Zealand and the Ceylon team. One writer expresses the opinion that Messenger, Wrigley and Smith will give the Northern Union teams some trouble. Twelve thousand spectators witnessed the match at Ceylon, and tha proceeds were'given to charitable institutions. The local union donated £SO from their funds to the New Zealanders for playing a match in Ceylon, the object being to give an impetus to football there.