FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8994, 3 December 1907, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

TOUR OF THE "PRO-BLACKS." ENGLISH PRESS COMMENTS. Received December 2, 5.34 p.m. r.y TiiM':r.n.U'it—i'Hkks association. SYDNEY, December 2. The comments of the English press on the match between J;New Zealand and Leeds are to hand. The Chronicle says:—"With all then-stars out the New Zcalanders had a stiff task to defeat the strong side which Leeds put in the field, and though the visitors won by eight points to t/vo, tlie> had to strive their hardest, l'here is still something faulty about the colonials' play which the matches so far have not eliminated. They do not command the ball in the scrummage and their passing is far from perfect. The forvvi rds are good in the open, but they are always striving to handle the ball instead of at times relying on an effective • dribble. The result is that the man fails to recover his balance and cannot see where he is passing the leather. Forward transfers spoiled many chances, and inaccurate handling negatived several openings. Even with a clear field the combination was indifferent, and Wrigley was a great sinner in this regard. From Lavery's form against Wakefield Trinity, he seems a better man on the wing than Wrigley. The Telegraph says:—"The New Zealanders did not hold a particularly strong advantage, but their form was superior to their opponents. Towards the finish the colonials returned to the attack, but their passing was faulty and they were unable to increase the lead which they had already established."