FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8995, 4 December 1907, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

TOUR OF THE "PRO-BLACKS." THE ST. HELENS MATCH. ENGLISH PRESS COMMENTS, 11Y TKIiKfIKAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received December 3, 7.36 a.m. SYDNEY, December 3. In connection with the football match St. Helens v. New Zealand, the London Chronicle says:—The "All Blacks" made no mistake in selecting their team to meet St. Helens. Having been made welcome by the mayor and corporation they went on to the football field with a side which included all their starplayers, and they won handsomely by. 1 24 points to 5, after an exposition, particularly in the second half, that was positively exciting. The colonials did not start too well The first twenty minutes of the game was of an even character, the home side, like every other home side the New Zealanders have met, rising to the occasion, and giving the visitors a warm time. Then Wright opened the scoring, and Messenger enhanced the value uf the try. This was succeeded by the home team smartly beating their opponents' defence through a cross kick and cleverness on the part of C. Creevey. who registered a try and placed a goal. Pretty combined play by the visiting backs ended in another trv and a goal. At half-time the New Zealanders led by in. points to 5. The second half opened with a sensational dodging run by Messenger, who eluded several opponents and put a try to his credit as well as the resulting goal., The home team continued to present a bold front, but could not penetrate the defence of the visitors. The colonials, playing an exceedingly fine game, overcame alio pposition, and tries were scored by Smith, W. Wynyard, and Wright, none of the place-kicks succeeding. The final result was—New Zealand, three goals and six tries; St. Helens, one goal and one try. The London Dai'y Telegraph says: —The New Zealanders gave a fine display of running and passing. During the first half the Lancashire team maintained an excellent oefence and occasionally turned the attack upon the colonials, but the latter were apparently much smarter, especially behind the scrummage. The way the colonials had forced the pace had its effect on the home team after the interval, their defence being much weaker than previously.

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