THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLVII, Issue 12272, 5 September 1904, Page 5

THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS.

GOOD HUMORED REFERENCES

United Prass Association —Copyright,

■Received September 5, 1.6 a.m.

SYDNEY, Septeml3er.4

In a speech at the send-qif tendered to the Britisli footballers, Mr. Bedell-Siv_ wriglit said the public had given them fair treatment, ■ and- he hoped, on their return to England, to remove any impression against the fairiKGS of the New South Wales crowds'.

Mr. Bush, in a humorous speech, said they did not came to Australia to play matches in New Zealand. TheJ' did not wanb to win matches there, but they did not desire it to rDa understood that they could have done so had they wished..

Ths rep. practice A'sv. B's, followed the "rep." game. Both teams took the. field several men short, but some very good football was shown, the B team eventuaCiy winning by 18 points" to 14. For tine winners, T. Craig scored no lees than three trios, on oirci occasion runnCng almost tho whcll© length- of the field, his paco carrying him right through his opponents. Thegear alsohad a, day out, playing a fin® dashing game, whilst McDonald made some Bpuendid openings and showed what "he to. capable of when supported by a good, team. Fremont, at (half, also played well, aaid Bell, although not showing upr:K> w'eHl as usual, pat in a lot. of work. Sharp©, in the. forwards, played with plenty of dash, and his try was a welldeiservod one. Hi'ggie is improving fast, and tshowa a lot of dash in the open, and Fowler and MoFadden also put in some good work. In view of the southern tour the members -of the 'A team were watched :wit3i some antere^ Holland, a.ti fuiii, played fairly, but still seems a'little uncertain, but his place kicking from "difficult positions was rather, good, Mit-, ch'sl'l was patdhy. tut got in several fasfe runs, 'from one of which he scored. His taking of the ball was first-ciaes. Taka_ rangi made no mistakes, but .seamed a little "off colour." Butler get* in a lot?, of work, makes good openings, and has: an eye for generalship, which, as captain of the team, will stand him in good stead. Dod'gshun, a'b 'half, did not get a chance to shintf, the opposing v.-ings -being too quick for ham, and several times the bal'J coining out of.the s!crum was too quick for him too. His defensive .powers will, however, h& invaluable to his side in a tight corner. Coroy vras. rather out of ■ hi's >?lement at. centre threa-quart'Sr, but wing forward is his position, and he proved himself a smart; man there. Murray and Wall played good solid games, though not with tliejr accustomed dash; and Montgomerk* and Bel weix=» fair—a. trine "tired" though—and so was Scott, who ought to make uss of ilvis weight more. The A team leaves for its Southern tour by the 4.40 trail' to-morrow, while 'the B team iviill try 'concTAislious with thei Manawatu reps, here on Saturday nest. Mr. Tilley had a hard day's work witlt the whistk?, refereeing in the rep, prac_ tice as well a.sl in the Manawatu mat-ch_