FOOTBALL.

West Coast Times, Issue 10531, 15 July 1897, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

. Newcastle, July 14. The following represented the Northei Union against the New Zealaud team .- Back, Cobb ; three-quarters, Sharj Stewart, and Gwynne ; five-eighths, Ga lacjber ; half, M'Naughton ; wings, Ec ivards, and Owen ; forwards, M'Lean, J M'Lean, Thompson, Carney, M'Cormaci [>oherty and Hewitt. New Zealand team—Back, Bayley hree-quarfcers, Smith, Roberts, and Ar ait; five-eighths, Allen ; half, Glennie pings, Mills and M'Kenzic; forwards See Fourth Page.

Murray, Harris, Calnan, Brooker, Wells, Wilson, and Hancock. There was magnificent weather and a large attendance at the football match. The display was a poor one for the greater part of the time and too slow to ksep the men warm. Allen's fingers were all thumbs and he frequently failed to take the ball. Murray, and Hancock played conspicuously, while Smith's running was as brilliant as ever. Roberts played his first game in Australia. While his play on the whole was very neat, his passing at times was wild. Stewart, a local man, had his jaw fractured. The New Zealanders won the toss and played with the wind. The locals were very fcoon on the defensive and with the exception of a few rallies spent the greater part of the first half within their own 'lines. From a mark close to the goal Wilson failed at goal. From the scrum Allen got the ball away to Smith, who after a dodgy run, passed to Armit who gob across. The angle was a difficult one and Wilson failed with the Bhot. Newcastle made a great rush and Armit had to force to save his side by kicking out of play. After some play in the centre half time intervened. On resuming the reds were again on -the defensive. A dribbling rush headed by ' Wilson got Jlose on to the local line, and M'Kenzie managed to score, from which Wilson kicked a pretty goal. The northerners next invaded the New Zealand ground and looked like scoring but Bayley relieved by kicking out of play. A capital run by Roberts was nullified by a bad pass, but Smith, with a splendid run, made up for it, getting a try, which Wilson kicked, but the local men collared the ball. The northerners from the kick off sent the ball behind the New Zealand E^oal, Smith dashed after it, returned and d jdged his opponents half- way across, the ground before collared. Brooker managed to get the ball and sent it to Handcock who got home. Wilson converted a fine goal from a difficult angle. When the ball was in play the best run of the day on the local side was made by Sharp, who beat the whole of the forward division, and was only brought to grass by Bayley in the nick of time. Allen considerably improved in the last half. The game was late in starting and the last 20 minutes was practically played by moonlight.