NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS AT HOME.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8281, 24 October 1905, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS AT HOME.

, __#. The First Two Matches.

Comments by the Home Press

The Position of Wing-forward

Criticised.

{Received Last Niqht,at 11.S p.m.)

Sydney, Yesterday. To-day's English mail brings press comments on the first two football matches.

Regarding the Devon match, the Daily Mail says that the New Zealanders , dash and firo reminded one of the best Irish teams, while their in-and-out passing and backing-up was in the best Welsh style.

The Dailμ Express says that apart from the wing forwards, there is little or nothing in the play of the New Zealanders to which purist could take exception. The forwards packed like Welshmen, and in tho loose and line out they were quito up to the Irish standard. Their dash was and in only one respect were they at all disappointing—they broke up rather slowly, and tackled none too surely.

The Daily Chronicle says that Devon, to put the matter mildly, completely lost their heads and hearts. They displayed neither pluck nor resource, and, in popular language, simply lay down and let the New Zealanders walk over them. Commenting on tho wingforward, the writer says : " He is such an irritating person, and plays such a decidedly unlawful game, from our point of view, that his prudence in wearing shin-guards may be commended. Tho winger showed such a scorn of certain sections of rule 11., that if he had met his deserts he would be penalised into ineffectiveness." For the rest, the New Zealanders are a splendid side. The forwards have robust, dashing methods in the loose, and they pack splendidly. Their backs are all fast and clever. A pleasing feature is the strong individuality of the

backs in running."

Referring to the Cornwall match the Mail says : ■--" The New Zealanders' success was due to tactics as intelligent as they are original. They are superior in every way to anything witnessed in English football. Backed up as they are by running, passing and kicking of the highest class, it is indeed difficult to say which British team will check their victorious career. As a factor in the attacking abilities of the team, the wing forward is of undoubted value, if only for the fact that he is an extra man outside the scrum. To this and to the.admirable wedge formation in a large measure their success

was due.' .