FOOTBALL

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11727, 30 November 1905, Page 7

FOOTBALL

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM AT HOME.

FURTHER PRESS COMMENTS.

\■ ■ , Press Association. — Telegraph .—Copyright.

Received November 30, 9.5 a.m. SYDNEY, November 30. Tho London Daily Chronicle, dealing with the Somerset match, says that the Honi3 team put up a fine game against -their powerful opponents, but the style of the sides differed materially. The Home team relied on the old forward game, and New Zealand on rapid transfers. Somerset were always on the ball, and their clever tackling somewhat upset the visitors, who, however, once settled down, completely outplayed their rivals. The Daily Telegraph says that m the absence of Hunter and Smith the team was not at its full strength when it met Somerset. It also stated that several members of the team were beginning to feel

the effects of the tremendous energy which characterises their efforts. Beaten point'ess as Somerset were, th-o game was by no means one-sided, but the colonials showed marked superiority in getting the ball away from the scrummage, and their better condition gradually told. The attendance was far in excess of any previous match in the district. Whatever result »Uio visitors" triumphs 'may have on the Rugby game, their visit is certainly arousing an astonishing amount of enthusiasm. Regarding the Devonport match, the Daily Chronicle considers the game was one of the finest ever witnessed on the Rectory ground, and produced a Titanic struggle until midway through the second half, when the Albions tired. The impression the score would give, however, is entirely fallacious, as on a strict matter of play in accordance with rules the Albions were as clever as their doughty opponents, but lacked the speed and recklessness of the New Zealand-ors, who always meant getting there, with a. heedless regard as to how their desideratum w?s to be achieved. Judged on the first half. English Rugby has little to learn from the colonial methods. The New Zealrmders' passing was certainly bewildering. The Chronicle concludes that the moral is "speed and stamina." The v Daily Telegraph says that among their many victories none redound to thr New Zealanders' credit more than th.it over Devonport, admittedly one of the strongest teams in the country. While the New Zoalandoers fully desereved their victory, they owed it mor.e to speed and stamina than to combination. So long a? tho Albions were able to keep pace with their weighty antagonists they fought on even terms, and thoir footbalKdisplay suffered nothing in comparison with that of the colonials. Up to a point the Albion--did much to vindicate the reputation o r English football. Although only recent followers of the New Zealanders' methods the Albions adopted the colonials' formation, and the five-eighths acquitted themselves with conspicuous success, and th-r half-back, on th-o vrhol-o, wm tlie master of his opponent (Rolierhs). The T-eleera p)> adds that the splendid finish to their attacks was the feature of the visitors' display.