FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XII, 20 March 1897, Page 353

FOOTBALL.

At Newfort on January 9th, the first international match of the season in Great Britain was played, and Wales achieved a brilliant victory over England by a goal and two tries to nothing. Commenting on the play the Held says :—‘ On a day when the weather and ground were equally unfitted for any thorough demonstration of skill in a great game the Welsh football reached a high degree of excellence. Much has been said by the English apologists about the condition of the ground and how it affected the English play, but if one side could develop excellence why not the other ? It is all very well to say that English teams are unused to heavy grounds and that Welshmen are perfectly at home on

such a sea of mud as existed on Saturday, but the fact is forgotten that this has been an abnormally wet winter, and except, perhaps, at Blackbeath, the various football fields have generally been heavy. Beyond doubt Wales possessed the better side, for not only were the forwards as strong in the scrummage as England, and much better in the loose, but their whole set of backs were collectively and individually immeasurably superior to that of England. Indeed, the only merit with England was their real honest scrummage work, which on a dry ground would have been much more effective.’ Commenting on the game the Athletic Xews says:—’There was more than the usual interest centred in the game owing to the distinct changes which the Welsh authorities had made in the composition of their team. In the past the forwards to represent their country have been mainly chosen from certain clubs in the Principality, with frequently disastrous results. This season, however. the backbone of the front rank have been selected from the mountain clubs, with a result highly gratifying to the powers that be. A large share of th** victory must undoubtedly be placed to the credit of the Welsh forwards. Not only did they show their usual masterly tactics in the matter of heeling out, but Saturday's game proved conclusively that Wales can turn out forwards superior to the Englishmen, even at our own rushing, pushing and dribbling game. Considering the state of the turf and the greasy ball, the Welsh team indeed performed wonders, and the large margin by which they gained the verdict is only a representation of their actual superiority.’ The report presented at the annual meeting of the I’oneke Football Club. Wellington, stated that the past season had been, from one po’nt of view, eventful in the history of the club, inasmuch as the club had had levelled at it a series of groundless and unfounded charges of professionalism. The charges were investigated by the Rugby Union, but the club was exonerated. This harassing of members no doubt militated against the operations of the club, but apart from this there could be no doubt the performances of the three teams, especially the first fifteen, were disappointing. One thing was necessary if the club was to attain the position it had previously held with honour, and that was the harmony of members of all classes. The balance-sheet showed the receipts to have been j/43 is id, and there was a small bank balance andcash in hand. The liabilities amounted to /9 7s Sd, and the assets to / 20. Dr. Newman was reelected president ; Mr W. White was elected captain, and Mr C. Cording, hon. secretary.