THE BRITISH FOOTBALLERS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue IX, 27 August 1904, Page 20

THE BRITISH FOOTBALLERS.

MATCH AGAINST AUCKLAND. DISAPPOINTING BRITISH PLAY. VISITORS BEATEN BY 13 POINTS TO NIL. i 0:2 Saturday the British team sustained by far the most serious defeat of its long and generally victorious tour. In the presence of an enormous crowd at Alexandra Park, estimated at close on 22,000 persons, they played the Auckland representative team, and the end of the game found Auckland with the large total of 13 points and the Englishmen without a score. Though the attendance was a record for Auckland, and every stand was taxed to its utmost, there were no accidents, and the otlictals of the Auckland Rugby UnSon are io be congratulated upon the excellent way in which all the arrangements were carried out. Even the weather. which was very threatening in the early morning, cleared up by the time the game started, and it was played under favourable conditions* the ground being in splendid condition for a fast open game. Against the Australian teams the British footballers had displayed brilliant form. Lightning passing and finely conceived atjfcaeks, which were carried out with wonderful swiftness enabled them to pile up big scores, but against the dashing Auckland forwards they seemed to have mo chance. The. team was undoubtedly stale, and the British display was disappointing. Only at intervals did ithe spectators see anything notable among the visiting players. Their best work was done in the first fifteen minutes. Auckland Started the game by attacking hotly. Time after time the home forwards dribbled swiftly down upon the defending backs, and the vast crowd became silent with suppressed excitement, ready to break out with a roar of applause when the expected Score happened. But it never came off. Such wonderful saving at the very feet of the advancing forwards, and such certainty in finding the touch-line with the kick has never been equalled in Auckland, and the onlookers impartially applauded this line but isolated exhibition of the British backs—the only glimpse of their real form seen throughout the match, Air I*. Alaekie, of the Wellington Referees’ Association, lad charge of the game, and carried out the duties in a, highly’ satisfactory manner. THE GAME. . Morgan captained the visitors, and Al. (Wood the local men. Britain won the toss, and elected to take the western goal, having the advantage of the strong wind which was blowing straight down the field. NICHOLSON KICKED OLE for Auckland at 2.50, and after it penally to Britain, piny was in Auckland’s 25. Overeagerness on the part of the British forwards gave Auckland an opportunity. and with a strong rush, in which Niehol u un and Gallaher were prominent. they took play up the field, and a passing run by Kiernan to Wood, to Al< Gregor, io Murray to McKenzie, threatened danger, the latter failing io take cleanly, and Gabe saved. Auckland still kept up the pressure, but Bevan, by a smart piece of work, took play to the centre. Bush got the ball from the line, and made n tricky tun, which was well stopped by Ale Gregor, and the first real serum was formed, Auckland getting the advantage and taking tho ball to Gabe, whose kick was marked by Renwick and pul into touch m'nr the half-way. Bush wits now responsible for a cle-var feinting run, but a long pass to MSftvcdy was in-

tercepted by Kiernan, who made a dash down the field and then passed to Tyler, to Renwick, who found the line at Britain’s 25. Nicholson and Gallaher broke away from the throw-in, but, kicking too hard, AleEvedy, with a useful kick, sent the play to the centre. Auckland screwed the ensuing serum, Seeling being prominent, but Britain retaliated, McGregor stopping and kicking to Alorgan, the latter’s return being well taken by AlcKenzie, who punted into touch at Britain’s 25. Bevan broke away from the scrum formed, and an exchange of kicks between Ale Gregor and Llewellyn took play back to the centre. Auckland got the ball from the line, and a run by Gallaher to Wood to Ale Gregor saw the latter stopped by Gabe. AUCKLAND STILL ATTACKED STRONGLY, Seeling, Nicholson and Gallaher shining in open play, but O’Brien relieved with a long kick, which went into touch at the half-way. Tyler, Nicholson and Gallaher broke away from the line with the ball, Bush saving, and put in a clever feinting run, and then passed to Morgan, who, after making a short dash, centred it, AlcKenzie failing to return, and AUCKLAND’S LINE WAS THREATENED, but the forwards came to the rescue, and removed the danger, taking the -play 1° the 25. (Rogers was here hurt, and retired 13 minutes after the start). Offside play by Swannell gave Auckland a free kick, and the ball went into touch at the centre. For a breach by Auckland, Britain were awarded a free kick, and Harding had a shot at goal, the ball going wide, and AUCKLAND FORCED. After an exchange of kicks, play settled down at Auckland’s 25. Good line work by the Auckland forwards, headed by Nicholson, took play to the centre. Britain retaliated with a forward rush, and Vile, picking up smartly, the ball flew quickly to Bush, to AleEvedy, to Llewellyn, the latter failing to taka cleanly, and a chance was lost. Auckland wore awarded a free kick, which took play to near the centre. Britain got the ball in the ensuing serum, but Gallahs- intercepted Vile’s pass, and, aided by Nicholson, took play to Britain’s 25. Auckland secured from the scrum formed, and it came out cleanly to Kiernan, to Wood, whose pass to AfcGregor was intercepted by AleEvedy and kicked to Harrison, the latter returning into touch at Britain’s 25, AleEvedy was again responsible for some good work, ami after a short run kicked hard to Harrison, who found the line at the centre. From a free kick to Auckland Bush marked, and ki’ked high, the forwards rushing down, but Alurray’took it well and punted into touch at his own 25. Vile got the ball from the line, and away it went to Bush, to Gabe, to Llewellyn, who looked dangerous, but was well tackled by Alurray, and AlcKenzie got in and relieved. For a breach by Gallaher, Britain were awarded a free kick, Bush polling at goal and making a great effort, the ball striking the post, and was .missed by several of the backs, and a score to Britain seemed imminent, but Wood whipped in and saved cleverly, the ball eventually going out on Auckland’s side of half-way. Good work by Gallaher and Cunningham further increased Auckland’s advantage, and worked play down near Britain’s 25. Gallaher broke away from the throw-in, but kicked too hard, and O’Brien, with a long kick, sent it down to Harrison, who returned into touch nt halfway. Edwards was responsible for some good loose play from the line, but offside work nullified his efforts, and the ball was returned again past the centre. After some loose lino play, Britain wore, awarded a free kick in a fairly good position, and Harding had a shot at goal, milking a good attempt, the bull going just outside the post, and AUCKLAND FORCED. Rogers here returned to the field. A rush

of Auckland forwards followed the kickout, Tyler, Nicholson, Seeling, and McGregor all being prominent, and took play up the field, Llewellyn saving cleverly at his own 25. Auckland still kept up the pressure, and Kiernan got the ball out to Wood, who cut in and made a splendid opening, but hung on too long, and a good CHANCE TO AUCKLAND WAS LOST, AleE ,-cdy relieving and kicking down to Alurray, who returned to touch at halfway. Nicholson got away from the lineout, and made a strong dashing run along the line, O’Brien stopping him at Britain’s 25, but temporarily disabled himself in so doing. Auckland’s forwards were now running over Britain, and Joyce showed out in some good open play, Harding stopping him and taking play down to Harrison, who proved a solid stone wall, and returned into touch at Britain’s 25. Vile got the ball from the throw-in out to Gabe, who kicked down the field, Harrison returning to Britain’s side of half-way. Tyler and Nicholson made a dash from the throwin, but Bush, with a lucky speculator, saved, the ball going to Harrison, who punted into touch at half-way. Vile marked from the throw-in and kicked to Alurray, who failed to find the line, and AleEvedy, taking cleanly, potted at goal, but missed, and AUCKLAND FORCED. From some loose play following the kick out Gabe marked, and Harding had another try at goal, which went wide, and AUCKLAND AGAIN FORCED. Auckland’s forwards rushed the ball down from the kiek out to Llewellyn, who saxed, but was prevented from getting his kick in, and the ball went into touch at centre. Off-side play by Cunningham gave a free to Britain, and Bush had a shot at goal, but missed, and AUCKLAND FORCED. Loose play followed the kick out, the ball eventually going out at Auckland’s 25, and the bell rang for half-time. Britain Nil. Auckland Nil. Harding started the ball rolling in the second spell, and some loose kicking ended in a free kiek to Auckland, Seeling kicking too hard, and BRITAIN FORCED. A scrum was formed following the kickout, Britain seeming the ball, and AlcEvedy was prominent, but off-side play gave Auckland a free kick; Gabe failing to return, and Hayward and Gallagher were on him like a flash, the ball going out to Renwick, who kicked a trifle strong, and BRITAIN FORCED. From a serum following the. kick-out Auckland got the ball out to Kiernan, and it flew to Wood to Ale Gregor. The latter kicked to AlcKenzie, who dashed for the line, then passed back to McGregor, who got over, but was CALLED BACK FOR A BREACH. Auckland still kept up the pressure, and out came the ball to Kiernan to McGregor to Wood, the latter failing to pass, and Bush secured the leather and ran up the field, and then passed to Swannell, and A CERTAIN SCORE SEEAIED lAIAHNENT, but Harrison was equal to the occasion, and saved at the centre. A passing run by Bush and AleEvedy was well stopped by Ale Gregor, and Gallaher, picking up, kicked down to O’Brien, AlcKenzie getting to O’Brien and preventing his return, putting him into touch near Britain's line. Auckland got the ball from the scrum: Kiernan to Wood io McGregor, the latter’s pass being taken by Bush, who kicked to Murray, who with a quick kick potted, the ball going a foot outside the post, and BRITAIN FORCED. Gallaher picked up from some loose play, and passed to Kiernan. Offside play by

Bush giving Auckland a free kiek in • good position, but Wood failed, and BRITAIN FORCED. Auckland had now the upper hand, and the ball coming from the serum like lightning, it went from Kiernan to Wood to Murray to McKenzie. The latter darts ed over the line and SCORED FOR AUCKLAND amidst a scene of the wildest enthusiasm* Cunningham failed to convert. Auckland. «,«*. . .3 Britain• o f Play was still confined to Britain's 25, O’Brien stopping an Auckland attack with a timely mark, his kiek being marked by AlcKenzie, and Cunningham had another shot at goal, making a good at' tempt, and BRITAIN FORCED. (Rogers again left the field, and did not return.) The kiek out was well returned by Kiernan, who found the line inside Britain’s 25. From the scrum Vile got the ball out to Bush, who missed, and Alurray, picking up, sent it out to Seeling, who got over, but was was called back for a throw forward. An exchange of kicks between Kiernan and Gabe relieved Britain momentarily, play going to near centre. Auckland" carried t!*e ensuing scrum, and Tyler and Alaekrell came right through, and took the ball back to British territory. Auckland got the ball out smartly to Kiernan to Wood to McGregor; the latter was well tackled by, Gabe, and for holding on too long Britain were awarded a free kiek, which was marked by Kiernan, wtio punted high Llewellyn saving. Another free kick to Britain assisted to remove the danger, and play wont to the centre. Nicholson and Hayward and then Alaekrell and Tyler were conspicuous in fast open work, and took the play once more to Britain’s 25. Vile was now prominent in some good defensive work, but his pass to Bush was intercepted by McGreger, who ran down the field and then passed to Harrison, Who was stopped by Alorgan right on his own line. Auckland forwards, with Nicholson and Alaekrell in the van. threatened danger, but Llewellyn intercepted a pass from Kiernan to Wood, and SAVED A CERTAIN SCORE. Auckland, however, were, not to be denied, and Kiernan, picking up from some loose plav, it travelled quickly to Wood to Renwick, back to Wood to Cunningham. The latter ran over and SCORED AGAIN FOR AUCKLAND, amidst another outburst of cheering, which was renewed when Alurray succeeded in converting the try. Auckland Britain Nil Plav settled down at the centre after the kick-off, a nd Britain getting the ball a. passing run by AleEvedy and Alorgan was stopped by Renwick, who beat Alorgan for pace, catching him from behind. Cunningham shone in some open play, but off-side work gave Britain a freekick, which Bush kicked into touch at the centre. Auckland’s forwards came away from the line, and from some loose open play Renwick dashed in and picking up quickly passed to Gallagher, who badly beat Alorgan and O’Brien, and. SCORED UNDER THE POSTS. Alurray again converted: Auckland 13 Britain Nil ..Britain were now hopelessly beaten, and their play was distinctly disappointing, Auckland keeping them penned in their 25) the only thing that prevented them from having a larger - score registered against them being the over-eager-ness of Auckland. Gallagher and Hayward made a dash'for the line, a freekick giving much-needed relief to Britain, hili it was only temporary, as Auckland returned to the attack, Vile putting in some real hard work, getting down to the rushes in great style. From a serum formed the ball came to Wood, xvho kicked high, but a. trifle hard, and BRITAIN FORCED. The kick-out was well returned by McGregor, and some loose kicking ended in BRITAIN BEING AGAIN FORCED. Auckland got the ball from the scrum, Out came thfijrall again, Kiernan to Murray. the latter being stopped by Alorgan. Out came the bal again, Kiernan to Murray, who cut in splendidly, but a bad pass to AlcKenzie threw away a certain ecore. Another passing run, Gallaher to Wood, to Alurray, to Renwick, the latter got over, but was called back, the touch-line umpire having his flag up.

From the throw-in Kiernan got posses* •ion, and it went to Wood, to McGregor, to Murray, who failed to take, and ANOTHER CHANGE WAS LOST. From loose play Hayward passed to Gallagher, to Wood, to McGregor, Gabo Saving. Mackrell was prominent in a forward rush off-side giving Britain a free kick, and Dobson and Hording made a last dying effort, but McGregor saved at the centre. A passing run Kiernan to Wood, to McGregor, to Renwiek ended in the last-named kicking over Britain’s line, and the bell rang, leaving Auckland WINNERS BY 13 TO NIL. NOTES ON THE GAME. After months of weary waiting and expectation the great game is over, and our lads have worthily upheld the football honour of their province. Right from the jump they, kept at their formidable opponents, ami gradually wore them down, till at the finish they had them as sick and weary a team as it would be possible to see. Probably the Britishers were not in the condition they might have been, and that a majority of the men were stale; still, after the display put up by the local team, it is doubtful if the visitors at their very best would have defeated them. With the wind at their backs, the Britishers strained every nerve and used every point they had in their possession to register a score, but the tackling and fast following up of the local men frustrated all their attempts. Bush, of whom we heard so much, put in some superb work: on attack, but the attention paid him by Gallaher and Nicholson took a lot of the sting out of his play, and he got few chancea. Against the wind the visitors made a sorry exhibition, the ball not being out of their 25 on more than a eouple occasions. Of course, it is to be . remembered that Rogers’ services were practically lost early in the game, and that O’Brien was partially disabled; but it is doubtful if these accidents had not occurred if the defeat would have been any less decisive, as, after Auckland got the upper hand they threw away score after score by overeagerness. Taking the first Spell as a criterion, the teams would have been evenly matched had the Britishers had the wind at their backs the whole game. Of the players, individually. O’Brien, at full-back for Britain, played fairly well; his handling of the ball was good, but his tackling was not as solid as it ought to have been. The threequarters were disappointing; McEvedy and Gabe put in a lot of defensive work, McEvedy’s tackling especially being good; but Llewellyn and Morgan only showed flashes of brilliancy, and beyond a few fast runs did nothing of note. Of course, with their forwards beaten so badly, they got very few opportunities, but their defence, on the whole, was weak. Of the halves. Bush did some clever work, and there is no doubt behind a strong forward team he is a most superb player, but on defence he is very ordinary. His speculators, although overlooked in a player of his reputation, will sooner or later be. his downfall. Vile played a hard—in fact, very hard —game, and had it not been for his solid defence Britain would have been in a bad plight. The way he got down to the Auckland forward rushes was splendid. The forwards gave a poor display, and it was made perfectly clear on Saturday that their style of scrum forming will never be a success against the colonial style, and they might easily take a lesson from New Zealand in that, respect,. On very rare occasions did they succeed in hooking the ball, and the pointing tactics of the halves in standing off and throwing th« ball hard against their forwards’ feet was quickly put a stop to, and their opportunities of getting the ball out lessened in consequence. Not one of the pack played with any dash; Harding and Dobson were probably the best. On the local side, Harrison, at fullback, was magnificent, and his exhibition was equal to anything ever seen at Epsom. It was the game of his life. The three-quarters, McKenzie, Murray and Renwick, it is hard to separate, and the trio played right, up to the top of their form, and it is doubtful if they will ever do better. Murray’s place-kicking was excellent. Of the five-eighths, McGregor was the best, and got through an enormous amount of work; his defence was very solid. M. Wood was as dashing as •ver, and handled his team well, but his fault of hanging to the ball too long is ■■explainable in a player of his reputa-

tion. It can only be put down to his endeavouring to do too much. Kiernan at centre-half reminded one of Braund’s display against the Englishmen 1G years ago on the same ground. He has rarely been teen to better advantage. To Gallaher, on the wing, Auckland owes a lot of her success, and he was here, there and everywhere. If there is a better winger in New Zealand than Gallaher we would like to see him. The man who would endeavour to place one man out of the seven senimmers as giving a better exhibition than another would be a brave man, and although, perhaps, Nicholson got through more work in the open than the others, the whole pack seemed to rise to the occasion, and gave a grand display. Aucklanders have every reason to be proud of them. INTERVIEWS. COMPLAINTS BY THE BRITISH PLAYERS. Mr J. Bedeli-Sivright, captain of the Br : tisii team, was a spectator- for once, and when the game was over a “Star” reporter endeavoured to obtain from him his opinion of the struggle. But the famous footballer was reticent. “I am afraid I have nothing to say—l prefer to say nothing at all about it,” he replied when questioned. The courteous head of the visiting team evidently prefered to say nothing if he could not say something palatable, for his men were complaining of rough play and offside tactics on the part of the Auckland forwards. Later, in the evening Mr Bedell-Siv-right informed a “Star” representative that he did not consider it a rough game. It was hard, but that was all. He attributed Ihe defeat to his team’s staleness caused by playing three hard games following fast on each other. As to the British team’s prospects upon their return to Australia, he thought the trip and a rest would set them up and enable them to regain their form. THE REFEREE’S OPINION.

The referee, Mr P. Mackie, expressed some interesting views to a “Star" representative. Mr Mackie refereed in the match Britain v. Taranaki, and was also present at the match in Wellington. He is therefore in a good position to criticise Saturday’s game. Mr Mackie said he was greatly surprised at the form shown by the Auckland team after what he had heard of their match against Wellington. The display of the forwards was beyond what he had expected, and the backs, with the exception of MeGregor, whom he considers a back number, played well loth on attack and defence. On the other hand the Home players were not nearly in as good form as in the New Zealand match. The travelling and entertaining of the team in the colony had greatly affected their form. Their exhibition here was nothing like what they bad given in all the Southern matches. Had the Britishers shown the same form as he saw it in the South, and the Aucklanders played the same game as they did on Saturday, he had no doubt but that it would have been a very even contest. Speaking of serum work, he said he could not see any advantage at all of three men in the front row, because as the Auckland scrum was formed, the two front rankers so arranged it that they jammed the third man out; in fact, this latter could not be called a “hooker” as he could not possibly assist in securing the ball. The British method of forming the scrum quickly, that is, no allotted position for any man, was an improvement on the New Zealand style of a set position for each man, as it makes the game faster and consequently more interesting to watch. New Zealand could adopt this method very well without altering the present formation of the pack. Mr Mackie also liked the Britishers’ method of fan-like rushes, because it lends to better footwork, but it was not nearly so effective as the wedge-shape rush as played in New Zealand. nnd which the Aucklanders played so successfully on Saturday.

The Auckland backs he considered good, although their handling of the ball at times waa faulty. McKenzie and Harrison were the best of the backs. Of the new men Murray was most successful, while Renwick was safe, hut not sal brilliant as he thought he might have been. Mackrell, who played in the pack

with Tyler, was also sound. Mr Mackie thought that the local bucks made a grave mistake in kicking too much into touch instead of centreing the ball in the second spell, when they had a gale of wind behind them. Having seen the Taranaki team play, Mr Mackie was able to give the pressman some idea as to the chances of the Auckland team next Saturday. He considered Taranaki played just as good a game against the Britishers as we did. Their forwards were faster and played a better game than ours, while their backs were clever. “It should be a very hard game, and after seeing the two teams play I am inclined to the belief that Taranaki will win, though by a. very small margin,” he concluded. AUCKLAND MEN’S VIEWS. The chairman of the Auckland Rugby Union. Mr M. J. Sheahan, said the Auckland forwards played a wonderful game. “They certainly played a very hard find vigorous game, but it could not Ire described as rough," he said. The Auckland forwards were too powerful for the Britishers, he thought. The English defence was great, and but for it a bigger score would have been registered. AUCKLAND CAPTAIN’S VIEWS). The Auckland captain (Morris Wood), seen directly after the match, was satisfied with his team’s display. “Our forwards,” he said, “were absolutely a long way ahead of theirs. Yes, they may have been a little stale, but for all that our men werte absolutely better than they. They appeared to lack the stamina, the sticking power of the Auckland men. Their backs seemed to me superb, but we did not have a chance to see them at their best attack. They should show their best combination at this end of the tour. Their defence was splendid —their system is as good as it can be. It was an eye-opener; and their methods advanced football. The conspicuous features of their play, however, were the place-kicking and the way they handled the ball. The Auckland backs did well in the circumstances, but the forward p’sy was the brilliant feature of our side.’, Mr Wood declares that, this is his last game, and nothing on earth will induce him to play on Saturday. He has definitely retired from the playing of the game.

THE VISITORS ENTERTAINED. The Britishers were entertained a* dinner in the Royal Hotel by the New Zealand Rugby Union. Mr. A. E. T. Desore. the president of the New Zealand Union, presided. and there were also present members of the local union and the Auckland team. Al the close the chairman proposed the toast of “Tli* Visitors,” wishing them a pleasant voyage Home. Mr. Bedeli-Sivright, the English vaptnin, responded. He said he did not mind admitting that on the day the better team won, remarking that his men took their beating well. Mr. Sivright then proposed the toast of “The Auckland Team'’ and the New Zealand Union. Both toasts were drunk with musical honours. The party then drove to the railway station, where the Britishers and members of the local union and Mr. Galbraith (representing the New Zealand Union) entrained for Rotorua. Besides the Auckland team there was a largo crowd on the platform to see them off. As the train moved out of the station hearty cheers for the Britishers were given by the crowd, and responsive cheers were given by I lie visitors. The party arrived at Rotorua on Sunday morning. A match between the Britishers and a Maori-team took place at Rotorua on Monday, and the party returned to Auckland in the evening, leaving for Sydney at ten o’clock in Hie s.s. Mararoa. the departure of which vessel had been delayed so as to give them an opportunity of seeing the Hot latkes district.. The visitors were taken to Rotorua nt the expense of the New Zealand Union. A JOURNALISTIC FEAT. The rapidity with which the scores In the match were published by the “Star” on Saturday was a journalistic feat which has never been equalled in Auckland. As each phase of the game was witnessed by the spectators, “Star" reporters telephoned a description from the field of play to the office, and so quickly was this done that when Auckland scored the fact was in-tantaneously published outside the "Star” Office in Shortland-street before the players look the place kicks. When Murray converted the Auckland tries, this was also known in Shortland-street actually before the cheering subsided. Every score was

published in Auckland by the “Star” a dear fifteen minutes before it was anBouueed by any other medium, and an edit ion containing several columns about the great game containing a description of play right up to the end was published in time to be circulated among the spectators as they arrived in Auckland after the match.- Suburban residents, through the promptness of the “Star,” received their newspapers at the usual time, containing the complete report of the game, and we have been heartily congratulated upon wiat ean justly be claimed to be a very creditable journalistic achievement. The report we publish to-day is fuller than that published on Saturday, and will be read with keen interest by follower-- of the game. TELEGRAPHIC RECORDS. Remarkable records made by the telegraph operators in transmitting the half-time and final scores of the match, via the Pacific cable, to Sydney. The half time score, reached Sydney. 30 seconds after it was despatched, and when the final score was sent the time occupied in transmission was ten seconds. THE TRAFFIC. It has been estimated that the ance was close upon 22,000 people. The receipts would be about £l5OO, and of this £5OO was taken at the stands. The electric trams carried out about 16,000 people, and returned with about 4090. Various forms of vehicles carried large numbers to and from the inateh. A record in railway traffic was established, 2500 excursionists travelling in the trains on Friday and Saturday. Only 600 people availed themselves of the special trains between Auckland and Remuera on Saturday. z MATCH AT ROTORUA. MAORI TEAM WINS BY 8 TO 6. ROTORUA, Monday. The British football team was taken yesterday to view the famous Ilamurana springs, and they also visited Tikitere. In the afternoon at Whaka they witnessed a poi dance and a haka by the Maoris. This morning the team played a Maori team at Pukeroa. The greatest interest yeas taken in the match by all the residents of the district, and the scenes before the match were a reproduction on a smaller scale of the enthusiasm which was witnessed before the great game on Saturday in Auckland. Business was completely suspended in Rotorua, and quite 2000 persons were present. Playing much below their ordinary form, the British team surprised the spectators by being defeated by the Maori team. In the first spell they led by six points to nil, but they did not cross their opponents’ line An the change of ends, while the Maoris scored eight points. The game was played in two 30-nrin-ute spells. Heavy rain fell during the first spell, when England scored two tries, neither being converted. In the second spell Rotorua played tip, obtaining two tries. From one a goal was kicked. The British team was unable to withstand the Rotorua forwards, who played an irresistible game, whilst the visitors showed considerable staleness. / Final score: — Rotorua 8 points Britain 6 points There was great enthusiasm among the Maori residents. Many valuable Maori mementoes have been presented to the English visitors by the natives. THE MATCH AGAINST TARANAKI. NEW PLYMOUTH, August 18. It was quite expected locally that the Taranaki team would score a victory over the Britishers. The game, which was fought out yesterday in steady rain, and with the ground altogether too soft and greasy to allow of good football, ended in a draw, neither side scoring. There Were nearly 8000 spectators. Determined work by the Taranaki forwards kept the British team generally on the defensive in the first half, which resulted, however, in no score. On resuming play for the second spell, the British were conspicuous in the Taranaki 25, and play looked dangerous for the local team, but Hunter and Abbott made things merry. They were, however, quickly suppressed by the British backs, the latter showing

splendid combination. A notiecable feature in the scrums, which were frequent at this point, was the push of the British, who managed to gain a yard or two on their opponents before the ball got loose. McMinn, of the Taranaki f< wards, received a nasty kick on G knee, which compelled him to retire from the Held. The Taranaki team played on with one man short, his loss being serious. The Britishers made many neat attempts at .scoring, but were speedily stopped by the forwards of the local team, the game ending in a draw. On the whole the game was fairly fast, considering the heavy state, of the field, but the local team showed more stamina Ilian the Britishers. Judging by the latter’s play they would undoubtedly have met with better success had the weather been more favourable and the ground jiot so greasy. There would no doubt have been scoring on both sides. On the whole the teams were fairly even, as the British backs were good. The following were the teams: Taranaki.—Full-back, Fookes; threequarters, Thomson, Stalker, and Abbott ; live-eighths, Mynott; half, Frewin; wings, Guy and Glasgow; forwards, McMinn, Wilson, O'Sullivan, Glenn, R. Douglas, J. Douglas, McKay. Britain.—Full-back. Stanger-Leathes; three-quarters, O'Brien, Gabe, Llewellyn and McEvedy; halves, Yilc and Bush; forwards, Rodgers, Trail. Dobson, Edwards, Bevan, Swannell, Harding, Crowther.

It is hard to individualise players, but it is safe to say that no better pack of forwards was ever seen here, whilst Guy at the wing was certainly a marvellous player. Taranaki had a great advantage throughout, and ought to have won by several points. The forwards were more than a match for the Britishers, and the backs did good work, handling the ball wonderfully, and instituting several passing rushes, nearly ending in scores. A goal was missed right in front of the posts. Mr. Sivright, on being interviewed, said lie considered the Taranaki representatives the best team the Britishers had yet met. McMinn had to retire about 15 minutes before the end, having hurt his knee. In the evening the Britishers left by special train to eateh the steamer for the North, a large number of footballers and residents accompanying them to tha breakwater. FOOTBALL IN ENGLAND AND THE COLONIES. A CHAT WITH MB. O’BRIEN. At the present moment when football is the main topic of conversation throughout the colony, our readers should be especially interested in the views of anyone who ean claim to speak with authority on the game as it is played both in England and Australasia. Tha opinion of Mr. O’Brien, the manager of the British team, can hardly fail to carry conviction on this subject; because he is in the first place above all things a colonial, and secondly, an “English” footballer. The youngest of a family famous in the history of Canterbury football, he learned the game first at St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, and later at the Boys’ High School, Christchurch, and when he Went Home to Guy’s Hospital six years ago he was able to step at once into his propei- place in first-class Rugby. Along with another New Zealander, Mr McEvedy, also a member of the British touring team, he has played for Guy's Hospital for the last five years; he has played for Kent for four seasons, and helped it to win the county championship; and this year these two New Zealanders have been practically first emergencies both for the Irish and English international fifteens. Mr. O’Brien has thus seen a great deal of the best Rugby played anywhere; he has just collected a number of fresh impressions during the British team's tour of triumph in Australia; and ho has been good enough to express his views on the game as it is now played to a “Star” representative who somewhat unfeelingly capture 1 him immediately on his arrival rfter air abominable West Coast voyage.

“Is there very much difference between the way the game as played here anil the way they play it at Home?" was the first question submitted. “Well,” said Mr. O’Brien, “there is a considerable difference both forward and baek. Of course, ns you know, we pluj the four three-quarter game, with

two halves. The Welsh clubs, who seem to lead the way in Rugby methods generally, play a serum half ami what is called a five-eighths here, and they have made passing a fine art. As to the forwards, we play eight men in the serum, without wings—we don’t believe in wings—but there is no regular scrum formation. The man who gets to the ball first is “first down.” No, I don’t think that our forwards do pay enough attention to the organisation of the scrum. But they make up for- it m dribbling and footwork. They don’t pass the ball from hand to hand much, like the forwards here, but they break up quickly and use their feet well, playing to each other. The dribbling among the forwards and the “centreing” of the • ball among the backs are the two points in which the British game differs most from colonial Rugby.” “Is there anything very noticeable about the Australian play?” “Well, they play the four three-quar-ter game, but their passing is not good enough; in fact, if you let it go far enough it usually kills itself. The forwards are fairly good, but they seem to ba wanting in stamina somehow; at least they don't play up well against a heavy score. They have at least two men who are really good—Wickham and Redwood —and Redwood is, of course, a New Zealander. But on the whole they are a long way below the level of New Zealand Rugby.” “Do you think that the game has improved in New Zealand since you left for Homer” “I think,” saiu Mr. O'Brien, “that the forward play has improved, but the backs don’t seem any better than they were. The-forwards play a strong, fast game, with, plenty of dash: but they kick far too hard, and so give the opposition backs plenty of time. When I was playing full back at Wellington the ball almost always got to us in the rushes long before the forwards. The place kicking seems poor everywhere. The backs don’t appear to me to be so brilliant or so dashing as some that I can remember here. Perhaps, as you say, we have struck an “off season” in backs. But all the New Zealand teams have played a hard powerful game. Canterbury gave us, perhaps, the most '■’solid” game all round; and Otago played up splendidly in the second spell against a big lead. As to the great match at Wellington, they all played hard, though they didn’t make by any means the best of their chances. “Now that you have seen our play again, Mr. O’Brien, what chance do you think the New Zealand team will have on its English tour next year?” “If you can manage to Send Home a team as good as the one that beat us at Wellington, they ought to win quite three-fourths of the matches they play. Some of the Welsh clubs—Newport and Swansea —and one or two English c-lubs, such as Devonport Albion, may beat them. They should beat the counties, as they play a keener, harder game than the average county teams. But the international teams would beat them, both baek and forward. The Scotch and Welsh forwards are just as powerful and dashing, and much cleverer with their feet; and the international backs are. generally speaking, better all round. Of course the team would improve greatly in combination as well as in individual skill during the tour; and it should be a very good thing for New Zealand football.” “Is there likely to be much interest taken in the team at Home when it gets there “Well, of course any thing from the colonies is certain of a good reception

in England. As to Rugby football, you know that the game never draws such jerowds as the Association Cup ties. But it is quite a mistake to think that it is dying out. The Northern Union is certainly expiring; but they did not play genuine Rugby, and professionalism has helped to kill them. In the South, Rugby is still as powerful anapopular as ever. At the same time, I must say that it doesn’t seem to be played in quite the same spirit in England's here. There is nothing like the same amount of competition there; nearly all the games are merely friendly matches, and most of the players are public school or university men, who treat the game as a recreation. Out here, a number of the players seem to think it is the chief if not the only business of life. There was more enthusiasm over the Wellington match, for instance, than you would ever see about any Rugby international at Home. Besides, the men don’t read and talk and argue and discuss football from one end of the week to the other as they do here. I am not saying that all this enthusiasm is a bad thing; I am only giving you the facts as they appear to me.” One word more, Mr. O’Brien: do you think that there is anything to conrpl’ain of as to the way in which colonial teams play the game?” “Well, since wou ask me, 1 can’t deny that I think there is more deliberate infringement of the rules in the game sis played here anil in Australia than in English Rugby. There is faiN too much holding in the serum and pushing on the line-out and obstruction by wing forwards. I can assure you, if you tell a man that lie is offside in England he will mostly get on side at onee. It doesn’t do much good to tell a New Zealand wing forward that he is offside. The referees here seenr to have got used to obstruction, and that sort of thing; certainly, they don't penalise it often enough. I the New Zealand referees are very capable and quite impartial; but they don’t seem to see the necessity for putting down deliberate breaches qf the law with a strong hand. At the same time, 1 think they interpret the rules in other ways far too rigidly. At Christ church and New Plymouth, when we were playing in the wet, the , game was being constantly stopped for an unintentional “knock on” or “hand ball,” which gave no advantage to the offending side, and, in any ease, couldn't have been avoided. Of course, that kind of thing makes a game slow, and wastes time. In England the referee is supposed to use his own judgment about any breach of the rules as it occurs. For instance, if a man overruns the ball dribbling and someone behind him kicks it, the English referees do not give a free kick, so long as the mistake did not seem intentional. We have had a great number of free kieks given against us for reasons that would not occur to ordinary English referees at all. I certainly think that, the game, would be improved here if the referees used their own discretion a little more and did not feel compelled always to blow the whistle when something has happened that nobody could have prevented. But I hope no one will think that I have been too critical about the referees here; because, as I said, they, seem to nif to do their work on the whole very well, and it is not easy work at best. No”—as our representative asked a final question at leave taking—“l don't mean to play any more football when I get back Home. If I play on Saturday that will he my last, game; and it will be a satisfaction to play it where I played my first —on New Zealand ground.”