FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 20, 13 May 1908, Page 11

FOOTBALL.

Two New Zealanders helped London Hospital in their match with Guy’s in the Hospital Cup final, which London won by 11 points to 3, after an exciting game. One of them, A. C. Palmer, was the most showy of the London threequarters, but he owed a lot to his centre, T. P. Lloyd, the straightest and strongest runner and the finest opportunist on the field. Macpherson, the other New Zealand threequarter, who rumour has it, only arrived in this country just in time to play in the final, had few opportunities of showing his paces, but he did the little he had to do in workmanlike fashion. There was the usual enthusiastic crowd of hospital students, some with rattles, some with trumpets, some with shawms and cymbals, and nearly all wearing their colours —blue and yellow for Guy’s, blue and white for London. There was very little horseplay, however, the only roughness indulged in being the smashing of hats when the rival functions happened to disagree about the merits of any particular player. One gentleman with a megaphone kept continually informing the Guy’s team that he was watching them, and that they had better win the game or there would be trouble. Towards the end his lamentations became loud and long, and after the match he was seen sitting on a milk-can at the railway station shouting defiance through his megaphone to a cynical group of London men, and offering to wager huge sums on Guy’s winning the cup next year. I might add that the Guy’s team also included two New Zealanders —L. B. Stringer (threequarter) and H. Hoby (forward). The latter scored Guy’s only try. N.Z. Football Association. The New Zealand Football Association at Its annual meeting on May 5, decided to inform the New Zealand Rugby Union that the Association .-was willing to remove the disqualification on the Green Island ’ Association team provided that the offenders apologised to the Otago Association. "it was decided to affiliate With the New Zealand Sports Federation. Messrs. S. W. Thornton and P. L. Davies were appointed delegates. The secretary was instructed to open negotiations for a visit of a New South Wales team in 1909. It was also decided to again affiliate with the Football Association (London), and to appoint Mr. A. E. Gibbs as the New’ Zealand representative at Home. Pro-Blacks Defeated in Sydney. The New Zealand professional footballers played their second match against New South Wales on May 6th, and again suffered defeat, this time by three points. The weather was fine, the attendance large and the play fast and interesting. The teams were as follows:— New Zealand.—Baek, Turtill; threequarters, W. Wynyard, Barber, Rowe; five-eighths, Tyler, R. Wynyard; half, Kelly; forwards, Gilchrist, Pearce, Trevarthen, Mackrell, Byrne, and Wright. New South Wales.—Baek, Whitfield; threequarters, Stuntz, Messenger, Devereux, Cheadle; halves, Dean, Holloway; forwards, Graves, Jones, McCabe, Pearce, Davis, Mabie. The New Zealanders won the toss, and playing with a stiff breeze in their favour, opened cleverly; but their opponents by superior play had the best of the first spell, which closed with the score New South Wales, 8 points; New’ Zealand, 5. The second half opened quietly, but gradually warmed up, New Zealand attacking strongly. Theplay was now more even; but the New Zealanders were unable to retrieve their position and the game ended —New South Wales, 13; New Zealand, 10. VICTORY OVER AUSTRALIA. The Pro.-Blacks on May 9th redeemed their double defeat by New South Wales, by scoring a victory over Australia by 11 points to 10. The .weather was fine, and there was an attendance of 20,000. The teams were:— New Zealand: Fullback, Turtill; threequarters, Baskerville, Wrigley, and Kelly; five-eighths, Tyler and Barber; half, R. Wynyard; forwards, Mackrell

Pearce, Trevarthen, Cross, Johnston, and Bvrne.

Australia: Fullback, Headley; threequarters, McLean (Queensland), Messenger, Devereux, and Cheadles; halves, Resenfield and Dore (Queensland) ; forwards, Graves, Hennessy, Rosewell, McCabe, Hudge, and Tubmann (Queensland).

Turtill captained the New Zealanders, and Hennessy the Australians. ■ At an early stage the game was stopped for a time owing to Hennessy being struck in the face by one of the New Zealand forwards, and as an outcome the New Zealander was ordered off the field.

On resuming, Wrigley had a shot at goal, but failed. New Zealand continued to keep their opponents on the defensive. McCabe here retired. Shortly afterwards Wynyard got away, and scored, but the try was not converted. Scores: New Zealand 3, Australia nil.

After a few lively exchanges, Baskerville picked up the oval in open territory, and, beating Headley and Cheadles,

scored in a good position. Wrigley converted. Scores: New Zealand*, 8; Australia nil. A piece of good play resulted in the Blacks again scoring, while the Australians scored twice. At half-time, the scores stood: New Zealand 11, Australia, 10. Upon resuming, Australia were soon in trouble, but Hedley relieved, and a series of scrums followed. The Australians were now showing better form, and twice the visitors were forced, once as a result of a dropkick by Messenger, which went wide. Shortly afterwards, Messenger had another shot, but he again missed the posts. A little later the ball rebounded across the line, and Rosenfield swept in ano scored. Messenger converted. Scores: New Zealand, 11; Australia, 10. In the few minutes remaining, the Australians made, strenuous attempts t< win, Messenger twice again essaying goals, but the visitors’ finfe defence: prevented their opponents from injgjeasing their score. ’ S Exciting Finishes to Big Games (By J. C. Parke, Dublin University and Ireland.) It is a peculiar coincidence that the three matches, of which 1 wish to write, were fought out on the same ground— Balmoral, Belfast. It was opened as recently as 1898, yet already it is becoming historic for the number of exciting finishes of which it has been the scene. The first of thesa encounters took place in 1904, when Ireland, after suffering severe reverses at the hands of both England and Scotland, defeated Wales by the small margin of two points, and thus narrowly escaped the unenviable position of holders of the “Wooden Spoon.” Det me describe briefly the run of the play leading up to the dramatic climax. Ireland starts slowly, and the Welsh backs as usual, ready to seize their opportunity, have scored an unconverted • try before anyone has fully realised that the game is commenced. The Irish forwards then waken up. and in a series of fierce rushes, work the. ball to th a Welsh line, and, keeping up a strong pressure, score twics. At half-time we lead by two tries to one. Ireland again starts badly, and . the. Welsh backs, playing magnificently, pile up three more unconverted tries. To add to our misfortunes, our left wing three-quarter is carried off the field with a broken leg, and that versatile player, Joseph WalLee, has to be, taken out of the pack io fill the vacancy. All hopes of an Irish victory are dead, and our efforts are directed to keeping down the score if possible. There are only ten minutes to go, and Wales still leads by twelve points to six. A LONG THREE MINUTES. Suddenly an extraordinary (bangs comes over the game. The Irish pack, reduced to seven, are seen sweeping down the field in one of their characteristic rushes. They aie checked for a

moment, and then away again! Nothing can stop them, until a green jersey steadies the ball across the line amidst loud cheers from the spectators. The kick is again unsuccessful, but tveryono realises there is still a hope for Ireland. “Can we keep Wales from scoring, and can we score again?” are the questions which players and onlookers alike arc asking. One of the quest'/is is soon answered. Ireland is playing with a renewed hope, and keeps Wales penned i:i their own half. Then comes the first combined movement amongst the Irish backs, and the ball travels out to Wallace like a flash. He is clear away with only the full-back to face. The excitement is intense.

He is running strongly, but the speedier Welsh backs are closing up with him, and our hope of the equalising score

is rapidly vanishing. Suddenly, Wallace is seen to steady himself, and. with a beautiful left foot cross kick, he drops the ball between the posts. Tedford, the ever-ready, coming along at top speed, takes it on the bounce, and bursting over puts the finishing touch to as line a piece of headwork combined with cleverness of execution as has ever been seen on a Rugby football field. The enthusiasm is extraordinary. Tho spec tators are stand’ng on their seats waving anything they can get hold of, with very little discrimination between “meum” and “tuum.” Hats and caps fly up into the air like magic. From tho field of play it was a wonderful and at the same time a:) amusing sight- one which I, at least, shill m-ver forget. Now the ball is being carried out for the place kick, and the cheering dies down as suddenly as it arose, until not a sound is -to be heard—the tense silence of a waiting throng. Will it be a goal and a win for Ireland. or a'failure and only a draw? Hurrah! It’s a goal, and again the roar breaks out with almost as much enthusiasm as greeted the try itself. Three minutes still to go-*—anfl I can say from bitter experience that three minutes can seem a very long time against Welsh backs who* are handling the ball accurately. Wales is by no means defeated yet, and kicks off, deter milled to re ore again. Ireland is equally determined to prevent •them,. if possible. The strain of those last few aninutes is. terrifie; and every player is dci’nig J^is- best? -T!»e Iri£li pack obtains - .jJ4>-6<‘rsio!i’ in Hi ?..‘JEr-t two scrums, and wheels the- ball splendidly to the toueh-line. Then at the third attempt the Welsh forwards are seen to have it. It is out and away to the wing like lightning. Are all pur efforts to be in vain, and are we t o be robbed of our hard-earned victory? The fiillb.ck is still before him, so to make doubly certain he passes in to his centre, who races across the line, but the whistle has gone for a forward pass, and the supporters of the Shamrock begin to breathe again. Another serum is formed close to our line, but once more the Irish pack carries the ball with it to touch. The whistle puts an end to.the most eventful match 1 have ever played in. and Wallace is carried shoulder high off the field by a cheering crowd. Ireland won, but all the luck favoured them, and 1 am convinced that Wales had the better team. In my opinion they made a mistake in playing entirely to their wings, oven though tho wings were such sprinters and swervers as Morgan and Llewellyn, and rf th? centres had displayed a little more originality, 1 believe Wales would have won easily. MY SECOND MATCH is also against Wales, but in the year 1906. It will l>e remembered that they were the only team able to lower the colours of the famous “All Blacks.” They had also defeated England and Scotland, so only needed a victory over Ireland to establish the record of winning four internationals in one sea-on, a record since obtained by Scotland. Wales had also won the “Triple Crown” the previous year, and was hoping to establish another record by winning it twice in succession, so their team had been selected with the greatest possible care. Ireland had started her internationals well by defeating England severely at Leicester in a mud-fight, in which the chief difficulty was to recognise your friends from your opponents, but we had gone down before Scotland on our own ground in Dublin, and they in turn had Ix'en beaten by Wales by a considerable margin, so on paper Ireland’s chances of victory looked extremely remote. Ireland gora off at a terrific pace, and

«* score seems probable at any minute Thun the W visit backs look like breaking away, but there i> a sharp unexpected lackle. and the ball goes loose, fur that determined runner, Thrift, to pick up at full speed. Dodging the full back successfully he scores between the posts, and Ireland is five points up. Very few people fully understand the true value of the first score in a big match. It is at hast twice as valuable as the number of points would mean, owing to its moral effect on both sides. Wales then scores an unconverted try, and just before half time Ireland follows suit, and in doing so one of our internationals wrenches his knee severely, and has to be removed to hospital. Still a lead of five points at the interval looks encouraging for the Shamrock. Our seven forwards pack more tightly, and are still rather more than a match for the opposing eight. First Wales scores, then Ireland—both tries unconverted. Wp are now eleven points to six, and both teams are putting every ounce into their play. There are still fifteen minutes to go. when another disaster befalls Ireland. Our other small, but very sturdy, half-back. Caddell, breaks his ankle.- and has also to be carried off. The supporters of the Shamrock begin to feelu very blue — only a lead of five points with thirteen men •against the Welsh fifteen, and with two forwards playing as half-hacks. But our six forwards, playing as they prolwbly never played before, have got the measure jf the opposing eight, and soon relievo our most serious fears. There were no especially exciting incidents in that last quarter of an hour. Wales never became very dangerous, but five points feels a very small lead against Welsh backs, no matter what part of the field they are in. The relief of the final whittle- was tremendous. The enthusiasm of the onlookers grew in-pioportion as the end drew near, until at the whistle they burst over the field ini a yelling mass, and very feyv of us were allowed to reach the pavilion in the ordinary way. The Welsh players, were the first to congratulate . us, saying we thoroughly deserved our win. One of my most pleasant memories of the match is that when wo were driving back we passed a brake full <>f Welsh supporters, from Newport, 1 think, and ever; man of them cheered our •‘'thirteen’’ lustily. A FIffiITTOTIIE FINISH. The third match is between Ireland aiill. the South Africans in nNoveniber, 1906. It was a beautiful day, with the ground in line playing order, and the Springboks declared themselves quite satisfied with the* conditions, particularly after their scramble in the mud aga’ifltt Scotland tiie previous Saturday. 1W Smith Africans are early in tHo Ascendant, and open their account wiflV a 1 neat penalty goal. The Irish fifteen Ao Aid' to waken up after this reverse, and rush tb.e ball to the opposite end. Several times we only just' fail to score, but at last our efforts are rewarded by an unconverted try. 'Then an unaccountable slackness comes over the Irish team, and a regular ‘‘debacle” follows, the Springboks piling up three tries in rapid succession. All tho kicks arc failures, although 1 believe one of them touched the cross-bar. Halftime finds Ireland in the minority of three points to twelve, r. deficit which appears to be almost impossible to wipe oli’ against a tetini as well trained as our visitors. Sometimes it is the impossible which happens with an Irish team. Our forwards, who had been packing poorly in the first h i!7, get much better together, and begin to give the opposing backs a sample of th -ir clever footwork but they are met by men who are not afraid to go down on the ball and stay there. The excitement commences when a penalty goal 'is landed from almost half-way, and we are now only six points behind. Both sides play better after this, and there is some very vigorous, if scrambling, work at lhe Irish tw< nty-five. Then out of the scramble the mighty Machar emerges with the ball tucked tig’ |ly under his left arm. The crowd roars with delight as he brushes asitle the opposite wing threequarter, and yvlls encouragement to him as he is seen to stave off three successive attempts of tin* fullback to tackle him. It iA a marvellous run of thre<‘-<pinrtt’rs the length of tho fields ami he thoroughly deserves tho ovation he receives when ho scores at the corner. The kick tails by im lies, and full time is drawing near, but Ireland is playing up with groat determination, ami when Ma4< Icar is again -oca ! i possession of tA|

ball, as the result of a nice combined movement, the excitement is intense. This time numbers prove too much for him, and he is bundled into touch in the corner with three men on top of him. However, the score is only delayed by an instant, as our halfback cleverly throws the ball to an unmarked forward who dives over for the equalising score, and a mighty roar goes up as the green jerseys are seen walking back, while the South Africans take up their stand behind their own line. It is a long kick, and everyone waits breathlessly for the result. A quick cheer goes up as the ball is seen Hying in the direction of the posts, but unfortunately for Ireland it

misses the upright again by a fraction, and we are level with about six minutes to go.

The play becomes faster than ever, swinging rapidly from one twenty-five to the other and back again. The excitement increases each moment. Every man is doing his utmost, but the superior training of the South Africans begins to tell. They gradually press us back within our quarter. Then the ball goes to one of their centres. Ho runs across the field to the right, dodges back and finally cross kicks to his forwards. It falls between three of them, and they have it in their hands at once. The referee refuses all appeals for offside. The ball reaches the left wing-three-quarter, who crosses the Irish line at the corner and grounds it behind. The corner flag is knocked down, and I myself see the touch judge’s flag go up for an instant, and think we are saved, but it goes down again immediately. The referee allows a try, and the match is over. Ireland has to retire beaten after a splendid fight.

■ It was an unsatisfactory finish to a glorious match, and I believe many of the South Africans themselves would have been content that it should have ended a draw. No blame is attached to the referee, lie decided to the best of his judgment, and the only pity is that the necessity for the decision came at such a critical moment and made such an immense difference. We were beaten, but by no means disgraced, ami my best wishes to other footballers is that they may some time have the pleasure of playing in three such glorious matches as these. British Rugby Team. *l'llo British amateur Rugby football team left for New Zealand to-day by the Sliaw-Savill steamer Athenic. A larewell breakfast took place in the morning at the Howard Hotel, Norfolk-street, at ■which Mr. Rowland Hill presided. Mr. Hill was supported by Mr. A. F. Harding (captain) and Mr. George Harnett (manager), and amongst those present were the High 'Commissioner for New Zealand and Mr. C. W ray Palliser, the Rondon representative of the New Zealand Rugby Union. In proposing the health of the team, Mr. Hill said the English Rugby Union had done everything in their power to induce all the unions to join in sending out a great national team, and the English and Welsh Unions were greatly disappointed when Scotland and Ireland could not see their way to lending their co-operation. Notwithstanding, the English and Welsh Unions determined to send a team. They felt that this was a time when they should give their assistance to the amateur bodies in the colonies in their fight against professionalism. This team would have a powerful effect, not only in New Zealand, but throughout the colonies that remained faithful to amateur football. The team had a great responsibility <»n their shoulders, and their tour •would be watched with keen interest. Their tour must be not merely a pleasure trip, but a vindication of the grand old game. (Applause.) Whether they met with success or not. he should look forward to hearing that they had left be-, hind them, wherever they went, the reputation of being a body of real British sportsmen. (Applause.) Mr. W. P. Reeves, the High Commissioner for New Zealand, said that if his countrymen thought they were going to have “a soft thing” in meeting this team, they would wake up to discover they had made a big mistake. The team would h o welcomed in New Zealand with that entire hospitality ami friendliness which they deserved. Colonials had their faults, no doubt, like everyone else, but lack of hospitality had not been cou-

aidered one of them. (Applause.) He not only hoped they would have a good time

—he knew they would. Everyone in the country, from the Rugby Union and the Tourist Department to the newspapers, would treat them pleasantly and in the most friendly spirit. He thanked the English Rugby Union for the sportsmanlike spirit in which they had taken the lead in getting together this team. He thanked them, not only as a New Zealander, but as an old Rugby player. This tour was an effort to uphold amateur football, to assert the amateur spirit, and stamp out the professional spirit. It was a great mistake to suppose that the New Zealand public had taken a turn towards professionalism. Their idea was still sport for sport’s sake, and the visit of this team would do not a little to hack up the union there. On behalf of his Government and fellow-countrymen, he wished the team every possible fortune and success. (Applause.) Mr. George Harnett, Mr. Harding, and Mr. Palliser also spoke. The last-named said he thought the English and Welsh Unions had got together a splendid team, and he did not think it would be one whit the weaker for the defection of the Scotch and Irish Unions. He had seen all the men play, and he thought they would make the New Zealanders “sit up.”

After breakfast, the team drove to Fenchureh-street station, whence they proceeded by train to Tilbury and embarked on the Athenic.

The complete list of the English Rugby football team is as follows: H. Archer, F. E. Chapman, W. J. Davey, R. Dibble, P. J. Down, C. Dyke, R. A. 'Gibbs, R. A. Green, R. B. Griffiths, A. F. Harding (captain), G. H. Harnett (manager), G. R. Hind, E. J. Jackett, F. Jackson, J. P. Jones (“Ponty”), J. P. Jones (“Tuan”), G. V. Kyrke, H. Laxorn, P. F. McEvedy (vice-captain), W. L. Morgan, E. Morgan, W. L. Oldham, J. A. S. Ritson, T. W. Smith, L. S. Thomas, H. H. Vassal!, G. L. Williams, J. F. Williams, and J. L. Williams.

The Scottish Union are not likely to make any friends for themselves by their action towards the New Zealand trip organised by the Rugby Union, says the “Evening Standard.” Apart from the Wilson case, which showed the Scottish Union had legitimate cause for acting as they did, their attitude has been narrow and parochial in the extreme. The Scottish Union are the Little Englanders of Rugby football; they would apparently confine the game to these isles alone. There is no doubt that the New Zealanders and South Africans stimulated and vivified the sport in England. They gave the touch of variety which is charming; they showed us new methods, and exposed old fallacies. The Scottish attitude towards the colonists over here was highly diverting, and possibly they have never forgiven themselves for it. The Irish Union blindly accepted the lead of the Scottish, but already there are signs of their relenting. The English and Welsh Unions have looked at this trip from an Imperial aspect, which has much to commend it.