FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 754, 18 August 1904, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

(By

“ Scrutator.”)

THE BRITISH TEAM IN NEW ZEALAND.

THE OTAGO MATCH

After their narrow victory over Canterbury the British Team journeyed to Dunedin and played a match against Otago on Wednesday of last week. No less that 21,000 persons attended the Caledonian Grounds to witness the match. r l he teams were as follows :—

Britain. — Fullback, Stanger-Leathes ; three-quarters, Morgan (captain), Gabe. Jowett, and O’Brien ; halves, Vile and Bush ; forwards, Dobson, McKenzie, Saunders, Traill, Bevan, Edwards, Crowther, Harding, and Swannell. Otago and Southland. — Fullback, Murphy ; three-quarters, Baxter, Bennett, and Gilray ; halves, Stead (captain), Munro, and Hislop ; forwards, Robinson, Hughes, Abbott, Burley, Adamson, McDonald, Stuart, and Jenkins. For some time play was of a very even nature, but after a very strong attack Dobson scored a try which O’Brien converted. Soon after this Push potted a goal from the field. The home team wore hard pressed up to half-time, Bush getting a try, from which O’Brien kicked another goal, so that when ends were changed the visitors led by 14 points to nil.

On resuming an entire change came over the game, for the Otago men immediately assumed the aggressive, some fine passing being shown. Eventually Bennett took the ball across, but Munro’s kick failed. Another, strong attack was made, Munro and Hislop both failing with rather easy shots at goal. Some excellent passing then gave Bennett another •chance and again he scored, Murphy converting the try. Another shot at goal by Murphy failed and after sharp give-and-take work Stuart got over the line, but was recalled. > No further score resulting the British Team were left winners by 14 points to 8. Mr Williams ;acted as referee. THE NEW ZEALAND MATCH. Saturday last was a great day in Wellington, the match between the British Team and the representatives of New Zealand usurping all attention. The weather proved fine and the ground at the Athletic Park was in capital order. Directly the gates were open people commenced to flock in until when the match commenced 'it is estimated that there were 21,000 people present. Among the spectators was His Excellency the Governor, while the Premier and several Ministers of the Crown also put in an appearance. The opposing teams lined out as follows GREAT BRITAIN (red, white, and blue). Fullback : O’Brien. Three-quartets : Morgan (captain), Gabe, Llewellyn. McEvedy. Half-backs : Bush, Vile. Forwards : Dobson, Trail, Rogers, Bevan, Edwards, Crowther, Harding. Swannell. NEW ZEALAND (black with fern leaf). Fullback : R. McGregor (Auckland) Three-quarters : Wallace (Wellington), Harper (Canterbury), D. McGregor (Wellington). Five-eighths : Wood (Auckland), Stead (Southland, captain). Half-back ; Harvey (Canterbury). Forwards : Gallaher (Auckland, on wing), McMinn (Palmerston North), Tyler (Auckland), Fanning (Canterbury),. Cross (Wellington), Glenn (Taranaki), Seeling (Auckland), Nicholson (Auckland).

The visitors losing the toss commenced with the wind against them. From the very outset the locals began to press, making several determined efforts to

score, but the tackling of the British backs proved very deadly. The Britishers appeared to adopt unfair tactics in putting the ball into the scrum, offending in this way time after time, many penalty kicks being- given against them. 1‘ rom one of these Wallace had a shot at goal but failed. After a short period of give-and-take play Wallace repeated the attempt, but again failed with his kick. 'I he New Zealand forwards swept down to the line attacking fiercely, but try as they might were unable to take the ball over. Again Wallace had a chance, but the leather went wide and play was soon again at centre. After two more fruitless attempts Wallace at last managed to put the ball over the bar amid vociferous cheering. The number of penalties given against the visitors for breaches of the rules was simply remarkable, and the crowd at last commenced to resent these attempts by the British Team to take points. Just before half-time the Colors rallied strongly and play was transferred to the New Zealand 25, where Harding kicked a splendid goal from a difficult angle, a marked contrast to the local men’s kicking. At half-time the score was three all, and as the New Zealand team had the advantage of the wind in the first half even the most optimistic feared disaster.

In the second half Captain Stead changed the tactics, and instead of playing to the backs the forwards were sent in to do their very utmost. The result was immediate, for the British team were at once put on the defensive. Very soon after the start a quick shot sent the ball just under the visitors’ cross-bar, but the Colors soon relieved the strain. Then came a resistless attack by the New Zealand forwards, and after some prettypassing D. McGregor got the ball and dashed over the visitors’ line near the corner flag, but no goal resulted from the try. The Blacks soon resumed the attack and more penalty kicks were given against the Colors, Wallace more than once showing how easy it was to miss the goal. A rally by the visitors followed, O’Brien making a fine shot at goal. Directly afterwards I). McGregor had another opportunity which he was prompt to take advantage of, tremendous applause greeting the Wellington man’s second trv. Once again the kick failed failed and fast play was resumed. When the whistle sounded for time no further scoring had been done, New Zealand thus emerging triumphant from the great fight by 9 points to 3. The victory was unquestionably due to the fine play of the local forwards, whose fast following up completely non-plussed their opponents, and their backs were accordinglv not seen to advantage. There is no doubt that the better team won, and if it had contained as good a place kicker as Bush or Harding would have run up a much heavier score.

Mr Evans acted as referee and his decisions always gave satisfaction.

Interviewed after the game Sivright attributed the success of the New Zealand team to its magnificent forwards. He thought his men might have done better than they did, but they were a bit off from so much travelling. The backs defended well, but had no chance to show their real quality in attack. It appeared to him there was a tendency in New Zealand to trust too much to the forwards, to the detriment of good back play. The New Zealand backs were a verv fair Jot.

When asked as to his opinion of the match Stead, who captained the New Zealand team, said :—“ Having the wind against us, and anticipating an attack by the British backs we went in for a forward game, especially as our forwards were as fit as a fiddle, and, knowing that the Britishers, having had a pretty rough routine, were slightly stale at half-time. 1 was in fear of goals, but had no fear of their crossing our line. Our forwards went eyes out all through, and they are the finest forward team I have ever played behind. In the second spell they heeled out on only three occasions, from one of which we scored. Our plan was not to heel till we got right to the 25, or in a good striking position. We made more ground by taking, the ball and screwing the scrums. Our place-kicking failed badly. largely through over-anxiousness.

When members of the team told a man he must get it over, the kick looked harder than it really was. Harper, Mallace, and Wood had the kicks. I still hold that our ‘ two-three-two ’ scrum is much superior to the British. I do not hold with their method of attack. If we, in the fiveeighths line started an attack as Bush does, we would be put out of the team. They take too much risk in flinging the ball about anywhere. The only redeeming feature of their tactics is that they are fleet of foot enough to back up. We are taught to pass to a man, not to fl-

the ball away, but they don’t look where they pass. They are not particular whether it goes back or forward.”

A meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union was held on Monday night to consider the following proposals of the New South Wales Rugby Union to send players to Australia to play against the British Team in Sydney : —(a) A full team, in which case the New Zealand Union would get 50 per cent, of the net profits ; or (b) eight players, in which case the New Zealand Union would get 30 per cent, of the profits. Mr Rand, lion, secretary of the New South Wales Rugby Union, was present, and explained the desires of his Union. The committee, after considerable discussion, affirmed a resolution regretting that it had been found impossible, owing to the inability of several players to obtain the necessary leave of absence, to send a thoroughly representative team to Australia, and that it was not disposed to send portion of a team as suggested in the alternative proposal. AUCKLAND V. THAMES. The Auckland team went down to the Thames and played a return match on Saturday. The game was a fairly even one as regards the forwards, if anything the local men having the advantage. The Auckland backs, however, proved too strong for their opponents, McKenzie especially showing very fine form. Thames led off with a score by Keating, which Winder converted. Immediately afterwards McKenzie took the ball across, but the kick at goal failed. Not long afterwards the Grafton three-quarter was again in evidence with another try, but the try was not converted. Tyler then got a chance and he scored near the corner flag, but as usual the kick at goal failed. In the second half Auckland attacked strongly, McKenzie being very conspicuous and ultimately, from a centre kick by Thompson, he ran in and scored, but qnce more the attempt at goal lacked direction. Auckland’s final score came at the hands of Doran who, getting a pass from McKenzie dashed over the line, but with monotonous regularity the kick at goal failed, Auckland thus being left the winners by 15 points to 5. SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ MATCHES. Grammar School I. v. King’s College I. —Grammar School won by 45 points to nil. Sacred Heart I. v. Prince Albert I. — This game was drawn, 5 points each. Sacred Heart 11. v. Prince Albert ll.— Sacred Heart won by 6 points to nil. St. John’s 111. v. King’s Collep-e 111. — St. John’s won by 4 points to nil. Sacred Heart I. v. King’s College I.— This match was played last Thursday, and was won by Sacred Heart by 11 points to nil. PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ MATCHES. Bayfield v. Remuera. —This match was drawn, 3 points each. Marist Brothers v. Ponsonby. —Marist Brothers won by 19 points to 3. Ellerslie, Onehunga, Wellcsley-street and Nelson-street teams won their matches by defaultOLD SCHOOLBOYS’ COMPETITION. Onehunga V. Ponsonby.—Onehunga won by 6 points to nil. Parnell v. Newton East. —Parnell won by 8 points to nil.

Those going out to the match on Saturday should bear in mind that Remuera railway station is only ten minutes’ walk from the ground. Special trains will leave Auckland at 11.5 a.m., 11.35 a.m., 12.10 p.m., 12.38 p.m., 1.10 p.m., 1.35 p.m., and 2.10 p.m., returning after the match. • * * *

Paeroa beat Karangahake by 3 points to nil in a match played at Mackaytown on Saturday.

Taranaki defeated Wellington at Hawera on Wednesday week by 11 points to 3. Abbott scored two tries and Mynott one try for the winners, one of these being converted. Hardham was responsible for the losers’ try.

A cable received last week states that Mr G. Rowland Hill, for many years secretary of the English Rugby Union, has resigned his position.

Wellington defeated Buller on Saturday at Wellington by 22 points to 11, after a fast game.

Place-kicking would seem to be a lost art in New Zealand. In the big match at Wellington the home team’s efforts in this direction were particularly feeble. At the Thames the Auckland team scored five tries, but not a single one was converted. If our men throw away points like this 'next Saturday they will be beaten.

Thus Jimmy Duncan after the Great Britain v. Canterbury match :—“ The only point about the British game that struck me as being an improvement on anything we have here was the way they heeled the ball out of the scrum. It came out on the side every time, and it came very quickly. The forwards played well in the scrums, and got possession fairly easily at times, but otherwise their game was not impressive. They tried to screw the scrum sometimes, and generally managed to screw the ball into their opponents’ feet and lose their chance. In the loose they were no better than Canterbury, and I think even on a dry ground they will have no chance with the New Zealand forwards. Their few attempts at back play gave one a chance of seeing what their methods would be on a dry day. Their passing comes too high at times, and I can’t see how a fast team of backs can help spoiling a lot of their passing very early. There is really nothing new in their game, and I anticipate a win for New Zealand.” The veteran’s prophecy was an accurate one.

After touring New Zealand for about a month, the New South Wales team of British Association footballers returned to Sydney on Wednesday by the Moeraki (says the “ Town and Country Journal”) with the exception of Medcalf and Harri. son, who will come by a later steamer. Altogether nine matches were played, five being won, two lost, and two drawn, the goals scored for being 29, as against 13 by opponents. According to the manager of the team, Mr F. W. Robinson, the record should have been an unbeaten one, but the players did not uphold their reputations as goal-kickers at Wellington or Otago, where the defeats were administered. All the players speak highly of the treatment they received in the Land of the Maori. The game should benefit considerably in New Zealand by the visit of the New South Wales team, the members of which, it is said, showed more science, especially as regards head work. The grounds were somewhat slow, though splendid, but the slowness was a handicap to the visitors, who are used to hard and fast grounds in Sydney. This is, it may be mentioned, the first time a New South Wales Association team has toured New Zealand, and it is hoped it is the forerunner of periodical visits of players to Sydney as well as from New South Wales to New Zealand and elsewhere.

The final of the Association Junior Cup was played in the Domain on Saturday between Corinthians. and St. John’s and after a very close game resulted in a win for the former by one goal to nil.