THE NEW ZEALANDERS NARROWLY DEFEAT AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 949, 14 May 1908, Page 13

THE NEW ZEALANDERS NARROWLY DEFEAT AUSTRALIA.

After two victories by New South Wales over the New Zealand professional team now in Australia, it was thought that combined Australia would have no difficulty in defeating the visitors, but the result proved that football is an uncertain game. There were 20,000 people present at the Sydney Agricultural Ground when the teams filed out to do battle, these latter being made up as follows: — New Zealand: Fullback, Turtill; threequarters, Baskerville, Wrigley, and Kelly; five-eighths, Tyler and Barber; half, R. Wynyard; forwards, Mackrell, Pearce, Trevarthen, Cross; Johnston, and Byrne. Australia: Fullback, Headley; threequarters, McLean (Queensland), Messenger, Devereux, and Cheadles; halves, Rosenfield and Dore (Queensland) ; forwards, Graves, Hennessy, Rosewell, McCabe, Hudge, and Tubmann (Queensland). Turtill captained the New Zealanders, and Hennessy the Australians.

Playing a much improved game the. Blacks led off with a great dash, and time after time came within an ace of scoring. Eventually Wynyard got over, but no goal resulted. Then Baskerville made a good run and touched down behind the posts, Wrigley adding the extra points. Next a good passing run by Wrigley, Pearce and Wynyard gave the latter an opportunity, which he was prompt to take advantage of, but Wrigley’s kick was abortive. With eleven points to nothing against them the position looked bad for Australia, but a change then set in. From a mark Messenger kicked a goal, and he had several shots at goal from different angles without success. Messenger then put in a good run, and Hudge taking the pass scored near the corner, but the angle was too great to convert. The Australians continued to attack, Rosenfield getting a rather lucky try which the übiquitous Messenger converted. With only a point between them the game to the close was fast and furious, but no further scoring was done, the New Zealanders winning by 11 points to 10. During the match a New Zea ander was ordered off the field for striking Hennessy, who retired, while McCabe was also incapacitated.