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Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 170, 18 July 1907, Page 5

AN AUSTRALIAN VICTORY.

NEW ZEAXAND DEFEATED. BY 14 POINTS TO NXL. IBy Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) Sydney, July 17. There was fine weather for the football match to-day, but a keen southerly wind was blowing. There was an attendance of about 25,000, including the GovernorGeneral (Lord Northeote). McCue replaced Waddell in the local team, the New Zealand team being as follows: — Full back: G. Spencer. Three-quarters: Wallace, Booth, Fryer. Five-eighths-. Hunter and Eckhold. Halfback: Roberts. Wing-forward: Colman. Forwards: Casey, Paton, Cunningham, Francis, FcDonald, Spencer, and Johnston. On Saturday the Welshmen made many mistakes, which prevented a' closer I finish than was accomplished, but today they profited by their mistakes, and gave an exposition of Rug-by that would be difficult to find fault with. Their passing was clean and good, and their scrum play excelled that of the New Zealanders. Every time the ball was got out in a workmanlike manner, and it was splendidly handled by the backs. The visitors did not obtain possession more than three times, so that their backs rarely had opportunities to show their metal. On the few occasions on which the ball did come their way, they apparently did nCI know what to do with it. In the second spell New South Wales territory was virtually deserted, for the number of times the New Zea.lander3 could be seen there-could be counted on the fingers of one hand. It is a record, too, for New Zealand not to score at all. They have been beaten before, but never by a love game. •THE PLAY. The "All Blacks" won the toss, and took advantage of the strong wind which was blowing from the southern end. The blues made an early start by a good dribbling rush, which Wallace only succeeded in stopping in the nick of time. Play was removed to the centre, but the blues were soon again at their opponents, but Roberts, by a good kick, sent the ball into the enemy's quarters. A rush by the Sew Zealanders was stopped by Messenger, and the game was removed to a neutral zone for a time. Then Colman headed another rush at the local side's goal line, and when within the 25yds , mark there appeared to be a prospect of his getting in, but he lost his foothold, and a tough tussle ensued' in the local team's territory, which was only relieved by the blue 3 being awarded a free kick. A long return by Spencer, however, compelled the Welshmen to force. The blacks continued to force the pace, but brilliant line-kicking by the local team' 3 backs kept the attackers at bay. A free kick to the New Zealanders gave Wallace a shot at goal, but the ball was cleverly intercepted, and the blues started a dangerous rush. It. appeared as if a score were imminent, but a faulty pass. spoilt the Welshmen's manoeuvre for a time. As the result of a desperate struggle on the visitors' goal line, McCue just battled across near the corner, and drew first blood for the home team. The shot at goal failed. New South Wales .« ... 3 New Zealand .« ... 0 Almost immediately the game resumed the blues placed the blacks again on the defensive, but the tension for a time was relieved by a free kick to the visi"tors. The "All Blacks" -were playing a hard game, and the blues continued to press them, the visitors being forced twice in quick succession. Down again charged the home team, and the "All Blacks" were once more in difficulties. Try as they would the Welshmen swarmed all over them, and j&ussell, getting possession, slipped over the line. Messenger was entrusted with the shot at goal, which was unsuccessful. New South Wales 6 New Zealand o The New Zealanders could not carry the play out of their own ground, and they were kept busily defending their line until the whistle sounded for halftime, -without a further addition to the score. The local fifteen were accorded a great ovation for the success which they had so far achieved. The second spell was begun by Francis kicking well down the field. Immediately the blues began to attack, and a rush from the centre of the field ended in a scrum being formed directly in front of the New Zealanders' goal posts. The ball came out to Russell, who whipped it on to Messenger. It was an exciting moment, as both Spencer and Hunter closed on Mm, but the speedy threequarter dived low between them, and secured the third try for his side. He took the kick himself, and sent the ball between the posts. New South Wales „ 11 New Zealand 0 The local men were now playing like a machine, no opportunities being given, and no chances thrown away. The New Zealanders' attacking was defective, and they were demoralised. Certainly they made the game willing enough, but they displayed no tactics. It was a disorganised defence. The forwards tried desperately to relieve the position, but their opponents had them well in hand. A fine run by Russell was only stopped by Spencer, when a certain score appeared imminent. New Zealand forced .the- , play still persistently, but they were kept in their own territory, and were only able to keep the blues from scoring. The "All Blacks" had struck a hornet's nest. The enthusiasm of the onlookers was roused to an intense piten, and the applause was deafening when Messenger placed a beautiful goal from a mark. New South Wales 14 New Zealand ..-. ;. 0 The concluding few minutes witnessed the rare spectacle of the New Zealanders invading New South Wales' territory. They tried hard to force a passage, but the defence of the home team was just as excellent as its attack had been. Roberts secured a mark in a likely place, but Wallace placed the ball on the outside of the posts. It was the blacks' only chance in the game, yet a score was denied them. The whistle sounded without a further alteration to the score. It was a brilliant victor* of *, .hrilteurt team.

PRESS COMMENTS.

"LIKE MEN POSSESSED."

(By Cable.—Press Association Copyright.)

(Received 9.17 aon.)

SYDNEY, July is.

The "Sydney Morning Herald" says that the Xew South Welshmen forti-it like men possessed, but all the time played consummate football. They invariably got the maximum of effect. To the forwards belongs the honour of lowering the historic banner of the silver fern. Describing the New Zealanders' efforts to retrieve the positions, the "Herald" says.—" If they played strenuously before, they did so doubly now They realised the task ahead, but also realised that the game simply had to be won. With all their glorious tradition to back them, they bent every ounce of muscle, every iota of brain power, but they counted without their hosts, and the crowd went well-nigh frantic when they realised' that the blues were showing themselves a better team, that the dreaded second half runaway of the mighty All Blacks was not to be, and thenceforward the match went on amid continuous cheering. There perhaps has never been seen on the ground such enthusiasm as When the conquerors of the great All Blacks returned to the pavilion." r

" RAKED FORE AND AFT."

(By CaWe.—Press Association.—Copyright.)

(Received 9.25 a.m.)

SYDNEY, this day. " The Sydney Daily Telegraph " says: "It was a sweeping victory, the Blues raked the enemy fore and aft. It was the contest in which the strong man at last found his hold on his reputation weakening, and his grip of his confidence weakening as against his adversary, and rhe end of it all was that the spoils went the opposite way. The game was contested in an admirable spirit. From the outset it slowly but surely went the way of the home team, whose combination was sound, tackling deadly, line-finding accurate, and judgment excellent. And what of the losers? They showed as much skill as on the previous Saturday, played as'vigorously, up to a certain point, as ever, but were outgeneralled even as they had previously outgeneralled others in the past, and were outplayed in all departments of the game. The one thing that stood out in the visitors' play was grit. They showed in the face of adverse circumstances that their loss was due,to no want of energy .or perseverance."

THE CAPTAIN'S VIEW.

FATFTY AND SQUARELY BEATEN.

(Received 9.25 ajn.)

SYDNEY, this day.

Muruin. the New South Wales captain, attributed victory to their linekicking.

Speaking at a subsequent re-unkm of the teams, Mr. Edgar Wylie, the New Zealand -manager, congratulated the Welshmen on their victory, which they honestly deserved.

Hunter, the New Zealand captain, declared that every New Zealander would admit that the better team had won.

Mr. Wylie, interviewed, admitted that the New Zealanders were fairly and squarely beaten at their own game. He had never seen such an exhibition of back play by New Zealand or interprovincial teams. The New Zealand backs were at sixes and sevens, the forwards did not last as long as those of New South Wales, and the backs did not support them.