THE ALL BLACKS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 32, 1 November 1907, Page 7

THE ALL BLACKS.

ST. HELENS BEATEN. TWENTY-FOUR POINTS TO FIVE. BY TELEGUAriI— MESS ASSOCIATION—COrTRIGHT. London, October. 30, Tho football match, Now Zealand'team v, St. Holcns, resulted:— : New leaiantl .„ ... 24 St. Helens ... ■„, ~, 5 Play in the first half was fairly ovon, hut afterwards the visitors outclassed their opponents.-. ''.'■' Now Zealand scored three goals and six tries, St. Helens one goal and one try.. ,;. ■ ' PROFESSIONALISM IN WALES. •On Saturday tho Now Zo.ilanders are matched to meet Merthyr at Merthyr. Tvdvil, Wales. A. recent issue of the "Athletic News" contains .tho following intorentinK information : — The thin edge of the wedge has been , inserted mlo -Welsh Rugby football, and for'the first timer in tho history of-tho gamo there will 'bo .professional Rus;by in Wales. At first it seemed ar, if several clubs under Northern Unioii rules would bo organised, but the in Welsh football has resolved itself ..into two now. organisations—Merthyr and Ebhwyale. It must be. at once admitted that oF'tnb'two Slorthyr is (he one of greater importance.-, mid, better prospects. In a very populous district, with a love for (ho Rugby cbdo'vostoral by tho amateur organisation, and with no ojijiosition from tho Soccer code, the truth of the optimism can ba judged. An effort was made to secure the well-appointed ground hold by ; tho amateur club, but; failing this, another ground dose to it has been socured, and already a stand is being erected... • "The club has been fortunate in securing a home match to onou the season, arid on the first.Saturday in.September Oldham will visit thorn, and. display before a Welsh crowd tho merits of ; the' Northern Union game. Thero is no doubting that thiß match will bo a great attraction, and that there will, be a big gate. But' the 'success of the club will depend upon (ho ; ability l,, of ■ tho. players' to win matches, and for thin reason .tho names of tho players who. will, assist tho club.aro necessary before forming ah opinion. So. far, those registered have.no pretensions to first-class, but. it'is not on ■ such .'that, -the. promoters are relying, for success. There must lie. some others whoso names are withheld until the last tnbment, for reasons of,policy. The dclny of tho Welsh Football Union - in issuing tho report of their inquiry into professionalism has not been of any iissistanto to'J the new organisation for certain plnyors would not take the plungo unloss' under sheer'necessity." Tho St. Helens' team, which the Now Zoalanders have l:eliten by 19 points, oceupiod the 22nd .position, in' the , Northern .Union Leagiifi's competition during the season ISO 6-7, with the following "record:— . " : ■ Matches'plnyod'SG, won 9, lost 17,, drawn 0; scores for, 5S gonla E6 tries, total points 37-1-; scores against, 49 goals 85 tries, total points 353;' percentage in competition 3t.Hl. . '~..,- , ■'. > ' The following table ' sh'ows tho matches played and.''tho : scores''to-date. It nlso shows, in parentheses, for each of tho English teams, tho matches won' and ''lost, and the'position gained in tho Northern i .Union Loaguo Compotition for last season, .190G-7:—,. Bramlov—Won by'2s'points to 10—5 goals 5 tries.-to-2 goals 2 tries., (Won 1, lost 19, 2Gth -position' in league.) .• ' .' ' Hnddersfield—Woir by 19 points to 8-2 goals 5 tries to 1 goal 2 tries. (Won 13, lost 19, I.oth'-position in League.) Widnes—Won by 2(i points "to' 11—1- goals ■ 6 tries.to l.goal 3 tries. (Won 9, lost '10,: 12th position,in League.), . Broughton Itangers-Woii- ' by '20 • to 14. ■'■.-■ (Won 17, losfc'o2, 9th position in League.) .. ■ Wakefield Trinity—Draw, 5 points. (Won 12, lost 15, 16th position in League.) ' Lscds-Won by B points to 2-1 goal' 2 -ties to 1 goal., (Won 19, lost 9, ,oth position in Leagiio.) • St. ■ Helens-Won by 2-J points to ( 5 —-3 r '■ (roalsv-and G. tries ..to 1 goal and 1 try. (Won 9, .lost 17, 22nd, position in League;)