THE BRAMLEY MATCH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 44, 15 November 1907, Page 6

THE BRAMLEY MATCH.

NOTES ON FIRST GAME. NEW ZEALAND PLAYERS IN NEW | CONDITIONS. NOT QUITE A FIT. BT TELEGRAM—rREfiS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. (Rec. Nov. 14, 9.9 p.m.) Sydney, November 14. Tho opening gamo played by tho Now Zealand footballors at Home against tho Bramley Club—by no means tho strongest ono in tho Northern Union —was not so wildly onesided as had been ✓predicted, but tho result was decisivo enough to satisfy those who believe the New Zealanders to bo as good a contingent as their predecessors. At present tho visitors are struggling with tho subtleties of the Northern Union rules, wjiioh, in somo vital instances, aro different from tho ordinary Rugby Union regulations. WINGER CRIPPLED — NO LINE-OUT. The absence of tho line-out crippled the New Zealanders' idea of attack, and the halfback Tulo,' which makes it imperative that every man who is not a scrummager must stand behind the pack, prevented the winger from doing anything under pain of penalty. Tho method of punting into touch, as a mothod of attack, also frowned upon the Colonials. However, they had good tuition, and cloverly assimilated their instructions. They gavo a very good but not perfect exhibition of the new gamo, and demonstrated individual brilliance, and when they aro sure of their ground and their combination grows in cleverness they will bo a grand contingent. ■ CHANCE IN SCRUM TACTICS. There was a large attendance, and the crowd gavo members of the previous All Blacks team a hearty welcomo, while Messonger (New South Wales), and Wrigley (Wairarapa) were particularly well watched. The New Zealanders tried to work their pack with five forwards against the six of their opponents, with tho 3-2 formation; but Tyler (Auckland), who was wing-forward, soon got in the way of the referee, and his five colloagues were obliged to have his assistance in stemming the rushes of tho Bramley scrummagers. MESSENGER DRAWS FIRST BLOOD— A PENALTY COAL. The Yorkshire club never played so well or so pluckily. The gamo was only two minutes old when a penalty kick gave Messengor an opportunity, and a goal was placed. Later, Rowe (Auckland) ran over "the lino, and Messenger converted. Smith (Auckland) also gained a try, half-time arriving with tho score:— New Zealand 10 Bramley e ; The second half saw the visitors push their attack to a better finish, two tries being scored by Tyler,; and ono by Wrigley. Messenger placed goals from Tyler's tries, failed to convert Wrigley's, and kicked a goal from a (penalty, after a picco of bad play by Hogg, tho Bramley captain. PASSING NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE. The N,(?y Zealanders, especially Messenger, kicked splendidly. Their passing was bright, but was not always accurate, several good chances being missed. \ A fine pieco. of work by Wrigley and Messengot was just robbed of a try by all infringement of tho touch-lino. The visitors were not quite equal to' their task, not having yet mastered the scienco of the reduced number of players. Their idea of trying to screw tho scrum, and, if possiblo, to dribble the ball through their opponents, did not always result in success. Tho gamo ended:— New Zealand ... ... 25 Bramley ... 6