Great International Football Match.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 6 February 1901, Page 4

Great International Football Match.

FINAL TIE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF SOUTH AFRICA. Teams —

British Empire—Roberts, goal; Baden Powell and White, backs; Hunter, Kitchener, and Bundonald, half-backs ; Buffer and Clery, right wing: French, centre; Methuen and Kelly-Kenny, left-wing. Transvaal and Orange Free State Kruger, goal; Cronje and Steyn, backs ; Botha, Prinsloo, and Olivier, half-backs; De Wet and Tiljoco, right wing; Joubert, centre; Snyman and Viliebois, left wing. Referee Public Opinion, Kick-ofl, October 11, 1899. This match was the attraction of the

season, and was played on the home team’s ground in South Africa. The last time these teams met was in 1881, when the match ended in a very unsatisfactory manner. This time the visitors brought ovf r 200,000 supporters of the game, and were whhout doubt a. team that anyone would le jrreud of. The home team won the toss for choice of grounds, and Joubert kicked off. They at once became aggressive, and were getting dangerously near the visitors’ goal, but White at back was playing a sound game, and repelled attack after attack when the home team seemed bound to score; in fac*-, the visitors, backs, “8.-P.” and White, were playing grandly, and although the home forwards were in the visitors’ territory they failed to score.) “The Empire” forwards now began to I get into their stride, and French, working like a machine round his opponents, completely beat Cronje, and with a swift lightning shot, he found the not with a beauty (Kimberley). Soon after this goal Cronje was dismissed from the field (Paardeberg), thus weakening the home side, fence. Buller, who had all along been playing a steady game, was now seen to advantage, and although being stopped several times in his grand rushes, he came back again and again, and shattering his opponent’s defence, he came dashing on, and by a superhuman effort, entirely his own, scored a grand goal (Ladysmith). Soon after the home team lost the services of their best player, Joubert. A strong wind was now) blowing across the field, thus giving the left wing of the visitors a chance to show their abilities. Kelly-Kenny and French were now very prominent with some splendid work, and were passing beautifully. The home team repeatedly tried to stop the grand eombination, but all their efforts proved futile. Kelly-Kenny now transferred to French, and that famous player again showed his sterling qualities by scoring another (Bloemfontein). The play was now in the homo team’s territory, and the visitor’s forwards were pressing when the whistle blow for half time, with the scoreßritish Empire, 3; Transvaal and Orange Free State, 0. The teams now appeared on the field to contest the second half of the game.

The home team’s supporters were in despair, for they saw that, bar accidents, their pets would lose the game. The visitors were playing with confidence that was a treat to see, while the home team resorted to dirty tactics (abusing the white flag). Try how they would the home team could not stem the pressure which the visitors’ forwards put into the game. French again got possession, and tricking the half-backs, promptly made the game secure by scoring anther fine goal (Johannesburg). Baden-Powell the mainstay of the “ Empire’s ” defence, was now transferred to the front rank. His heroic defence had been the admiration of all, and ho comp’ctely demonstrated to the spectators that he could play forward as brilliantly as back. Some very fast play was now seen, the ball travelling with lightening velocity towards the goal. The visitors made a grand combined rush, and after some splendid play in front of goal, the ball was sent into the net , amidst the cheers of thousands (Pretoria). The home team was completely staggered, and Kruger, their goalkeeper, left his net at the mercy of his opponents. The home team contended that the goal was “ offside,” but the referee ruled otherwise. The whistle now blew for time, the score being, after a hard-fought game

British Empire 5. Transvaal and Orange Free State... Nil. Tho feature of tho struggle was the splendid all-round pky of tho visitors, who received a tremendous ovation. Unfortunately, the home custodian disappeared with the gate-money just before the conclusion oi the match.