INTERCOLONIAL FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 970, 17 August 1903, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL FOOTBALL.

ANOTHER BIG VICTORY FOR NEW ZEALAND.

AUSTRALIA DEFEATED BY 19 POINTS.

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright.

Received August 15th, 9.37 p.m. SYDNEY, August 15. The football match between New. Zealand and Australia, which has been looked forward' to .with considerable interest for the past fortnight, was played to-day in glorious weather, there being only a slight 'breeze, but not sufficiently strong to give the advantage to either side. On the previous night showers fell ; but the morning broke fine, and the ground was in good order. The attendance was estimated at quite thirty thousand, and included ■And Sir I-larry. Rawson‘ : ( Governor of Now South Wales). Duncan won the'toss, and elected to play with the sun at the hack of his team. Wickham led the Australians, and Dr Waugh was entrusted with the whistle. Intense interest was displayed in this match, as it was the first in

which New Zealand had been engaged against Combined Australia. The 1888, 1893, and 1897 teams had had successful tours, the first goingi through without defeat, and after the success which had attended the present team in their tour tncy went out favorites.

Joyce kicked off, and the ball going well down the field* Wallace took possession and kicked out to touch. After the ball had been

irown out, a scrum followed

Wood not placing the ball in a satisfactory manner, a free kick was awarded the home team, who were thus enabled to relieve the position. A few minutes later Asher started a fine run, hut White, the local threequarter collared the dodgy Aucklander and relieved the strain. .The visitors kept up the attack on Australia, and during the scrum in their territory one of the New Zealanders was penalised for lifting his foot in the pack. This enabled

the home team to shift the scene of play to the centre of the field ; but the advantage was only momentary, the visiting vanguard coming down once more into Australia’s quarters, where Duncan looked like scoring ; but another free kick to the defenders saved the position. Nothing daunted, the New Zealanders again swept down the field, where Evans, of Queensland, who was playing at half, got offside, and the referee awarded New. Zealand a free kick, and then the score read— New Zealand, 3 - } Australia, 0. After the kick-oil, Asher was instrumental in again transierring play to Australia’s twenty-five, where White was prominent in stopping a dangerous rush. Wickham, the local skipper, then put in good work in driving New Zealand hack to the centre, but the splendid combination of the visitors at this

juncture, prevented any further encroachment towards their line.

The home team was not presenting anything like the combination of the New Zealanders, and play soon went back into their quarters, chiefly by a fine line-kick of D. McGregor. Scrums followed, and the Australians were slow, in breaking them up.

When they were on the look-out for a break, and it happened rapidly, they forgot to take advantage. From one of these scrums, Rl McGregor got possession, and put in a beautiful line-kick right down into Australia’s territory. From 'the line-out he secured a mark, which .was placed for Wallace* without result, Australia being forced. On the kick-off, the New Zealand ■backs soon had the game centred in their opponents’ twenty-five, where a scrum was formed, which resulted

in the home team being given

free kick, and.play, went into neutral territory. A bad kick by one of the visitors, resulted in a fine rush by the home tqam, who were headed by Evans. A five yards’ serum was ordered, and Gallagher whipping round the scrum, Australia was awarded a free kick, from which, amidst a scene of great excitement, Wickham kicked a goal, and thus put the score even, a penalty goal each. When the play Was resumed, Asher was again prominent in sweeping the ball down into Australia’s twenty-five, but White, as on the previous occasion, upset him, and thus put a stop to a very dangerous rush, after which Wickham assisted materially in driving the attackers back to the centre. Australia was forced twice in quick succession, and brief advantage was gained from the kicking, but was soon nullified by the combined rushes of the visitors., From a line out, Duncan passed to Asher, Who again had a tilt at White, b|Ut with no better .success than on former occasions, but the Aucklander bounced on to his feee again, akin to a rubber hall, and assisted to get play close on to the home team’s line, where a scrum in goal resulted. From this, Evans, the local half, got possession and kicking down the field, D. McGregor marked, and the bajl being placed for Wallace, he sent it between the: posts. . S New Zealand, 7 ; Australia, S. Half-time was shortly after sounded. On resuming, White, the local three-efuarter, with a good kick, sent play into the Maorilanders territory, but for a breach of the rules the home teanj were penalised by a free kick, an advantage which enabled New Zealand to remove p.lay into neutral ground. In a few niinufps, , the two Christchurch men, Wood and : D. McGregor, were concerned in a fine rush down on Australia’s line, the home team relieving the position by a free kick; but shortly afterwards the New •Zealanders came at ‘them again, and the home team Were compelled to force. . When the ball was in play, again, Wood, from a mark, sent it back to Australia’s "twenty-five, and shortly afterwards Kiernan got a mark m front of a line-out, from which Wallace made a good, though unsuccessful effort to place a goal, the ball just going outside the posts. From thp kick off, New Zealand, headed by McMinn, started a dangerous rush down into their opponents’ quarters, but the danger was cleverly averted by Redwood, hut only just in time to prevent the New (Zealanders adding to their total. It was not long before the home team was again op the defensive, and'herp Asher fumbled a good passing rush, dll'!! lost what looked like an almost certain spore. Then play went back to live centre, where Wood got possession from the scrum, anti handed the hall to Mr It. McGregor. Unfortunately Wood, who followed up hard, collided with and upset McGregor, allowing the opposing skipper to get the ball, and, racing through the visitors, appeared dangerous, when Wallace saved his side. Immediately after, Kiernan secured the ball from a scrum, and passed on to his skipper, who in turn gave the leather to McGregor. The latter matje a fine run, and then transferred to Asher, who crossed the line but Wallace failed to convert. New Zealand, Id \ Australasia, d

Play continued iji t'he home team s ] ground, when Gr.attop interfered with Gallagher, and a free-kick followed, and then a scrum. From the latter Kicrnan whipped the ball out to Duncan, hut the hall went into touch. Off-si tic play on the part of Evans gave the New Zealanders another free-kick, and Wallace had au ineffectual shot at goal, Australia, hein o, forced. The visitors carried the ball hack, and Wood, marking, placed a beautiful goal. New Zealand, 14; Australia, 3. Bome centre play followed, and then Kicrnan, getting the leather neatly from a scrum, passed to Duncan ; thence it went on to Wood, R. McGregor, Asher, and eventually.

to Tyler, who jumped over, twit Wallace was not successful with the kick at goal. New Zealand, 17 ; Australia,- 3. The success of the New Zealanders upset the Australians, and the next try was obtained in a peculiar manner. The ball ,went out at the corner, and most of the players imagined it was out ; but nor so R. McGregor, who ran round and placed the ball down behind the goalposts. The referee allowed the try, amidst a wild outcry R oll } .spectators. Wallace took the kick, and scored an easy goal. New Zealand, 22 ; Australia, 3. On resuming, a little off-side play on the part of D, McGregor gave the local men a free-kick, but Wickham kicked wide of the goal. The home forwards returned to the attack, aut Wallace coolly relieved. Wickham re- I turned, the ball just falling under the bar from a fine kick. From a passing rush initiated by Wickham, I the ball went out in the New Zealanders’ twenty-five, but here Asher nut in some fine work in relieving his side. .Shortly before time was called, Duncan injured his nose, but I after a few minutes’ respite, return- I ed to the field. Give anti take play in the centre of the field filled up the I time until the whistle sounded, when the New Zealanders were victorious I by—

NEW ZEALAND AUSTRALIA