HEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1592, 24 October 1905, Page 2

HEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS

PRESS COMMENTS.

By- telegraph, Press Ass'n, Copyright Beceivod 11.25 p.m., Oct 23. Sydney, Oot. 22. To-day’s English mail brings press comments on the first two football matches. In regard to tho Devon match the Daily Mail says : “ The New Zealanders’ dash and fire reminded one cf the best Irish teams, while their in and out passing and backing up was in tho best Welsh style.” Tho Daily Express says : “ Apart from tho wing forward, there was little or nothing in the play of Now Zealand to which a purist could take exception. The forwards packed like Welshmen, and in tho loose ana lino out were quits up to the Irish standard, Their dash was immense, and in only one respect were they at all disappointing. They broke up rather slowly, and their tackling was none too sure.’’

The Daily Chroniole says: “ Devon, to put the matter mildly, completely lost their beads and hearts. In popular language, they simply lay down and let the New Zealanders walk over them." Commenting on the wing forward, the writer says : “He is such an irritatmg person, and plays suoh a decidedly unlawful game, from our point of view, that hia prudence in wearing Bhin guards may be commended. The winger showed a fine Boom cf certain sections of rule 11. If he hud met his deserts he would have been penalised into ineffectiveness. For the rest, the Now Zealanders are a splendid side. The forwards have robust, dashing methods in the loose, and paok splendidly. The backs are all fast and clover. A pleasing feature is the strong individuality of the backs in running.” Referring to the Cornwall matob, the Mail says :. " Tho success was due to tactics as intelligent as they are original aud superior iu every way to anything witnessed in English football, backed up as they are by running, passing, and kiokiog of the highest olass. It is, indeed, difficult to say what British team will oheck their victorious career. As a factor in the attacking abilities oi the team the wing forward is of undoubted value, if only for the fact that he is an extra man outside the scrum. To this and the admirable wedge formation in a largo measure tho suooess was duo.” '