NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1596, 7 November 1905, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS

PRESS OPINIONS ON LEICESTER MATCH.

By telegraph, Press Afle’n, Copyright

Received 10 p.m., Nov. 6. Byduey, Nov. 6, The London Daily Telegraph, commenting on the Leicester match, stales that for the first time the New Zealand Borummagers were fairly held in check, and were unable to afford their backs a free hand. Direotly the balanoa of power forward rested with the New Zealanders, the superiority of their baoks wae very

manifest. _ , The Daily News states: Every chance that presented itself was utilised by the colonials to the full, and if chances did not oome along in the ordinary way, they would make them themselves. So great indeed is their confidence in their ability, that they had no hesitation in starting an attack in their own 25. Moreover, their audacity in this respect was justified by results. The perfeot combination, speed, skill, and strength bids fair to render the New Zealanders almost invincible to the

end of their tour. The Times says : Leicester bad not tbe capacity outside the scrummage to turn to account- tbe good work of their forwards. Having taken the eting out of the home team, the New Zealanders turned the game quite easily. With regard to the notorious wing forward of the New Zealaodere, he may be said to have almost met his matoh in BraUhwinte, the Leicester half-back, whoso excess of zeal often found him tackling Gallagher when the latter had not the ball. As regards the Middlesex match the decisive victory was thoroughly genuine. In tho matter of footwork the home team held their own, but in all other departments tboy were obviously the weaker side. The backs were quite outclassed.

A 'feature of the preaa box at the Northampton matob (states the Auckland Star’s correspondent) was George Smith, , who acoeded to the suggestion of one of the local reporters that he should stand by tbo knights of the pencil and assist them to identify the New Zealand players. As an unofficial press steward Buahh proved “ great," and when the day comes for hun to eschew aclive p&rticipaliOQ ifl fooiball I can warmly reoommend him for the post of press steward at any sporting moetiug. With George at bis elbow a blind mao could have reported the Northampton game, so for as the New Zealand team s work was oonoeraed. There was only one interruption to his work duriog the run of the play, and that stopped the play also, | Something happened to one of tho New Zealandors, but before one coild ask wbat it was Smith wss doing even time across the field with a pair of " unmeDtionables.” A knot of black-garbed players gathered in the centre of the field and Smith disappeared. Presently he emerged and ran back to his place. “ Wallace ?” said somebody. “ Yes, Wallace,” replied Bmith.