NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1616, 1 December 1905, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS

PRESS COMMENTS,

By telegraph'. Press Ass’p,. Conyrigh Sydney, Nov 30.

The London Daily Chroniele. dealing with the Somerset match, says: The Homs team put up a fine game against. their powerful opponents, but the style of the sides differed materially. The Home team relied on the old forward game, and New Zealand on rapid transfers. Somerset were always on the ball. Their olever tackling somewhat upset the visitors, who, however, onoe .they settled down, completely outplayed their rivals. The Daily Telegraph says: In the absence of Hunter and Smith the New Zealanders were not at their full strength when they met Somerset. It was also stated' that several members of the team were beginniog to feel the effeots of the tremendous energy which obaracterisad their efforts. Beaten pointless as Somerset were, the game was by no means a one-sided one, but the colonials showed marked superiority in getting the ball away from the scrummage, and their better condition gradually told. The attendance was far in. excess of any previous match in the district. Whatever result the visitors’ triumphs may have on the Rugby game, their visit is certainly arousing an astonishing amount of enthusiasm.

Regarding the Devonport match, the Daily Chronicle considers the game one of the finest ever witnessed. The ground prpduobd a Titanic struggle until midway in the second half, when the Albions tired. The impression the score would give, however, waß entirely fallacious, as on a strict matter of play in accordance with rules the Albions were as olever as their doughty opponents, but lacked the speed and recklessness of the New Zealanders, who always meant getting there, with heedless regard as to how their desideratum was aohieved. Judged on the first half, English Rugby has little to learn from the colonial methods. The New Zealanders’ passing wss oertainly bewildering. The paper conolndes : The moral is speed and stamina.

The Daily Telegraph says: Among their many viotorie3 none redound to the New Zealanders’ credit more than this. Devonport was admittedly one of the strongest terms in the country. While the New Zealanders fully deserved their victory, they owed it more to speed and stamina than combination. So long as the Albions were able to keep apace with their weighty antagonists, they fought on even terms, and their football display suffered Dothing in comparison with that of the colonials. Up to a point the Albions did much to vindioate the reputation of English football. Although only recent followers of the New Zealanders’ methods, the Albionß adopted the colonial formation of fiveeighths, and acquitted themselves with conspicuous success, and the half-back on the whole was master of his opponent, Roberts. The splendid finish of their attacks was the feature of the visitors’ d’splay.