NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1639, 28 December 1905, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS.

a CLOSE GAME.

By, 'ldfl«grap.h B Presa A-ss’n,. .Copyright; London, Dee. 26.

New Zealand ... ••• Cardifi v,, •" ~J There were 45,000 spectators.. Oard,B was represented by a strong side, including five internationals. The pretty passing o Bush and Gabe enabled NieholU to score, Winfield converting. O’Sullivan met w an accident. Coming into collision With another player, he fractured his collarbone. Thompson scored a try just on half-tim , Wa’laec adding the major points, making five all when the whistle sounded. In the second spell Cardiff pressed strongly till they made a mistake and let Nioholson score, Wallace converting. The home team mado great efforts to draw level. The New Zealand defence was excellent. Just before time, however, Thomas got an opening, and crossed, but Winfield fai ed to add the coveted points. The game ended: New Zealand 10, Cardiff 8.

The Government message states: New Zealand brat Cardiff by 10 points to 8two goals to a goal and a try. . Nioholson and Thompson secured a try each. O builivan sustained a broken collarbone in the middle of the first half.

interesting description. MOST EXCITING GAME. By telegraph, Press A'us’n, Cojiyrigh Received 6.45 p.m., Dec. 27.

Sydney, Dec. 27. The Daily Mail says : The New Zea- | landers Bet the seal on their fame as Rugby footballers at Edinburgh, when, after being a point to the bad five minutes before the call of time, they found the weak spot of Scotland’s armor. Scoring twice in rapid succession, they actually finished up five points to the good, after the most exciting finish ever witnessed on loverleath ground. While Scotland was unfortunate in getting beaten on the post after holding the lead for the greater part of the game, the New Zealanders would have been still more unlucky to have lost, for on the general run of play they were undoubtedly tho belter side. With ■ a quarter of an hour to go, the crowd became too excited to cheer. The Scottish backs, playing for safety, and giving nothing away, kicking into touch whenever possible, the minutes seemed like hours to the anxious Scotsmen, like seconds to the supporters of the fern leaf. A. succession of scrums looked as if Scotland would .:euo9-Wt- : StkiE^“l£str‘when’'it : ’ilemed 'ell over bar shouting, the ball came out to tbe New Zealand backs, and in a flash it went across the line to Smith on the left. That player, setting his teeth grim, determinate, calling upon every ounce of strength ran Btraigbt .to the goal line. Owing.to the cleverness with which tbe movement started tho only man who had a fair chance of tackling Smith was Scoullor, the full back. It was a trying position for tbe young, comparatively inexperienced player. Scoullor, more to bo pitied than blamed, allowing Smith past him, a wild yell from the studenls announced that Smith was over. The place kick was not converted, but to clinch matterp, in the very la t minute, Cunningham touched down after a brilliant bit of play by Macdonald. It was not one of the New Zealanders’ best displays. The backs never got properly together. Both Wallace and Hunter seemed bothered on the frost-bound, slippery ground. The hero of the afternoon was Smith. He played wi'h rato judgment throughout. On such a ground swervmg and dodging were impossible, and tbe ball difficult to hold. Kennedy, of the Irish Union, refereed with tho strictest impartiality and fairness, but at times wbb unnecessarily strict in the interpretation of the knock on rule. Both sides were treated alike in the matter. The Soottish faekling was very keen. They oontro'led the ball with remarkable skill, and made a series of incursions which the New Zealand baoks appeared for a time unable to oheck. It was from tbe fiercest of these inroads that McCallum Boored Scotland’s try. So hard did the visitors find it to time the ball, so frequently were passes intercepted, that Scotland might I easily have scored in tbe first five minutes. Shortly afterwards, however, the ball was got away smartly from the scrum by Muuro, who whipped out to SimsoD, who in a twinkling snap-kicked at goa*. This early reverse acted as a good etimulant to the New Zealanders ; for tho next quarter of an hour they had all the host of the game. Only the magnificent defence of McLeod brother*, and the good touchkicking of Scoullar saved tho Scotch citadel. Right through the game the combatants were at it hammer and tongs