NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1643, 9 January 1906, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS

" PAINTING THE LILY.” After making special reference to same of the most prominent members of the Irish aid?, the Athletic News picks out oertain of the New Zealanders, remarking—--11 It is almost equivalent to painting the lily or gilding refined gold to refer to the merits of tho New Zealand, players. The team was, with one oxoeption, exactly the same as that which defoated Sootlaod. • • Wallace was made full-back, and Mycott brought in as right wing in the three-quarter line. What Wallaco cae do in the way of kicking is pretty well known. He puls such on amount of power behind his punts and is so suro in his directing of the leather) that hs makes an ideal custodiaD. The throa-quarterE—Smith, Deans, and Mynott—are all men who can glide over a field at the rate of a motor oar, and something of its destrueliveness. They ae very clever with their hands, and they take passes and give them with delightful freedom. Deans is a dangerous man in his enemy’s twentyfive, and he seems to kind of hypnotise his opponents when he is making a bee line for the goal postß. Smith was twice bowled over in endeavouring to get a try. He had one at his mercy, when he endeavored to gain a position nearer the post, but his anxiety on this oooasion led to disaster. Stead and Hunter at fiveeighths were as effective as ever, while Roberts, who is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished half-backs known, wat instrumental in opening the game on maDy oooasions. Tho forwards may have been surprised at tho vigor and dash of lh9 Irishmen, but they wore prepared by their condition to last out, and though

they never got the upper hand of the Hibernian acrummagera, they were able in the later atagea of the game to preserve a solid front, and they did their fair share in tho tackling. Gillett ia soarcely aa poliahed a man at the side of the pack aa his captain, Gallagher, but he knows the game, and he can kick long and high. The contest was not so full of splendid play aa the Scotch match, but it was equally as exciting. The difference was, of course, mainly due to tho alterat’on in the style of play, and though many may oaro for expert dribbling and think it very attractive, yet the fascinating movements which fo'low accurate hantling are cal-

culated to please the multitude, and these were Dot eo pronounoad or eo frequent aa they were at Inrcloitb. The oppressive silence which greeted the New Zealanders’ sooring aod tho soreams of encouragement which signalised every effort of the Irishmen wore convincing indications of tho intacse excitoment with wbioh the match was witnessed by tbe multitude.”