“ALL BLACKS” TOUR

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2138, 22 July 1907, Page 2

“ALL BLACKS” TOUR

AUSTRALIA BADLY BEATEN.

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS

United Press Association— Copyright Received Ju^^ui“2o The first of the test matches of the present tour between Australia and New Zealand was played this after noon and another monster crowd thronged the Cricket Ground to witness the game, ilie extra s Pacc adjoining tlie pavilion was thrown open to the public and it is expected tha when the official figures are completed it will bo proved that the attendance was greater than that of last Satuiday Lord Northcote, the GovernorGoneral, and Sir Harry Rawson, State Governor, were among those present. The exposition of football by the visitors allowed a reinarkab.e reversal of form as compared with their two previous displays. the play, while not as brilliant all round as that some of the former teams have given, was still worthy of the reputation of the Dominion’s football prowess, and it must be remembered too tliat. no previous team lias ever had to contend with such greatly-improved Rugby play on the part of the Australian players as lias been put forwaid in the present tour. The Australian team played under the combined colours of New South Wales and Queensland—blue and maroon. Air. Alex. Brown was selected referee and his decisions gave general satisiaction. One regrettable feature or the game was the number of casualties, the most serious being that sustained by Coleman, New Zealand, who. received a nasty wound on the I •.nil. The weather was fine though overcast. Owing to the time lost by accidents play was much delayed and it, was dark when the whistle sounded noside. Prom the very outset the All ■Blacks showed that the torpor which had characterised their previous efforts had disappeared and their alertness and clock-like movement was a delight to witness. Within the first three minutes of the. game’s beginning the visitors had registered their first score and their determination to retrieve Wednesday’s defeat was soon apparent. The Australians were captained by Burge. The Now Zealanders wore successful in the spin of the coin and choso the northern goal. There was a light breeze blowing across the ground which gave no advantage to either side. The Australians kicked off, but tie New Zealanders quickly swarmed into the homo territory where Francis started a smart rush and, ably assisted by the other forwards, had tbeir opnonents penned down on their hue, where Seeling got possession and 1 ustled over, scoring first blood. v . a’h ce v.-as given tlie kick a,t goal, but just, failed to send the ball between tue posts. New Zealand : 3 Australia •< From tlie kick out some exciting play followed in neutral zone, and Dix was prominent for his excellent. line-kicking. Gradually the scene of operations was removed into the visitors’ quarters, chiefly by the ail cf the local forwards, who were working the scrums rather better at this time than their adversaries. While in their opponents’ territory the home team were awarded a penalty kick and Carmichael had a shot at goal, but the leather fell a trifle short. Mitehinson resumed the play, the ball going into the centre of the field, where play became very strenuous and the All Blacks had several penalties recorded against them. Foot by foot the Australians again advanced toward'i the New Zealand line amid cheers from the multitude, and Carmichael from a free kick had another abortive try at goal. The ball was returned outside tlie 25, and from a line-out the visitors secured the ball, and an exciting rush by them followed. For a time it appeared as if another score "as certain, as Carmichael, the local fullback, missed the ball, but McWatt whipped back and snapped up the ball just in time to save his side. Give and take play ensued in the centre of the field for a time. Then Mit-chinson from half-distance got possession and with a beautiful dodgy run completely fooled the opposing backs and crossed tlie line. Wallace kicked an easy goal and tlie board read New Zealand 8 Australia 0 AVhen in play again there was a lot of tussling in the centre of the ground without much material advantage to either side. Here Rosewell ; one of the local team, received an injury to liis leg and liis place in the field was taken by Graves, Carmichael going up from full-back to three-quarters, relieving Dix, who took up his position in charge of the goal. For a long interval the game was confined within the home team’s lines, Dix saving his opponents getting in on several occasions. Eventually the Australians relieved by a free kick given against the All Blacks, and play was taken to their end. It was here during a b6t struggle that Coleman received a nast y kick on the head, which reressitated his leaving the field and J. Spencer, of Wellington, took iris jkce. on the wing. The game was uni allowed to remain long in the New Zealanders’ half. They shifted the s ene by a good run by Wallace, who ended by passing on to Fryer, the ball eventually going out. Another brief interval now took place owing to -me of the home team sustaining an injury Barnett ricked his ankle and Richards, of Queensland, was put on in his place. The Australians were being sorely pressed by the visitors, but they obtained occasional relief by free kicks awarded against the New Zealanders. A little later on the visitors set up another rush, and Roberts passed to Mynott, thence to Hunter and oil to Mitehinson. The latter handed the ball along to Wallace, who m a few seconds passed it back to Mitehinson almost oil the touch-line. It was a magnificent piece of passing, and Mitehinson lost no time in streaking for the goal-line, which he successfully reached. Wallace added tlie major points and then the whistle sounded half-time with the score reading Ndw Zealand 13 Australia 0 As tne second spell opened the light began to fail. Tlie New, Zealanders soon had their opponents on the defensive again, but once more were the local team relieved’ by the aid of a rree kick. For a time they managed to get play out of dangerous quarters, but surely, however, tney were lorceu back into their own ground. Dix's nicking kept the enemy in check. Flay was very hard and free-kicks plentiful, chiefly against the All Blacks. A line rusn by the visiting rorwards, who were putting great heart into their work "carried New Zealand down to Australia’s line and a penalty gave Wallace a shot -at goal, but the ball went wide. Time and again the Australians endeavored desperately to invade New Zealand’s line, but the hitter’s back play and fine judgment easily disposed of them. Another fine rush was started by the Visitors, and Carmichael,making a bad mistake, enabled Hughes to pick up the ball and run in. Wallace placed a goal comfortably—the third in succession.

! New Zealand 18 Australia o The kick-out was followed by an interval of uninteresting play, of wiucli neither side hail much the best, i lie Australians were rushing down repeatedly, but the. - New Zealand backs were content with taking marks anil sending the ball out near the centre. The local men appeared to be sluggish in their movements, but this may have been more apparent ilian real and by comparison with the . apidity of their opponents. It was .vliile tile New Zealand backs were content to quietly stave off their opponents inside the visitors’ ground that- Carmichael got his chance off a free kick and placing a goal drew first- blood for Australia, which made the score read *» New Zealand is Australia 3 This score caused the visitors to change their tactics, and they at- once shifted play into the home team’s 25 anil from a long line-out New Zealand got the Australians up against their back lino and compelled them to force down. The ball was no sooner in play than Now Zealand had it back again. The strain was relieved by tlie Australians getting oil a smart dribbling rush that looked dangerous, but the opposing forwards broke it up and took the ball at foot back into the home territory and narrowly missed ending up with a score. The Australians rallied and with another rush had the blacks on the defensive. From a great struggle in New Zealand’s , quarters the local men obtained a mark and Carmichael was again successful in piloting the ball between the posts by a brilliant kick from just inside the half-way flag. This second -core on the part of the home team brought forth, a terrific outburst oi cheering. The board slioived I New Zealand , 18 : Australia ' Q , Immediately the game resumed < -NOW Zealand invaded their opponents’ • "" '• IS -"” ‘‘try. of tin i • ’enson got made .i. - ... . . Australia’s goal- < '•rpiled up the lea- j .- • v -= whipped it on to H Miter. , tchinso:: in the meantime had dash- ( id apross the ground and gdt riund in f time to accept a pass from Hunter 1 and dashed over the line. Wallace j

was again successful in, registering the goal and the sheet showed: New "Zealand ... : •••• Australia “ Australia at this time, was in a bad way and though they fought on gamely they were hopelessly out of the hunt. The ball was not long in play before the scene of operations .was again in Australia s quarters vhero Francis secured possession and. dodging through scored the sixth ttj ™ the visitors. It was difficult and Wallnce failing at the goal, the score New Zealand .’. 26 Australia b . Towards the finish the Australians pressed the blacks into their own 20, ami worked like Trojans to get a fuither score, but the defence was too good and when the whistle sounded no side the game stood New Zealand "S Australia b The Australians failed to . cross tho visitors’ line, their score being made up of a penalty goal and a goal from a mark. On the other hand New Zealand crossed their opponents lino on no less than six occasions, trms being obtained by Mitclunson (three;, Seeluig, Hughes and Francis (one each). On each occasion Wallace was entrusted with the kick at goal, scoring goals from each of those scored by Mitchinson and Hughes.

an immense attendance. Received July 21, 4.43 p.m. SYDNEY, J.uly 21. The turnstiles recorded the attendance at tho match as just on 50,000. The takings amounted to L24UU. COLEMAN’S INJURY. WHY NEW ZEALAND WoN.jj| Received July 21, 4.45 p.m. Sydney, July 21. Coleman received a nasty woundoli the back of the head necessitating several stitches. He is progressing satisfactorily. , B. I. Sivannnell attributes the Australian debacle bo bad select>ion. Xll tight scrimmages the teams were pretty evenly matched, the advantage in open and line-out play being with the New Zealanders, but in the back division the New Zealanders were streets ahead of their opponents. *

THE REFEREE. SYDNEY, July 20. Messenger’s non-inclusion in football team is due to a sprained ankle. Mr. Brown acts as referee in today’s match in place of Mr. Martin.

FEELING IN AUCKLAND. SOME PECULIAR VIEWS. Press Association. AUCKLAND, last night. The result of the football match against Australia evoked great enthusiasm, as after tbe match against New South Wales people Fere were prepared for almost anything. the same time some rather peculiar ylews are expressed on the subject. In some quarters it is wondered if New South Wales really won the last match on tlieir merits.