Football.

Manawatu Herald, 16 August 1904, Page 2

Football.

BRITAIN v. NEW ZEALAND.

THE TEST MATCH OF THE TOUR. THE BRITISHERS BEATEN. The great match of the day was played at Wellington last Saturday afternoon in the presence of the largest crowd that has ever been known to witness a football match in New Zealand. At 10.30 a.m. it is estimated that 2,000 persons were waiting outside the gates for admission to the ground, and at noon 12,000 were present. By 3 o’clock the sight when the visitor entered the gates was one to live in memory. The confined environs were covered with tiers of packed ■ humanity, the front rows sitting and those in the rear standing. The grandstands were early filled, and money could not buy seats, a rough estimate putting the total number present at almost 25,0000 persons, in met many had to be turned away. At one o’clock the Buller-Wellington match was played. A creditable exhibition of the game was given. Wellington’s superiority landed them at the finish with a 22 points to xo majority. Tuis match had barely been finished fifteen minutes, when the Englishmen and New Zealanders walked in through the avenue of humanity at the gates, and took up their positions as follows : BRITAIN. NEW ZEALAND. FULL BACKS. O’Brien R. McGregor THREE-QUARTERS. Morgan Wallace Gabe Harper Llewellyn D. McGregor McEvedy HALVES. Bush Wood Vile Stead v Harvey FORWARDS. Dobson Gallagher Trail McMinn, Rogers Tyler Bevan Fanning Edwards Cross Crowthef Glenn Harding Seeling Swannell Nicholson In the first spell both sides were awarded free kicks, and at the end the score stood at 3 points each, although several easy kicks awarded New Zealand previously were unsuccessful. In the second spell the’first try for New Zealand was scored by D, McGregor, who made a brilliant meteoric run from the 25 line, the try being registered in the corner. The kick at goal failed. McGregor later on again distinguished himself by obtaining another try in a brilliant manner. The kick was taken by Wallace, but was again unsuccessful. The score now stood New Zealand 9, Great Britain 3, with only a few mi* nutes to go, and the visitors were playing as they never played before to avert defeat. Their efforts were unavailing, and shortly after the referee blew his whistle for time, and the great contest—the greatest in football an. nals—ended in a win for New Zealand by 9 points to 3. Immediately there was a scene of wild confusion. Handkerchiefs, hats, and umbrellas were waved as the crowd left its confines, seethed down from the terraces and embankments and rushed across the field of play and poured out of the gates. Everywhere there were demonstrations 01 great joy, and it will be told in the future how that never before had there been such a scene of genuine heartfelt enthusiasm in New Zealand as when New Zealand beat Britain in 1904.

“ The best team won ” was the ananimous verdict. It was a verdict easily arrived at. There was nothing more obvious in the world. Through the whole of the first spell and during the greater portion of the second the New Zealanders were the aggressors, and though the visitors made desperate sorties showing clever combined play, they inevitably were pushed back again to their own territory. New obeyed instructions and prevented the tricky English backs from getting the ball, J his was the work* which the forwards, undertook, Gallagher, in particular, by shooting round the scrum smothered danger in its initial steps by pouncing on Vile whenever he got the ball. Then, again, the forwards were down on the-Bri-tish backs like lightning and spoilt all semblance of that “ whirlwind passing ” for which the visitors arefamed. Bush had very few chances. He was too closely watched, but his clever work stamped him as a king of footballers. Morgan gave one exhibition of his fleetness, and New Zealand backers wanted no more. O’Brien at full was safe. The forwards appeared to be under a cloud, for they were no match in dash for the home team. Their combination was good. In the scrum the Nejw Zealanders had their full share of the ball despite all Vile’s resources. The Maoriland forwards played-‘a great game. The whole team wei'e trained to a day, untiring and & hard as nails. They raced in, a pack, stretched out when the ball went from them, and they were not a pleasant lot to face. I uncan his vanguard well prepared and well taught. Wallace gave a, great exhibition of resourcefulness, , and McGregor did more than .was esP pected of him! In fact he was something of a surprise to those whp had seen his play during the tour of the Wellington representatives. Seeling, Glen, and Cross were $ good trio. The great point about the New Zealand backs was theife concerted work, and (in the second spell) their clever handling of tbs.

ball. In the first spell there was something to be desired iu the combination, but afterwards there was comparatively nothing to grumble at. The ground was in delightful order, and the weather all that could bo desired, AWAIIOU v. MOTUITI. This match was played first on Saturday, and after a subbornlycontested game resulted in a win for Awahou by 4 points to nil. Mr N. Heta, in the abscence of the Union’s referee, had charge of the whistle in both matches.

KIWI v. HUIA. The Kiwi team was somewhat weakened on Saturday by the abscence of some of their players, but, nevertheless, they gained another victory over their most formidable opponents —the Huias. The game was anything but interesting to watch, in fact was little less than a wrangling match from start to finish, A (Strict referee would no doubt have ordered players from both teams off the field. Occurrences of this kind are to be regretted, and we hope that in the future these games will be played in better spirit.

The second match betwten the Wanderers and Old Boys will take place to-morrow afternoon on the racecourse, commencing at 3 o clock sharp. The following will represent their respective Clubs;—* Old Boss.— Full-back, A. Overend; 4, 0. Dean, W. Cook, J. Dunn ; five-eights, B. Spelman ; half. K. Furrie, 0. Edwards; wmg, B. Sbadbolfc; forwards, P- Jenbs, E. Spelman, C. Cummerfield, F. Wbibley, A. C ok. 0. Wanklyn, J. Webb. Eraerga.r-W. Stephens, R. Rand, A. Imrie, |?- Wright. The Old Boys are requested to meet at Overend’s corner at 2.15 p.m. sharp. , . ,_ _ „ Wanderers. Full-back,F.Walls; 4, E. Seville, 8. Dawson, B. Wilson; five-eighth, L. Alzdorf; half, G. Coley, forwards, H. White, J. Broad, J. Coley, A. Downey, REaston, W. Waker, J. Williams, J. McDonald, J. Wft ker. The Wanderers are requested to be on the ground at 2 p.m. sharp.