The Footballers.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3599, 18 November 1905, Page 3

The Footballers.

MORE COMMENTS.

Sydney, Nov x 6 In its football comments, the Daily Chronicle says that Durham made a good fight in the first half, but in the second spell the visitors were far and away better and superior. The stamina of the colonials was telling its tale. The northerners received the congratulations of the New Zealanders for their really plucky and clever resistance, but it was difficult to believe that the only difference between the sides was that of having got over tlje line three times. The visitors obviously were not at full staetah. t)f the Hartlepool -match it says:— It was a sensational reminder of the Strength of the colonials to those who had regarded the Durham result as a sign of deterioration. Hartlepool sought to confound New Zealand methods oy the adoption of the same formation, but the principal of poison counteracting poison failed to produce a medicative affect. The colonials at once took charge of what was destined to become a mere exhibition. The New Zealanders’ bewildering rapidity in passing completely nonplussed the home team.” The Daily Express says“ At Hartlepool the visitors, from start to finish, carried out their traditional policy of keeping the game warm. With bewildering brilliancy every man seemed capable of sprinting and exchanges Vhich were wonderfully clever. Smith, "Wallace and Stead were the celebrities of the day. They conquered the hearts of the spectators as readily as they conquered clubmen on the field,” Major Trevor, the Sportsman critic, declares " there is a very simple explanation of the New Zealanders’ victories—namely, that at all points of the game they give a better exposition of Rugby football than any of our teams are capable of giving.”