FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 390, 28 May 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

Angio-Welshmen Defeated.

Wellington 19 Points—Visitors 13. Wellington, East Night. ' The Anglo-Welsh team met the Wellington combination at the Athletic Park this afternoon, and were defeated by 19 points to 13. The weather was fine. The attendance is officially given at 18,000, and the takings amounted to about The game was fiercely contested on both sides, the forwards in particular giving a fine exhibition. In the scrum work neither side could claim to have had a material advantage. The visitors were slightly superior in the tight, while the local vanguard was seen to best advantage in the open play. The Britishers were handicapped for some time by the loss of their full-back, Jackett, who received a nasty knock on the head in stemming a fierce Wellington forward onslaught. Dyke, who was taken out of the forwards to replace him, did fine saving service. Jackett came on again when the Britishers had notched eight points, playing in the three-quarter line. The stubborn fight among the forwards was responsible for players on both sides being temporarily disabled. Wellington playing with wind and sun behind them in the first spell, notched 11 points, Roberts and Hardham being the try-get-ters, Wallace converting the latter’s try. In the succeeding spell Thomson, for Wellington, notched a try, Roberts adding the major points. Then the visitors got to work. J. F. Williams, J. E- Williams and McEvedy crossing the home team’s line, Dyke converting on two occasions.

A few minutes to no-side Green slipped across the British goal line.

Wellington won the toss and England kicked off. The latter were soon aggressive, Thomson checking a dangerous rush on his own line. Wellington worked the ball into the visitor’s territory and from a scrum Green secured possession, beat Davy and Laxon (halves) and passed to Roberts, who eluded the full-back and touched down. Wallace failed at goal.—Wellington 3 points. The visitors indulged in two fruitless,passing rushes. Near the quarter flag Roberts got possession, ran through the opposing cordon of backs and gave a timely pass to Hardham who burst over the line. Wallace added the major points.—Wellington 8 points. Shortly after Hardham broke away, but neglected to pass to Green, who was lying handy, and threw away a splendid scoring chance. Strong counter charges among the forwards were followed by a pretty piece of concerted passing by J. L. Williams and Gibbs, the latter being bowled into touch when looking dangerous. Jackett, at this stage, retired temporarily from the field, his place at full being filled by Dyke, from the forwards.

The Wellington backs opened up play but indecision and fumbling on their part prevented them gaining much headway. From a scrum near the visitors’ line Green cleverly baffled his opponents and slipped across, Roberts failing to notch the extra points. Wellington n, Anglo-Welsh o, SECOND SPEEI,. The first feature of the second spell was a fine bit of passing between Mitchinson and Wallace. The latter lost possession, but recovered himself and drove the ball up the field. Thomson raced down at great bat, but over-ran the ball when within a couple of yards of the goal line. Another passing rush was set in motion by Mitchinson, who transferred to Wallace, who, in turn, sent the leather on to Thomson, The latter showed a clean pair of heels to his opponents, and raced behind the posts, Roberts converted —Wellington 16 points. The visitors now put plenty of energy and ginger into their work, and a sequence to a strong assault on the Wellington citadel was Evenson making a mis-kick, and the leather being smartly grabbed by J. F. Williams, who touched down. Gibbs failed—Wellington 16, Anglo-Welsh 3. Encouraged by this success, the Britishers made a succession of hot attacks in Wellington territory where from a scrum Davy got possession, baffled Roberts and transferred at the right moment to J. E. who went clean through the Wellington threequarters and full and over the goal line. Dyke converted —Wellington 16, Anglo-Welsh 8. The visitors still kept up the pressure, and the local men’s hands were full in repelling the invasion. At length Wellington assumed the offensive, and the Britishers were called upon to exercise their best defensive abilities to ward off danger. On successive occasions the Wellington forwards, aided by Green and Roberts, penned their opponents on the goal line, but over-eagerness caused them to infringe the rules, and the Britishers had acceptable saves per medium of free kicks. Dyke distinguished himself by robbing Wellington of two seemingly certain scores by sound tackling and smart kicking. The struggle was suspended at intervals, owing to Green and Roberts, and then Down being laid out. A brilliant rush by the British rearguard down the field wound up with McEvedy getting possession and finishing up a splendid sprint by going over Wellington’s

line. D:-ke was successful at goal —Wellington 16, Anglo-Welsh 13.

Excitement was now intense, and both teams played with deadly earnestness, and Wellington gradually shifted play into their opponents’ quarters, where Roberts, picking up in the loose, smartly transferred to Mitchinson, who sprinted across very cleverly. The try was not converted. Play was in the Britishers’ quarters when the whistle sounded for no side.

The Anglo-Welsh team was the same as played at Masterton, excepting that Harding and Smith we :e replaced by Down and Dyke.

Green was undoubtedly hero of the match, and on his showing proved his undoubted claim to a place in the New Zealand team. Roberts also played spendidly. Among the British backs Davy, Gibbs, McEvcdy and Dyke did sterling service. All the forwards in the respective vanguards did such line work that no player could be singled out for special excellence on either side.

The following is the text of the address of welcome presented by the Maoris to the British footballers at Papawai last Sunday : ITaere raai E tc kotuuu Kcrcnga Tahi Te Manuhiri Tuarangi [Welcome the white crane of one passage, the illustrious visitors from afar.J To G. H. Harnett Esq., and the members of the British Football Team, 1908.

Welcome, welcome, to Maoriland ; Welcome, Welcome, to these Isles —Aotea Roa and Te Waipounamu —you have come across the greatest sea of Kiwi, to take part in the manly sport of football with your colonial brothers.

All the world over sportsmen are brothers, whatever their complexion, and if we cannot hope to play quite as good game as you, we can at least profit a little by your example and teaching. We hope and trust that you will enjoy yourselves thoroughly, and will return to your homes with kind recollections of our island colony.

There is still a pleasant memory of the hospitable manner in which the Maori Football Team, who visited England in 1887, were treated, though many of that team have passed away, and we hope to return that kindness in some small measure. Your visit here will be but brief, and you will again have to return to your homes in far away England, but if you should happen to meet any of our Maori brethren, in the course of your travels, we are certain they will give you the same cordial welcome.

This is the first Native Kainga which you have visited, and we hope that you will carry away with you a favourable impression of what you have seen. Welcome, and Farewell, since you must pass on. It is enough that we have seen you—we wish you a safe return to our King and Queen, from' whose presence you have come to gladden one eyes, in this most distant part of Britain’s empire. (Loud applause greeted the conclusion of the address).

Fixtures for Saturday next: — Albion Juniors and Awahou Juniors, 2 p.m. sharp. Albion Seniors and Awahou Seniors, 3 p.m. Admittance to grounds; Gentlemen 6d, ladies free. The Foxton Sub-Union’s application lor affiliation with the Manawatu Rugby Union has been granted. The latter Union in a letter to the local Secretary states that he is pleased to learn that the game is under weigh in Foxton and wishes the local union a prosperous season. The letter concludes ‘ ‘ everything that can possibly be done to assist local rugby will be .readily undertaken and with a view to encourage the SubUnion financially the affiliation fee was reduced from £3 3s to £1 is and twenty copies of the Union’s new rules books were forwarded free of charge. The team to represent Albions in their match against Awahou on Saturday, will be picked from the following: Momo, Frankland, Hukiki, Hunt, Smith, Meadows, Broughton, Puti, Hannah, Cook, Cummerfield, Chalk, Tahiwi, Winiata, Te Kawiu, Moeke, Te Waita, Bird, Williams, Walker, Rimmer, Earkins, Howan.