FOOTBALL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 395, 9 June 1908, Page 4

FOOTBALL

The First Test Match. Cake Walk for N.Z. Dunrdin, June 6. The first test match between New Zealand and Britain on the present tour was played to-day in the presence of about 19,000 spectators. The weather turned out splendidly, and the ground was in capital order. It was expected that the contest would result in a close finish, but before the game had been in progress long it became evident that the home team would win by a substantial margin.

The N.Z. team asserted its superiority at Jthe outset, and the game had been in progress only about ten minutes when the first score, a penalty goal kicked by ißoberts, was made.

Thomson next augmented the score by making a dash down the line and getting over at the corner, Roberts kicking a fine goal.

A little later Mitchinson dashed over the British line and the major points were added by Gillett. N.Z. still maintained the upper hand, and from a passing bout Cameron scored at the corner, Gillett sending the ball over the bar from a very acute angle. Shortly before half time a scramble took place on the visitors’ line, and Roberts snapped up the ball and dived over, Gillett failing with the kick.

When the teams crossed over N.Z. bad a lead of 21 points. The second spell had not been in progress long before Roberts got away on the blind side of the scrum, and eluding opposition, scored at the corner, Gillett’s kick at goal being a failure.

The visitors then held their own better for some time, and after pressing the home team hard once or twice, their backs broke away from midfield and a passing bout participated in by Davy, Williams, Ponty Jones, Vassall, and Gibbs, ended in the last named scoring what was probably the best try of the day. Jackson added the major points. In the closing stages N.Z. returned to the attack and a passing rush terminated in Hunter scoring beside the posts. Roberts took the kick at goal, missing the mark. Within a few minutes of time Vassall and Gibbs missed the ball near the line and Mitchinson snapped it up and dived over, Francis converting with an excellent kick.

The winning team held the advantage almost throughout, and never after the game had been iu progress tor half an hour did the visitors look like getting near their opponents.

The New Zealand team played splendidly, the forwards following up and tackling splendidly, and the backs passing and cutting in cleverly and using their speed to the best advantage. The home backs were very smart in getting away, and when once going they took a lot of stopping. The New Zealanders played with better combination and frequently gained large stretches of ground. Some of the visitors played well individually, and on the whole they showed greater resource in footwork than N.Z. did, but there was lack of combined effort, and generally when a man got away, he lacked support and ot course the chance was lost.

The fine kicking and fielding all round were of a high standard, and the place-kicking was very good, some of the goals being registered from very acute angles. The New Zealanders were very quick at getting on to the British halves, who had therefore considerable difficulty in getting the ball away to the backs. The visitors did not manage as much passing as their opponents, and even when they made efforts in this direction, they were often nullified by Ponty Jones failing to take the ball. Record to Date. The New Zealand Tour. Sat. May 23 — Wairarapa & Bush, Masterton —Won 17 —3. Wed. May 27 Wellington, Wellington—Tost 19—13. Sat. May 30 —Otago, Dunedin — Dost 9 —6. Wed. June 3. —Southland, Invercargill.—Won 14 —8. Sat. June 6.—First Test, Dunedin.—Dost 32 —5. Games Still To Play. Wed. June 10. —South Canterbury, Timam. Sat. June 13 Canterbury, Christchurch.

Wed. June 17. —West Coast & Buller, Greymouth. Sat. June 20. —Nelson and Marlborough, Nelson. Sat. June 27. —Second Test, Wellington. Wed. July 1. —Hawke’s Bay, Napier. Sat. July 4. —Poverty Bay, Gisborne.

Wed. July 8. —Manawatu and Horowhenua, Palmerston. Sat. July 11. —Wanganui, Wanganui. Wed. July 15. —Taranaki, New Plymouth. Sat. July 18.—Auckland, Auckland. Sat. July 25.—Third Test, Auckland.

Albion v. Awahou

The first senior match' tor the Austin Banner, was played on the Racecourse, on Saturday, between the above teams, and resulted in a win for Albions by 9 points (two tries and a penalty goal) to nil.

The exhibition given was far below senior form, but no doubt both teams will improve as the season advances. The forwards were very evenly matched, but Albions backs played a far superior game than their opponents. Bird, Momo and Frankland practically travelled half the length of the field when - ever they got the ball. These players were instrumental in scoring both tries. There was an entire absence of rough play, due no doubt to the excellent refereeing of Dr. Adams, who, we consider, is the best referee yet seen in Foxton.