FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1921, 31 December 1918, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

WALES DEFEATS NEW ZEALAND.

Twenty-Jive thousand people witnessed the New Zeahmd-Welsh Rugby football match which was played at Swansea on Saturday. There was a slight drizzle. Many New Zealand officers, including General Stewart, were present. Great cheering greeted the All Blacks’ appearance on the field. The game throughout was fast, open, and spectacular. It resolved itself info a duel between New Zealand aggressive forward a I tacks, which were mainly composed of drihldbig rushes with a display of excellent footwork, and superb tricky Welsh hack play. The Welsh forwards obtained possession of ihe ball on most occasions, ami the backs handled it better (ban the N'ew Zealanders. There was no score a! half lime. Insufficient policing permitted the crowd to invade (he field of play, and in consequence the game had to be slopped on several occasions. In tho second half of the game, after a splendid passing rush in which nearly all Ihe Welsh backs took part, a try was obtained at a corner; the scorer brushing the spectators as he was crossing the goal line. The kick at goal was mil successful. The New Zealanders made tremendous efforts |o equalise matters, ami hemmed (he Welsh down to (heir line. A great passing bout between Brown, Taurei McNanghl. and (’ockroff, (he latter ,;iisl tailing, by inches, to score under the goal posts. The game was a truly memorable one. although hardly equal to past international standards. Storey, O’Brien ami McNauglil were (he best of Ihe New Zealand backs, and "Wilson, Fogarty, Motlif, and Sellars amongst tlie forward division.