MATCH v. SURREY, Wednesday, 1st November, 1905.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 287, 30 December 1905, Page 21

MATCH v. SURREY, Wednesday, Ist November, 1905.

We located ourselves* at West Eahng for thLs match, and drove over to Richmond in brakes. It rained heavily all day, but, despite this, there was an attendance of between Buoo and 9000 people. New Zealand team. Full, Booth, thiee-qu«uterb, McGregor Smath, Harper; hve-eighths, Stead, Mynott; half, Roberts, foiwaid Si Casey. Tyler OSulhvaa, Newton, Nicholson, Jog**"* CJorbett l*ulett. Referee. Mr. W. Williams, Rugby Union Committee. few "LStes the game settled m New re^ffr>r m «r^ ?o?^fringemente in the scrum, which, froxn^y posiW on the stand, were mot -discoverable. Gradually New Zealand worked the oppStionW, and despite the handicap of a greasy ball, sev ■«!*»*■£ me bouts were initiated. Mctrregoj. SUd after a fine bout but was catted back and a scrum ordered' at the starti™%Zt. The whistle, was certainly very slow in this instance. A little later, Tyler also crossed, after a series of passes, but was also Si was the only score up to half-time. In the second spell, New Zealand altered their tactics. They rarely tried to obtain possession in the scrums, but Sayed a very vigorous forward game $? result blmg^that free-fcLcks were not so frequent, and that the Home team were kept on the defensive pracNew Zealand's last try, tne score on this occasion only being averted by virtue of Smith's superior pace. The first try in the second half was secured rather peculiarly. A sustained attack on Surrey's line culminated in Sohultze being driven over the line, with the ball in his possession, and, being greasy, it slipped out of his hands; Johnston then immediately fell upon it. Later on, from a scrum a beautiful round' of passing, Roberts, Mynott, Smith, .McGregor, ended in the latter crossing but the wet ball escaped his hold before he grounded. The Blacks kept up the pressure, and in loose play about the 25-line, Mynott picked up beautifully when, going at full speed, and transferred to Smith Who made a fine opening and banded to McGregor, who scored. tnllett again failed. Towards the finish, the- crowd encroached upon the ground, and lined the touch-line and the Surrey goal-line. The conditions were altogether against good football, and the very frequent use or the referee's whistle robbed the game of a good deal of its interest. Considering the weather, our backs Shaped remarkably well, the passing, taking, and fielding of the ball being exceedingly good. Roberts in. particulax, played very finely indeed. In© forwards put up a remarkably good game, their display in the second halt particularly being perhaps the best they have yet shown us. Score, 11 to nil.