MATCH v. BLACKHEATH. Saturday, 4th November, 1905.

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

MATCH v. BLACKHEATH. Saturday, 4th November, 1905.

This match was played on the Blackheath Club ground, which is in very fine order. The attendance numbered between 9000 and 10,000, including several itoundred New Zeal ande its on a specially-reserved 1 stand. Lord Ranfurly and Mr. Reeves were also present. New Zealand team: Full, Gillett; three-quarters, Wallace, Smith, McGregor; five-eighths, Hunter, Stead; half, Roberts; forwards, Tyler, Casey, O'Sullivan, Cunningham, Glasgow, Seeling, Johnston, Gallaher. Referee, Mr. Percy Coles. The Blackheath team was reckoned a very strong side, including, as it did, no less than eieht internationals, amongst them B. Maclear, the Irish three-quax-tetr, who made such a fine reputation last season. New Zealand! started off witJh great dash", and within two minutes Johnston

picked up in the loose, and passed to Smith. The latter, finding himself jammed near the line, centred beautifully, Wallace securing, and crossing practically unopposed. It was a beautiful try. The Blacks continued to have the better of the argument, and before halftime had added three moire tries and a, penalty goal. Only the first, however, ■was converted and the second 1 half opened witlh the scoie 17 to nil. During the concluding term, Blackheath seemed to get a greater share of the play, and at least on two occasionlooked very dangerous, but our tackling was extremely solid, and in each case they failed to drive their attack right Ihome. JNew Zealand' put on an additional three tries, aid of which, were converted, and the nmal score read: New Zealand 32, Blackheath nil. The scores were got as ioilowb. — 1, from loooe, Johnstou to tematih, who centred, Yvallacatiy, Wallace converted, o points; 2, aWllace kicked penalty goal, d, 3, rioin isoium, .Roberts kicked high, Hunter charged down on fullback, picked 1 up, to Stead, to Wallace try, Wallace failed, 3; 4, from scrum, Roberts, Stead, Smith, WaHlaoe try, bdllett failed, 3; 5, from soium, Roberts, Stead, Hunter, Smith, McGregor try, Gmetit failed, 3, b, from scrum, Rpberts, Huntei, Tyler, Glasgow try, Wallace converted, 5; 7, from scrum, Roberts, Smith, McGregor try, Wallace converted, 5 ; 8, from scrum, Roberts, Stead, Smith, Stead, kicked over line and try, Wallace converted, 5 , total, 32 to ml. The Blackheath team filled the eye as physically a very fine set of men. Our packj however, always held an advamtage in the tight, and' in the loose the New Zealand seven overshadowed the Horn© eight. In the hne-out work also the Blacks were easily first. Of the Blackheath back division, it may be 6aid that they more frequently initiated attacks than has been customary by our opponent® in previous matches, and on one or two occasions appeared very dangerous. Our tackling, though, was very solid, and this, combined With their own faulty passing, prevented them doing more than appear dangerous. Maclear, the Irish international threequarter, is a big, powerful man, and a very determined runner. He takes a lot of stopping, and would! be trouble^ some near the line. Any openings he made, however, were spouled by badilytimed passes. He, and Lee at full, were the best of the backs. Of their forwards (a solid set all louind, but on the slow side) Hartley was the man who impressed me most. A feature of this game was the fact that our wing three-quarters did the bulk of the scoring. In previous games the insides have been the most piolific try-getters. All the backs played really well. Wallace got most of the "fat," but McGregor on the other wing made good use of his chance 0 and is rapidly striking form. Smith, in the centre, made numerous fine openings, the centreing kick from which the first try was secured being an example of his heady play right through the game. Hunter and

Stead also did really well, the- former miakiag a fine opening upon the occasion when Tyler scored. Roberts, Gilletfc, and Gallaher were all three at their very best. The forwards were immense, as indeed they have* been all through the tour. They are a fin© set, and! really one hesitates to single onib individuals. The real test of merit is the oolleotive result, and this is true also of tihe whole team. It is the team, not individuals, wihich has been winning omtr matches. Our backs are undoubtedly brilliant, but bebindl a weak set of forwards their brilliancy would be considerably discounted. Mr. Oolets conbroiled the game extremely well.