NEW ZEALAND v. WALES

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 58

NEW ZEALAND v. WALES

SYDNEY, February 6. The "All Blacks" opened their-inter-national engagements by meeting at Aberdare a team which, on paper, was supposed to represent Wales. -Only three players, however, had ever figured in Welsh amateur first class football.' The remainder can be described (says the Sportsman) as " good old has-beens," who, in club football, were never considered worthy of a place in county teams. About 10,000 viewed the match. For the first few minutes the New Zealanders had the better of mattere. Messenger and Turtill were prominent with some clever kicking. Playing the five-eighths game, the visitors commanded an advantage, Kelly, after a brilliant bout of passing, scoring for the Blacks. Some clever finessing play for the home team resulted in a pretty try, which the place-kick failed to convert. The New Zealanders -were nowplaying for all they were worth. Wynyard secured a try, which was converted. New Zealand, 8 points; Wales, 3. Wales attacked strenuously to half-time, but could not cross their opponents' line. In the second spell Wales went off with a bang. Their forwards did well. Francis, the Bradford scrummager, ■who was doing some roving -work, eventually scored a pretty try, which again was not converted. Wales were now a couple of points behind. The excitement was at fever pitch. Answering the cry of thousands " Play up, Wales," the home team rose to the occasion, and just on th© close of play Jones, an old Welsh international, was pushed across the line, Wales winning by a point.