PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 63

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

ZEALAND v. ENGLAND, , SYDNEY, February 19. • The London Daily Telegraph says the New Zealabders' lost the second international match by .2 points, after a delightful exhibition of football. The colonials started badly, their fielding being faulty. England scored in the first minute, and increased their lead-Immedi-ately afterwards by scoring another goal. Fnding themselves so • much in arrears, the colonials infused greater energy into their methods. 4& really I>rilliant movement by Smith, 'Todd, and Wynyard ended in the lasl-named acoring, Messenger kicking a fine goal from a good position. the resumption of play after the interval the Blacks- gave a delightful display,, their splendid resourcefulness and accuracy in passing being a.revelation to the 'Northern Union •enthusiasts. Wynyaid and Rowe scored tries, and in the last two minutes Byrne got over, Turtill kicking a g^tl, making the scores — England', 18 points ; New Zealand, 16.

Had MesEenger been more accurate in bis goal-kicking the scales might have been turned. Smith, Wynyard, Turtill, and Todd were the outstanding jplayers for the Blacks. Smith played a remarkably fine game, and Turtill'a all-round performance was a feature of the match. Messenger and Rowe, on the wmgs, were often prominent. Both teams played their full strength, and it is generally admitted that the better team loot.

The Chronicle says the New Zealanders in the early part of the game played ia a- very impetuous style. Tie Englkhmen snowed ■ no. pronounced superiority prior to- the interval, but. afterwards they 1 played up finely, their forwards getting the ball oftener, while their backs. y were steadier. >, \ ■ The D*ily New* nays tike New Z«»-

landers were quite as good as their oppo« nents, but they lost the game tlirougH missing a couple of favourable chances when they were very well placed.