FOOTBALL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8870, 22 July 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

New Zealand v. Australia. An Easy Win for N Z. Press Association.—Copyright. * Sydney, July 20.

The first of the test matches of the present tour between Australia and Ne*w Zealand was played this afternoon. Another monster crowd thronged the Cricket , Ground to witness the game. The extra space adjoining the pavilion was thrown open to the public. Lord Northcote, Governor-General, and £ "'' r Harry Kawson, State Governor, were among those present. The exposition of football given by the visitors showed a remarkable reversal of form as compared with the two previous displays. The play, while not as brilliant all round as that which some of the'former teams have given, was still worthy | of the reputation of the Dominion’s foot- i ball prowess. It must be remembered, too, that no previous New Zealand team # has ever had to contend with such greatly improved Rugby play on the part of Australian players as has been put forward against the former during their present The Australian team played under the combined colours of New South Wales and Queensland, blue and maroon. Mr Alex Brown was selected as referee and his decisions gave general satisfaction. , .. One regrettable feature of the game was the number of casualties, the most serious being that sustained by Coleman, of the New Zealand team, who received a nasty wound on the head. The weather was fine though overcast. Owing to the time lost through play being frequently suspended owing to some player being temporarily disabled, the game was much delayed and it was nearly dark when the whistle sounded “no side.” From the very outset the “ All Blacks . showed that the torpor which had"charao terised their previous efforts had disappeared and their alertness and cloek-like movements were a delight to witness. Within the first three minutes of the game beginning, the visitors had registered their first score, and their determination to retrieve Wednesday’s defeat was soon apparent. . The Australians were captained by Burge and the New Zealanders by Hunter. The latter was successful in spin of coin and chose to play towards the northern goal. There was a slight breeze blowing across the ground which gave no advantage to either side. Following were the teams : NEW ZEALAND.

Full-back : Booth. Three-quarters: Wallace, Mitohinson, Fryer. Five-eights : Hunter, Mynott. Half-back; Roberts. Wing-forward: Coleman, Forwards: Seeling, Francis, Cunningham, Hughes, Casey, MacDonald, Johnston. AUSTRALIA.

Full Back: Carmichael (Queensland). Three-quarters ; Russell, Dix, Sm:th, Watson (Queensland). Halves : MoKivatt, Woods. Forwards : Flanaghan (Queensland), Barnett, Griffin. Eosewell, McOue, Burge, Row, James Hughes. FIRST SPELL.

The Australians kicked off, but the New Zealanders quickly stormed into the home territory where Francis started a smart rush, and ably assisted by other forwards, had their opponents penned down on the line. That dangerous scoring man, Seeling, got possession and bustled over and drew first blood. Wallace was given the kick at goal, but just failed to send the ball over. New Zealand 3 Australia 0 From the kick out some exciting play followed in neutral zone and_ Dix (Australia) was prominent for his excellent line kicking. Gradually the scene of operations was removed into the visitors’ quarter, chiefly by the aid of the local forwards who were working the scrums rather better at this time than their adversaries. While in their opponents’ territory the home team were awarded a penalty kick and Carmichael had a shot at goal, but the leather fell a trifle short. Mitohinson resumed the play, the ball going into the centre of the field where play became very strenuous and the “ All Blacks” had several penalties recorded against them. Foot by foot the Australians again advanced towards New Zealand’s goal, amid cheers from the multitude. Carmichael, from a free kick, had another abortive try at goal. The ball was returned outside the 25, and from a lineout the visitors secured the ball and an exciting rush by them followed. For a time it appeared as if another score for New Zealand was certain, as Carmichael, the local fullback, missed the ball, but McKivat whipped back and snapped it up just in the nick of time to save his side.

Give and take play followed in midfield, then Mitchinson from half-distance got possession, and with a beantifnl dodgy run completely fooled the opposing backs and crossed the line. Wallace kicked an easy goal, and the board read— New Zealand 8 Australia ... ... ... O When in play again there was a lot of tussling in the centre of the ground without much advantage to either side. Here Rosewell, one of the local team, received an injury to his leg, and his place in the field was taken by Graves, Carmichael going dp from fullback to three- ' quarters, relieving Dix, who took up position in charge of goal. Then for a long interval the game was confined to within the home team’s lines, Dix saving Australia’s opponents getting in on several occasions; E mutually the Australians relieved by a free kick girgii against the *• All Blacks;” and play was taken to their end. It was here during a hot struggle that Coleman received a nasty kick on the head, which necessitated his leaving the field; and J; Spencer; of Wellington; took his place on the wing. The game was not allowed to remain long in New Zealand territory, as they shifted thb scene by a good fun by Wallace, who ended up his effort by passing pn to Fryer, the ball eventually going out. Another brief interval now took place owing to one of the home team, Barnett, sustaining an injury, be having ricked his ankle and Richards, of Queensland, was put on in his place. The Australians were being sorely pressed by the visitors but they obtained occasional relief in free kicks awarded against the New Zealanders. A little later on the visitors set in another splendid combined effort. Roberts passed to Mynott, who sent it to Hunter, and he on to Mitchinson, then the latter handed the ball along to Wallace, who in a few seconds passed it back to Mitchinson when almost on the touchline. It was a magnificent piece of passing and Mitchinson lost no time in streaking for the goal line, which he successfully reached. Wallace added the major points and the whistle sounded half-time with the score reading New Zealand ... ... ... 13 Australia ... ... ... 0 SECOND SPELL. As the second spell opened the light began to fail. The New Zealanders soon had their opponents on the defensive again but onco more were the local team relieved by aid of a free kick. For a time the Australians managed to get play out of dangerous quarters. Slowly but surely however, they were forced back into their own ground, but Dix’s kicking kept the enemy in check. Play was now very hard and free kicks were plentiful, being chiefly given against the “ All Blacks.” A fine rush by the visiting forwards, who were putting great heart into their work, carried the New Zealand reps down to the Australians’ line; A penalty gave Wallace a shot at goal but the ball went wide. Time and again the Australians desperately endeavoured to invade New Zea'and’s line, but the latter’s back play and fine judgment easily disposed of them.

Another fine rush was started by the visitors and Carmichael making a bad mistake enabled Hughes to pick up the ball and run in. Wallace placed a goal comfortably, the third in succession, and the score read New Zealand 18 Australia ... ... ... 0 The kick out was followed by an interval of uninteresting play of which neither side had much the better. The Australians were rushing dosvn repeatedly, but the New Zealand backs were content with taking marks and sending the ball out near the centre. The local men appeared to be sluggish in their movements but this may have been more apparent than real, and more noticeable by comparison with the rapidity of their opponents’ movements. It was while the New Zealand backs, were content to quietly stave off their opponents inside the visitors’ ground, that Carmichael got his chance off a free kick, and placing a goal drew blood for Australia which made the scores Now Zealand ... ‘ ... ... 18 Australia ... .. ... 3

This score caused the visitors to change their tactics and they at once shifted play into the homo team’s 25’s and from a long line out, the New [Zealanders got the Australians up against their back line and compelled them to force down. The ball was no sooner in play than New Zealand had it back again. The strain was relieved by the Australians getting on a smart dribbling rush that looked dangerous, but the opposing forwards broke it up and took the ball at foot, back into the home territory and narrowly missed ending up with a score. ■■■■

The Australians rallied, and with another ■ rush had the - Blacks on the defensive. From a great struggle in New Zealand quarters the local men obtained a mark and Carmichael was again successful in piloting tiro ball between the

posts. It was a brilliant kick from just inside the half-way flag. This second score on the part of the home team brought forth’ a terrific outburst of cheering. The board then showed New Zealand 18 Australia 6 Immediately the game was resumed New Zealand invaded their opponent’s ground, and here the finest try of the d; '"as obtained. Mitchinson_ got pos-

day was obtained, iuitcumsou goo yossessicn of thejballand made a long pass in front of Australia’s goal post. Roberts snapped up the leather and whipped (it on to Hunter, Mitchinson in tae meantime had dashed across the ground and got round in time to get the ball back again from Hunter and dashed over the line. Wallace was again successful in registering a goal, and the scoring board showed New Zealand 23 Australia 6 Australia at this junction was in a bad way. Though they fought on gamely they were hopelessly out of the hunt. The ball was not long in play before the scene of operation was again m Australian quarters, where Francis secured possession and, dodging through, scored the sixth try for the visitors. The angle was a difficult one, and Wallace failing at goal, the scores totalled New Zealand 26 Australia ... 0 Towards the finish the Australians pressed the Blacks into their own 25 ..and* worked like Trojans to get a further scare, but the defence of the Maorilanders was too good, and when the whistle sounded “no side ” the game still stood — New Zealand ... ... ... 26 Australia 6 The Australians failed to cross the visitors’ line, their score being made from goals kicked from a “ penalty ” and from a mark. On the other hand New Zealand crossed their opponents’ line on no less than six occasions, tries being obtained by Mitchinson (3), Seeling, Hughes and Francis (one each). On every occasion Wallace was entrusted with the kick at goal, scoring goals from each of the four tries obtained by Mitchinson and Hughes.

Altering the Programme. Sydney, July 21. A motion will be submitted to the Rugby Union to-morrow night suggesting in the event of Australia losing the second test match at Brisbane, the third test at present arranged at Sydney should be abandoned, and a third match against New South Wales substituted. The New Zealanders left for Brisbane to-night. Hunter, the N.Z. skipper, is suffering from an attack of influenza, and Mynott is staying behind in Sydney to look after him. Coleman was able to get away with the team to Queensland.

Press CommentsSydney, July 22. The Herald says the conclusion is forced upon us that, although Wednesday’s victory stands as a monument, in every department of the game the ‘‘All Blacks” are superior to our men. Their kicking is better, passing better and tactics better. On Saturday’s form it is practically certain we cannot bring a team into the field to beat them. The combination among the backs was possibly the finest ever shown by a New Zealand team. So good were all of them that none can be picked for special mention, The Telegraph states, that the ‘‘All Black” backs wore a wonderful piece ■of machinery, of which apparently Mitchiusou held the key. Gillett will not be able to play again during the tour. Nicholson has joined the team.

Manawatu Union. TOWN (6) v. COUNTRY (6). This match took place on the Show grounds on Saturday afternoon. There was both a poor attendance and a poor game. The oountry team did not have a full muster and had to play three or four substitutes, but nevertheless managed to make a draw of it. Play throughout the contest was a sorry exhibition for senior players, the game being quite devoid of all scientific methods. For the Town Waldegrave obtained a try and Downes kicked a penalty goal. D. Whisker obtained one of die tries for the country. Mr Bunting refereed.

Manawatu Rep. Team. The Manawatu Selection Committee, Messrs McLean, Wingate and Lyall, chose the following team to represent Manawatu against Wanganui, at Palmerston. on Saturday next: — _ Pull back —Hughes (Hui Mai). Three-auarters Carroll (Hui Mai), Momo (Voxton). Stalker (Kia Toa). Five-eighths Skelley (Palmerston), Pirani (Pending). Half—Ongley (Peilding). Forwards—Boon (wing) and Wingate (Palmerston), Ward and E. Waldegrave (Kia Toa), Taylor and D. Whisker (Pending), McNao (Hui Mai), W. Smith (Old Boys). Keserves—Trevena, Price and Burgess (Peilding), Martis, Kyle and Downes (Palmerston), Anslow, M. Waldegrave (Old Boys), Kiohardson (Foxton). All the above players are requested to attend at the Show Grounds, Palmerston, on Wednesday and Friday nights next. Any absenting themselves without reasonable excuse will be left out of the team. The names of several suitable referees will be submitted for approval to Wanganui during the week.

Foxton Sub-Union. The match Awahou y. Saudou, played at Poston on Saturday, re' suited iii a draw, neither side scoring. A full report will appear tomorrow. . . . The Sand on Club will rdeet .for practice in the Town Hall on Wednesday Ut 7.80 p.nl.

Rata Juniors play Marton at Marton or Wednesday. Mr Dunne will control the game. The cable again conveys Mr B. I. Swannell’s opinions of the N.Z. and Australian footballers. The defeat is referred to as a “debacle’’and is attributable (in Mr Swannell’s opinion) to bad work by the selection committee. In tight scrum work he considered the two • teams evenly matched, but “in open and line out play N.Z. appeared to more advantage, while in the back department the “ All Blacks” were streets ahead of their opponents.” With reference to a Press Association message from Oamaru naming twenty-one players as -certainties for the Professional Team, Mr Baskiville, of Wellington, who is understood to be connected with the undertaking states that the list is not correct.

Prom Our Tailiape Correspondent. The rep. match between Waimarino and Awarua took place on the Taihape oval on Saturday and resulted in a win for Waimarino hy eight points to three. The game wds disappointing in the extreme, as the play of one or two prominent players in the Awarua earn was greatly below previous form. Ward gave n very poor exhibition of Rugby and this came as a surprise to many after the flue game he played in Wanganui last Wednesday and previously in the 'match Awarua v. Wanganui. He had a good team behind him, but his play was perplexing to most of the players. For the visitors Watkins, Quartermau and Qirdlestone played well for the Winners, whilst Thompson, Green, Bartosh, Murray and the Leahy Bros, did good honest work for Awarua.