FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 December 1918, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE WELSH MATCH,

A STIKEING CONTEST.

LONDON, December 27

Thirty-five thousand poeple watched the New Zealand-AVales match, which was played at Swansea, in a slight drizzle. Many New Zealand officers were present, including General . Steward Groat cheering greeted jthr- '-All BJacJvs"" uppersac* (On the field. The game throughout was fast, open, and spectacular, resolvingitself into a duel between the New Zealand 'aggressive forward aittacks';, mostly dribbling and excellent foot work, and the superb, tricky Welsh back play. The Welsh team got possession of the ball oftenest, and handled it better than the New Zealanders. At half-time there was no score.

An insufficient number of police permitted the crowd to invade the field, necessitating several stoppages in the second half. After a splendid passing rush through nearly all the Welsh backs, Wales scored at the corner, brushing against the spectators. The try was not converted.

The New Zcalanders made tremendous efforts to equalise matters, hanging to the Welsh lines. A great passing bout followed between. Brown, Taurei. McNaught, and Coekroft, the latter just failing by inches to score under the posts. The game -was truly memorable, although, hardly equal to past international standards. Storey, O'B'rien, and McNaught were the best of the New Zealand backs, and Wilson, Fogarty, Moffitt, :aid Sellars of the forward division.

At the Albert Hall, an amusing pushball match was played, New Zealand defeating Australia by nine points to nil.