NOTES ON THE NEWCASTLE MATCH.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 330, 2 January 1889, Page 5

NOTES ON THE NEWCASTLE MATCH.

It says much for the attractiveness of football in the north of England that, despite the fact that the weather was simply detestable at Newcastle last Saturday, over 3,000 persons assembled to watch the Maoris play against the Northumbeiland county team. A local correspondent writes me that the Newcastle game was fast and exciting. It abounded in good combined aud individual play, and the tackling- and kicking of both teams was exceptionally first rate. The 3S"ew Zealander? played a splendid game. .MeCausland at full back never made a single mistake. His kicks weie " sure as a gun.'' Macbeth's shot at goal from the 25 ine — close on the touchline— was simply marvellous, so much so that the Northumbrians did not even attempt to charge it down. They looked upon it as simply impossible to convert. Keogh ("Good Boy Pat," as Lawlor, the coach, calls him) was specially conspicuous at half-back. He picked up smartly, feinted well, used every opportunity to advantage, in fact wa3 on this occasion without a rival. The splendid tackling of the home team threequarter backs prevented Madigan from showing to great advantage. " Barlow " bears the reputation of being an awkward customer to collar when iairly under ■weigh, but the Northumbrian three-quarters were quite equal to the task aud grassed the Maori sprinter eveiy time he appeared to be getting dangerous.