THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL TEAM. DETAILS OF MATCHES AND TOUR. (From Our Special Correspondent.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 337, 26 January 1889, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL TEAM. DETA ILS OF MATCHES AND TOUR. (From Our Special Correspondent.)

Loxnoy, Dcccmbor 7. THE IRISH MATCHES. Tki; New Zealand football team loft Man ohcsfcer on Friday afternoon last, and crossed to Ireland the .-arne night. The weather was wretched, and che sea so rough thab more than one internal economy \\«i* unpleasantly disturbed. Tho boys arrived in Dublin on Saturday morning lired and travel-worn, and in no sorb ot condition to play a football match ; needs must, however, when the devil drives, or, to put it more politely, whon your manager has made his arrangements and three o'clock that afcernoou saw the pseudo-Maoris once more in their mats and jer&eys. The attendance was wretched ior a city like Dublin, only about 3,000 spectators putting in an appearance, and unless the other two matches pan out considerably better the visit ot the Jtfew Zealanders to Ireland will be a financial failure. The wind proved very high throughout the afternoon, and to a great extent controlled the game. Fortunately, too. the Irishmen had under-rated their opponents, and the so-called l> All Ireland " team was but a very moderate fifteen, many of the best men belonging to Dublin University, etc., having inexplicably refused to play. The local papers abuse the Irish team all round, and are by no means overpoweringly complimentary to the New Zealanderc. Pat Keogh, who is described as " ot Enniscorthy," comes in for some well-merited praise, and W. Warbrick gets a word or two of commendation. On the other hand, neither McUausland nor Ellison are mentioned, and Taare and Taiaroa are accused ot roughness. Tha following are the detoils of the game as given in the " Freeman's Journal " ! :—: — At about a quarter to three Ellison started business by dribbling aside to Waites, who stopped him, but atter a couple of scrummages tbe ball found rest in touch at the home 25 yaids flag. From this, however, a loose scrummage quickly removed it, and Walpole charging down, McCausland. left play well within the Maori territory. Along kick bv Edwards brought business within five yards of the visitors' lines, and in less time than it takes to tell, the leather was swept across, but Warbrick ran it out. In this endeavour he was encountered by Stoker, with the result that the Maori back was hurt, and a cessation of hostilities for about five minutes wns necessary before he could recover himself, which he ultimately did amidst) much cheering. On play being resumed, the scrummage was formed within fifteen yards of the Maori goal, and no end of chances of scoring occurred, but none of them were taken ; and in the end the visitors were able to touch down in defence. McCausland dropped out to Waites, who ran to the visitors' goal, but Warbrick soon got possession, and passed to Keogh, who made the first good run of the day to the centre flag. Walpole, however, quickly cancelled this, and would have been in only for the full back, and then a free kick by McCaus'and relieved the stress. For a long time now the ball was kept close to the Maori goal, and any cripple would have scored where these abhletes failed. Bulger would have been in had he not struck against the umpire, and ultimately a miss kick at goal by Walpolc enabled McCausland to rush out of danger. W°ods then gob a fine chance from a pass by Warren, but hesitated, and was slung over, with the result that Walpole picked up and dropped wide of the bar, thus only gaining the second point for his side. Waites intercepted the next attempt by McCausland to kick out, and passed to Walpole, who actually got over the line, but Warbrick snapped the ball from him before he could ground it, and punted it into touch. A loose kick then came to Waites, who missed his catch bub recovered with his feet and resigned in favour of Stoker. The latter went straight for coal, with Waites in attendance, and when he lost possession at the line Waites was handy and slipped in with the first try, which evoked a storm of applause. The kick, which could nob have been easier, was entrusted to J. Stevenson, who brought off a goal. Ellison again endeavouied to kick oft by dribbling, but Lyttle had him this time and passed to Forrest, who resigned in favour of Warren, and the Maoris were very glad to touch down for the third time. Bulger now missed McCausland's kick out, and Elliott, charging up, took the ball to the home 25. Here Keogh made a fine side run and passed to F. Warbrick, who missed, letting Moffatt in for a fine dribble. A good pick up and kick by Gage stopped this, and the ball spinning against the wind came to Anderson, who ran in under the bar. This try, which appeared to be all right, was disallowed, and immediately half time was called. At the commencement of the second half, which Warren started against the wind, bhe Maoris were very sorely pressed, and Jameson got over the" line, bub was bhrown into touch in goal. Some dispute was rai&ed over this, and the ball was scrummaged five yards out. From this Waites svas nearly in, but when he lost possession Woods picked up and passed to Warren, who, running, reburned to Woods, who gained a try amidst ringing cheers. The kick, however, was too hard for Stevenson. After bhis, however, the most unaccountable and disgrace- . ful breakdown that ever was seen occurred. To begin, the Maoris gained a try which was so palpably wrong, both on pleas of crooked throwing and handling the ball, that not only the Irishmen but their visitors, with one exception, did not play up to it, and Keogh ran in unopposed, except by Edwards, who only made a half-hearted attempt to tackle him. Several objecbions were raiaed, bub Mr Chambers overruled them all, and McCausland kicked the goal. Almosb immediately up to the kick off Elliott made a long run, at the end of Vhich Keogh gob the pass from him and gained his second try, McCausland again improving it. After the next kick off Foi"f©8 fc made a fine dribble, followed by a yun frqm Bulger, but just a3 they were fliqsb dangerous Ellison got away and registered anqther try to the Maoris' score, but McCausland failed to kick it. This Was all but supplemented immediately after Warren's kick out:, as Gage just got in. A rush dqwn the ground, headed, by Moffatt, brought the ball to the New Zealand goal, and a fiqe piece of concerted play between ft. Stevenson., Bulger, J. Sbevenson, and Forrest brought the ball to the verge of the Une. Woods then shot over the line, but Warbrick was tog ' smart for him and lacked the ball dead against the spectators. After the kick- off, a high punt of Warbrick bounded over Edwards's head and Elliotb out-pacing him. gained an easy try which M~oCa\jsland converted. Another fine rush by the whole Irish forward team swept the leather straight down the ground and Warbrick was- very glad to touch in defence. After this "a long kickwibh' the wind was badly muffed by Edwards, who was again