The New Zealand Football Team in England. (FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.) London, January 26.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 349, 9 March 1889, Page 5

The New Zealand Football Team in England. (FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT. ) London, January 26.

MAORIS Y. CLECKHEATON. Yesterday afternoon the New Zealand team visited Cleckheaton in order to play their forty-sixth fixture of the tour — a match against a team representing the Spen Valley district. There was a good attendance. The weather was beautifully fine, but the ground was rather sofb and heavy-going. Five thousand spectators were present. Saville, of Heckmondwike, supplanted Fisher at three quarters, and Hartly, of Cleckheaton, played in place of Donald Jowett. At three o'clock, Ellison kicked off for the Maoris. Sutcliffe returned the ball into touch, just outside the home "25." An interchange of kicks between Sutcliffe and W. Wynyard resulted in the game being confined to mid-field. Keogh feigned passing, and got well away, and a neat kick by G. Gage improved matters for the visitors' side. Blackburn, however, relieved with a fine run and kick, and Madigan being collared with the ball, the blacks were pressed until the forwards broke grandly away. Again Blackburn cleared his line in grand style, and after W. Warbrick had a kick charged down, the Spen Valley team drew first blood in the shape of a dead ball. The drop-out brought no relief to the Maoris, and McCausland soon had to resort to saving tactics. Fine kicking by Sutcliffe ended in the Maoris being pinned on the line, and when in front of the goal he took a flying kick, and sent the ball over the bar amidst ti'emendous cheering. The home team had by far the best of the play. Passing by Sutcliffe and Shaw enabled the latter to drop ab goal, a dead ball being the only point scored. Just before the interval Williams scored an easy try, McCaufland kicking a goal. At the interval the Maoris were leading by a try. Sutcliffe re-started after the usual interval, and Gage returning with effect, the Maoris resumed the attack on the home goal with increasing vigour. Gage and Ellison made splendid efforts to get over, but Blackburn collared and ran finely. After a lot of strong forward play, Gage passed to Keogh, who got possession, and, handing Blackburn off beautifully, scored close to the posts, McCausland landing a pretty goal. Afterwards the game was more fast and exciting than ever, both sides in turn having the advantage. From the centre the Spen Valley forwards carried the ball well up the field, Ellis scoring a try, Sutcliffo missing the goal. This was followed by W. Wynyard making a grand run, also scoring a try. McCausland's kick this time went wide. Even play followed for some minutes, until a fluky kick by Madigan let in the home forwards, and W. Warbrick saved. Just before time Hartley got in, Sutcliffe kicking a goal. The Maoris -won the game by fine combination in the forwards. Score — Maoris, two goals and two tries ; Spen Valley, two goals, one try, and four minors. Teams — Maoris : TV. Warbrick, back ; W. Wynyard, McCausland, and B. Madigan, three-quarter backs ; W. Elliott, P. Keogh md D. Gage, halfbacks; T. Ellison, G. Wynyard, B. Taiaroa, H. Lee, R. Maynard, G. Williams, D. Stewart, and J. Rowe, forwards. Spen Valley: F. Blackburn (Cleckheaton), back ; J. W. Sutcliffe and I, Shaw (Heckmond-* wike), and \V. Fisher (Liversedge), threequarter backs ; H. Barker (Liversedge) and H. Wood (Heckmondwike), half-backs ; D. Jowett, H. Noble, J. Roberts, and J. T. Gill (Heckmondwike), ]N. Parkin, A. Ellis, and P. Priestly (Liversedge), and S. Ripley and E. Crosland (Cleckheaton), forwards.

NOTES BY A MEMBER OF THE TEAM. AprojJos of the Yorkshire match, one of the leading players of the Maori team writes me as follows : — '' By paper accounts I suppose you think we made a very poor fight of oar match against Yorkshire County. The score against its would certainly produce that impression, but the result of the Yorkshire match is as much misleading to a reader as that of our match with Castleford, where the score stood 9 points to 3 against us, inasmuch as it does not represent the game. I, of course, do not grudge Yorkshire tneir win, and do not in any way inter that we can beat them ; but on the contrary, will say that they are about as good as they make them, and can beat any team in England. The following are a few notes on our three last matches, viz- Castleford, Warrington and Yorkshire County.

Y. CASTLEFORD. The game was splendidly contested throughout, and if either side had a little the best of the fight, I think we had. Tabby Wynyard drew first blood for us, bub Mac's attempt at goal was a very poor one. After this we were haid pressed, but were awarded a free kick in our own territory, Mac punted out, but the Castleford right wing three-quarter, taking the ball | beyond the half flag, dropped a splendid goal. Immediately after we dribbled over their line, and Elliott scored a try ; Mac. again failed to improve. Castleford, by good play, managed to get over our line, and scored a try, improving the same from a difficult angle. Score at half-time — Castleford.., ... ... 2 goals Maoris 2 tries In the second spell, both sides scored a try. Castleford converted theirs, but Mac again failed to register the major point for us. Keogh got the last try. Dave Gage's absence was severely felt. Barlow Madigan played a poor game, mulling dreadfully, and not kicking enough. McCausland was a bit off at full back, and dead out at place kicks. u Tabby " played a grand game. The halves, "Smiler" Keogh and Elliott, played very well, and of the forwards, Taiaroa and Ellison were specially noticeable.

Y. WARRINGTON. Tab. Wynyard was the hero of the day, scoring three tries in splendid fashion. Gage as usual was well up to the mark, kicking in grand form. Madigan still off colour. Mac's place - kicking was an improvement on Monday's, as he managed to convert two out of the three tries, the last one jusb missing. Wm. Warbrick was not in his late form. Keogh was too well watched to do much, but played a gocd game. The forwards all worked well together.

V, YORKSHIRE. was scorer in chief, securing two tries, one of which McCausland converted. Wm. Warbrick collared well, bub kicked indifferently, and Mac played a very poor game, though at times he kicked in his old form. Gage played a good half-back game. Madigan, as one of the Yorkshire men said, "was not the Madigan we saw at Wakefield and Dewsbury." Tab Wynyard didn't show up to his Warrington form, missing several chances of "potting." Williams and Karauria played a very poor game, the former kicking too hard in the dribbles. Lee was lamed at half-time, but the rest of the forwards played up like 11 demons."