THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL TEAM. DETAILS OF MATCHES AND TOUR. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) London, January 26.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 349, 9 March 1889, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL TEAM. DETAILS OF MATCHES AND TOUR. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) London, January 26.

Sinck I last wrote, the New Zealand football team, still making Manchester their head-quarters, have played six matches, viz., against Hudderslield, Stock port, Warringlon, Castleford, All Yorkshire (at Wakefield) and Cleckheaton. The Maoris (as people will persist in calling them) won three games, lost two and drew one. The victories against strong teams at Huddersfield, Warringbon and Cleckheaton were altogether creditable, and the Stockport match was practically drawn in the New Zealanders' favour. Of the defeat at Wakefiold, against All Yorkshire, one can only say the home team was perhaps as strong a one' as could be made up in Great Britain, and completely overmatched the colonists. They do not expect to meet a more formidable 15 against All England on the 16th prox. Still the Yorkshiremen would not have scored so many points had the Maoris, instead of feeling " stale " and conscious of theonlookers' hostility, been in first-rate fettle. Their defeat at Castleford was brought -about by similar cause?. This next week the team go west to play a series of matches against Somerset at Wellington, Devon at Exeter, Gloucester at Gloucester, and the Midland Counties at Coventry. After that come the crucial games of the tour, viz., against Blackheath, Oxford University, and All England. If the team can win one of these matches they will be covered with glory.

NOTES ON THE MATCHES, ETC. The team went down from Manchester to Stock port early on the 12bh inst, in order to have time to visit Storkington and Co.'s hat factory. They all wore their oldest headgear and were significantly interested in the manufacture of " cowlers," but alas ! the obtuse Storkington • failed (to use " Smiler's "' favourite expression) " to tumble." He took them, however, to an hotel and provided the " &wellest spread' 1 the boys have enjoyed since that far too regal lunch at Sheffield Park. The sub-^ sequent match was conducted in the friendliest way and ended 'in a most' satisfactory " draw." As the Warbricks have &ome relations at Stockport, they were, of course, anxißus to show to advantage there, and Joe himself made a point of playing. He was not, however, in at all good form. Madigan, who has been on the' sick list ever since the East Cumberland match, also rejoined the players, and did very Avell, everything considered. The team are not favourites in Yorkshire. There can, I fear, be no doubt of that. At Huddersfield, the crowd absolutely pelted them wich pebbles and mud 1 ; in fact, a slab of the latter struck Elliott in the face. The Stockport team had the assistance of _ several first-rate outsiders (notably Coulthwaite and Ho'ckiss, of the Swinton Club) in their match against the Maoris. Of the latter not only Joe - Warbrick, but McCau&land, weve dead out of form,, and the New Zealanders would (a local paper says) certainly'have been defeated bu^t for the splendid exertions of David Gage. The "Athletic News," on the other hand, declares thac the' superb play of Tom Coulthwaite for Stockport alone prevented the New Zealanders scoring an easy victory. ■ Who shall decide when newspapers disagree ? David Gage played onSivturday week for Easb'Sheen against Manchester,and averted defeat from hissidebya beautifully-dropped goal, which made the game a draw. It is quite untrue (as stated by the " British Australasian ") that the success of the present New Zealand football tour will lead to the arrangement of a second. For one thing, the promoters (if they've paid expenses) have certainly not made enough to recoup the risk and trouble of the journcv; and for another, -they would never get a New Zealand team together again on similar terms. Some of the, best players vow once they get home they'll never kick a football aaain. I am told that at Waketield on Saturday the Maoris weie dead u stale," and at first scarcely made an effort to thwart the powerful All Yorkshire team against them. Scott really ought to give them a good rest betore they meet "England." This next week the Maoris go down to Exeter to play three or four matches in the west of England. Mr Scott tried to get out of these, as the expense of the long journey from Manchester to Devonshire will be considerable, and the gates are hot likely to be large, bub he couldn't arrange matters. The Leeds "Mercury," in a short leader on the Yorkshire match, 'says : "It was in foot work and.in passing more particularly the Maoris were beaten. YV. Warbrick at full back was very reliable,' and did good service by his telling returns. McCausland a'so played a grand game, while of the forwards Ellison and Taiaroa were to the fore. The "Athletic News'' says :— " Our friends the New Zealanders ought to be thankful for the attention the Yorkshire Rugby Union have paid them. The proceeds of the ' gates ' of both matches played by Yorkshire County "against the" darkies have been given to them, and last Saturdays little bill amounted to £190 odd." A benefit is being organised for the purpose of raising -funds, to maintain and educate poor Bob Seddon's youngest brother. The benefit will take the form of a match between Shaw and Shrewsbury's New Zealand and Australian team and Swinton, on February 4th. The following have all promised to play for the Anglo-Australasian side :— A. Paul (back), A. E. Stoddarb (Capt.), Haslam and Jack Auderton (threequarter backs), Bumby and Nolan (halfbacks), Eagles, Kent,- Penketh, Sam Williams, Mathers, Dr. H. Brookes, Barnett, Clowes and A. Laing (forwards). The affair is expected to be a big success. All themembers of the Anglo-Australasian team have filed bh.e required affidavit as to the receipts and expenses of the trip so far as they are individually, concerned, except one. " , It is surprising, to- say the lea.st of it, considering the number of, matches of their own the Maoris have to play, and. how stale some of them appear to be, that they, out of good nature, should allow themselves to be persuaded to play on off days for English clubs. Yet this is what many of them constantly do, and very often getlaid up or unfitted to play in their own fixtures. - At Warrington the New Zealanders visited the famous Dallam and. Bewsey forges, and the glassworks of Robinson, Son and Skinner. Elliott and Wynyard were the heroes of the Warrington matoh, seeming, according to the^ Warrington papers, "far in advance of their brother players." ! Aftet this match there was a dinner afc the Conservative Club, and any number of speeches. Mr Kneen (a manufacturer of footballs) presented McCausland (as Captain of the Maori team) with a ball of his own make. McCausland, in returning thanks, said he had never seen one 6f the sorb before. It was put together in quite a novel way.