THE MAORI FOOTBALLERS. DETAILS OF BATCHES AND TOUR. London, Febuary 9.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 355, 30 March 1889, Page 6

THE MAORI FOOTBALLERS. DETAILS OF BATCHES AND TOUR. London, Febuary 9.

Oxr. of the New Zealand team writes me that prior to the kick-oil at Wellington last week, betting men were trying hard to lay 100 to 40 on Somerset. Gage, he says, greatly distinguished himself in this match, • playing a splendid back game. In some respects he is even better than Keogh, as he doesn't stick to the ball, but "passes'' quickly when he finds himself in a trap, whereas Keogh often tries to gee through. JMcCausJjand was not in good form, and failed to conveit several tries, as did Williams. The gate at Wellington was ClO7, and at Exeter £90. After the drubbing the Maoris gave Somerbet, they started for Exeter "cocK-a-hoop," promising themselves an easy victory over Devon. Judge, then, their surprise when they found the betting on the comse, or rather stand, 2 to 1 against them. Naturally, they otiaightened themselves up a bit, and played with a doocl deal of care. This brought about the desired result, viz., an easy victory. In this game Ellison and "Tabby" Wynyard gieatly distinguished themselves. On " Thursday, the 31st, the Maoris played an extta match at Taunton against a district fifteen, scoring another ea^y victory (2 goals and 2 tries to nil). Keogh scored the first try and Ellison the second. The latter was successfully converted by Joe "Warbiick. Tabby Wynyaid also secured a couple of clever tries, and one of these McCausland brilliantly converted. The gate wa^ £40 only. Barlow Madigan has been oidered by doctors not to play football any more. Some of the Maoii team, notably Ellison, Keogh, Tabby Wynyard, and Gage aie now in splendid training, and playing like veiitable wonders. The New Zealanders' West Country tour, it may be noted, resulted in an unbroken succession of biilliant victories, Somerset, Devon, Taunton, and Gloucester all going down before " our boys." The All-England Team, to meet the New Zealanders in London on February 16th, will be as follows : — A. Hoyle (Lancashire), back ; R. E. Lockwood, J. W. Sutcliite (Yorkshire) and A. E. Stoddart (Blackheath), three-quarters ; F. Bonnor (Yorkshire) and W. Martin Scott (Cambridge University), half-backs ; C. Anderton (Lancashire), J. L. Hickson, F. Laurie, H. Wilkinson, D. Jowett, H. Bedford (Yorkshire), A. Robinson (Blackheath), J. W. Cave (Cambiidge) and another, forwards. Mr Bcott had obtained the Oval for the All England match, but the Rugby Union objected that the giound was not as good as the ground at Blackheath from a playing point; of view. "We can't have the game sacrificed to the gate, ' grandiloquently said Mr Row land Hill, the secretary of the Union. "That's all very well for you," retorted the unfortunate promoter, " but five times as many people would come to the Oval (which is within a shilling: faie fiom Charing Cross) as will colpe to Blackheatb, and I've got £1,000 to make up before I leave England. "' Nevertheless the Union were obdurate. If all the people who have attended the Maoris' matches in England had i paid sixpence admittance, Mr Scott would have done well ; but the free li^fc is always so largo, including as it does members of the club, ladies, soldiers, and friends of raembeis. At Bradfoid, for example, there were 16,000 spectators, but the Football Club numbers 2,800 members, each of whom brought a lady and a friend. The Midland Counties match at Mooely on Monday was spoilt by bad weather,' being played in a snowstorm. Both sides, however, *' backed up" giandly, the. Midlanders being very anxious to reverse and the Maoris to confirm the verdict of October last The Maoris eventually won a wellcontested game by a goal and three tries to a try. Ellison sprained his leg in this match, and Gage got rather badly kicked on the thigh. In none of the numerous representative teams they have played have the Maoris found a drop-kicker to compare with " Tabby " Wynyard, who is nob unpiobably the champion of the world in this particulai accomplishment. Regrets have been expressed that the Maoris cannot again meet Middlesex, as the "champagney" tussle with that club at Lord Sheiiield's waa really . no criterion to go by. An effort will, I understand., at any rate be made to fix a match with the redoubtable London Scottish, who have so far this season proved invincible. "Smiler"' has been presented with a silver medal by the Lancashire clubs, for whom he has several times played. He is as proud of it as a dog with two tails.