The Maori Footballers in England. ENGLAND V. NEW ZEALAND. Expert Account.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 358, 10 April 1889, Page 4

The Maori Footballers in England. ENGLAND Y. NEW ZEALAND. Expert Account.

London, February 23. <- /Che "Sporting Life" says :— Saturday was looked forward to by pertervid disciples of Iho handling' code as a rod-letter day. It was not anticipated that the dusky doni/ens ol the Antipodes would prove strong enough to lower the colours of the mother country; but 'they have run rapidly into form since their arrival, have doubled up &o many combination?, arid have such a capital record that there were fount! not a few knowing sportsmen eager to " take the odds." The morninir was mild and promising, but the grand chamberlain of the celestial watering pot let loose a driving rain storm, pleasantly blended towards the finish with hail, while the thermometer fell about lOdeg. Notwithstanding these climatic amenities, hilly 10,000 persons assembled at the Rector Field, and were rewarded by a finely-contested game. For tho first twenty minutes the New Zealanders played splendidly, and at this juncture Bedford camo away from midfield at the head of a loose dribble, and after some very fine open work got over. A few minutes afterwards he again got over, buC being well collared a rnaul-in-goal ensued, the utmost excitement being manifested. The combatants had a high old time rolling in the mud, but eventually the Yorkshireman (a very sturdy youth) got tho try. After some magnificent play by Lockwood, he unselfishly threw to Stoddarb, who niddo one of those marvellous dashing runs for which he is so famous, actually taking the New Zealand full-back in a flying leap and securing a try, a feat which was received with ebullitions. Like the previous two, this try was not converted into a goal, but shortly afterwards Evershed, coming out from a bully in front of goal, grounded the sphere behind the posts, and Sutclifl'e registered an easy goal. At thid juncture a discreditable and regret able incident occimed. Tho try was dis puted, and the umpire's decision not being regarded favourably, three of the team left the field, and play, for a brief period, was continued without them. When they did return, oneoftherecalcitrant trio— Williams — appeared in no hurry to lake part in the proceedings. England eventually won by one goal and four tries to nil. Before the match the teams were photographed by Mr Owen, of Greenwich. Details :—: — The colonial captain having won the toss,, elected to defend the goal near the entrance, Bosnor kicking off for the Englishmen. Madigan returned the ball into the English half, where Scott getting possession passed to Lockwood. The latter making a dash to get away was pulled down by McCausland and Wynyard soon after crossing the centre line, and tho ball went into touch. Sutcliffe secured it from the throw out, but was unable to get away, a scrummage being formed just within the visitors' line. The ball being heeled out, some loose play followed, and an exchange of points gave the colonials a free kick for a fait catch. This was well followed up. jßoyle getting the ball made a smart run ere he attempted a kick, with the result that the ball was charged down, play n>> iliu next tew minutes being 1 , in the home half. The forwards (headed bv Evershed and Anderton) rushed the ball into the visitors' territory, and a pack was formed. Scott getting hold passed to Sutcliffe, who failed to secure it. A rush of the colonial forwards again got 1b near the centre of the ground, and Keogh, obtaining a free kick, sent it amidst much cheering right over the English goalline. Royle picked up quickly and returned it into touch near the "twenty-five" nag. From the thi'ow in a scrummage ensued, out of which Keogh got the ball, and after dropping it picked up again and passed to W. Wynward, who looked like getting through, but was well collared by Scott and Stoddart, the last named player making an eNcellent run directly afterwards, gained ground for his side ere he was pulled down. Excitement now ran high, each side being vociferously cheered by their partisans for every little advantage gained, though nothing definite had been scored. Stoddart again made another determined attempt to break through the colonists' lines, but without avail, but passing to Lockwood, the Dewobury player took the ball well into their opponents' "twenty-five" before ho was pushed into touch. Tho home team now pressed their opponents, who, however, played in grand form. Some good passing by the English three-quarter backs gave Sutcliffe an opportunity of dropping a goal, which he tailed to take advantage of, and Bedford getting the ball by a sharp, dodgy run, evaded his opponents, crossed the line, and after twenty-five minutes 9 play placed the first point to the credit of Old England. Sutcliffe was entrusted with the kick, but the ball went wide of the mark, On restarting, the colonials, playing with groat vigour to retiieve their loss, rushed the ball into the English half ; but the home division, encouraged by their success, also played in a very determined manner, and from a scrummage near the middle of the field their forwards, amongst whom Robinson and Cave were very conspicuous!, ! took the ball near the Maoris' goal line, where it was sent into touch. Keogh, McCausland, and Madigan each in turn getting tho ball, tried to break away for the colonists, bub were unable to succeed, and Bedford again getting possession, crossed the line before he was pulled down by Madigan and Warbrick, and it was nob till after a desperate long maul in goal, during which the Englishman hurt his shoulder, that he was awarded a try, which the visitors took objection to. Sutoliffe again took the place, bub tailed to raise the score. During the next few minutes the play was exceedingly fast, the colonists dribbling the ball well into the English quartern before it was picked out by Lock- 1 wood, who, by a grand kick, sent it into touch, and llobinson getting it from the fchi'ow in, gained further ground for Eng land, each fide being awarded free kicks fo informalities before half- time, when the team crossed over, with two tries to nil in favour ot England. Ellison re-started the ball for the visitors, who, nothing daunted by their ill luck, followed well up into the English quarters, where Scott picked up, and looked like getting away until collared by Keogh. A good dribble by Robinson was called back for an infringement of the rules, and a scrummage formed. Scott again obtained it, and after a short run sent ib to Robinson, the last named in turn passing to Bedford, but 1 the latter had scarcely got hold when he was well tackled, and Sutcliffe securing the leather out ot some loose play, made a long pass to Stoddart, who rushed through the ranks of his opponents, and amidst deafening cheers secured another try for England, the popular three-quarter-back coming in for quite an ovation ; the cheering being renewed when, taking the kick himself, he just failed to score, the ball passing within afew-ieet of the post. . On resuming' the ■game the play was again >vei'y r fas(/, and

Bonsor picking ujp, passed to Lookwood, who made, two ineffectual .attempts ]bo break away, , McCausland and Wynyard slopping him on each .occasion., The ball, hojvovoiy was gradually worked into tho colonial ".twenty-five," ,and Byershecjj feecuriqg it, ,« took it, < .behind., It 1 was evident that some of the visitors imagined it would be called back, ,and a strong protest resulted. , The try .was, however, allowed,' , and,, no attempt , was made to charge down the kick, which was under taken by Sutcliffe, who., obtained a goal, with the result that the visitors prepared to leave the field. Three of them — Taiaroa, Wynyard, and, Williams— actually did so, but so soon as, the game was, recommenced they, at the wish of their manager, returned, and now, playing, ;n a very determined, manner, the ball was taken into the English quarters. Here, however, it was not destined to remain long, and. being worked back, Sutcliffe, from ,a pass by Bonsor, got possession, and, atter, a short run, 'again got in for England. Sboddarb essayed the kick, but was unsuccessful, the ball striking the upright. With the exception that Royle had to touch down for England, nothing of note occurred befoio tho call of "No side !" the English team thus winning by one goal and four tries to nil. For the winners, Stoddart, Scott, Lockwood, Evershed, Cave, Robinson and Bedford were the most noticeable, the last named keeping on to the finish in the most plucky manner despito his accident. Umpires, Mr A. Budd (President of the Rugby Football Union) and Mr J. War-, brick ; referee, Mr G, Rowland Hill. Sided :—: — England. — A. Royle (Brougbhon Rangers) (back), 4 R. E. Lockwood (Dewsbury), J. W. Sutcliffe (Heckmondwike), and"" 1 A. E. Stoddart (Blackheath) (three quarter-backs), *F. Bonsor (Bradford) (captain) and W. M. Scott (Cambridge University) half-backs, *C. Anderton (Manchester Free Wanderers), F. Lowrie (Waketield Trinity), H. Wilkinson (Halifax), D. Joweft (Heckmondwike), \V. Yiond (Hartlepool Rovers), H. Bedford (Morley), 7A, Robinson (Blackheath), J. W. Cave (Cambridge Univeisity), and F. Evershed (Buiton-ou-Trent). " {Signifies an old International. Ni^n Zkalakdkrs, — W. War brick (Matata) (back), E. McCausland (Gordon, Auckland), W. Wynyard (Takapuna) and Madigan (three-quarter-backs), Keogh (Dunedin), D. Gage (Poneke, Wellington), and W. Elliott '(Grafton), half-backs), R. Taiaroa (Dunedin); T. Rene (Nelson), H. Leo (River ton), G. Williams (Poueke), W. Anderson (Thames), R. Maynard (North Shore), G. Wynyard (North Shore), and T. Ellison (Poneke, Wellington). This was the fifty-fourth match ot the New Zealanders' tour, and their record now stands — won, 35 ; lost, 15 ; drawn, 4. Notes on tiik Touk. The United Service fifteen at Portsmouth received a rare dusting up from the Maoris on Saturday week to tho tune of three goals and a tr^ to nil. The match with Oxford University fixed for the 12th of February was, owing to the fearful weather, postponed till Thursday last. Barlow Madigan, who was recently ordered, or rather advised, not to play football anymore, has now come back to something like his old form, and played a grand game at Portsmouth, collaring and running in splendid fashion. The reason Barlow has not distinguished himself greatly up to the present time is owing to two things : Firstly, he has been very unfortunate in getting injured several times ; and secondly, the other backs, though they know well onough he is very speedy and hard to. stop when under weigh, have never troubled to feed him properly. When the New Zealanders first came to England, collaring was their forte, and very seldom did they fail to bring their opponents to full stop. Lately, however, they appear to collar very high, in tact, round the shoulder, and the result is if the orjponeut is a strong man he sends them Hying, and if a little lipht man, wriggles out of their grasp. Again, very few of the ''■ forwards ever attempt to fend a man oft i with their hands, but try to dodge him. This used to be very successful, but now the English teams are up to most of their i little feints. All the New Zealanders save those playing at Oxford yesterday, and at Manningham to-day, returned to Manchester on Tuesday. , The New Zealand team imagined they had a " soft thing " on with the London Welsh, but they had to work very hard to eecurc their narrow majority of one point. When the whistle blew for half-time the score stood 1 try each. On resumption the Maoris pressed, bub could not pierce the Welsh defence, till after some tough " scrums " Elliott picked up and passed to Iveogh, who transferred to Wm War brick, ' the latter getting in. Mac, however, again failed to negotiate the place kick. After this reverse the Welshmen plajed up in grand form, and rushed the sphere into the New Zealand 25, Jordan almost getting in. Play was then transferred to the centre, where Morgan, the Welsh half-back, picked up smartly, and eluding the Maori backs had only Mac to pass, but tripping came down a burster, losing an almost certain try, Play was very even after this, and nothing more being scored the Maoris were lefc victors of a grandly-contested game by 2 points to 1. The Maoris could not make much of a stand against either University. Oxford has an unbeaten record this season, and Cambridge id but little inferior. The New Zealanders might, however, have done batter against the dark blues had they beon less stale. They play Manninghan in Yorks to-day. Mr bcott, the manager of the New Zealand team, was laid up ill the greater part of last week, and appeared at Blackheath on Saturday against doctor's orders, and looking very unwell. He felt naturally much upset at the contretemps, which to some extent marred an otherwise brilliant game. After tho Blackheath match the " Pall Mall Gazette," tho " Hawk," and one or two other papers, taking thb ! local man's broken collar-bone as their text, preached the Maoris a sermon on t'ongh play. As a matter ot fact, this was the sole accident (bar a fractured jaw at Maryport) for which the New Zealanders have beon l-esponsiblo during the lengthy tour. On the other hand, there is scarcely a member of thoNew Zealand team who has nob at one iime or another been seriously bent' or broken-; in fact, in Lancashire Scott could nob raise a sound fifteen. There can; howevor, be no doubt thab,bhese unjust accusations of rough play have done harm, and partially accounted for the coolness with which the Maoris were received when they met England. * ■'•

Messrs Kelly and t Locke, M.H.l^f., have arranged a trip to 'Bfoatatiuna, the principal settlement in the Urewera country, in order, to pave the way to get the district crospected for gold. ' ' ' , "And so you think you f \yill get .married when you gro^v up to be a young lady, Flossie?" said k the caller. . "'Oh, I haven't a doubt of it," assented Ejlossie. "sjfery a body says I am yery much like niy mamma,', arid she, you know, has been married three times"/'