British Footballers

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43354, 28 July 1908, Page 2

British Footballers

BRITAIN V. NEW ZEALAND. •■, • * ■ »: BRITAIN OUT-CLASSED. y y AUCKLAND, July 27. ' The third and final test match, between . ) Britain and New Zealand was playedsat Alexandria Park on Saturday, the weather being dull and threatening. heavy shower occurred in the second half* The attendance was about 15,000 tho-in-creased tariff keeping away many who ~.<y otherwise would have attended. The playing 1 area was in fairly , good, oedpr considering the recent rainy < v Britain was outclassed from the start, and, never at any time threatened 'the y' Black line. i;,- . 1

THE TEAMS.,y The following were the teams :

-^-Britain — . ; y Full-back—Jackett V £. Threequarters : | McEvedy Vassall Ponty Jones Halves—Morgan, Tuan Jones ~ Forwards: Harding, E. Morgan, Down, Hind, Dibble, Aroher, Smith,-and Williams. • » , ' ,-,y —New-Zealand—.-'.y y;./, Fiill-back— Coleman • , ‘: Threequarters •'' 4 Cameron Mitchinson Deans, y . Five-eigthts— Hunter,‘Stead ’’ Half—Roberts . J' ' Wing—Giliett . j Forwards: Front row, Ready, Glasgow; Francis (support), Cunningham (lock); Seeling (support); back row; PatterpPh/ ,<;• Hayward. ; FIRST SPELL. Stead won the toss, and defended the western goftl with the sun behind,' Harding kicking off. Play w»b immediately / returned to Britain’s quarter, where the ,y

New Zealand backs got to work in great style. Three minutes after the kick-off during a line-out, Harding was injured, ?' and was only able to play for -about ten minutes. Britain played the remainder of the game with 14 men. With'a concerted effort the Blacks. forced Britftjji •, back right on to their line s Where foi* aA'S** infringement a scrum was ordered. The ball was heeled out to' Roberts, who >’ whipped it out to Mitchinson, and the wily threequarter was over the line in a flash. No goal resulted—New s Zealand 3, Britain, ml.; The. Blacks resumed the attack, .the forwards. making it.particu- .1 -'i

larly Hot for the visitors. Roberts attempted a pot without success, _ and . ; , Cameron’provided a sensational incident by running through half the team before ' being rushed out. . Then the backs tookßß a hand, but were unable to find link in the defenco., found an opening got tfle balldean who; after ; . putting in a short run, transferred to • Mitchinson, who again scored amid groat enthusiasm. The additional, points were not secured. New Zealand 6, Britain 0.

Britain now became aggressive, Ponty Jones and Vassal getting in some tricky work. The Black forwards, however, - again asserted themselvesA, and rushed y play to the front of the • British goal, y, where Hunter scored; no,goal respited and the score istood: New~|Zealan<l f, Britain 0, New Zealand forced, the j>aW ‘ on resuming, and had the visitors continually in difficulties. JusfiybefOre'ffialf ! time Glasgow scored from a loose forWtn d scrambie in front of Britain’s goal. New Zealand 12, Britaino. ' SECOND SPELL. ;' ■ ; * Ou changiug ends New Zealand forced thepacp, and three minutes the, kick off. From' a scrum. , Gv .GilleitN •• burrowed his way over the line. The kick , at goal was again re'mltless. New Zea lend 15, Britain 0- Play was resuSnednt half way, but the Blacks gradually(aßserted thpiuselves. and despite the efforts of

tlie visitors to put their hacks in.mbti- n ;• ; ih°y never obtaiued an opening.. ’ Eventuslly Hayward figured primriu- ’ ••ntlyin a forward rush, taking the bftll \ through to Vessel, who managed to clear The home forwards were not h« j denied, and broke up a weakde fence, the Thames player scoring .Hlmost iimnf- - - diately afterwards. The additional points were not secured. New Zealand 18. ■. Britain 0. The ball was ho sponer in play . ; than the British line and precisely one mitiite; i wh«l the New Zealanders add(svtiO f their scor*, ’ W Mitchinson just managing to at the corner after beating Ponty y ones. , ' The kick was the most difficult one of the day, and Colman placed » fine goal., •. making the score New*"Zealand; 23, ' V Britain 0. The Britishers opebed tip the. ensuing play, and • maintained.: A/slight 1? I , advantage for a time, the being uninteresting to watch. •Ts'K’'.;T; New Zealand forwards asserted. V , . selves, and Roberts initiated back from the rear of a scrum, as a result of' \ which Deans got over in affine positioiij',.. |Vno goal being kicked From-a line ous r* a few minutes later, Francis secured, and beating off all opposition .scored near the comer, and no goal resulting the score' stood New Zealand 29 points. Britain

0. ... •- The visitors were completely out- 1 played in every department of the game, and their defence was as weak as the New Zealand was strong. v - /'*; .Stead and Roberts were the main • contributing factors to the Blacks' victory, and there was not a weak spot in the whole combination. .

Britain’s attempts to put their backs; in motion \yera crushed in almost every.':, instance. , Mr Angus Campbell, of Auckland was referee. • ; .;v;