THE BRITISH TEAM'S TOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 189, 15 August 1904, Page 2

THE BRITISH TEAM'S TOUR.

FIRST DEFEAT.

VICTORY FOR NEW ZEALAND AT WELLINGTON

ON SATURDAY.

NEW ZEALAND 9 : BRITAIN 3.

GAME WON FuK COLONIALS BY BRILLIANT

FORWARD PLAY,

WELLINGTON, August 14. The great mutch, of which all New Zealand und a goodly portion of Australia Ims been talking for weeks past, luu come and gone in a blaze of glory for the little country so far (loin the home of Uugby lootball. To-morrow, doubtless, tho English papers will be commenting in terms of surprise on the fact, Lnut -New Zealand can furnish forth a fifteen competent to meet and bout another fifteen picked from forty millions of people, and beat them too, at what is peculiarly their own game. They will at least have the consolation ol the feeling that the sturdy young New Zcalanders arc scions of the same stock. There may not be a Welshman among thorn, and the great part that Welshmen have played ill the game of late yoa''s is known to all—but there are English, Irish, and Scotch, just as there are in the company that travelled here from the Old Countey. There Is ulso understood to lie a " Flying Scotchman " at Home. Whun the visitors return they will be <able to speak in terms of approbation of the " flying Scotchman '' they met in New Zealand,; THE WEATHER. The weather,—Whaft was It like ? All the week, despite the earthquake, it lias been warm and sunny. Anxious devotees of the game hod amused themselves each day iby making small bets that it would/ be wet, and paid up with glee. It was a lovely day, with a light breeze from the north that died away about five o'clock, and the turf was just «B it should be. Accordingly, in the early morning, masses of jieople began to make their way to tho ground. The electric trams were brought for the first time to the centro ol the town, but were quite ina<Joq,uate. Cubs, 'busses, expresses, vehicles of every sort, were brought into tho service, By eleven o'clock thousands were present, and by noon the ground was full, and this being reported in lewn kept away mamy more who would otherwise have gone. A VAST ASSEMBLAGE. As was feared, the Athletic Park, which had never had its capacity tested liofoi *, was not large enough. Round three Bides run clay terraces, wooden lronts ; there is 'a steep clitf from which the material for making the ground wus excavated, and this accommodated a large number. They ovem descended the sides, and perched themselves in the gutters scooped out, by the rain, From this insecure footing every now and again some one rolled on to the crowd below, and these episodes provided a fund of laughter for the rest. On the face of tho hill a huge scoring-board had ueen erected,. On the opposite (fide of the ground was a permanent stand flanked for the occasion by temporary structures. The admissions here at five shillings and three shillings -brought in £3OO, and more people could easily have .been put in the main structure. Many of those round the ground could have seen little or nothing of what was going cm. MUDDLE AND MISMANAGEMENT. The worst feature of the arrangements was tho accommodation for the Press. Instead of being placed in tho stand or in front of it, where numbers of people were allowed to bit on chairs, they were stuck oil the far side under the hill, and not even neur the touch-line. The view was ' constantly obstructed by people who were permitted to encroach on the

ground in front, by photographers, uiul by wandering policemen. Missiles, varying from oranges to stones, were thrown by the roughs of tho crowd, and descended in showers, j and the persistent din of talk, that sometimes included offensive languago lia<i to bo Straggled against all the time. At that distance the players could not be distinguished. It was difficult enough to pick out the numbers of our own toani. The Englishmen could not be recognised at ull. j To make matter? worse, at least two ol tho latter wore wrong* numbers. . A Truss steward wns supposed to be, . and ought to have been, provided to timiimw these Inconveniences. It is j done at other athletic gatherings, but . yesterday lie was conspicuous by his I absence. An oftlcial of this kind was . all the more necessary inasmuch as the authorities refused to allow the . Press anywhere else but in tho station chosen. Consequently it was impossible to obtain any information, and if there is an absence of individual . mention in this description it is solely on this account. Nobody knew who anybody in the English team was. There were some forty or fifty representatives of newspapers of New Zealand present, and they will not Carry away any grateful remembrance of capacity or courtesy of the authorities on thiis occasion. DIVERSION FOR THE SPECTATORS. * To while away time the great crowd of over 20,000 people were enabled to watch a sort of first course in the shape of a brisk game between the Duller and Wellington iifteens, in which there was some lively storing and capital back play by the local men. The latter having been returnid victors by 22 to 10, the ground was cleared for the main game. THE VICE-11EGAL PARTY. Meanwhile the Governor ami suite had arrived at 2.H0, and the Preiniei and most of tlx- Ministers hiul also put in an appearance. Punctually ut three o'clock 1 hi(h teams tiled on to the ground to stmills of • Red, While and nine," unil were received with cheers. THE TEAMS. Britain. I'ull-back, o'lirien ; tluve-quurters, Morgan (captain), Gabe, Llewellyn, MclOvwdy ; halves, Vile, iiusli ; forwards., Dobson, Itodgers, Trail, lievan, Edwards, Crowthor, Harding, Swannell. New Zealand. Full-back, R. McGregor ; threequarters, Wallace, Harper, I). McGregor ; halves, Wood, Stead (caplain) ; fiviMMghth, Harvey ; ronvnnls Gallagher, Fanning, McMinii, Cross, Fanning, Nicholson, Seeling, and Glenn. Mr F. T. Etoiis, of ChrlstchurcJi, was referee, n:d proie.l the right nvau in the rigiht jjl-aco. New Zealand played j n tho wolltonoun black and frm leaf, und England in tho national colours, the red beiii£ most conspicuous. The visitors were unfortunate enougih to lose the toss, and hail to hogm against the wind and the sun They TOOK MATTERS EASY ' >at first, contenting themselves with kicking into touch when more than once there was an opportunity for ' passing and trying the mettle of their backs. llefore long they wero hard at work defending, and also at ! BREAKING THE RULES. ( Over and over again they were |>en- i alised, but went on doing tho same ' thing in a defiant sort of way that (

(Per Pi-ess Association.)

really called' for harsher measures. Ji was at least a strange thing to Mr u liritish team so unconscious or ho regardless of the regulation# 61 their own game. On-side play and things of that kind are common to * all players, who cannot always toll in the dieut of tho moment what to do, but to we men deliberately allying the ball at the sciimmage time alter time, instead of putting it soberly and fairly in, was an unpleasant novelty. The crowd very -quickly picked , up this—shall wo say, peculiarity V—nf the British play, and signified their disapprobation by some outspoken remarks. VISITORS' ROUGH I'LAY. They wore equally quick to Visit rough ploy with disapprobation, and yelled out to the referee when they Saw a man butting another while, tile scrummage .was forming. One British player, it may be mentioned, had." to bu wanned by the referee. It ' wa* therefore not tile stranger®' iault that they did not have a rapid (core . pi'od up against them. They gave New Zealand every chance of kicking penalty goals from easy positions, but the men must have been nervous, , for they all fulled. Under ordinary conditions several goals would fave been placod. Early in tlie game it was seen that the locul lorwai-ils u»d tins measure o( tho others, but one looked in vain for. the back play that was to have balanced this weakness. The New Zealand men had had dinnod into their ears the necessity ol going for the man with the hall) and they carried it out to the letter with , destructive effects. On the other. ' , hand the British collaring was as sure , and as determined as their own. '' , Wherever they were wanted there was a knot of several reds to meet' and break up the rushes. To this extent they succeeded m foiling the attack of their opponents, and at haif-tlma , hat| been successful In keeping them out and even neutralising by a good ( but lucky penalty goal, tbe one aeora t that New Zealand had put up. , THE TEAMS CHANGE ENDS. Now, ' said everyone, '' relieved from the wind we shall see the Englishmen in their true form." -80 they watched to see the great international backs, whose names are household words at Home, develop * . the abilities that have made them far ' mous. But they watched in vain. It is one of the most remarkable thing* about football that again and again u team which has display ud no particular skill against the wind will, surprise everyone by playing a winning game against it. It was so once , . more yesterday, and moreover the * wind fell away at the end. The New Jj Zealand forwards broke up and „smo- i therod thoir opponents, and drove in' ? 'J renistlessly upon the backs. The behind Uie scrimmage backed them |g up witih beautiful kicking, and' col- * lared with a relentless *- BRITISH BACKS BADLY BEATEN. Once and again at long intervals ' . an artistic piece of neat and easy < passing gave a glimpse of what the British backs might do if they could get room, but that was all we saw. It. never developed ittlo that quick and wjll-maintaiued combination .that bows down opposition and ssore* tries'. On the other hand the Nett* Zealand backs were not afraid to ' P/ng tho bull about, and did it with effect. Finding their forwards wore' pushing .the rods, they started to paw as soon as they were at the British 25's.

CROSSING THE LINE. 9> The finst attempt ended In Ike boll l 0 going out oil the " ailly " side. Thiers s, w as a scrimmage, the ball wba heeled lt out smartly, and in a flash it w «a o halKled a player-it might have 10 been Harvey, but it was difficult to . s tell—to a waiting comrade. From lS hand to hand it went. Last of all 1,- McGregor took it on the fly, gather* i- ( *d itin at top speed, aod ran round 1. flank of the roar guard, squees--0 ing In by the corner flag, The wdola i. t hi »g was as smart a piece of play u ... could be wished. 0 A few minutes after another try s was notched in almost the sama way, t except t/hat McGregor's run was even 8 more brilliant than before, as he had s !" ore nitn to get through, Needless ~ s to say the cheers and cries from the e crowd were deafening. Thoy saw n t.ho British team was beaten, and _ 'h-.V iuul little fear that their own j "'"n could loso now, and as a fact 1 'he English play had GONE TO PIECES. "" j The splendid following up of thep forwards" who were playing an un- - ,f 'j? 1 ' 11 ' 1 ' « nmo ' had so hopelessly rout-. , od the opposing pack that lt took _ tliein crasliing ; n to their backs, whoe hogan to fumble the ball. letterhowever, kicked well, us indeed both sides did all through, and this was enough to save further scorln* initbs time that was left. t WHAT THE GAME TEACHES. , the extent that there was an at>* ' solute abswice of the brilliant com* > bmod back play that one expected to r see from the llnitish team, the gamo 1 w «s a disappointment, but It was an ' i llu?t " aUo « of how even I 111 ' l>auks c an be paralysed by superior forwards and skilful collar•ng. The Until score of 9 to 3 d™ not represent the real difference be- , twoen tho two teams on yesterday's v"' V 'v, re,narl< «l before, it was New Zealand's own fault that they 1 ""*» <»» b« no " 1 A., y<wriay at least tho . Hnt.sh , wm wcre outpkvod , I«.i Imps, in one point of collarln* and even in that two holes wcri . found. liheir forwards were no match for the New /calenders, ftn( j thoir backs, who are probo/bly better than Now Zealand s wore smothered und cramped up into thoir own tcrt'l'l™ir cf,ltrei »S t«cUcs were ™ vl ' tat not Wine oft, whereas ' th! i f ® nd P° H ey of flndtig - time >W k ' Ck toU ever y THE FLYINO SCOTCHMAN. It may be remarked that HcGre- *i gors success showed the impolicy 0 f i.'i.seal'.'!inir a known brilliant player because he is temporarily off ills p] av H:sinclusion was criticised on that* ground, ami yet but for him the vl«. itors might possibly have nutfe * ! drawn gamo of it. * 1

The Play. ' *

The first itolll that caused « nf™. •! sent thrill in the crowd was fL EfT of the black .nlfan... position ut the north end Tki. j the signal , Mt New WM J wan the toss, and woi.m . h# ® • »i the wind and B un behind ttaf evoked a hum of MttafactfoT' " ' Shortly before five minutea 4 o'clock began, E? was far more than an hnilt .j * half to be tihe focus on whir* *'&• thou^ . It opened as It ended « : 'A for both sides. TOech«£ frae . Old Country <Hdnot fc

inclined t0 exert themselves at the Start—'" Saving themselves till they ' got the wind with thurn," said the experts. They took the ball cuol!y, ticked it back coolly, and in no way put themselves out. liut within a few minutes they found they had different men before them to those they bod been meeting in Australia, and a sharp attack that penned them in the corner set them playing in earnest. There was a rough mid tumble from [which the Britons freed themselves by_. kicking into touch, but a long punf , pressed them back again. New Zealand, u&geii to push their advantage borne, sluivg the ball about freely, but found.keen collajvrs in their way, and none of them got far. The crowd ithrew up their hats as Wallace took a pass and njshed through the gap over the line, but'he was off-sidJ. Here the peculiar tactics of the vis. itors in scrum work were first revealed. 'llhe process seemed to be to stand well back, fling the ball at and not into the scrum, aind then promptly g?t o-side to take advantage of it. The referee at once awarded a free kick, but this did not check the practice, aud it went on all through .the game. From this cause Wallace had a free kick in an excellent position, but he failed to score. A pmartly-talken mark from a knockon gave Harper a shot at goal, but the ball landed in front. So far New Zealand had done all the attacking, but the Red backs at ■last got a rush on and reached the opposite 2o's. There they lost ground by off-dide play, but were let in again by some wild passing. The New Zealand backs kicked very finely, and put in long high punts repeatedly, and presently the Reds were on the defence again, and right in front of the goal one of them lay on the ball. ! A penalty was demanded and awarded, but once more Wallace failed. Then itbe New Zealand forwards swept 'down in a body, and were stopped just at the line. The ball was sent back, wont into the hands of'a back, end with the same motion he sent it flying into touch, a very smart exhibition of kicking. Swannell, an 33nglisb forward, got a knock just After, and the game was stopped for a minute or two, but he soon recovered. The next incident was the spectacle o( both sides frantically chasing the ball about, while the line umpire in vain tried to make them understand it had gone out of bounds. Jflfae Blacks persisted in the attack, , and handled the ball fearlessly, but the defence held good. Wallace made '&drive At the goal, a fine kick, "but", it went wide. For a moment it looked like a goal and the serried tiers of people appeared in commotion. Once more the Reds were hurled 05 to ithein line. O'Brien took the iball And ran round to the back of his pwn goal chased by a siring of Blaicks, till he was ajble to get his kick. This pieoe of plucky play, unsafe as It was, pleased the onlookers, who duly j applauded. I The Britons then put on a spurt and worked their way to centre, whence a well-timed screw-kick shifted them. They persevered, and ; the backs (almost for the first time) got in a little passing, which was stoi>ped by a Knock-on. At this stage Wallace was the New . Zealand backs, who bulked most largely in the spectators' eyes. He ,waa on the open side, and McGregor, .who was to do* such good work later on, never seemed to get an opening. Wallace certainly did his best, and once ran through most os his opponents, but he was not supported, / nod was left to be collared "solus." Two penalties were given against the visitors in succession, but this was llot New Zealand's day for kicking goals, and nothing resulted. Presently there was another, and at last Wallace succeeded, though the score ought to have been opened half an hour before. New Zealand 8 Britain 0 These breaches were so frequent and po palpable that the crowd began to resent them, and were heard to freely use the term " pointing "—a term that it appears likely will soon have W> be added toi the language to indicate attempts to gain ain advantage by breaking the rules on the ollphance of not being observed. They used the same phrase ag<ain when at ,the kick-out the ball was twice sent into touch. This time they consider- | .ed the visitors wcie trying io waste time. There was a scrimmage in the iJew Zealand 25's, followed by a brief burst by the English backs and a free kick to them for off-side play. It .was at a difficult one, and Hai-ding took his slight carefully, lifted the ball, and kicked a beautiful goal. iWhat a difference to the capers of the local men ! This .was Britain's first, and, as it tu."ued out, only chance, and what good use they made out of it ! The score was now three all, and when the first spell concluded the score jvas still New Zealand 3 Britain 3 beeu afforded by the British team So far no particular evidence had of their reported brilliance in attack, but they had defended splendidly against a determined and dashing team, and had kept their lines intact. Now they were to have the hilp of the wind, and with its assistance they were expected 1 0 open out and bring their, smart passing and accurate backing into play. The spectators in their Kearts believed that their own men, having practically failed in the first spell, .were doomed to defeat. -But, lo ! it was the New Zealandera who opened out and fed their backs. It was the colonials who showed the brilliance, and playing with increased dash and certainty carried all befose them. Britain's fleet-footed and dashing scorers, of whom we have heard so much from Australia, never had a show, and their back play could never be brought to -bear. The Black forwards jumped at them mercilessly, and if they let them by there was a a pack of eager young backs with hands like claws that fastened on everything with a deadly grip. New Zealand bogan by sending the ball through the opposite goal-posts, ■but under the bar. Vigorous punting by the Red backs took the gamt down the ground, and the New Zear land forwards worked it back. Cross smi?ti u "'®d an attack a t passing, ant a seriiC determined struggles took place" near Britain's 25's. Neither side J*" 11 **! ground, however the collaring 0 * both beillg as ccr " tain as anyone col" w H ' ish ' The mer behind the Black sciO u,l,JflSe triet passing, and McEvedy J ol , r , lim t ' little in stopping a rush. . . swayed in front of the goal, ~ nt again the backs dashed 111. j j flung the ball from hand to llano, and as man after man took it cleverly and edged in upon the English goal the excitement of the crowd brought everyone to his feet. McGregor, on tlhe wing, was the last to get it, and, putting on his best pace, beat the outside three-quarter and ran in at tho corner. The enormous crowd cheerod heartily, and \wavod friendly greeting to the men who were so gallantly upholding their country's reputation in the . realm of sport. Tho angle was not easy, and no goal was kicked. Britain 3 New Zealand 6 With additional fire the New Zea landers now drove home their ad vantage. From a free kick Wallaci landed the ball in front of the goal but somehow the place-kicking seem ed to have no grit about it, and ei ther flew altogether wide or ha'dm' sting enough in it to reach tho bar Similar results attended similar ef forts, until McGregor again got til * ball, and tried to cut through ai opening, but was blocked 1 . A fre kick enabled O'Brien to make 1 long drop down the field, and anoth er chance, given for picking th ball out of the scrum, helped the Br tons further on, but off-side play o their own account partly neutralis ed the advantage thus gained. On of the Welsh three-quarters venture along drop at goal, and hard upo this O'Brien did the Ksune. He pu in a fine kick, which nearly came of and made the crowd squirm uneas ly. They took the fright they ha - got put of the visitors by. - twi

hooing" some peculiar play nnd cheering w'iien the referee awarded another free kick for the same old reason—not putting the l>all fairly into tlie scrum. The game bore up once more towards the visitors' goal, and another fine piece of passing saw the ball land in the "flying Scotchman's" clutches. Ho\y the tnass of people watched him with Oeating hearts as they saw him gather way, stave off one after another of the Englishmen, and with a resistless run beat them all onco more. Even greater than before was the cheering, for now Britain must score twice to win, and only a few precious minutes were left. No goal was kicked, but the score was New Zealand ... 9 Britain 3

And everyone knew it was enough. New Zealand kept up the attack, running over tire British forwards pretty well as they liked, and crashing into the backs almost before they could handle the bail. The latter had apparently become nervous of these smashing forwards, who never seemed to tire, for sometimes they fumbled in a way not expected in picked men. The few minutes that were left were occupied principally with free kicks for breaches by both sides, and though with a last effort the visitors got into their opponents' quarters, thoy never looked like scoring. Then sounded the referee's whistle, and with a 'howl the crowd emptied itself into the lield, and yelling, cheering!, waving 'kerchiefs and hats, seized McGregor and 'bore him shoulder high from thoigfrotui'd. New Zealand had won by nine to three, and had completely outplayed the conquering team from the Old Country at every point of the gamtj After the Match. THE CROW!) THAT SAW THE GAME. The turnstiles show that over 21,people were present on Saturday. The takings are not yet made up yet, but should be over £2OOO. Probably quite one-third of those present were visitors. ADDING TO THE INTEREST. It is reported that there was some heavy wagering on the game. One supporter of the New Zealand men laid £6OO to £4OO on his side with an Englishmen. A good deal of aiojifey came from Australia to back New Zealand. THE BRITISHERS ENTERTAINED Lord Plunket and the Premier were at the dinner given to the British team on Saturday night. Mr Bedell-Sivright, captain of the visitors, who was unable to play in the match, said they were told they would get beaten, and his men had been badly beaten. He thought the New Zealand team would make a good showing at Home. Mr O'Brien, manager of the team, considered that the. team representing New Zealand on Saturday— 01' ana as good—would win most of its games at Home. WHAT THE ENGLISH CAPTAIN THINKS. Interviewed after the game, Sivright attributed the success of the New Zealand team to its magnificent forwards.; Ho thought his men might have, done better than they did, but ,hey were a bit off from so much travelling. The rear ranks had defended well, but had no chance to show their quality in attack. It appeared to him there was ;; tendency in New Zealand to truwt too much to forwards, to the detriment of good back players. The New Zealand backs were a very fair lot. THE NEWS IN OHRISTCHURCH. The aiews of the victory was received with 'great enthusiasm. Large numbers waited in the streets all afternoon to get details of the scores, and the final result was received with great cheering. MATCH IN TARANAKI. NOTES. The Taranaki Rugby Union is issuing a souvenir of Wfcrinfls|d!ay's match. This will take the form of a booklet, printed by Messrs Hooker and Co. The cover is rather an attractive piece of litho work, the main features being a reproduction of a football resting on the turf and the words "John Bull and Co. in Taranaki." On the upper left-hand corner are the red, white and blue stripes of the British colours, and in the opposite corner, at the base, appear the amber and black of the Taranaki team. The names and weights of the members of the two teams appear, also a short history of the Rugby game in Taranaki, occupying two pages ; four pages dealing with the visit of the English team in 1888, with a full account .of the matches in Taranaki ; the British and Taranaki 1904 teams, with personal characteristics of the players; and Taranaki's roll of honour. Besides this are eight fullpage illustrations, the pictures being of the 1888 British team, the 1887 Taranaki team, Taranaki's representatives in 1894-5, officials of the Union in 1896, and the present Management Committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union. This is the only official souvenir produced under the auspices of the Union. A Press message from Wellington states Hhat Taranaki people who saw Satuiday's match consider "their forwards as good as, or bfctter : than, those in the New Zealand ; team, and make no secret of their ' belief that the Engfelhjnen will be beaten aigtain at New Plymouth. Hunl ter's absence, however, will make a i difference to the team."

Wednesday's game will start at 3. 15 p.m. A .special entrance will he pro- , vided near the Liardet-street gates (or players ami officials, and press representatives. An officer of the Telegraph Department will lie stationed just inside the m a in gate to facilitate the despatch of telegrams. The teams, dressing, tent will be erected at the east end of the ground near the foot of tho terraces. To minimise risk from accidents, wheel traffic will be stopped, if possible between Gilbert-street and the Liardet-atreet entrance to the ground on Wednesday. The British team will arrive by tonight's express. They will be accorded a civic reception, and it is expected that large crowds will await them at the railway station. A big crowd is expected from Waiitanul. <- ""he Taranaki team will assemble . ' T ew Plymouth to-night. "Veste "day's rain ma<le tlu; convincing eroun" 1 vcry sli PP er y,b<) Rationed at 9 a.m. on Wea' noS< . . Mr F T Eva ns una ° officiate, 'Mr pointed to referee U1 thl - • BllUs,h - Taranaki match. . . Yet another dream !' • Taranaki nil, tho visit,™ having the ! best of the game. Early application is tickets for reserved seats on J llO tcr " races. ITOLLOWAY'S OINTMEN'I A* D I'ILLS. Are the best, cheapest, and m.ost popular remedies at all seasons, ai 1 " under all circumstances they may Ik' used with safety, and with the certainty of doing good. Eruptions, rashes, and all descriptions of skin diseases, sores, ulcerations and burns are quickly benefited, and ultimately cured by these healing, soothing and purifying medicaments. The ointment rubbed upon the abdomen checks all tendency to irritation in the bowels, and averts diarrhoea and other disorders of the intestines frequently prevailing through tho summer and fruit seasons. Heat bumps, blotches, pimples, inflammations of the sfiin, muscular pains, neuralgic affections, and enlarged glands can be effectively overcome by using Holloway's remedies according to the instructions accompanying everf packet,*