FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 196, 23 August 1904, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

BHITISHER3 IN THE NOHTa

(Per Press Associatisn). AUCKLAND, August 33. The defeat of the British' football-,/ erg by Auckland was undoubtedly « surprise, and a very sore subject among themselves, as may be Judged by the manner in which tto 'msdtbers ■ of the team spoke when interviewed at the conclusion of the game, In, the first spell their wonderful defence' made a good stand against the .superiority of the Auckland team ; btit with the first score by the local men at the beginning of the second spell tfoo British team appeared to go W " pieces. The opposing forwards completely fim over them, and scored again and again amid deafening : cheering. The British forwards Wre very quick in getting the ball out, J » j J^ e local forw ards overran . tot A Britishers in the open work. TfejsP British were very disappointjifc hf their play, We saw none of^their ! brilliant passing among the • threequarter division, Nhough the ground was in good order for such a display. .. >

Bedell-Sivright, interviewed V after the match, was extremely reticent, He attributed the British defeat -to the staleaees of the British, 'team uad several very hand matchai fol-lowing-close oil each other having'«* duced the team to much below' Owlr best form. He emphatically contradicted the report attributed' to some of lu's team alleging rough ptoy by the Aucklanders, and saldrH Wat undoubtedly a rough game, ' but. at would not say the play of 'tiio opposing team was Cough. Allegation* flf _A off-side ploy were freely both sides, but the Britishers', war* m more frequently penality for ' this than the AucElanders. . SlvrlghV said Rogers' knee is severely ' hurt, and it is doubtful II bo will be'.ablf to play in the future Australian)' matches, but ho expected that the trip*: to liotorua and the sea voyage' would restore the other membet* oi Uio team to good form again,V M. Wood, the Auckland captain, said, after the game, that tfco British defence was as good aa it could be, their collaring was deadly/and their backs superb. Ho was thoroughly satisfied that the JMftklandora' play-both back and forward*, i was the most conspicuous part of ji the game. He sold i\ was tie «tafinlto superiority of the Auckland forwards, who literally nan th/oOgh their opponents, which won tte gamo, Uo was surprised to " near ■ any suggestion of rough pl«y. .B» saw none whatever. Though tht Aucklanders played a very hard gem I they wore met by tbc Britishers in equally determined stylo. He eojfr riiderod the British kicking a feature of their play. Bush's kicking was splendid. He did not nave a chance to see what the British attack - waa iike. Though in the first spell ,„tha, Aucklanders were disposed to playr ' rather a defensive game, in the second spell they assumed the offensive, results proving disastrous to- fiSeir' opponents, -«'', MATCH AGAINST THE MAORIS* AUCKLAND, Augusta*. The British team played a Maori fifteen at Rotorua to-day. At half* timo the score was : Britain 6, Maoris 0. Final: Maoris 8, Britain '(■>. A match is to be played oh Thursday between teams representing '.tha Now Plymouth and Fitzroy Fire Brigades. The following will comprla» the former :—Full-back, R. Ford; three-quarters, D. Callaghan,' B. Street, A. Boon; 6ve-oighUi, ' W„ Sadler; half. J. Sims; wings, H Ford, W. Way ; forwards, W. Priaiv J. Sadler J. Way. L. Malcolm* H. Inch, D. Sartcn, H. BeaTe/Bm. ergencies, A. and T. Clow, H. M00n,.. F. Wayerley. Tho team should assemble at the central station at' *-lo *' i* '