FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7991, 30 November 1905, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Hew Zealand y. Monster. Taranaki to flu Fore. LONDON, Nov. 29. Tliero were five thousand spectators present. The weather was fine; and the ground in fair condition. Munster was outclassed from the start. Abbott (Taranaki) scored two tries early in the spell, while Glasgow (Taranaki) placed a penalty goal. Then Glasgow, McGregor (Wellington), and Roberts (Wellington) obtained a try each, one of which was converted, all before half-time, The score then was

New Zealand ..20 Munster ~ .. 0 In the secor.d half Munster allowed improved Co -in, and f;ixt, esciting play ensued. Rootli (Otago), Huberts and Stead (Southland) each got a try, of which Glasgow converted two. Time was then called. New Zealand .. .. 38 Munster .. .. 0 The Government ealile states that tl e New Zealanders won by three go ils (one penalty) and five tries to nil. Tries were scorod by Abbott (8), S'.cad, Booth, McGregor, Glasgow and Roberts. In view of the England match, the New Zealandeis got off the Muoster game a day earlier than was originally intended. COMMENTS ON THE NEW | ZEALANDERS.

(Received Nov. 29, 6.28 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 29. The London Daily Mail says that the display in the Somerset match was in many res pects the worst that the New Zealanders had yet given. The team was not so good as the side which was defeated. Gloucester's combination was inferior and did not possess the same dash. The absence of Smith, Hunter and .Roberts seeme! to put the machinery"out of -gauv The-^ absence of l'oberts in the scrum half was perhaps the most severely felt. lie has to receive all the hard knocks and do all the dirty work. He gets nono of the credit if things go right, and all the blame if they go wrong. Tho little man who forms the connecting link between the two great pieces of nachineiy is scarcely noticed, bu f if his work is not done expeditiously the machinery is liable to break down. Hi-, work may not be so showy as tl at of Smith, Wallace and Hunter, hut if the New Zealanders are to bo beaten it will probably be when this quiet, unobtrusive player is absent. If the backs in the ■■ omerset match did _ not reach their usual standard of excellence, the forwards were as good as ever. Somerset was always famous as « forward team, and did not disgrace their best traditions. Tho Colonials had to deal with a pack almost as powerful as themselves. The tackling on both sides was strenuous, but t' ere were no casualties. Though beaten in the tight scrums, the Somerset forwaids were very good in the loose rushes, while the following up was as keen as that of the New Zealanders. The ground was uueven and rough, and decidedly narrow.

In defeating tlie Devonport Albions the New Zealanders incidentally gave the Devonians an object lesson in the art of try getting, which should prove of practical value. It was one of the hardest games the Now Zealanders « ere called upon to play, as for the first time they met a combination and not a collection of individual units. It speaks volumes for the originality of their methods and the genius of the playeis, that after having none the better of a keenly-fought first half, they gradually wore down their opponents and at the close scored pretty much tlio same as they chose. The first forty minutes of the gaino will, long be remembered by the New Zealf nders. At the start the Albions appeared to be suffering from stage fright and allowed the Colonials to scow a soft try in the first few minutes. The ease with which it was obt lined seemed to show their penetrability of New Zealand's armour and thence forward the Albion forwards took the game in their own hands, and keeping the ball as close as they could initiated their opponents into the art of wheeling scrums. They broke through time and again and swept up the field in an irresistible phalanx, with the ball at toe. Every moment a score appeared immiment, but the pluck and coolness of Stead, and the brilliant kicking of Gillet pi evented any score, llight up to half time did the Albion men keep up their heroic efforts. Although five points down they had none tlio worsf of the fast and exciting struggle. In the second spell everyone expected the local men to do even better, but whether their tremendous exertions had taken too much out of them or wheth-

er the New Z (inlanders improved their | game, the fnut remains that there was I only one tenm in it itfter the change [of ends. The second half saw the New Zeaknders at their best, tho ing an clectiifying display. Their combination was intei-sperscd with individual efforts which bewildered their opponents. Their ability to change their tactics to suit the occasion is one of the chief charms of tho New 'Zenlander's play. The men are opportunists in the best sense of the word and red tape is entirely absent from their methods. Smith was very much in evidence, and his pace madu him a prime favourite with the crowd.