The Daily News MONDAY, DECEMBER 18. THE FIRST REVERSE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8006, 18 December 1905, Page 2

The Daily News MONDAY, DECEMBER 18. THE FIRST REVERSE.

Ox Sunday morning om- football enthusiasts received a rude shock. It was an expectant people who, in twos and threes scanned the flimsy pie-e of paper which told the bile of New Zealand's defeat; it was asetof unbelieving colonials who seemed incapable of acknowledging that at last "our l»ys " had met a team that could not only hold its own against them, but actually defeat the fifteen which had swept victorious throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland. The tiding* were discussed almost with bated breath, as though some great calamity had befallen the nation, lint there| was little tendency to begrudge the Welshmen their victory, though, of course, a reversal of the scores would have been more palatable. It was recognised that, the Welsh team must have been a splendid combination to withstand the Maorilanders' desperate onslaught time after time, and to defy all our attempts to score. Some comment has been made about the arrangement of the fixtures, certain people having complained of the heavy programme and the fact that all the leading fixtures were crowded into the fag end of the tour. The latter anargenient could hardly have been avoided, as it would be ridiculous to expect good international teams early in the season. As to the frequency of the matches, it must be remembered that the New Zealand manager had authority to cancel mid-week fixtures if he thought the team was under too great strain, and also that Scotland, Ireland, and England were defeated in turn while the visitors were playing two matches a week. The fact is that the New Zealanders on Saturday met a team whose methods very materially resembled their own ; a, team which is looked upon as representing the greatest Rugby principality in the British Isles; a team of Welshmen who have long held supremacy; and a team that was in every way fitted to cope with the visitors' varied styles of attack ami defence. It included men who had toured the colonies, and its formation was fash, ioncd from that expei ieiice. Whether or not the game would have resulted differently had Smith I rr.i available so that Wallace could have tilled best position; and Whether the New Zealanders would have fared better latter a week's spell, aie matters that jour readeis will doubtless settle for ithemselves. All credit is duo to Wales for her magnilicent victory over a hitherto unbeaten team, and the New Zealanders will doubtless take their beating as Britons and congratulate the victors.