THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 15 November 1907, Page 3

THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS.

FIRST MATCH IN ENGLAND. A DETAILED ACCOUNT. Received Nov. 14, 9.!) p.m. Sydney, November 14. , .Tlie opening game, played against the Bramlcy club, by no means the strongest in the Northern Union, wan not so widely one-sided as had been predicted, but the result was decisive enough to satisfy those, who believe the New Zealanders were as good a contingent as their predecessors. At .present the visitors are struggling with the subtleties of the Northern Union rules, which, in some vital instances. arc different from the ordinary] Rugby Union regulations. The absence of the line-out crippled the New Zealanders' idea of attack, and the half-back rule, which makes it imperative that every man. not a serummager, must stand behind the pack, prevented the winger doing anything under pain of penalty. The method of punting into touch, as a method of attack, had to be overcome.

The colonials, however, had a good tuition, and cleverly assimilated their instructions. They gave a very good exhibition of -the new game, and demonstrated their individual brilliance, and when they are sure of their ground, and the combination grows in cleverness, they will be a grand contingent. A large attendance gave the previous members of the All Blacks' team a hearty welcome, while Messenger and Wrigley were particularly well watch-! ed. j

The New Zealanders triod to work their pack with five forwards, against six of their opponents, with a. 3—2 formation, but Tyler, who was playing wing-forward, soon got in the way of the referee, and his fire colleagues were obliged to have hits assistance in stemming the rushes of the Bramley serummagers.

The I'orKshire club were never played so well or so pluckily. The game was only two minutes old when a kick gave Messenger an opportunity, and a goal was placed. Later, Rowe ran over the line, and Messenger improved the points. Subsequently, Smith gained a try, half-time arriving with the score in favor of New Zealand by 10 points to 0. The second half saw the visitors push their attack to better finish, with two tries scored by Tyler and one by Wrigley, Messenger placing goals from Tyler's and mining AVrigley's, and kicking a goal from a penalty after a j>iece of bad play by Hogg, the Bramley captain. The New Zealanders, especially Messenger, kicked splendidly, while their passing was bright, but not always accurate.

Several good chances were missed. A fine piece of work by Wrigley and Messenger was just robbed of a try by an infringement on the touchline. The visitors were not quite equal to their task, not having yet mastered the science of the reduced number of players on the field, and their idea of trying to screw the scrum, and if possible dribble the ball through their opponents, did not alwavs result in success.

The game ended—New Zealand 25. Bramley fi points.