FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 113, 4 May 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

UNDER NORTHERN RULES. NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONALS DEFEATED. MESSENGERS BRILLIANT CiOAL-KK-'KING. Received 3rd, 8.15 >.m. I Sydney, May 2., I In glorious weather, the All Blacks met New South Wales under Northern I Union rules at the Agrieiiltura 1 grounds. There were about fifteen thou sand present. Tlie teams took the field as follow SINEW ZEALAND: Back: Turtill. Three-quarters: Tyne, Rowe, Kelly, and Wrigley; Halves: Banter and .1. Wynyanl. Forwards: Mackrcll, Lite. .lolms»n. Pearee, Cross and Wright. NEW SOUTH WALES: Back: Medley; Three quarters: Stuntz. Messenger, Div reaux and l beadle: Halves: Kosenlield and Butler: Forwards: Gravis, Hennessey, Lutgc Roscwell, OJlalley, Davis, iloii, Holloway. During the first spell, lite Wclslimtii played the better game, showing more da»h in their play. In the first fifteen minutes, the Black* kept play in their opponents' ground, Harder drawing first blood with a pretty drop kick, which sailed over tn ■■ bar. This aroused the Welshmen, who with a line passing rush carried the ball into New Zealand's twenty-live. Here .Messenger marked, and kicked a good goal. The local men were not long in following up this advantage, and in a line combined rush ended in Stuntz cri>->iiig,.ind .Ue.™cnger adding tin- extra point*. A few minutes later, New Soutli Waits was penalised in a scrum, anil Turtill took a shot a goal, but the ball rolled over the right side. New South Wales again had the Blacks bustling. The locals, who were passing excellently, gave Chcadle a chance to get away, and after a feinting run, he crossed the line, Messenger converting.

After an interval o»good plav on !>otli sides, a penalty for interference resulted in Messenger again scoriii". » The Blacks, with a good rush, oarriei play to the home teanv's line where Barder got the ball from Wvnvard, and scored, but the angle was too dilficult for Turtill to make anything of it. The score at half-time read- Xcw South Wales 14; New Zealand 7. In the second half, New Zealand" played against a I.reeze. but did no' show any form. Messenger, off a m k. added a goal, his kicking bein« «r.'c.:Wid. " The nines were down on the Bh '<s continually, rnnsiing all over llieni. while the New Zcalanders were slow in handling the hall.

: Off a penalty. Messenger, wi:li a great kick from over half-war. added another couple of points. In passing, the Blacks were outclass ed by their op]>onents. The Blacks fought hard in the last few moments. and in rough and tumble work, during which the Blacks displayed some rongrTness. Kelly managed to get over in the corner. The angle, however, was too awkward for Ttirtill to convert, and the whistle sounded with the scores Yew South Wales .. .. is New Zealand .. 1# OPINIONS OF CRITICS. OLD RUGBY CAME OUTCLASSED. REFEREE BLAMED FOR ROUGH PLAY. Received 3rd. 4.10 p.m. Sydney. May 3. The critics approved the Northern game as demonstrated bv the New Ze.ilanders. They expressed the opinion that from the spectators' pojnt of view, it outclassed the old Rugby game, as there can be no waste of time on the part of the leading team. In connection with the vicious play I yesterday, the referee is considered more to blame than the players for allowing outbursts to go unchecked. AUCKLAND RESULTS. Per Press Association. Auckland. Saturday Night. Th" Rugby football season opened here to-day in glorious weather. The following are the result-; City l>cat Parnell. l(i points (two goals arid two Iriesl to nil: Pon-onl.y lieal Grafton. Mi |K)ints to nil: and North Shore ami Univen-itv drew, o points (one goal', each. SOUTH TARAXAKr GAMES. (Special to News.) Patea. Satitrdav Night. Okaiaw.i forfeited the senior au.l junior matches to Patea. Patea third drfeale.l Han-era third be It to nil.