FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 193, 4 January 1913, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

THE POPULAR WARATAHS. ' ■ ' ! San Francisco, November 25. Mo body of sportsmen that ever visited California gained greater popularity than tihe"team of Rugby footballers from Australia, who said farewell on Saturday, November 10, after winning the best game of Rugby that this country has seen.. The players had to run from the field to their dressing-rooms in order to get away in time to catch the boat fo.r British Columbia; but they were literally mobbed by the excited spectators of the 'game who desired to grasp.the hands of the Australians. It. was an altogether exceptional sqene, and the "visitors went-away knowing that they stood high in the regard <of California. •' Thq . cause of international, sport between America and Australasia has-gained immeasurably by the visit of; the Rugbyites, and frequent contests, in the football field at least, are likely to . result. In the opinion of the Austra-, lians, the players of Ru&by'in 'fife coun ; try will in a very few years be able to 1 'hold-.'their own with'the best teams of England, Australia or New Zealand. The final ganio of the scries of'l2 herewas against an all-star Californian team,! and was won % Australian by lg points to 8. l ln the first half the Californians played the visitors, off .their feet, and ,'t looked as if'the Warn talis were in for a. licking. - For half of the second spell the ' Ariiencan's held the Australians even, and 20 .minutes before the game ended the score..was: All-Stars, 8; Australians, 0. Then., the superior stamina of the .Australians told, and in.a brilliant finish they rail up a score of 12 points. The ' California!! boys were astounded at the way they were outclassed and outplayed in the final stages of the game Of the 12 games played in California the Australians won H) and lost two by a single point 'each. ■ The following from the San Francisco Chronicle is indicative of the popularity of the Australians:—"All hail, Waratahs! (.'lad you came, and sorrv you are leaving us to-day. These are the sentiments of all Rugby-loving enthusiasts Who have seen the Australians in ai'tion on the field, or met them in their homes, elubs. or on the streets. All of them are good fellows, and they have made many friends during their stay here, and some will come back soon and take up their permanent abode in America. The Australians have shown lis how to play good football, and also they a?e good sportsmen even in defeat. Here's Cod-speed to them." In their first game at Vancouver, 8.C.,. the Australians, fresh from their ocean .trip, were beaten by a fi-to-3 score.

..NOTES AND COMMENTS. The Soutli African Rugby men of 1 DOC took something like £12,C00 as tlfeir share of the "gates" in their tour of Great Britain, and there was a balance of nearly .CGOOI), which went towards the improvement of (be Rugby game in South Africa.

' The Soirth African footballers are bqin,"' criticised in England in something like the terms employed against the AllBlacks. One writer, touching on this nia'tter. says: 'They naturally resent the accusations of foul play that have been (made against them in irresponsible quarters, especially those which make them out as below the moral standard of the first South African team. That, as everybody knows, had a long journey of 'easy' matches, wlien our football was not a.s good it is to-day. The game is quite a different one when scoring is low, as anybody with a. nodding acquaintance, with the inside of a football jersey knows. If our own play were spotless there might be some cause to cavil, but although two blacks do not make a white, the play of these men has nothing to learn in point of straightness from our own as far as I have seen."