FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1919, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALANDERS DRAW. GREAT GAME AT CARDIFF. \uondon Daily Mail.) i Not so fortunate in the weather attending it as the game at Swansea on Boxing Day, the second match between Wales and New Zealand took place at Cardiff yesterday and resulted in a draw of 3 points each. Contrary to the earlier announcements, the New Zealanders did not call to any extent upon the Trench team, but placed in the field a side which differed in only two instances from that so narrowly defeated at Swansea, the changes being Stoke for Tnreai and Sauge for Murray. The Welsh team, on the other hand, with half a dozen Cardiff players introduced, bore little resemblance to that which appeared on Boxing Day, the only suTvivors from that encounter being Bacon and Plummer among the backs and Coldrick among the forwards. The play in the opening half proved quite-surprising, the Welshmen, although the field had been reduced to a quagmire, handling in great style, and the New Zealanders also bringing off some very clever bouts. From the ensuing scrum MeNaught opened out the game, but a low pass to Storey spoilt the movement. Clem Lewis next dribbled right down to the visitors' line. Just afterwards Lloyd passed out to' Coghlan, who after a short sprint threw out to Plummer. The Newport man ran on until he encountered Roberts, and then cleverly cross-punted to Coghlan, who outpaced his opponent and scored a fine try. The kick at goal failed.

The New Zealanders set up a strong attack after that, and Roberts and Storey each gained ground by welldirected kicks. Next the New Zealand forwards came away with a grand rush and rri one occasion swept the ball over the Welsh line. Cockroft as five-eighths was often at fault or the Welsh defence might well have been overcome. Play continued fast and fairly even up to the interval, when the score stood: Wales, 1 try; New Zealand, 0. The New Zealanders held the advantage in the scrum and played up with great spirit. A little later, however, the visitors' line had a narrow escape, a great race taking placing between the Welsh backs and Cockroft, who, just beating his opponents, saved his side. Still the New Zealanders worked gallantly, and at length Brown, getting the ball out to MeNaught, the latter transferred to Roberts, who registered a brilliant try. Again the place kick failed and a hard struggle ended in a draw of 1 try (3 points) each.

SPECIAL COMMENTS. It was a brilliant exhibition under such wretched conditions, and it was a tribute to Welsh Rugby devotees that 10.000 of them turned out on such a day. Although the match was not officially recognised as an international fixture it is questionable whether Wales or New Zealand could "have been more strongly represented. It is certain that Wales could not have fielded a more versatile or betterbalanced baek division, while the New Zealand forwards were at least equal to the pack captained by Gallagher in the ever-memorable game of 13 years ago, when the AH Blacks lost the only match of their tour by one try. Bigger and heavier than the Welsh forwards, the New Zealanders held the mastery in seven out of every ten scrums yesterday, but once the ball had left the gruelling mauls in front the visitors were outwitted in skill and finesse by the home rearguard, M. G. Thomas, the St. Bart.'s student, who made his debut in class football, was fa brilliant form at centre and his international cap is waiting for him. He and Roberts on the other side were the outstanding figures in a clean-spirited and exciting contest, in which, on the general run of the play, New Zealand deserved to win. Wales—D. Williams (Swansea); J. H. Bacon (Cross Keys), 11. G. Thomas (St. Bartholomew's Hospital), J. Coghlan (Cardiff), and R. Plummer (Newport); R. Lloyd (Pontypool) and Clem Lewis (Cardiff); J. Webb (Abertillery), P. Coldrick (Newport), D. Llewellyn (Cardiff), Tom Davies (Pontypool), G. Samuel (Cardiff), W. C. Jones, H. G. Homans (Swansea), and C. Pavey (Penarth). ' New Zealand.—O'Brien (back); Stoke. Roberts and Storey (three-quarters) • MeNaught and Cockroft (five-eighths)-Brown (half-back); Sella™, Hasett, IJoffitt, Wilson, Bruce, Kisaick, Fogarty, and Sapge (wing) forwards.