FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8487, 15 July 1907, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND v. NEW SOUTH WALES. ALL BLACKS WIN. By Telegraph—Press Association. Received July 13, 7.38 p.m. SYDNEY, July 13. The weather and reputation of the All Blacks conspired to bring together the greatest crowd ever seen on the Sydney Cricket Ground, to witness the match between New Zealand and New South Wales to-day. Sydney always provided a large following of the Rugby game, but on this occasion staid citizens who look with somewhat cold eyes on the amount of time wasted over sport were affected with enthusiasm, and helped to swell the attendance. From noon to three o'clock a pilgrimage proceeded, taxing the rolling stock and tramways to their utmost. Lord Northcote (Governor-General) was present. The following were the teams: — NEW ZEALAND. Full-back, G. Spencer (Wellington) ; three-quarters, Wallace (Wellington), Mitchinson (Wellington), Fryer (Canterbury); five-eighths, Hunter and Mynott (Taranaki); half, •Roberts (Wellington); wing, Gillett (Auckland); forwards, Casey (Otago; M'Donald (Otago), O'Suliivan (Taranaki), Cunningham (Auckland), Francis (Auckland), Seeling (Auckland) and Johnstone (Otago). NEW SOUTH WALES. Full-back, Dix; three-quarters, Messenger, Smith, Russell, Waddell; halves, Mandible and Wood; forwards, Rosewell, Griffin, Barnett, McCue, Burge, Row, Hughes-and Murnin. Mr B. Martin was referee. Murnin, the skipper of the New South Wales team, who won the toss, chose to defend the northern end. The local team forced the pace from the kick-off, getting a couple of free kicks in quick succession for off-side work and illegal interference. With a desperate rush they swept clean over the All Blacks, and Smith got :: -"3 amidst a scene of the wildest excitement. Messenger was .entrusted with the kick at goal, but failed to increase the score. New South Wales ... 3 New Zealand ... ... nil After the kick-off Roberts marked in the New South Wales territory, but the local forwards, who were playing with great dash, once more had the New Zealanders on the defensive, and ultimately forced their down. Then the All Blacks took a hands in forcing the game, and carried the scene of play dangerously near to the local goal line, the home team being forced down. On the kickoff a scrum was formed within the New South Wales 25, from which Roberts gained possassion cf the leather, and whipping it across to Fryer the latter streaked for the go?.! l;nj, and ended up a fine run by being collared a few yards from the line. The game v/as then removed to the New Zealand quarters by magnificent concerted play, Waddell just going into touch at the corner. The New Zealanders were almost continually on the defensive, and Waddsll was again nearly over, and from this out the All Blacks were fairly up against a wall. Half-time then sounded with the scores; — New South Wales ... 3 New Zealand ... ... nil The line-kicking of the home team was very effective while the play of the visitors was very '*in and out." Of those who shone out conspicuously on the home side during the first half Dix and Messenger were most prominent. Shortly after the game resumed Messenger from a kick obtained in the centre of the ground sent the oval dangerously near the goal, the ball just falling uncter the bar. Seeling responded with a fine return, and Wallace following up smartly, compelled the local teain *to force. Then the All Blacks came with a rush, and something like their old style. Roberts passed to Wallace, who got over. He took the kick himself, but the ball flew wide.' New Zealand ... 3 New South Wales ... 3 With the equalisation of the scores the All Blacks' temperature rose and they "forced the game strenuously. Roberts, on his own, got across in an easy place, and Wallace converted, the scores then being:— New Zealand ... ... 8 New South Wales ... 3 The Blues were now having a turn at defensive play, and from a line-out Seeling received the ball, and forcing through the opposing backs scored the third try for the visitors. Wallace again took the kick, but failed to convert, and the board read: New Zealand ••• H New South Wales ... 3 A long spell o* unexciting play was marked by the absence of the mach-ine-line .work that has made the New Zealand players famous i.i the past. Gillett played a good game. While the All Blacks play in the first half was shockingly below what one expects from a New Zealand team, they, while far from excellent, made a better display in the second half, keeping the Welshmen in hot water most of the time. There is no question that the local men played better Rugby than they have ever done before, and more than once they fairly outclassed their famous rivals in various departments of the game. Johnstone, Spencer, Gillett, Wallace and Roberts got in splashes of decent play. The whistle sounded with the scores: — New Zealand ... 11 New South Wales ... 3 Received July 14, 4.40 p.m. SYDNEY, July l i. There were fifty-one thousand people present at the football match,

/ yesterday, which is a record for the ground. Hundreds were unable to gain admission. Received July 14, 4.46 p.m. SYDNEY, July 14. Mr B. I. Swannell, formerly a member," of Bedel-Sivright's British team which visited New Zealand in 1904, criticising the match in the Sunday Times, states that, candidly, the match was not one that lends itself much to description. It was doggedly fought throughout. The game, with one or two exceptions, was devoid of those electrifying bits of play that make the crowd stand up and yell their hopes and fears. New South Wales, he considers, should have scored on at least three occasions in the first half-hour, but chances were lost simply by bad passing. There was a fatal lack of finality which should not have beer,, and which was altogether unforgivable. The New Zealanders, he continued, in the second half, took advantage of their chances, deservedly winning a game wherein they weresixty minutes out of the ninety on the defensive. He considers that the local fullback was a strong point on his side, just as it was the weak spot on the New Zealand side. The local forwards, he thinks, had a fatal habit, of kicking too hard in dribbling rushes, and in the ruck work New South Wales did not possess the sterling qualities possessed by the New Zealand forwards. The following are the additional matches the "All Blacks" have t<Splay in Australia: —July 17th, v. New South Wales, at Sydney; July 20th, v. Australia, at Sydney; July 24th, v. Queensland, at Brisbane; July 27th, v. Queensland, at Brisbane; August 3rd, v. Australia, at Brisbane; August 10th, v. Australia, at Sydney. WAIBARAPA RUGBY UNION. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. MASTERTON v. GREYTOWN. Masterton defeated Greytown, on the Showgrounds, on Saturday last, after an uninteresting game, by 37 points to nil. In the first spell, tries were scored for the winners by Fielding, Minett, Lyall, Daniell, Gray and Barry, two of which J. O'Leary converted. Tries were obtained in the second spell by M. O'Leary, Minett and Duggan, one of which G. Ross converted. J. O'Leary potted a goal. Mr F. W. Roydhouse was referee. CARTERTON v. GLADSTONE. Gladstone Seniors forfeited their match with Carterton on Saturday. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. MASTERTON v. CARTERTON. Carterton Juniors defeated Masterton Junior?, at Carterton, on Saturday, by 6 points to 3. Carterton had the best of', the game. Masterton's try was scor • 3 by Holmes. Mr C. Moore was re: .-ree. MARTINBOROUGH v. RED STAR. The Red Star Juniors were defeated by Mai'tii.borough Juniors, at Greytown, on Saturday, by 5 points to nil. Red' Star had the best of the game all through, Mart in borough scoring just before the call of time. RUAHINE v. FEATHERSTON. . Ruahins won their match against Featherston by default. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 14. The Senior Championship matches, yesterday, resulted as follows: Petone v. St. James, a draw—no score; Oriential beat Melrose, by 19 to 3; Poneke v. Athletic, a draw—• three points each; Wellington V. Old Boys, a draw-—no score. By Telegraph—Press Association. NAPIER, July 13. Horowhenua was beaten by Hawke's Bay by 21 points to 3. f By Telegraph - Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 13. Auckland beat Buller by 21 points to nil. By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, July 13. To-day the Senior matches resulted Zingari-Richmond beat University by 7 points to 3, Pirates beat Kaikorai by 10 points to 7, Alhambra beat Southern by 12 points to 6, Dunedin beat Taieri Rovers by 8 points to 6, Port Chalmers beat Union by 8 points to 3. By Telegraph—Press Association.. CHRISTCHURCH. July. 13. The Senior football matches resulted:—Sydenham (18) beat Old Boys (3), Albion (22) beat Merivale (3), Linwood (15f beat Canterbury College (10). • At Mauriceville, on Satui'day, N Kopuaranga beat Mauriceville by 5 points to nil. Todd scored a try for the winners, converting it himself. Mr A. Millar was referee. Opaki defeated Rangitumau, at Rangitumau, on Saturday last, by 6 points to 3. For the winners R. Hunt kicked two goals. Harvey scored a try for Rangitumau. Mr E.. Wrigley was referee.