FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8993, 30 November 1907, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE "PRO-BLACK'S" TOUR

MATCH AGAINST , WAKEFIELD. BY TELEUItAPH —PIIKSS ASSOCIATION. Received November 29, 7.11 a.m. SYDNEY, November 29. The following are London press comments on the match between the New Zealand and Wakefield teams:— The London Chronicle says the New caught a tartar at Wakefield when they met Wakefield Trinity who were full of fight and determined to win. The home team led at the interval, but the colonials managed to draw level, after a match in which the finer points of football were remarkable for their absence. Two new men were introduced into the New Zealand team, viz., Gleeson and Lavery, otherwise the contingent was a strong and representative one. Wakefield Trinity had their best team out. Some time after the start the game was confined to high kicking and rushes by Wakefield Trinity, who more than once were within an ace of scoring. Many penalties were given against both sides, but all the place kicks failed. After half an hour's play the colonials were guilty of obstruction, and Metcalfe sent the ball over the bar. The New Zealanders tried hard by combined work to get a footing in the home quarter, but their passing was repeatedly faulty,. . Just before the interval Wakefield Trinity were in an agrensive mood, and a smart transfer gave a,speedy wing man an opening, which he utilised grandly, and a try at the corner resulted. Metcalfe failed at the place kick. At halftime Wakefield Trinity led by 5 points to nil. In the second half, after ten minutes' play, a free kick for an infringement in the scrum gave Messenger a chance, and he kicked a goal. Play was of a bustling order, and the finer points were not seen. At length, from some smart passing following a scramble, Rowe scored a try. Messenger failed in the kick at goal. ' The scores were now equal with fifteen minutes to go. Play for the rest of the game was level. The Telegraph declares that the New Zealanders did not do themselves justice. The game was of a very moderate standard, especially in the opening stages. The home forwards were superior, and when the visitors obtained an opening their passing was very wild. The Daily News says the "All Golds" owed their ill success entirely to bad tactics. Though the team was not so strong as the one that played against the Broughton Rangers, still it was good enough to win had they played a passing and running game. When they did exploit in hand-to-hand passing they showed themselves the cleverer lot, but the occasions were few, and for the most part they indulged in kicking, which, in Northern Union football, is a fatuous policy. The visitors dropped into the worst style of Yorkshire clubs' play, and though the cleverer footballers they did not deserve to win.