FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9023, 9 January 1908, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

TOUR OF THE "ALL-BLACKS." PRESS COMMENTS.. Bt Telegraph—Press Association. Received Janaury 8, 7-49 plm. c. SYNDEY, Janaury-8. Football comments of the English Press are to hand in connection with the match New Zealand v. Dewsbury aiid.Batley. Th"e London "Daily Telegraph" says: : '—"The New Zealanders showed a gratifying improvement in tneir " match against the combined side of Dewabury arid Batley Clubs. The gams in the early stages was very evenly contested, the only score in • the ilr'st half being a try obtained by the Home team. The second half was crowded with exciting incidents, marking exceedingly clever play on the part of the colonial backs. This was, however, not before Dewsbury had added another try to their score. From this point the 'All-Blacks' attacked very strongly, and in quick succession tries were obtained by Johnston, Smith and Wynyard, while three goals were kicked by Messenger, '"he colonials won by 18 points to 8." Received January 8, 10.5 p.m. SYDNEY, January 8. In reference to the London "Times' " comments on the New Zealand football team, cabled on De-1

cember 3rd, in which it wa*» stated that the success of the tour was demoralising the players? ..the extract was from a lengthy article by a cor- 1 respondent who, in the course of a review of the- players and their doings, said:—"The visit was a much more serious affair that was generally anticipated. The team is certainly not as good man for man as Gallaher'.s "All-Black" team, but the writer's impression is that at their best they are quite as strong individually and collectively as a fair international side in this country. Unlike Galfaher's team, however, they have not been careful to keen in good condition. The financial success of the tour—the 70 per cent, of the gross gates which is theirs by arrangement with the Northern Union having already brought in nearly twice the guaranteed £3,000 — seems to have demoralised several members of the team who, when at home are merely wage labourers, well content to earn £2 a week in the field or factory. It is highly probable that the majority of the visitors will eventually accept engagements with the Northern Union Clubs. "In the course of the article, the writer says:—"No doubt the New Zealanders have been and still are handicapped by the unfamiliar and unnatural rules invented by the Northern Union. They have not yet overcome the natural desire to try and take the ball away from a tackled player."