FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9027, 14 January 1908, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

"THE TOUR OF THE "PROBLACKS." PRESS COMMENTS. P,Y TKIiMKAPH—PKKSS ASSOCIATION. Received January 13, 1.15 p.m. SVDNEY, January 13. Comments by the English Press on the match between New-Zealand and the Rochdale Hornets are to hand. The "Daily Telegraph" says:— "The NewZealanders gave a much improved displav, and gained an easy victory. The home cluo commenced by attacking strongly, and fully deserved their score, but they were eventually beaten in the back division, and for the rest of the game the colonials held the upper hand. In the first spell, Wynyard once and Rowe twice scored for the visitors, and Messenger landed a goal. The second half favoured the New Zea landers almost to the same extent as the first. Notwithstanding the splendid defence maintained by the Home aide, two goals and a try being added. ] Received January 13, 9.57 p.m. SYDNEY, January 13. Concerning the New ZealandBradford match, the "Daily News" aa y s: _-The worst possible conditions prevailed for the Bradford match. Rain, which had fallen for several days continued almost throughout the play. The New Zealanders were weakly represented in the back division, Smith, Messenger and Todd being notable absentees, but they had their best set of forwards in the field. Bradford was the better side in the first-half, a clever penalty goal, kicked just after the start, giving them confidence. Wrigley, however, equalised this later. Having a free wind and the slope against them, and being moreover three points behind, the visitors had a heavy (ask before them in the second half. They, however had the better of matters for half an hour, but all their attacks were beaten off, and ten minutes befce time the home team increased their lead with a prettily dropped goal from a scrummage." i The "Telegraph" says:—"The New Zealanders' form was disappointing, for, although they had many favourable opportunities of scoring, they failed on every occasion, excepting when Wrigley landed a goal from a free kick. The passing of the backs was faulty, and their combination left much to be desired. Bradford were no better than the average Northern Union Clubs, but they were superior to their opponents, and well deserved their victory."