FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9127, 29 June 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

BRITAIN v. NEW ZEALAND. DRAWN GAME. A MUD SCRAMBLE. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 27. The weather conditions were unpleasant for the second test match played at Athletic Park, this after- ? oon, in the presence of between 12,000 and 13,000 spectators, who included Lord Plunket and party, and the Premier and Lady Ward.

The ground was in a very slushy state, and the players found it difficult to retain a foothold or manipulate the soddened ball. Rain fell at intervals, which made matters discomforting for the players. The game degenerated into a mud scramble, in whi:h honours rested with the visitors, who eclipsed the New Zealand combination back and forward, and were unlucky in not registering a win. The forwards gave a fine display on the heavy going, their concerted footwork being splendidly executed They screwed the scrums beautifully, and repeatedly burst up ttie Black pack when down for shove. Their tackl-

ing was deadly, and fallowing up superb in the face of adverse tnrf conditions. The backs fielded the ball and kicked surer and with more effective results than the Black rearguard, which made the mistake of attempting to pass when kicking would have been more profitable for ils side.

Altogether the Britishers were the

far superior team on the day's play. Harding's fine generalship stood out in bold relief throughout the struggle, which was of a very robust order at times.

The following were the teams: — BRITAIN. Full-back, Jackett; three-quarters, McEvedy, Ponty Jones, Vassall, J. L. Williams; halves, Tuan Jones and W. Morgan; forwards, Harding, Gibbs, Dibble, Hi. Morgan, Smith, Archer, Down, Ritson.

NEW ZEALAND. Full-back, Wallace (Wellington); three-quar-ters, Fryer (Canterbury), Mitchinson (We'lington), Cameron (Taranaki); five-eighths, J. Hunter (captain; Taranaki) and Gray (Canterbury); half-back, Byrne (Canterbury); forwards, Ready (Wellington), Murray (Wangauui), Cunningham (Auckland), "Ranji" Wilson (Wellington), Francis (Auckland), Seeling (Auckland), and Patterson (Utago); wingforward, Hamilton (Southland). At 2.5') o'clock Harding set the ball in motion, and smart and welljudged kicking by Jackett and Ponty Jones placed New Zealand on the defensive. The Black forwards pulled themselves together, and Francis and Seeling were chiefly responsible for confining operations to the Britishers' territory, where Burns snapped up a mark, Wallace making a weak shot at goal. A Black forward rush, with Wilson, Hamilton and Seeling in the van, was, stemmed clevei ly by Jackett, who relieved t!;e pressure by finding the line at the quarter flag. The New Zealand forwards broke away, but their progress was checked by Ponty Jones, who fielded the ball splendidly, and made n fine line kick. Not to be denied, the Blacks, led by Seeling, rushed the ball to within a couple of yards of the Britishers' chalk mark, Jackett smartly saving the situation for his side by thrown g the b*H when tackled into touch. Strenuous scrum work by the visiting pack, in which Harding played a conspicuous part, and a quick effective screw kick by Ponty Jones brought play to neutral territory. Gray and Seeling, in succession, burst down the field, Jackett being grassed oneach occasion before he could get in his return. Morgan afforded timely relief by bursting through the opposing backs with the ball—a fine piece of work which led up to a great ciiarge by the visiting forwards, who toed the ball over the Blac'.s' chalk mark, Murray saving in ttie nick of time. Wallace made a fine run and passed opportunely to Hunter, who failed to note the existence of Mitchinsoi) and Fryer, who were racirg alongside of him, and a good chance t) score was lost. The British forward brigade put in strong work, and New Zealand had an anxious time defending it 3 line. Morgan was to the fore with a clever run, cutting in and beating the opposition, being tackled right on the line. A free kick was awarded to New Zealand for him lying on the hall. The visiting backs were prominent with short, sharp dashes, frequently penetrating the Blacks' defence. Gray and Hunter came away with a big burst down the held, Morgan smartly saving the situation. From a free kick, the Britishers were forced down. Screwing the scrum in perfect style, the visitors' forwards burst up the opposition scrum, and swept past the Black backs to the line, where Gray averted an imminent score. Time w-'.s called shortly after, the ball being then at midfield. After breathing time, the Black forward." got to work, but the defence of the Britishers was sound. A well-judged line kick by Wallace, and the . issue was fought out near the visitors' line. Mitchinson essayed a fruitless pot at goal, the Britishers forcing. An exchange of kicks by the respective backs followed, after which Hunter broke away and drove the ball past Jackett, who kicked the ball into the spectators, -obbing the Blacks of a seemingly certain try. A scrum followed under the goal posts, and the Britishers were penalised. Francis took the kick and piloted the ball over the uprights to the accompaniment of great cheering. New Zealand .. 3 Britain .. 0 Roused by this reverse, the Britishers made a strong onslaught, and a combined rush of their forwards ende-1 in the ball being carried over the Blacks lint, Ponty Jones touching down near the posts amidit great cheering. Harding made a miserable attempt to add the major points. New Zealand .. 3 Britain .. 3 The visitors continued to atteck, the seige being raised by a lusty kick from Wallace, who found the touch past half way. In stemming a Black rush, McEvedy and Vassall •were injured, play being suspended for several minutes. On resuming, the Black forwards, led by Seeling, rushed the leather over the line, Jackett saving by kicking it into the spectators. The New Zealand

I forwards wer> now on their mettle, and attacked the Britishers' line. Too hard kicking by Wilson enabled McEvedy to savi his side by forcing. Good tootwork by the visiting; forwards, and accurate kicking by' their backs, placed the Blacks ot* • the defensive, and they were ultimately forced. Harding made an excellent shot at goal from a mark, the ball dropping a couple of yards outside the post. The visitors made frantic efforts to get over their opponent's chalk mark, and matters looked uncomfortable for New Zealand until Hunter flashed past the opposing cordon with the ball in his possession and found the line at midfield. Some hard forward play was next in evidence, the visiting scrummagers having much the best of the deal. Play was in New Zealand territory when the whistle went for inside. The score being— New Zealand .. 3 Britain ..3 Hunter and Mitchinson were the most prominent in the New Zealand hack division, Seeling was the best forward. Francis, Wilson and Murray were also noticeable for good work. Ponty Jones, Morgan, and Jackett played finely in the British rearguard, as did Harding, Archer, Williams and Dibble in the forward ranks. TJEAMS ENTERTAINED. BY TELEGRAPH—PBESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, June 28. The members of the Anglo-Welsh and New Zealand teams were entertained at dinner on Satjrday evening by the New Zealand Rugby Union. His Excellency the Go.ernor and the Prime Minister were present. His Excellency proposed the health * of the expressing his pleasure at having witnessed yesterdsy's match, and congratulating the mgloWelshmen on tueir good performance Mr Harding, captain of thj visitors, said they had all alon<? endeavoured to play clean football. The team hoped to have better luck in the North Island than in the south. They would always remember the kindness shown them in New Zealand. Dr G. T. McEvedy, vice-capta'n of the Britishers, pioposed the health of the New Zealand team. He eaid the football in New Zealand was c£ the highest possible grade,'and the visitors admired very much the keenness and brilliance of the New Zealand players. Sir Joseph Ward, the Mayor, and Mr Hartnett also spoke. Dr Newman, President of the New Zealand Union, in a short speech, said it was probable that the Union would send another team to England in two years. MAORIS DEPEJAT QUEENSLAND. Received June 28, 4.35 p.m. BRISBANE, June 27. A match was played to-Jay bitten the Maori team and Queensland. ine game was very fast. The home team showed excellent di fence, but the visitors played with fipe combination, and the work of the fcrward3 was god. The home te m were the first to score, but at t. e end of the first spell the Maoris hau scored sixteen points against ti»n. The second spell was very e 1 en. Haera, Asher, Riwinui, Tao a.iu Katiti obtained tries, of which Asher converted two. The final score w; 8 —Maoris, 19; Queensland, 16. AUCKLAND v. GOLDFIELDS. BY TELEGRAPH — PBESS ASSOCIATION. ' ' AUCKLAND, June 2?. The programme of Auckland representatives of Rugby football wrs opened to-day, in showery weather, and on a slushy ground* the chosen of the Goldfields Union, beating Auckland's team by 9 points to 6. In the first spell, Grace, of Goldfields, opened up the score, Wilson, of Auckland, equalising matters before the spell ended. Neither tries were converted. In the second spell, rain came on, and rendered good handling out of the question. From combined forward rushes Morpeth and Capill scored tries for the Goldfields, while Bater, by a brilliant piece of work, scored for Auckland. BY TEL3GKAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION-. WELLINGTON, W. Wallace, the well-known footballer of Wellington, has definitely ! announced his retirement from the game.