The San Francisco call., 1909-02-07

When the Is sturdy Australian ath-
Ietes. representing the best that Rugby
can produce in the world Char New
Zealand) entered California field yes
terday. clad in light blue Jerseys and
dark navy blue knickers and wearing
The Australian national wild flower.
the "waratah." they were greeted by
the same spontaneous outburst of en-
thusiasm and cheering that marked the
marvellous reception accorded them last
Friday when they arrived.
A minute later and the Wallabies
lined UP in battle array and hurled their
famous warcry at their opponents
Again pandemonium reigned in the
bIeachers and the reception given this
aboriginal warcry was even greater
than the reception to the team itself a
few minutes earlier.
Having travelled continuously for
more than two weeks. the Wallabies
were not feeling exactly in the best of
condition
California did well to be beaten by
only p points by such splendid team.
At the same time, the ground yesterday
was not conducive to first class Rugby,
and on a turfed field and dry ball 1
expect 10 see the Wallabies give the
Rugby fans in this part of the world one
Of the greatest surprises In the history
OF the game here
Yesterdays game was the finest dis
play Of Rugby ever seen in California.
The Wallabies' performance, consider
ing the greasy state Of the ground, was
nothing short OF marvellous. The bril-
liant passing rushes. the clever ''dodgy'
runs and the fine line kicking kept the
ment
CLEVER AT TRICKS
So clever We're the Australians with
their tricky runs that often a single
player would pierce right through the
blue and gold defense. In dribbling,
\ he Wallabies showed extraordinary
cleverness, simply paralyzing their var
sitV opponents.
own boys2 California, well donei You
played the best game YOU were capahle
OF against such experienced opponents
The Australians to a man are unani-
nous in their declaration that the blue
and gold team is the finest lot of tack
lers they have ever met Personally
j was OF the opinion that the Austral-
lans would have 10 sit up and take no.
hce Of the tackling they encountered
In this and their following games
Tackling is Characteristic Of the
American footballer. and ] am con-
WINGED THAT there are no greater or
surer tacklers TO be found in any other
country.
Tfalfback Durgins is given credit by
the Australians OF being one of the
gamest halves they have ever met
Harris at center three also played a
good game. In the forwards 1t would
be hard TO single out any one man.
Each did his share and more but were
simply outclassed by their more ex-
perienced opponents.
KICKING FEATURE
For the Wallabies McKivat and Nc
Cue were an ideal pair behind the
serum. Their combination was grand
at full Carmichael was always SAFE
and his kicking was Of fine order In
the forwards Richards and Middleton
We're the pick Of a good lot
California kicked of. The Wallabies
Immediately took the offensive and
within three minutes they secured from
a serum McCue and McKivat started a
fine passing rush. which ended in Rus
sell scoring Shortly after this the
Wallabfes forced California The blue
and gold woke up and took the ball to
the Australians territory. but ii only
STAYED there few minutes. and the
WaIlabies set full sail for their oppo-
nents line and ended in Ward Prentice
scoring.
Loose play followed the KICKOFF and
the Wallabies worked the ball again
into California's %. From throw in
right on the blue and gold goal line
WaIisbv McCue jumped high and fell
over the line for try.
In plav again the Wallabies were
on the attack and Row was the next to
score Carmichael converted The rain
at this stage came down In torrents and
4he field was in very bad condition.
Half time was called shortly after.
The Kai1abfes kicked of IN the sec