VISIT OF THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLTEAM TO GOULBURN

FIRST MATCH IN AUSTRALIA

Through the energy and enterprise of the Central Southern Rugby Football Union the residents of the city yesterday had the privilege of witnessing thefirst appearance of the English Football Team in Australia.

The visit caused a considerable stir in the city, and there was a large influx of visitors from adjoining towns, exceptionally liberal terms having been offered by the Railway Commissioners.The Union also met with good support from the townspeople.

A large sum was promptly paid into the bank by a number of guarantors to meet any probable loss that might take place on the enterprise, and all the shopkeepers very willingly joined in closing their establishments at 1 o'clock insteadof taking the usual half-holiday on Friday.

The day was declared a public holiday for the city andthe Public Schools were also closed for the afternoon.

ARRIVAL OF THE TEAM

The visiting team reached Goulburn at 6.30 yesterday morning by the express and despite the early hour there was a gathering of fully 40 personsto give them a welcome.

There was a citizens' committee headed by the Mayor and there were also representatives from the union. Three cheers were given for the visitors as they alighted from the train.

They were driven to the White Horse Hotel, where they put up during their stay in thecity, and a formal welcome was extended to them by the Mayor in a few appropriate words.

Rev.M. Mullineux, captain of the team, replied andthanked them for their kind treatment, which he said was only in keeping with the hospitality theyhad received everywhere since landing on Australian soil.

He said the team all felt very sleepyand stiff after their long journey, but he could promise they would do all they could to give thelocal men a good game. The members of the teamsat down to breakfast shortly after the formalreception.

At 10 o'clock Mr. Belcher called on thevisitors on behalf of the Goulburn Club and intimated that the club had made them honorarymembers during their stay in the city.

TRAFFIC ON THE RAILWAY

The special cheap trains which had been authorised by the Commissioners at 2d and Id per mile for first and second class were largely patronised andthere was quite a stir at the railway station yesterday morning.

The train from Queanbeyn brought in the largest number of passenger, there being nearly 200. The train from Moss Vale brought in 45 and the one from Harden had about 60 onboard. There was also additional traffic on the ordinary trains.

THE MATCH

There was a large attendance to witness the match,between 3000 and 4000 persons being present, ineluding many ladies. The grandstand was crowded. Visitors were present from all parts of the district, and many came long distances.

The Australian Rifles Band was in attendance, and discoursed good music. The weather was fine, but a cold wind blew from the south-west. The sky was cloudy, and the afternoon very raw. The ground was in good order,and the visitors expressed themselves as being satisfied with it. It was a trifle rough, and one or two stones embedded in the soil were removed at therequest of the visitors.

The opposing teams took the field shortly after three o'clock, and were cordially welcomed. England certainly had the bestof the first half, scoring six to nil, but though theyadded five in the second half against three pointsby Goulburn the local team fully held their own, and had their opponents on the defensive the greater part of the time. For the last 20 minutes England played with 14 men. The members of the teams were as follows :

GREAT BRITAIN

Full-back. E. Martelli; three-quarters, A. M.Bucher, E. G. Nicolls, A. B. Timms, and G. P.Doran: five-eighths, Rev. M. Mullineux (captain);scrum-half, C. Adamson; forwards, F. M. Stout,G. R. Gibson, J. W. Jarman, T. M. M'Gown, H.G. Gray, F. O. Belson, A. Ayre-Smith, C. E. K.Thompson.

GOULBURN

Full-back, W. Rogan: three-quarters, Chard,McGee (captain), and W. Hayes; five-eighths,Seaborn and Gillespie; scrum-half, D. Ryan;forwards, Jas Pryke, John Pryke, Hampel,Hughes, Rawcliffe, Williams, Muirhead, andKimpton.

Mullineux won the toss, and elected to defend the western goal, having the advantage of the breeze. As the teams lined out it could easily beseen that the visitors were much the heavier team.

Jim Pryke kicked off for Goulburn, but the ballwas taken back for off-side. McGee put in a goodkick, and the ball went into touch in thecentre.

A free allowed to England brought playinto Goulburn territory, bat Muirhead and Williams worked the ball out, and it was again taken to the centre. Gillespie got possession, and was thrownheavily by Stout, and the ball was driven to Goulburn 25.

By scrums and close play it was againforced to the centre, where it went into touch. The English forwards made a desperate rush, but theywere stopped by cool play on the part of Chard closeto the goal line. Goulburn forwards rallied anddrove their opponents back, the forwards keepingclose to the ball, and Seasborn putting in a serviceable kick.

Mullineux, who played adashing and brilliant game throughout, made avery fine run from the throw in, and, supported byothers, carried the ball close to the Goulburn line.The local forwards responded and drove their opponents back to the 25, where Bucher got possessionand kicked well, taking the play once again close tothe Goulburn line.

The English forwards madefrequent attempts to get over, and eventually Adamson fell over at the extreme southeast corner. Timms tried for goal at adiflicult angle and failed. Three to 0.

The visitors again commenced the attack, and got to Goulburn's 25, but they were forced back to thecentre, where Mullineux got possession and carried the ball well into Goulburn territory, where itremained for some time.

Scrums took place closeto the goal line, and the local men failed to withstand the coutinued attacks of their opponents. Adamson got possession and passed to Mullineux, who passed to Timms. The latter securing an easytouch. Adamson failed to convert. 6 to 0.

The game had now been proceeding for about 25minutes. Give-and-take play ensued for a briefperiod, when Gray forced his way through andkicked, Goulburn taking refuge in a force down.

Play lingered in the vicinity of the Goulburn 25, Williams and McGee doing good services for their side, the latter by effective kicking. Rawcliffe got possession, and assisted by Seaborn brought play into English territory.

The attack was continued, and the game became very exciting. Williams distinguished himself by a dashing run, and was downed within a few inchesof the English line. The crowd thought he had scored, and there was much cheering.

It transpiredthat he was not quite over. In this rush Hampel sustained a nasty injury to the left hand, and hehad to retire from the field. Goulburnplayed out half-time with fourteen men, no further advantage having been gained by either side.

On resuming Goulburn was allowed to play E.Mills instead of Hampel. Stout kicked off for the English, and soon after Goulburn was allowed afree, which McGee made most of. His kick was badly returned by the full-back, and as a result ofa good rush on the part of the Goulburn forwards the English were forced back to their line.

The visitors checked the rush, and the ball was kicked to the 25 post, where Gillespie marked and McGee tried for goal. He made a brilliant attempt from a difficult angle, and the ball dropped just under the bar. The centre was then made the scene of the fray for a time, but McGee again put in a serviceable kick, and the English were placed on the defensive. They quickly rallied.

McGowen marked, and by good passing amongst the forwards playwas taken to the other end of the field, but Jas Pryk came to the rescue and by a good kick drovethe ball to the centre. Nicolls did a brilliant run,following up with a kick, but Rogan respondedwell, and the struggle was again removed to thecentre Chard and MGee, assisted by Seaborn, performed well at this juncture, and the English were forced back to their 25.

Here Goulburn was allowed a free, and Pryke kicked well into the English territory, but soon after Ayre-Smith got through his opponents and dashed into Goulburn ground, where he was collared by W. Hayes. Stout then got possession and fell over the line between the goal posts, but he was brought back for offside Goulburn was allowed a free, and Pryke's kick was marked byMartilli. Muirhead and others were on him before he could affect a recovery, and play was quickly converted to the other end of the field.

Goulburn looked like scoring, but they did not play with sufficient combination, and Martilli redeemed his former mistake by a capital kick into touch in the centre. Nicholls shortly after made a brilliant run,and was only prevented from scoring by Rogan,who throw him into touch at the extreme corner.

This was a critical time for Goulburn, as the English continued the assault by the series of close passes. Eventually Nicholls got possession and passing toTimme, the latter got over in a good position.Adamson converted the touch into a goal. 11 to 0.

Goulburn at once commenced to make things lively but after the game had hovered near theEnglish 25 for some minutes the visitorsby a splendid dribble took the ball across the field, and Gibson was only prevented from getting over by being lifted back bodily by three or four of the Goulburn forwards.

Scrums followed dangerously close to the Goulburn goal line and in the scrimmage Timms had the misfortune to hurt his knee badly, necessitating his retirement from the field.

Muirhead did excellent service at this critical period. Following up his own kick he got past his opponents and dribbled the ball well into English territory, where it remained for some time.

The visitors were gradually forced backand Goulburn was allowed a free through one of theothor side clinging to the ball in a serum. Hayesessayed a kick at goal but made a bad attempt. Chard secured a mark almost immediately after andMlcGee had another pot at goal shot also failed. They were both long distances. England forcedafter the second kick.

The local men soon had theiropponents on the defensive again and just beforecall of time Hayes and Muirhead by good dribblingand short runs carried the ball close to the Englishline. The Goulburn forwards then came with a rushand Kimpton securing the ball got over near thecorner.

The opinion was expressed by some that he lost possession of the ball but the score was allowed.McGee failed to convert and time was called immediately after, England thus winning by 11 points to3.

Mr. W. Cain acted as referee with satisfaction.The visitors did not seem thoroughly conversant withthe way in which the game is played out here, anda noteworthy feature of the game was that theymade very few appeals. The touch judges were Mr. G. V. Evers (England) and Mr. J. Nesbit(Goulburn).