December 24 - 1888 NZ 'Natives' have first win in Wales

Only two days after playing Wales the “Native” team fronted again, this time 5 – 0 against Swansea. But information on the match is hard to find.

“THE MAORI FOOTBALLERS.


London, December 24,


In the match against Swansea, the Maori football team won by a goal and two tries to nothing.”


http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS18881227.2.15.8&cl=&srpos=0&e=——-10–1—-0–&st=1


“MATCH No. 34.—versus SWANSEA, AT SWANSEA, DECEMBER 24.

Getting accustomed to the four three-quarter-back play, we secured rather an easy victory here.


Score: Natives—1 goal, 2 tries.

Swansea—Nil.


From Swansea the team travelled to Newport, and took quarters at the King’s Head Hotel.”


From “RUGBY FOOTBALL AND THE TOUR OF THE NATIVE TEAM”, compiled by T Eyton. Published 1896.P. 44.



“On Christmas Eve the team gained their first Welsh win with a convincing performance against Swansea in which McCausland, Elliot and Keogh scored tries.”


From “Forerunners of the All Blacks” by Greg Ryan. Published 1993 by Canterbury University Press. P.78.

Patrick Keogh - try scorer