The match against Wanganui was played at Cook’s Gardens, a delightful ground near the town centre. The local team contained eight players from the Kaierau club including the stalwart fullback Alex Takarangi, who represented his union from 1898 until 1915.

The tourists won the toss and took advantage of the wind and the sun. They opened the scoring when See managed to score an unconverted try from a loose rush. Wanganui struck back when one of their backs kicked back over McMahon’s head, and Stedman won the race to score behind the posts for Takarangi to convert. A New South Wales passing movement from a scrum then saw Lindsay score in the corner but no goal resulted.

Again the home team came back. Conlon could not take a Wanganui kick and, from the scramble for the ball, the local wing Abraham scored an unconverted try.

Just before the interval Charlie Shortland crossed from a scrum to regain the lead for New South Wales. Play during the first half had favoured the visitors, who should have been further ahead than 9-8.

A disappointing second spell saw some unnecessary rough play, with the battle contested among the forwards.

No scoring occurred during the half and when the final whistle blew, New South Wales had achieved their first win on tour by the narrowest of margins.

Takarangi had enjoyed an excellent match and Mr Henderson, the tourists’ manager, later offered the opinion that the Wanganui man was the best fullback seen on tour. He was most disappointed in the display by his own side, of whom only Charlie Shortland, Finley and Lindsay among the backs had played anywhere near top form, although the forwards had stuck to their task well.

The next day the New South Wales party enjoyed a day-long trip up the Wanganui River, where they visited two Maori pa, receiving most hospitable welcomes. During an unscheduled stay at the Kaiwaiki pa, where the visitors were dined and entertained until the early hours of the morning, they snatched some brief slumber before returning to Wanganui by road the next morning. Later that day the tourists departed for New Plymouth, where they caught the steamer Ngapuhi to Auckland.

Despite the visitors’ staleness, and the fact that a number of them were suffering from colds, it was hoped they would make a bold showing in this final tour match.