THE FIRST TEST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 140, 20 July 1914, Page 7

THE FIRST TEST.

NEW ZEALANDERS WIN. UNPLEASANT WEATHER CONDITIONS. . . By Cable.—Press AatocktHen.—Copyright. \ SYDNEY, July 18. The first test match between New ■ Zealand and Australia was played on • the Sports Ground, in the presence of Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson (Governor- • General), Sir Gerald Strickland (State - Governor), and a crowd of nine thou- ~ sand persons. The reeent rain had > made the ground heavy and slippery, *, and constant showej-s during the afternoon did not improve the conditions. A strong, choppy wind favoured neither team in the first half. ? The dame. - vi! The game opened with fast forward' play, the New Zealanders attacking. By good footwork the Australians took the, % play to the New Zealanders' line, i were repulsed. Fierce attacking on thev) part of the New Zealanders followed,. J play eventually veering to the eentrej where it remained for some time." The ; Blues then took the aggressive, and > carried play to !New Zealand's twenty- ; five, following which ineffectual forward play was the order of the day, varied a .little by kicking on the part of the backs. After some loose play in the centre, the Blues rushed the ball to the New Zealanders' country." Thomsota took the ball over the line, the Blacks forcing. The Blues continued to attack, ami the Maorilanders were forced, to act on-the. defensive. FrW a scrum five yards out, the New Zealanders , ' eleare'd by a fine kiek, and again -took l c the aggressive. Offside play, resulted in > the Blacks being granted a free-kiek,. j which found touch in the Blufe country. . „ Give and Take- Play. -- * From the line-out Ryan got the ball, -% and passed to Black, to Lynch, who failed to take the latter's pass. r The New Zealanders continued to press un- : til a toUch-in-goal' relieared the pressure. From play in jfche Blues we#« granted a f ree kick. ; Forward work took the ball to the Zealanders* '• twenty-five, the visitors relieving, and play returned to the centre. The Blue _ backs got away, Flynn making a run, but he was pulled down. The New Zealanders cleared, and • play re- k { turned to the centre. From scrum Graham broke away, and took the ball i down the field. Dwyer cleared, finding touch. The New Zealanders made a-A sharp attack on the Australian citadel, . , but failed to score. They were still at- k tacking when the whistle'sounded for - half-time. - - Second Spell. . On retmimng, the New;, Zealanders gained the 1 advantage of the wind, ' which liad" vefeted:^sine & the. first half. 1.; ,Tjfee .Blues opened tne Jattack, the New ; Zealanders forcing* A, for'vyai'dTrush took . i play to the Blue country; Ryan picked up and kicked over the line, the Blues I touching down. Play centred in th© r v J Australians' twenty-five for some time, -f but a /ree-kick gave them an advan- , tage, the scene of action shifting to the New Zealanders' country. The visitors temporarily relieved the pressure, but . the Blue forwards, who were playing a \ fine game continued to act on the ag- ; gressive. An interchange of long kicks ; between the two full-backs resulted in : j O 'Brien finding touch, relieving the •/- N^W. -Zealanders; I The Australians re- t ; turned,undaunted to the attack, forcing the play/ The Maorilanders' line saved by a - touch-down* ,; The New „V Zealanders were again hard pressed, , when Wogan fumbled, the New Zealanders ft an irre * • sistible rush the-New Zealand forward* took the ball into Australian ground, f| fine work by Francis enabling MeNeece 4 \g ito seore, Graham converting. Netw -• Zealand 5, Australia 0. Australians Aggressive. Play remained in Australian terri- ; tovy for some time,- when determined . action removed it to half-way. The New Zealanders, picking up from a lineout, E. Roberts passed to Lynch, but. another back cut in "and took Lynch J s - pass, he being brought down near the Australian line. Concerted action/ on the part of the Blues shifted play to the 'Maorilanders 5 twenty-five. From a ( kick by Lynch the Blue three-quarter line got moving, a fiiie run being, stopped by R. Roberts. Taylor made a ; brilliant but unsupported run. Ryan took the ball to the Australians', twenty-five, where he was pulled~downu _ { The New Zealanders, gathering round, "j; attacked hard, the Australians with * difficulty repulsing them. With a final effort, the Blues returned'' *to the at- r tack, E. Roberts relieving a pressure. Play hung about- the half-' way mark, the Blues still- acting 011 the <_■ aggressive. The Black forwards thon_ , took the ball to the Australian twtfntyfive, and the Maorilanders were attacking when the whistle sounded, the final scores being:— New Zealand 5 Australia 0 Throughout the game the forwards—> on either side made all the play, the backs being unable to get moving owing to the slippery ground and ball. The New Zealand pack proved superior in scrum and foot work. "SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DRAW.'' NEW ZEALANDERS' OPINIONS. (Received July 20, 9.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 20. Roberts summed up the match as & hani game, which should ha,ve been drawn; The New Zealand manager, Mr R. M. Isaacs, declared that a draw would have more correctly represented j; character of the game. ' 4 4 Your

w.ards," he added, "did give us Jt shock." U PRESS CRITICISM. r''"" A BATTLE OF FORWARDS. if- '* : The "Telegraph" declares that the », New Zealanders expected to win handv ily, but they did not, and for half the C* time had to defend as only the New Zealand* champions can. This was due to the, surprising dash and resource of |* the opposing forwards. It was primarI 1 iiy a forward battle. L. The "Herald " says:—"Even the most sanguine of the Australian supp' porters did not anticipate such a mag- £;• * nificent bid for forward supremacy as ei was made by tfie Australian eight. &--■ The Australians were more aggressive throughout, but the New Zealanders' f wonderful defence, superior tactics, and kicking, saved them from defeat." ■ \ | "AIMLESS JOSTLING." r-v I GRAHAM GLARINGLY UNFAIR. • Commenting oh the wing forward, the Herald" adds: — " Graham doubtless played the game | he is accustomed to in his own country, i according to the-strict reading of the off-side rule, lie is an illegal obstructionist from first to last. Wing forwards of his stamp are nothing , more than aimless jostlers, who, do more harm to their own side than anything else. On two occasions his glaringly unfair methods led his opponents •.*••• to ;■ retaliation with their fists. ' ' ... NEXT SATURDAY'S MATCH. }• ' '? THE QUEENSLAND TEAM. (Received July 20, 9 a.m.) fr BRISBANE, July 20. The Queensland Rugby Union has fe chosen the following team for the jv* match' against New Zealand on Saturday next: — , i Full-back: "E/'Franeis. - i [\ 1 Three-quarters: S. Francis, Flynn, Green, Sipith. f- Half-backs: Russell, Park. $ Forwards: Morrissey, Williams, Perj£ Murphy, Byrns, Thompson, Birt, Lloyd. Reserves: Kreutzer, Wilson, fl Brown, Smith, and Healion. j