FIRST TEST MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 167, 15 July 1907, Page 3

FIRST TEST MATCH.

NEW ZEALAND V. NEW SOUTH WALES.

,£XI BIiACKS WTK BY 11' TO 8*

■&N ENORMOUS ATTENDANCE.

(By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright.)

SYDNEY, July 13.

The weather and reputation of the *All Blacks" conspired to bring together the greatest crowd ever seen in j the Cricket Ground. Sydney always j provides a large following of the Rug- j b\- fame, but on this occasion staid citi- j zeal, who look with a somewhat cold eve on the amount of time wasted over sport, were infected with the enthusiasm which prevailed, and helped to swell the attendance. From noon to there o'clock the pilgrimage proceeded, taxing the rolling stock of the tramways , to the uLmost. Lord Northeote, the | Governor-General, was amongst those present. The Sydney Cricket Ground never before held such a tremendous crowd. THE FLAT. Mnmin skippered the New South !Waks team, and. winning the toss, elected to play from the northern end. Hie local team forced the pace from I the kick-effi, getting in a couple of I free kicks in quick succession for offeide "work and illegal interference on j the part of New Zealand. They came away with a desperate rush, and swept clean over the All Blacks. Smith got across, amid a scene of the wildest ex- ! citement. Messenger was entrusted •with the kick at goal, but failed to increase the score: New South Wales. ■ 3 j New Zealand 0 When the ball came into play again, ; Bcberts marked in New South Wales ' territory, but the local forwards, play-1 in" with great dash, ooce more had the ! New Zealanders on the defensive, and i •ultimately forced them down. Then j tie All Blacks took a hand in fore- j ing the game, and carried the scene of j play dangerously near the local team's ! line, ultimately obliging them to force.' Oa the kick-off, a scrum was formed | urithin New South Wales' 25, from which Eoberts gained possession of the leatier, and whipping it across to Fryer, tie latter streaked for the goal-line, and ended up a fine run by being collared a few yards from the line. The game was then removed to New Zealand's quarters by a magnificent concerted play, Waddeli just going into touch at the corner. The New Zealanders were almost continually on the defensive, and Waddeli was again nearly over, and from this out the All Blacks were fairly up against the wall. Halftime was then sounded with New' South Wales 3, and the visitors nil.

The line kicking of the home team ■was very effective, while the play of the visitors vra-s very in-and-out. They •were in their worst form. Of those ■who shone out conspicuously on the home side during the first half, Dis aad Messenger were the most prominent.

Shortly after the game resumed, Meseenger, from, a tick at the centre, sent tie oval dangerously near the goal, ths ball just falling under the bar. Seeling responded ■with a fine naturn, and WaJlace. following up smartty, compelled the local team to force. * The All Blacks then came away with a rush in something like their old sfty.e, and Roberts passed to Walla-ce. iho got over. Wallace took the kick himself, tut the ball flew wide. New South Wales 3 New Zealand 3 With the equalisation of the scores the All Blacks' temperature rose, and they forced the game strenuously. Roberts, on his own, got across in an easy place, and Wallace converted. Scores: New Zealand .. 8 New South Wales 3 The Blues were now having a turn at defensive play, and from a line-out Seeling secured the ball, and, forcing his way through the opposing backs, scored the third try for the visitors. Wallace again took the kick, but failed to improve the score, and the board read: New Zealand 11 New-South Wales 3 A long spell of unexciting play ■was marked by the absence of the ma-chine-like work that had made Xew Zealand so famous in the past. Gillett played a good game. While the All Blacks' piay in the first half was shockingly below what one expects from a, Xew Zealand team, they made a bet- I ter display in the second half, keeping the Welshmen in hot water most of the time. There is no question that The local team played better Rugby than they have done before, and more than once fairly outcla-ssed their famous ri- I vals in the various departments. John- ! 6oa, Spencer. Gillett, Wallace, and Rob- | «rts got in splashes of decent play. When the whistle sounded the score remained: i'ew Zealand 11 New South Wales 3