THE "ALL "BLACKS" TOUR."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 43, 19 February 1908, Page 8

THE "ALL "BLACKS" TOUR."

AN ATTRACTIVE GAME AT HULL. lFrom : <sur Special Correspondent.) LONDON, January 10th. The frost was so severe last Saturday that only on a few grounds which had been protected By straw ■was play possible. The ground at Hull, where the New Zealand footballers were to meet the Hull Kingston Rovers, had been well protected, and a good game resulted. The attendance of 10,000 must be regarded as very fair considering the bitterly cold weather. New Zealand proved the stronger team, and won by 6 points to 3. At half-time the scores were three points each. The Colonials' try was the result of a fine run by Wrigiey, who made an easy opening for Tyne to score. "West, from a cross-kick- by Pratt, took the ball cleverly, and crossed the New Zealand line at the corner. In the second half the Colonials scored another try, which won them the match. The forwards got off with short, quick passing, which completely baffled the Rovers, and just at the right moment Messenger joined, in and finished the movement by scoring. This "was only "the second, defeat the Rovers have sustained on their own ground this season. Within five minutes from, the start of the game, the visitors, who were pressing vigorously, scored the first try, K. Tyne grounding the ball in the corner, but Messenger failing with the goal kick, and he failed also just afterwards with a penalty from inside his own half. Before the interval the scores were equalised by West, who cleverly snapped the ball from Wrigiey, and beat Turtill in an exciting race for the line. It was a fine effort, which provoked s.n enthusiastic ovation. A conspicuous player on the home side was West, and the way he tackled the champions delighted the crowd beyond measure. The Rovers, however, were not so nimble or so clever in their fielding as the New Zealanders, neither were they so smart in passing. The second half was as keen and fast as the first. Gath started, and there was a little delay owing to Windle being slightly injured. Then followed the most brilliant incident of the match—the try •scored by Messenger as a result of perfect combination, the ball being handled by half-a-dozen players in its progress towards the goal. The position was a difficult one, and Wrigiey failed to add the points. The Rovers made a plucky effort to recover their position, and only by keen tackling was the opposition kept at bay. Result: —New Zealand, 2 tries (6 points), Hull Kingston Rovers, 1 try (3) points). HEAVIEST DEFEAT. "BLACKS" LOSE TO t CUMBERLAND BY 12 POINTS. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, Jan. 10th. The New Zealand team " went through it" in the match against Cumberland on Wednesday, sustaining the heaviest defeat of the tour. Cumberland won by 21 points to 0, and thoroughly deserved their success. The game was interesting and open, but the home team were the first to take the lead, and they held it all through the rest of the game. At half-time they had scored three goals and three tries to nothing, and though the All Blacks played better in the second half, and put on nine points, their gallant effort to pull the game out of the fere came too late to be effective. Only in the closing minutes of the game did the Blacks succeed in crossing Cumberland's line. The unfavourable weather limited the attendance at Workington, where the match was played, to about three thousand. The New Zealanders arrived in the town in the morning, and were received by Sir John Randies, M.1 , ., at the principal hotel. Cumberland have but fe>v clubs under the rule of the Northern Union, but many highly-skilled Cumberland players are engaged with other clubs in Yorkshire and Lancashire, aud it was these men who were called upon to inflict a decisive defeat on the New Zealanders. The " All Blacks " practically lost the match in the first half, when the home men, playing with judgment and skill— there being capital understanding between the backs and forwards—scored three goals and three tries. After a series of free kicks for both sides, Dixon forced himself through his opponents and gave the ball to Brown. " He's over! " was the cry of the Cumbrians, but Brown was brought down by Turtill, and the effort failed. Almost immediately, however, Dixon recovered from Denver, and romped over the line, and Ferguson landed a beautiful goal. Turtill, one of flic New Zealanders' best, had a return kick charged down by Brown, who scored the second try, and again Ferguson was successful with the kick at goal. After brilliant play by the three-quarters, Dixon passed to Fletcher, who handed the ball to Eagers. This player neatly gave Austin possession, and another try resulted, Ferguson once more steering the leathor between the sticks. The best of the New Zealanders had been Wrigiey, Messenger and Rowe, but undoubtedly the side suffered through W. Wynyar'd having a lame knee, which gave him a good deal of trouble. The New Zealanders were soon attacking in the second half, and for Fletcher not playing the ball they had a penalty kick, from which Messenger scored. With the wind behind them, the New Zealanders pressed, and when a second penalty kick was awarded, the cause for which was not apparent, there was hooting by the spectators. That did not prevent Messenger from landing another goal, which reduced the Cumbrians' lead to' eleven points. Soon afterwards, however, Warwick crossed the N.Z. line after charging down a kick by Wrigiey. Ferguson tried the goal kick, but missed. Then Austin had a chance, but made a miss, but he made up for it by taking possession from a scrummage, and scoring the fifth try. This time the goal kick was entrusted to Little, but he made a poor attempt. Play was now confined to the New Zealand quarters, but just on the call of time Tyne, with a brilliant burst, ran almost the length of the field, and scored New Zealand's first try, and Messenger converted, leaving the result: Cumberland: 3 goals 5 tries, 21 pointsNew Zealand: 3 goals 1 try, 9 points.