THE SECOND MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 167, 16 July 1924, Page 8

THE SECOND MATCH.

METROPOLITAN HEAVILY * DEFEATED. SYDNEY, July 9. The All .Blacks played the second match of their Australian tour at the Sydney University Oval to-day when they easily defeated a Metropolitan fifteen by 38 points to 5. There was an attendance of over 5000 which was considered good for an off day. There were a great number of New Zealanders in attendance arid they left the ground feeling on much .better terms with themselves than they did on Saturday night. The New Zealand team contained seven men who were looking on at the first Test on Saturday. In the backs Svenson replaced Brown at centre, (McGregor and Nicholls replaced Cooke and Badeley, and Dalley was half. Parker filled the wing forward position, McCleary played front rank instead of Munro, and Cupples was in the back rank vice Richardson. In the absence of both Badeley and Richardson, Nicholls j captained the side. From the kick-off there was only one team ill it. The forwards displayed much more life than in Saturday's Test. The following up was much better, the tackling was improved while the handling was particularly good. As for the backs they gave a really sparkling exhibition. Play had not been in progress five minutes before Parker picked up the ball and sent it out to Nicholls from whom it went to McGregor and. on to Svenson who scored a nice try. It was. twenty minutes before the Metropolitan team entered the New Zealand twentyfive. (Here M. Brownlee broke away, and, passing between Parker and Hart, saw the latter score wide out. M. Brownlee, who was playing well, got possession in a line-out and after a

strong run in which he fended off two players he passed infield. The forwards dribbled on and Irvine picked up and fell across. The forwards were doin£ fairly well in the loose though their combination was not all. that could be desired. M, Brownlee again started the 1 movement which led up to the fourth ! try. He broke away from a line-out, passed to ihis brother, who sent it on to Svenson, the latter getting across [near the corner. Then came the home , team's turn. Aided by two penalties they got within their opponent's twentyfive, where the half. Georgeson, secured possession and with a jinky run he passed Dalley and Nepia and went over for a pretty try which was converted. A passing rush between (McGregor, the Brownlee brothers ' and McCleary saw the latter lose possession near the line and a force resulted. Obtaining possession in the loose White" made a fine run to the home team's line before passing in to Cupples, who scored. The halftime bell went just afterwards. New Zealand led 17 —5. Nepia had converted the first try. His next two kicks—both hard ones —missed, and Nicholls failed to convert the fourth and fifth tries. Lucas in the Limelight. Play had only just been resumed when Lucas fielded the ball brilliantly in midfleld, kicked high, followed up and took the ball on the full, and then sidestepped a couple of opponents to cross the line for a most spectacular try. His solo effort was very heartily applauded. Nepia missed the shot. Parker and Lucas made strong dashes, but met with solid tackling. Xicholls secured the ball near his opponents' line, but finding himself blocked shot a long pass half-way across the field to Svenson, who knocked on with a clear run in. From the resulting scrum the forwards swept across and Masters and McCleary fell on the ball almost simultaneously. Nicholls goaled. Another well-sustained forward rush by McCleary, M. Brownlee, Cupples and Masters. resulted in a try to the latter. JVhite converted. A fine bout of passing between Dalley, Nicholls, McGregor, Svenson ami Hart let the wing over at the corner. White's kick scarcely rose. A similar rush went out to Lucas' wing and the Aucklander scored after side-stepping the fullback. Nicholls converted, and this brought the scores up to 3S—5. As already mentioned the All Black forwards gave a vastly improved display. Irvine and McCleary got their fair share of the ball, and on the whole the scrum work was very satisfactory. I All the forwards were at times conspicuous in the loose, though they were freely penalised for offside play. C. Badeley, especially, gave away a lot of free kicks: M. Brownlee played a i splendid all-round game. His line-out work was particularly fine, arid he fended off players in. a manner which was as amusing as it was useful to his side. White, Masters and Cupples all grafted hard. • There was just that lack of cohesion which makes for successful team work. The display given by the backs was most pleasing.to the team's supporters. Dalley was. very nippy behind the scrum, despite the fact that he received great attention from the two N.S.W. breakaway forwards. They were allowed to come Tound all tnrough the game quite unchecked, and in a manner which could not be beaten by the greatest wingforward in New Zealand. Nevertheless, Dalley played a fine game and was always where the play was. Nicholls and McGregor combined well at fiveeighths. ■ The latter was out of his usual position, but tnis did not seem to affect him. The three-quarter line was very impressive. Lucas and Hart were both dashy. especially the former. Svenson at centre gave ,an attractive exhibition. Nepia's -work at full-back was first class and evoked the warmest admiration.