FIRST LEAGUE TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 183, 4 August 1924, Page 10

FIRST LEAGUE TEST.

WIN FOR NEW ZEALAND,

SIXTEEN POII-7TS TO EIGHT ; HARD OAMK IN" THE MUD.

Tim first nf tiip three. te=t matches in tin. N( w Zealand programme of the i'.iivrli-ii I.l'iijiiiP t.am whs played at. i :ir!rtw V:\vk on Saturday More :i ~,-. , v . ,i ri f ~V f .r twenty thousand spectators. Tim frroimd was covered with mud ii.mi mil in end. sind this militated npiinsi flip lirilliunt handling work vU'wh liml liorn shown by the English r,l:iyera in tlu-ir earlier game*, but there whs not a dull moment in the jranie, wliich w.-is hard, fast, and exciting throughout. Opening up the. play with coiilidencp, the New Zealanders liad the ti.«it»ra bustled in the parly stapes of pl:iy liy tli<- fast footwork and tackling of their forward*, and tlicy held the advantage the first spell, getting a Jesiil of six points to nil. The second pp. II opened with a flagrant obstruction or Darwell by Dufty, for which ;i try Mioiild have been awarded, but was not given. I'iom that point the spirit of the ;ame was marked by undue feeling which showed itself in reckless kicking, eliarj;ina and fondinp. Cunliffe was ordered nIV the field, and for a time disputed tlie llei ision, maintaining that his breach was provoked by an opponent, who should also be dealt with. Incidents of reckless play warmed the spell througlioui, there being offenders on both sides, (.'enerally the local players concerned themselves with the game more than (licir opponents, anrl they countered conlintial efforts by the visitors to barge t heir ivav throujrh the defence. It cer(hinly was an exciting finale, in which the New Zealandera more than held their own, to win by sixteen points to eijrhfr. In actual play the two fullbacks stood out for fine work, Dufty playing a .fine LMine for New Zealand, while Knapman ugainst yet greater, odds, gave a thoroughly artistic display. The New Zealand 'backs played well together, while their opponents lost their chances through endeavouring to do too much individual work against fast tackling find a slippy ground. The New Zealanders adapted themselves the more readily to the conditions, and won on merit. The Teams. ; ENGLAND. Fullback: Knapman. Three-quarters: Bcntham, Evans, Rix, Howley. Halves: Mooney, Gallagher. Forwards: Thompson. Cunliffe, Darwell, Price, Bennett. NEW ZEALAND. . - Fullback -. J Dufty. Three-quarters: Stewart, Brisbane, Gilroy. j Five-eighths: Fitzgerald, Wctherill. 'S ' Half: { ■ . McClymont. ; . Forwards: p'Bricn, Lowry, Herring, Mouatt, Te Wliata, Avery. Details of the Play. ■ Tim ground was in a wretched state — in fact, it cmilcl hardly have, been worse. In places there were patches like thick Kjmp. and players experienced the greateft difficulty at times in keeping on llieir feet. Headed by JMcClymont, the Xnw Zealanders showed the way on to U:c ground, and then followed the visitor?, skippered by Gallagher. The: Macks won tbe toss, and Cunliffe set the frame going. An exchange of kicks saw the ball beat Dufty, and Price had an open goal in front of him, but he was ruled olf-side. Thompson and Bennut t were responsible for dribbling' through, being pulled up when Wetherill marked. Then a fine kick by Dufty sent the. game to the visitors' twentyfive-, where Fitzgerald sent a high pass to Brisbane, the latter being downed only a yard from the line. Scrummed, Te Whata threw the ball out to Brisbane, who failed to gather it in, but Stewart was handy, and endeavoured to dribblo over, but the ball stopped in the mud, and beat'liirii. Ttfo shots at goalj by Dufty were unsuccessful. A free to New Zealand saw McClymont shortpunt, get possession, and hand to Mouatt, who passed to Wetherill. the latter dashing over in the corner. Mouatt failed to convert: New Zealand 3 England 0 New Zealand Keeps the Lead. A shot from a free' by Fitzgerald was without result, and then Mooney set | the Englishmen' going, but they duf. not pet far, as the blacks were tackling deadly. Gilroy made a dash when he secured the ball from Wetherill, and it was handled by Avery and Herring, the latter's pas» being intercepted by Gallagher. Tip English forwards set otit on a soccer dribble, and reached Dufty, who just got in his kick in the nick of time. Two frees in quick euccession were gh an against the visitors, and j a great live kick by Dufty saw glay | centre near the. line. Cunliffe and Thompson came away with the ball. Thompson was playing a great game for the Englishmen. Burges3 received a caution, but there was no sympathy being shown on either side. Pitzjferald pulled up an attack by marking, but a moment later he retired injured, and Delgrosso took his place. The New Zealand sre were putting a lot of dash into their work, and a cross kick by Delgrosso had the visitors bustled, Evans getting in a useful kick. Dufty made a fine run before handing to McClymont, and what promised a score was settled when Howley intercepted. Rix broke away with the ball at toe, but had no support. The same player later played for safety by marking. Then Darwell, Burgess, and Thompson were associated in an attack, a knock-on pulling them up. The visitors were attacking till Gilroy made a run down the line, and, with the assistance of To Whata. relieved the pressure. From the loose, Howley gathered up, and sent to Bentham, who beat hie man, to cross the line for a try. but he was ruled offside. Brilliant dribbling by Herring and Mouatt saw the ball kicked into touch, and the visitors had a life. Then the Englishmen brought off a brilliant piece of passing when Mooney started a movement in which eight of them handled the ball, but Evans held on a bit too long, and was tackled by Gilroy. The pace was right on all the time, and McClymont, getting the hall out to Wetherill, the latter sent on to Brisbane, who short-punted across the line, and a great race ensued between him, Stewart, and the visiting wing Bentley. Stewart just got there, and scored a fine try. Delgrosso failed with ftlio kick: X New Zealand 6 n England .. ,»^»,_»» %aik .. . g y

Both Teams Score. I The second spell opened with Darwell j eharjring a return by Dufty, and the 'hitter turned Darwell over by catching : him under the chin. From the obstrue- ; tion free Thompson made a good but ; unsuccessful shot. Down the Englishi men came, and smothering the backs, a i scrum was formed near the blacks' line. Mooney gave the ball to lienthatn, who : beat three of the opposing backs and ; scored a clever try. Thompson failed to ; convert. Xew Zealand fi England 3 I Dufty was in trouble, but fortunately ; Brisbane was bandy, and O'Brien and ;Te Whata broke through with the ball al J toe and they were hattlinji on near the j Englishmen's line when Herring scooped lup the ball find st rujrgled over. Del- ; grosso landed a great goal amidst deaf|en ing cheers. ! New Zealand 11 England 3 I Darwell, Howley, and Bentham were I associated in a passing bout. Bentham l missing his pass. Both sides were at it J hammer and tongs, and at one stage, I when the play was "dead," Wetherill ! and Price were wrestling ( n the ground. j Every man tackled went down hard and j heavy: if one couldn't do it others came ;to bis assistance. Stewart and Herring i were prominent in a break-away, and j the blacks were giving the visitors a I merry time. O'Brien and Cunliffe were i noticed in a scrum break-up, and the j referee ordered Cunlifl'c ofT the (ield. He I refused to go, and Referee Murray called I a constable. As the latter walked on : the field Cunliffe turned and left the ! ground. To say that tin , spectators I were excited is putting it mildly, and j they were shouting themselves hoarse, j Howley made a Hue run. but his pass jto Bentham gave the latter no chance. j A scrum saw some strenuous play on I the blacks' line, and Wethcrill's kii/k ' being smothered the ball went over thc--1 line for Thompson to dive on il. Uc added the additional points. Xew Zealand 11 Bngland s The Win to New Zealand. The visitors began throwing the ball about, a threatening movement μ-imhc; : O'Brien intercept. huffy received ,-i j caution. Evans brought nIT b great run, I but attempted i.mi mm-li on hi* c>» ti and J allowed Rix, wlm was supporting, t,i over-run him. DelgrosKo was heavily tackled and soemed to be treated anything but gently. Wetherill and Dufty had a deeperatc lit tempt to dive across. and (he next incident saw Mouatt and Harwell I challenging each other. Scrummed well : inside the Englishmen's twpnty-livc, Mc- ! Clymont whipped mit to Delgrosso, who made a dash and then transferred in Gilroy, who cut in nicely and dashed over to run round and score under tinposts. DvlgrosßO goaled. New Zealand 10 England 8 There was no question about, the New Zealanders having the best of the game, and it, was only on rare occasions that the Englishmen threatened danger. The black forwards were always on the ball and gave the visitors no chance to get going. On one such occasion Howley followed up a high kick by Gallagher, but Dufty played safely by marking. McClymont r<-;irc<l with five'minutes to igo with an injury to his wrist. There j was n<. further score, ami a hard game, Jin which m> quarter waa showii ended: New Zealand lti England ,s Mr. W. Murray was referee. THE VISITORS' RECORD. IN ACSTHALIA. Fur. Acst. Victoria Won 4." 1.1 Newcastle Wun -J:i JS Taunvortli Won :s4 J7 N.S. Wales Won li> N.S. Wales Lost is :::: Ipswich Won IT il Queensland' Ixist Hi IT> Toownoinba Ixxt L'<> l':: X.S. Wales Won 4.! Australia (1) Won SJ. :; Oranpe Won !- J.; Austr.ilin CI) Won .", :\ V:\r Northern Won an j-.i RocUhainpton Won "t Un Maryboroupli Won 'JJ 3 Anstrolin i3| Lost II 'Ji Aust. Universities Won :!1 2:; Summary: Eijrhteen mat. lies, won 11, lost 4, nud. scored ■!(!(! points (UM tries ami 77 goals)'to 2.-.S (.">'. tries and !". IN NEW ZKALANT). Tor. Asst. South Auckland Won in 7 Auckland <'iiy Won ul it Walltato vVnii :',() 1 j Auckland Province Won I:: New Zealand (1) 8 Xi ENGLISH TEAMS IX AUSTRALIA. Tor Kng. Asainst. m. w. l. r>. Pts. t. a. rts. t g mm— v <) 4 1 :',40 7ii ,-.i; lm- ;;: h mi4 —ll S 3 U 240 f.4 W) 334 l; t ::1 ir>2() —13 13 3 (I 377 .s:t (!4 48 4--1024—1S 1-4 4 0 4<!<; 101 77 238 fit! -ir, THE CURTAIN-RAISEKS. Two curtain-raisers were played. Ponsoitiby (OA) beating Elleralio, ."> points to 2. and Devonport first juniofs defeating Kings!and by 11 points to 0. SOUTHERN MATCHES. CnRIRTCIIURCH. Marlsts A 2!). heat Sydenham 13. Hornsby 23, bent Mnrists B 0.