ASHES HELD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18127, 17 July 1924, Page 9

ASHES HELD.

THIRD TEST WON.

ALL BLACKS ON THEIR

GAME.

NEW ZEALAND (38) V. N.S.W. (6).

(BY CABUS—PRESS ASSOCIATION COPTWOHT.) (ATTBTBAIJAN A27D K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received July 16th, 10.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 16.

Five thousand people witnessed the third Test., All Blacks against New South Wales, which resulted in a decisive win for the Blackß by 3S points to 8.

The match was not so spectacular as the previous teat, but the whole New Zealand team was on its game, Nepia playing excellently. Porter also was always on the ball. The teams were as follows: — NEW ZEALAND. Full-back: Nepia. Three-quartets: Lucas, Brown, Svcnson. Five-eighths: Cooke, Nicholls.

Half-back: Dalley. Forwards:. Porter (winger), Irvine and Munro (hookers), Masters (lock), M. Brownlie and Cupplcs (supports), Richardson and White (back row). NEW SOUTH WALES. Full-back: Nothling. Three-quarters: Crossman, Wogau, Stanley, FivceightU: George. Half-back: Meagher.-

Forwards: Thompson, Blackwood, Ritclue, iloskins, '4,'ayior, Greatorex, Fox, Thorn, ' The All Black XV. was identical with that which won the second Tost. Walker, the previous New South Wains captain, was unable to play, owing to a broken rib, hence Meagher's inclusion.

Blacks kicked ofE against the sun and play went to the New South Wales twenty-five, but a free-kick brought it back to half-way. Brownlie secured possession and transferred to Nicholls, who passed to Brown, the latter scprirjg at the corner. Nepia, failed with the kick.

New Zealand New Soutli Wales

New South Wales had a penalty shot from half-way, hut failed, Cupples .got th© ball from a line-out Sind sent it to the backs, who took it io the Wales line, where play was forced out. Dalley picked up from loose, but was hauled down on the liiie. The Black backs were unable to get going, the sun in their faces proving most fcroublujome. Ultimately Lucas obtained the ball at half-way, carried it down and transferred to Porter, who scored brilliantly behind the posts. Irvine's kick was disallowed. New' Zealand " ... ... 8 New South Wales ... 0 Play hung at half-way for a while, until Porter broke away, Dalley, Nicholls and Svensou carried on, the last-named scoring cleverly. Nepia's kick missed. New Zealand ... 9 New South Wales ... 0 The New South Wales forwards b*. gan a threatening movement, but Porter saved and transferred the game to half-way. The Blaokß were penalised for a scrum offence and the hall went out in the Blacks' twenty-five. Seveial scrums and line-outs followed, Blacks keeping the hall tight, Another Nfw Boutli Wales attempt from a penal# failed. Porter showed up w a dribbling rush and the scene of ac« tion went to New South Wales territory, The Blacks were mostly obtaining the hall from the line-outa, from one of which it passed through the hands of all the backs, Lucas scoying at the comer. No goal resulted. New Zealand ... ••• New South Wales ... « Nicholla and Porter were prominent in an attacking movement, but it ' knock-on spoiled it, and the ball went out in New South Wales ground. Following the line-out Munra picked up from the ruck and dived over. Niclioils failed to convert. i- 1 New Zealand ... • •• 1° | New South W ales 0 From the kick-off the Blacks forced, I and New South Wales had a turn at attack. They were awarded n penalty. Thorn's kick failing. Play returned to tne jNew South \Valcs twenty-five, but Nothling'a kick brought the ball back. Nepia, however, found the line well down with the return. The Blacks obtained possession from a line-out ancj Lucas was united down at the corner. A long kick by Nothling saw the ball fall into Nepia s hands. He carried up and passed to D-alley,. to Lucas, t Porter, the latter scoring behind tlio posts. Nicholls added the major points. New ZeahiniL ... ••• -5 New South Wales u Shortly after Crossman. retired hurt, and Smith took tho field. New. Wales pressed hard, but White re Sieved. The Blades were again wiwJjwxl for off-side play, enabling Nothling to kick a go'dNew Zealand ... New South Wales With five minutes to half-time, New South Wales continued to exert pressure. Wogan broke away but was collared. After a passing rush by the•New South Wales backs, following a scrum, Stanley scored. Nothling converted. At half-time the scores were New Zealand .. ..20 New South Wales ■. 8 In the second spell play hung round half-way for a considerable time. The New South Wales backs participated in a likely passing movement, but were crowded out at the corner. Cook© saved. The New South Wales forwards returned to the attack, but Nepia was sure. Nothling had two shots at goal from penalties in succession, but both failed. Porter was prominent in a dribbling rush, but New South W«lea returned. Off-side play saved the Blacks from a dangerous position. The bounce of 'the ball beat tne New Zealand backs, and New South Wales was nearly over, but n scrum was ordered. New South Wales hammered away, but the Blacks' defence withstood the test. A cross kick by Nepia and Smart, following up by Hunro, sawplay in New South Wales territory. The ball went across the field, and from the looee

Whit® picked np, ran round and scored. Nicbolls converted.

New Zealand New Sojth Wales

Two dangerous rushes by the Blacks followed, but were resultless. New South Wales waa now getting the ball from the scrums, but the Black forwards smothered their backs. Georg? centred the ball across his own goal, and Lucas socured. His clover sidestep cut out two opponents before he transferred to Cooke, and the latter dashed over. Nicholls was again sue cessful.

New Zealand New South Wales

The game continued in the New South Wales half, the Blacks tackling solidly. The New South Wales backs at length wero set in motion, but Ncpia's splendid line-kick saved. Brownlio broke away from a scrum, and transferred to Richardson, who passed to Lueas. The latter, when collared, returned the ball to Brownlio, but he was pulled down. Now South Wales eamo on, two dangerous movements being frustrated by Lucas and Porter respectively. New Sout'i Wales were penalised at half-way, and Ncpiti found touch near the New South Wales line. Prom the line-out Porter picked up, ran round, and scored. Nepia converted. New Zealand .. .. 35 New South Wales 8 The Blacks continued to press, and just on time Porter rushed up and enabled Cupples to score. Nicholls's kick was charged down. The game ended: — New Zealand .. ..38 New South Wales .. 8 "OUR TEAM." ALL BLACKS MEET FRIENDS EXILED NEW ZEALANDERB BALLY TO SYDNEY. •

Yesterday morning "The Presß" published a critical account by its special reporter of the All Blacks' first two matches in New South Wales, including the first Test. The follow! ug article, contributed exclusively to "The Press" by an ex-New Zealand journalist, treats of the opening game and the general circumstances of the All Blacks' visit, as they have appealed to those, thousands of Now Zealanders in Australia to whom the sight of the silver feru on a Rugby field means more than most of them can tell.

Writing from Sydney under the date of July 6th, our correspondent Bays: — The great day has como at last — the AU Blacks are with us. For monthg we exiles over the sea have been following, with an interest that ripened into enthusiasm, the trial games at home, the controversies surrounding the claims made on behalf of different players, and 1 the ultimate selection of the team that is to be entrusted Avit'j the upholding of those Rugby tradi tions which have become a religion to New Suaiunders the world over. Maorilanders scattered throughout the State of New South Wales have been kept well fortified by newspapor-J sont regularly by friends at home. Those jiowspapers have been passed from hand to , hand; they have been kept in circulation for weeks after tho date of issue among the little colonies to be found in Sydney suburbs, in tho larger provincial towns,,, and in, the settlements along the coast, finally to bo sent, Grayed, dirty, and much-bs-thumbed to somo cove from Napier, or Queenstown, or Kaitoke, carving for himself a home in the depths of tho Australian bush. Thug it was that when there flashed through the land the magic message: "The All Blacky arrived yesterdßy, nil well," the little army of us lost interest in tho ordinary things of life, and began to paek our bags against the coming of The Day. A New Zealand Ite-union. And what a day it was—that fifth of July. Mild as a November morning in my own beloved Southland it came, as though designed to permit no factor of weather-luck to give advantage _ to either side, without a" breath of wind and with the sun conveniently obscured. And with It came, to Sydney town a gathering of men and women, claiming as their birthplace, the beautiful Aotea-Boa, such as never before hai invaded the wicked Metropolis. From far away in the north of Queensland they came, with .their bronzed faces and their easy-going, confident stylo. All tho great pastoral areas of the wonderful north-wostern plains were represented by Maoriland' era whoso names are names to conjure with in the land of their adoption. Every town, every lmmlet, and overy t settlement throughout tho State seat | its little quotiuof enthusiasts to cheer t and to stimulate the men who were only (schoolboys when tho Great Disaster I robbed us of our football giants of the day. Assembled in the western b'.itiil, | they presented a sight that made ' - < i blood rush i» turbulent exultation Ij an indiscreet flush of patriotic pride. Boar of Welcome. It was the largest and most representative collection of Now Zealanderf ever seen outsidu their own countr.y, and they were not long in making their presence felt. Thero was indicate that this little group of 5000 was oiher than a sedate assemblage of ordinary men and women as three o'clock approached. Many of theui had been patiently waiting for a couple of hours, quietly chatting and discussing in undertones tho current topics exercising the minds of our people at home. But when our men filed out — tho All Blaeka—thiß well-behaved, orderly crowd throw off its restraint and went road. The roar of welcome that went up to the clouds, flooded the human-fringed arena, and lost itself in diminishing intensity away across Pad dington, down in the "Loo" and along the harbour shores, was something thai will long be remembered by the players to whom it was directed. Thousands of bats wero waved in frantic salutation, and our women screameo with reckless disregard of convention 'i frown. Nor was it only from the Maoriland era assombled that a welcome eamc In this land of professional sport ant racing obsession there are many wh< love the good old game for the game - sake, and in a Eugby Union crowd tncj are to be found in predominant mass They, too, gave a chee. as the silver ferns filed through thi gate, and, as the gtoe PT 6 B?"?* d ' d * ir J gave renewed utterance .to their aamir ation of our fellows with partiality. The erowd was offieiallj estimated at 25,000, though l reeko that 35.000 would have been nearer tui mark. Anyhow, it was easi£ gest crowd seen at a Eugby Uni . game fiiicQ tho war. Th® jmm

though disappointing in many respeeM :o us from Maoriland, was worth/ of .ho erowd.

Beaten by a Better Teas.

As all the world knows, we Joet. ft is an old Rugby adage that a ride can play only as well as the other side will permit, and that just about sums Kf» the position in this instance. On t&* day we wero fairiy and squarely beaten by a better team. Loth ** one in to admit it. it cannot be gainsaid that our standard of play, as judged by tfto display given by our fellows yesterday, is a long way below that which w<r have como to regard as internaliona*. It may bo that the effects of the voyage had not been completely thrown off by a set of youths nnsfenttetned to sea travel, and that the mild weather conductions had an influence the reverse of stimulating upon players otfy a few days removed from a harsher climate. It may be. too. that Richardson's injury, which occurred jrst after the commencement of the second half, and rendered him almost useless for the rest of the game, had a demoralising effect upon a team of forward* wfce were being beaten in every department of forward play. Heroic though his remaining on may have been, it imperilled his team's and will, in all probability, leave its mark oa Richardson himself.

Giving in these considerst'ioas, ©na has to admit that our forwards wen completely outclassed. There was Utile or no cohesion. Team work tu absent, and one awaited in vaia for those characteristic, Maorilnnd drib* bling rushes, with the forwards »we»* ing down the field in solid phalanx. It was not that our forwards did not work hard. None shirked his work. Bat all their efforts were solo osti, «B<t there appeared to be a'general laek of mutual understanding. This, of courw, may be remedied as the team goes tin its way. There was far too much high tackling, far too ranch hesitation la getting the tackle in, far too maeh delay in getting to the ball, far too much waiting for the return, la the scrums we held our own, bat ia loose, in the line-oats, is tackling, and following up wo were hopelessly outclassed. The Backs to Blase. In justice to our forwards, who, la sharp contrast to their oppontsU, were a very tired-looking lot at half-tin*, lift this bo saidt Thoy were run off tli«4r feet throughout the game by the ♦adorable judgment shown by their baefet in attempts to find the Une. TJaw and time again our backs booted the ball down mid-field, without rbysu of reason. Indeed, there was scarcely eae decent line-finding kick mt down by our backs the whole of the afternoon. The New South Wales bicfct, on the other hand, nursed their forward* by judicious linekicka. They, la tte majority of instances, fonad touch, evMS though little ground waa gained. Tkie rushing np and down the field on vato!less missions was undoubtedly one sf the main factors in robbing oar forwards •of that reserve necessary to a final bid for victory. . Another player who will have to show considerable improvement If w is not to get his side into repeated difficulty is Hart. On attack bo maintained his reputation, but he made ft WJf poor showing when on the defenaSv*,* On several occasion# he failed t» » for his man, preferring to wait for the pass. Eaeh time hit hesitancy tai disastrous results, as be waa iavanaMy fooled, and enabled the oppositießto got an extra man ia. It wae S»jW» tration of the same old story, gaabedying the san\« old lesson ee diHftttJJf digested by our great player* of we long ago. No ono is expecte6 tackle e.tid put out of aetioa two enta, but he certainly ia espeeted t» account for one. Mill, behind the »cram, waa eeßatatyly in trouble. He seemed to greasy Angers, and when he did "g*| hold of the ball, he wt# prone to mm. , out lob passes, -which were freqatsfflsr ;■ intercepted and turned into : atto * movements by the opposittal. "f n great liking for the "blind iide" <*f the scrum, regardless ot the dist**W* tO the line. Once or twi<* nearly over from a "blind ride * , tack, but the distance to tb# fine #** too great to permit of sujpriw &oM£ sprung.

Cooke tb« 0» Sxt^tlML Cooko, of oil the backs, w*t : one to come right op to . • and, on the day, mi easily <M Silt back on the grootyd. B# WW4# flWjf? 1 ■•: magnificent openings,. but Wi JpWw supported by all save Loess, wlw» WM . Starved for the «*«?*** game, aq4 given llltl# cfcttw ! of his bat. Cooked his dash, snd hi* magnificent irwatlf* defence Wore lemliuMeat ef Wf wW» five-eighth play. H« wiß yjytf J , thorn in the »i4o of tlw g^u|niljffigp>, Padeley stood too cloae in an tgyjgWj» and persisted In hanging on ' Ho did a lot of good worit 11 WpM't , but in common with hf» handled the bail badly. got into action several i*»t J* the frenzied ery from tho "Sere they come! f ' wrcpt y field with likely-looking ; But, to the dismay of their WplgHfffe a wretched- paw or » baa Wf* brought the movement 4 imWW conclusion. Many times though these movements anttt JM«» certain tries, but oar felhw **» «*- able to handle cleanly when going » to We P were soundly by * that took no risk*, that aw* gg our mistakes to that kept constantly on th« by, wg had more finish to its Bienta, that was -jaat as £«. obviously in better had an equal of U* *»» points of thff game, ani * players looking like boys for about a quaxter of w W - during the seeond half. It J**"?*** the outset, that our felw*a iug the other side as the ball was slueg abattt fO* «P first half-hour with £*f abandon. It was only 5* eight points flgaiaal ua» an* fellows began to thai W WW* iug forwards wero to «*»•« with, that fewe* ri»ks were Utob *J* the damage bad been doae, «JM »* leeway was never mads up. Union Game Cowing BMfc

The oue ontftaading Mare# 6# faction to us New Zetla«j«w *■* universal admiration cxprosMo _ i„g the bearing of and off the field. After M«w' iioas given by the English r*f~ era, whose matches *«*» very MW. . iikiii to brawls, yesterday* as a sorpriso and a delight. ****,; Union officials and wildly excited at the woaderful lag** s ion made on tbe Show day, and on all tfdw oa« «* **» iTh"'°4u b» „Tfdi the match, and, althougbthe w lmrf t. follow.«' ner in. which our fellows a«*pT*OJ»« rulings ha? been the anyjett of ge#e**». commendation. . .-■■^vMaoriland and every reason to be Blacks of 1924, ana, whro VfJSSm strikes that coroblM6«% only come with be followed In the^b^'^ lying ahead. I fejqtw| ft 'yjjWKpjii remaining raatehw 0% «» *1;