AGAINST OXFORD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18264, 24 December 1924, Page 11

AGAINST OXFORD.

THRILLING AND EXCITING. COLLEGIANS OFTEN" DANGEROUS. (Written for "The Press,'' by L. Simpson.') LONDON', November '2l. The New Zealanders journeyed to Oxford to play their nineteenth match of the tour yesterday. The weather was ideal, and the ground in good condition. Tho game can safely bo called tho most brilliant and spectacular plavcd on tho tour. .From start to> tini'sh the ball was given plenty of air, being thrown about with delightful freedom. Mistakes there were, but con* sidering tho terrific pace a little latitudecan bo allowed for these. Tho moat remarkable feature of tho game was the goal kicking on both sides. In all eight tries were scored—fire by tho New Zealanders and three by 'Varsity. Nicholls converted New Zealand's fivo and dropkicked two beautiful goals. Berkley* (diverted 'Varsity's three tries. The gtimo was the moat thrilling and exciting imaginable, and Uio crowd of peopl« were delighted -with tho play, aa they cheered each brilliant movement. The 'Varsity fifteen must be congratulated on their splendid exhibition. Their forwards, although on the light side, were all good. They excelled in obtaining the ball from the scrums. Their wonderful half-back. Strong, played a fine game. Never once did ho let bis sido , down. Giving lightning passes to Wa backs (four of whom are internationals), ' tho backs played brilliant football. Wallace was the star. lie is a most dangerous player, being brilliant in attack and defence, and he was well supported by George Aitken, the ex-New Zealander and Scottish international. The play was exceedingly fast. The New Zealanders would be attacking hard when' suddenly the play would flash te tho other end of the fi«l3, and when the 'Varsity backs got moving the whole crowd rose and cheered thfcm on, for they were ever dangerous. Only eome slight knock-on or pass forward .would spoil the movement. Their first try was lucky, as Cooke inadvertently kicked the ball over his own goal lino and 'Varsity scored a soft try, wliich was converted. The other two tries were obtained by electric movements. One lrill never "be forgotten by the New Zealanders, as they were on the verge of scoring themselves. Wallace obtained the ball. Instead of Uiokingl»ran ft fewyards and" transferred to Raymond, who in turn passed bacE to Wallace who ran the full length of the field along thai touch line to score' a great try. He was so exhausted that he could not run behind the posts, but got near enough for Berkley to convert. The scene after this try was indescribable. , On the whole 'Varsity played better football than New Zealand. Within - j fifteen minutes of time the scoro was ' 19—15 in New Zealand's favour. Then the 'Varsity forwards craeked up and New Zealand rattled on 14 points. The New Zealanders were superior im! the forwards, who all played good football. M. Brownlie and White were most prominent. The backs were strongest in tho half and five-eighths, but the two wing three-quarters were woak. Nicholls was the best. He played a sterling game. Out of the 83 points Beorcd ho obtained 18 with his sure goal kicks. The two dropped goals by Nicholls were beauties. McGregor also played a splendid game. He is a doadly tackier, and excels in all defensive work. He was a good second to Nicholls. Cooke played better in thel second spell than in the first. His play on the whole was sound. Porter, who appeared for the first time for three or four weeks, played a fair game. It is difficult to know, exactly what Porter real y is. Sometime* he is amongst the forwards, while at other times he is mixed up in the backs. He is better in the forwards, M he M< a tendency to hamper the backs. Delley was, good behind the scrum, ana worked hard throughout. . Steel and Bobilliard were not up to their oppon. ents, Wallace and Jacob. Nepl* was safe at fullback. ' The first spell was played for 45 minutes, the referee's watch having siepr ped 'Varsity scored in the liar three minutes of this spell. Mr A. E. : Treetby (Neath) referee* I Hot!*. . ' •>-. I Many ef the New Zealand team teole ! part in the Armistice Day ceremony, A place was allotted ti them in. in* - procession, and they marched four deep to the Cenotaph in Whitehall, en which was placed a beautiful • wroath with the following words.: "In memory ot our glorious dead; From New Zealand I Bugby Football Team* London, November 11th, 1924;" After an impresssivc ceremony at the Cenotaph, the procession passed on to the Abbey; where in double file the New Zealanders marched past the resting place of i the Unknown Warrior. The New Zealanders are being entertained Javishly. They visited tho historical Guildhall last Friday, and were) shown many ancient records, manuscripts and relics. Afternoon tea. was enjoyed with the ex-Lord Mayor or London. , The Lord Mayor '■ show wae seen by many ef the team. The tourists are'the guests of the management of theatres, music halls, concerts and even the coo,'Most acceptable was the invitation, thanks to Mr George Payne, of Christchurch, to the Croydon Aerodrome. The company conveyed a party out to Croydon after viewing the works and seeing a large aeroplane leave with passengers and mails for Paris. The party was .divided in two to fly London. Fourteen, Messrs Cooke, Hart, Cuppes, L. Simpson, .MoOleary, W« Stephens, Parker, Paewai, Nepia, Masters, Gray, Bobilliard, H. Nicholls and Dalley—were taken on board the Handley Page, "Prince Henry V." and ascending 2000 feet, flew over London at a speed of 80 to 90 miles an hour. It was a glorious experience. A very fine D.1L34 took Messrs Payne, Porter, Murphy, Harvey, Mill, 'McGregor, Stewart and A. Stephens over the same course. All the party greatly appreciated the kindness of the directors of the company. Each 'plane is fitted with cosy cabins and single seats.

A MISLEADING TERM. (SPECIAL to "TH« PUSS.") WELLINGTON, December 24. A wrong impression is being created in England by the term "All Black*" as applied to our Kugby touring team; according to the observations in the Old Country of Mr A. T. Matkman, secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, who returned from a trip abroad yesterday. Mr Markman ia of the opinion that the appellation ia aqt an attractive one, that it is misleading, and that it should be abandoned after the present tour. It is misleading, lie Bays, to a great many people in .England, who know little or nothing about Xfw Zealand beyond tliat it is an island in tho Southern Pacific Ocean, and many of thc6C people believe that our footballers arc really "all black," and not white men at all.