THE ALL BLACKS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19665, 8 July 1929, Page 9

THE ALL BLACKS.

DEFEATED IN FIRST TEST. AN EXCITING GAME. N.Z. TEAM ON DEFENSIVE. (VmTr.D PBE£S ASSOCIATION—BT ELECTBIC TELEGRAPH—COPTBIGET.) (Eeceived July 7th, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 7. For the first Test match there was superb weather, with only a moderate south-west breeze blowing. The attendance was 40,000. The splendid inter-collegiate match which preceded the Test whetted the crowd's appetite for the big game. The Governor and his suite were present. Both teams re- ' ceived ovations. The teams were:— NEW ZEALAND. G. Nepia*. J. H. Geddes, S. B. Carleton, H. Waterman. C. Oliver, H. Lilburne (captain). J. M. Tuck. i L. S. Hook. K. Reid. A. I. Cottrell. W. Eika, W. Eeside, C. Sonntag. E. Snow, R. G. McWilliams. AUSTKALiA. A. W. Boss (N.S.W.). E. E. Ford (N.S.W.), C. H. Towers* (N.S.W.), S. C. King (N.S.W.), G. C. Gordon (N.S.W.). T. Lawton (Q., captain). S. J. Malcolm (N.S.W.). W. H. Cerutti (N.S.W.), E. Bonis (Q.), E. Thompson (Q.). L. J. Palfreyman (N.S.W.), A. N. Finlay (N.S.W.), H. Hamalainen (Q.). J. W. Breckenridge (N.S.W.), J. A. Ford (N.S.W.). Eeferee: Mr A. V. Mayne. *Beplaced by Stringfellow at halftime. ♦Replaced by Thorpe. The All Blacks won the toss, and Lawton kicked off against the wind. Smart interception enabled Tuck to break right through, supported by Lilburne and Oliver, but finally the ball was lost almost under the posts. Eoss forced. Play immediately sharpened up, Australia pressing, and from a penalty 35 yards out Lawton goaled beautifully.

Australia New Zealand

The All Blacks responded -with a great forward rush, when a penalty was awarded, but Nepia missed a goal. Another Australian passing movement was started by Towers, King, and Ford, but was checked, the All Blacks responding quickly witn a thrilling back movement by Tuck, Oliver, Lilburne, Carleton, and Waterman, who was pushed out close up. The All Black forwards were playing exceptionally hard, and play was carried into Australian territory. From a penalty in deep field Nepia kicked a great goal. Australia .. .. 3 New Zealand .. .. S Continuing their pressure, the central backs smartly broke through down the centre of the field, interchanging the ball until finally Oliver dived through near the posts, being badly shaken owing to his contact with the ground. Nepia kicked the goal. New Zealand .. .. 8 Australia .. -.3 Both side 3 were now playing an open game in fast, spectacular fashion. Following the Greens' attack, from a penalty well out in front Lawton kicked a magnificent goal. New Zealand .. .. 8 Australia .. .. 6 After SO minutes' play the Greens were again attacking impressively, Geddes, Waterman, an* Nepia driving them back by fine defensive work and well-judged kicking, thus relieving the pressure. Towers was disabled and retired. He was replaced by Thorpe. New Zealand was at this stage penalised, and Lawton kicked a ball which hit the post, rebounding into the field. In continuance of the attack Lawton almost repeated his goaling. The All Blacks were next awarded a penalty, but Nepia missed a long-range kick. E. Ford (wing) badly dropped two passes. The defence was practically beaten when Tuck effected a great save by a brilliant mark off the toes of his opponents' terrific forward dribbling rush. At half-time the scores were:— New Zealand .. ..8 Australia .. .. 6 Play up to this point had been very even, both sides alternately attacking in the most approved fashion to the crowd's delight. They cheered enthusiastically and quite impartially. Lawton gave the most outstanding display on the Australian side, attacking with great dash an vigour. The Second Spell. Upon the resumption of play Stringfellow replaced Nepia, whose back had become troublesome as a result of the last game. Play opened auspiciously for New Zealand. Beside, by a long pass, almost put Geddes over, but the Greens rallied magnificently, and with tremendous dash "Bulky" Ford, Findlay, Cerutti, and Breckenridge became extremely dangerous. Geddes saved by foreing. Play was in mid-field and then raged at a tremendously fast pace between the opposing packs. Lawton gained great stretches by effective ! line-kicking. A penalty was awarded the All Blacks, but Lilburne missed 1 goal narrowly. Tuck provided a sensation by a 40 yards' run from a scrum, but the ball was forced out at the corner by Ross. Oliver was the next to become prominent, with a dodging run, but Ross was equal to the occasion. Hitherto the Greens had shown the most cohesive back work from both scrums and line-outs. The All Blacks' back play was lacking in sting. Then came the most sensational Australian movement of the day. In New Zealand's twenty-five, Malcolm set the whole Australian rearguard on a great, lateral passing rush, all the backs handling the ball, and finally Gordon dashed over at the corner amidst tumultuous cheering. Lawton missed his kick at goal narrowly. Australia .. ..9 New Zealand .. .. 8 Half an hour had passed and the Greens continued their brilliant attacks. Play was territorially in New Zealand's quarters, and a desperate and effective defence alone saved the All Blacks. Stringfellow, answering requirements well, roused New Zealand and commenced a fierce onslaught on the Greens' quarters, play waxing in intensity. A brief bout of passing almost put Waterman over. The final stages of the game were mostly in the Greens' favour, the All Blacks' backs adopting safe tacties. The general standard was better than the first spell. Final scores were: — Australia .. .. 9 New Zealand .. .. 8 For Australia Gordon scored one try, and Lawton kicked two penalty goals. For New Zealand Oliver scored one try,

which Nepia converted, and also kicked a penalty goal. The crowd made a great demonstration, being elated at the result. Better displays have been given by All Black teams. The New Zealanders' general work to-day was ragged, especially in the back division, which lacked confidence and initiative. The forwards displayed laxity in scrummaging, which was uneven, with slow heeling out. Their solidity and application of weight were not sufficient to counter the opposing eight. The game was won on its merits, Australia showing superior cohesion all round. Her men were more successful in hooking. About 65 per cent, of the game was open and spectacular and was of an esciting order. It was somewhat wanting in regular, scientific methods, with an abnormal amount of high tackling and ill-judged passing by both sides. Although numerous injuries occurred, the game was never rough, and was contested in the finest spirit. The four Queenslanders on the winning side fully justified their inclusion.

Lack of Brilliance. The "Sunday Times" says: "All representative Rugby code games this season seem to lack the brilliance of other years, probably owing to over-anxious-ness. Yesterday's game between New Zealand and Australia was in that category. The first half was remarkable for the number of passes dropped on either side. Not once did the ball reach the New Zealand wing-three-quarters cleanly after going among the inside backs. This was quite unlike New Zealand football. Candidly, the New Zealand team does not compare at all favourably with those of former years. The forwards do not have the physique, nor is there the nipniness among the backs that was so characteristic of bygone days. Lawton and King were the best of the Australian backs. Ross, J. Ford, Thompson, Breckenridge, and Bonis were others who figured prominently. McWilliams and Snow were New Zealand's best forwards, but the only back who was up to consistent standard was Oliver.'' Plenty of Thrills. The "Daily Telegraph-Pictorial," makes the comment that unfortunately too many mistakes were made at critical moments and these spoiled what otherwise would have been a magnificent game, but there were some delightful movements, which revealed the splendid stamina of the men, and the closeness of the scoring furnished all the thrills that could be expected. "It was a first-class match," the paper states. "Many of those %vho were present agreed that Lawton was the greatest five-eighths ever seen. Reside and Rika were always in the thick of the fight, while Lilburne and Oliver were a constant source of great worry to the Greens."

The "Sunday News" says: "It was a stirring encounter with thrill upon thrill in the second half. The New Zealand forwards were adepts at screwing in the serum 3. It was unfortunate that Nepia was out of action in the second half.' '—Australian Press Association.

MANAGER INTERVIEWED. TEAM NOT AT ITS BEST. (Received July 7th, 11.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 7. The All Blacks' manager, Mr J. McLeod, interviewed to-night, said: '•The best team on the day's play won. We made more mistakes than the other side, but had we possessed a good leader in the last five minutes to steady the backs we should probably have pulled the game out of the fire. Anyhow, we think we have seen the Australians at their best—they have not seen us at our best." Mr McLeod added that Porter was practically well, and would be playing in a few days, possibly on Wednesday. Nepia's back is very sore at the same old spot, but he hopes soon to be in the picture again. "Otherwise the members of the team are very well indeed," Mr McLeod said, "and we are all being treated most hospitablv. We have not a single complaint against anybody.—Australian Press Association.

N.S.W. TEAM FOR NEXT MATCH. (Received July 7th, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 6. The New South Wales team, which will meet New Zealand next Wednesday will be: — Ross E. Ford Towers King Gordon Bartley Lamport Breckenridge. J. Ford Palfreyman Finlay Telford Judd Ferguson Einerson —Australian Press Association.