THE ALL BLACKS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 120, 13 February 1908, Page 8

THE ALL BLACKS.

■ SALFORD MATCH. . ' • A: SUBSTANTIAL 'WIN ON A HARD. GROUND.

(By A. If. Baskcrville.)

' .'• ' Manchester, December 29. ■■ | The second match of the New Zealandera in Manchester drew a fine crowd at Salford. ■ In spite of the wintry and' an' icy-, • cold wind, 12,000 spectators attended, .the' ; "gate" being nearly- £500. As Saturday came midway - between Christmas and tho i Now ' Tear holidays, tho match was regarded in tho light of a mid-week one, because most people had to work. Therefore under these" cireumstances the attendance was very-satis-factory. .. Since tho arrival 'of the "All Blacks" in Manchester, three., weeks ago, they liavo been training on the Salford ground, so the match was liko a ."home" one to them. The frosty weather lately had dried the ground well, and a covering of straw had'presented it from freezing, so. the ; surface was in splendid playing condition. A strong breeze blew across tho ground and made placekicking very difficult. . MESSENCER SCORES TWO TRIES. New Zealand won the toss, and Salford •kicked off. The first incident worth noting was tho failure of Messenger to kick a goal from a mark. A few minutes later New Zealand sccured' from a scrum, and '-a seriei : of fine runs and passes between R. Wynyard, Todd, and Rowe carried the ball tc tho Salford line. Rowe was tackled there, but passed infield to Messenger, who dashed over and scorcd a try, which he failed tc convert. Salford failed in an attempt to place a. goal from a penalty kick, ■ and then Mes-, songor failed to do the same for New Zealand. Todd, by a long dodgy run, nearly' scored, then Salford conceded a. force. From loose play -near the halfway line' Messenger secured .the ball. He broko through beautifully before passing to Todd and R.; Wyn-, yard, and then,, receiving another pass infield, scored his second try. . Wrigley ■ attempted to convert it, but failed. Just before tho interval Turtill made a fine nm from the full-back position/ He passed'to Messenger, who dropped.Tor goal. • It was . a near thing, though unsuccessful. ' Salford got off-side, and . Turtill had a try, for goal, but .his kick, fell; short'.',...Halij-time , came with the scpro: -New Zealand 6, ; Sal-\ ford nil; •. SECOND. HALF. The second spell opened in- lively, fashion, cach.'sido attacking in turn. . Todd; and . Kelly by pretty running and passing- reached . tho Homo twenty-five. By fine combination-'in-passing-they raced;'back;to ' our line,' where Turtill saved ■a , score -by. : resolute tackling. The New Zealand-forwards swept back to. SalfordV line, with :a ; stirring • rush., Salford ran and passed well to tho "All Black" qtiarter again. They, were, obstructed there, 1 and Lomas landed a .penalty goal for them. ■' Salford a few minutes later failed; to' re- ' peat' the .performance from a' penalty'kick; This, was their-last chance of scoringV Tor the: rest of -the-game tho New Zealauders ..attacked; . . Rowo aiidw-Cross .-. -together'" dribbled tho ball past tho •Home full-back', - and a hard ■ kifck >at a critical moment spoiled a fine cli anee, the ball crossing the • dead ball lino. The Colonials attacked con- -■ tinuously for ten minutes, but'the-defence was too solid. ... ..... . R.Wynyard dropped for goal,, andmissed by a fow' feet. A few' minutes' later ! ha secured" from v a scrum and made a fine opening on the. blind sido. for- Wrigley, whe dashed ovor and scorcd a -trv near th« < corner flag.. Messenger failed to augment the score, Simultaneously the. whistle sounded the full time, With the 'scores- standing: Now Zealand 9, Salford 2.V STRENUOUS PLAY. V The game was not such a' •pretty' oi "brilliant" onS as 'that played at Broughton, Manchester, hear the beginning of our tour, Tho play was yery. keen and strenuouS,, 50..; much the latter in fact that the referee had' to. call the; players (around*him onco and"give 'them a. lecture on Socialism, or brotherly — love. Both sides offended in this respect, st everybody was-satisfied.; • • :• ' The best player 'on the ground was . undoubtedly Turtill. He fielded in a . veering wind, and kicked, with excellent judgment.. Our three-quarter line —Messenger, Rowe, and Kelly—were, very solid on defence, and steady in other departments. Our:, fiveeighths, Todd'.and Wriplev did well;, in: fact, the latter played his best game of the ' tour. Todd had, to . leave tho field in tho 'second spell through an which .it.'is feared will prevent him playing,'like Smith,, in tho International match with Wales.'' . ' .R. v Wynyard at half-back.'was as' tricky' : and as clever as. ever, he was. The forwards —Byrne, Pearcc, ' Mackrell, Wright, ; .Cross, and Johnston —controlled the' ball in the scrum,' and' were 'also superior:in tho-open' ' play. Some, of their sweeping'- dribblinc < rushes •' were i magnificent. ■'.'They,;icamea everything before,-them /when .they''got l 'go-' • ing. ; On Monday twenty players "left; for- Aberdare, South Wales, to prepare for the' Welsh International, the . other , t nine, remaining.: in Manchester;'. They'met 'with' a find reception down . South, a great crowd 'turning out-to cheer them on .arrival.