THE ALL BLACKS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 138, 5 March 1908, Page 7

THE ALL BLACKS.

'. ~ «. '' '• ■ THE FIRST TEST MATCH. DISAPPOINTING AND ' UNINSPIRING' . GAME.',-. ' BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS. ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT; ' (Rec. March 4, 10.18 p.mi). t v Sydney, March 4. The All Blacks played tho first Test-Match; against a picked Northern Union team at .Leeds, suffering . defeat, .' -'by "■•■■: one goal and four tries to two tries. . :•...■< The "Sportsman," says tho ground, being ■protected, was . in. excellent '.conditioni' "btit'i tho play' seldom roso 'above ;.;thb commonplace; The New; Zcalandcrs-piissed. tlio services of Messenger, who was;-suffering from a cold. V ' ■.. ? V'iv. Almost from the start, the local side-was superior,;' but. ; their . tactics wero painfully crude and slow, otherwise'- they ,harescored heavily. :. 'Twrenty-fivo 1 minutes bad passed before Jolly dropped a clever goal, which was followed by a try. I: At half-time the Northern-. Union .was lead-, ing by 8 to nil. ' • ''V: On crossing over tho Homo side was iigain painfully slow in taking, opportunities, but following a rousingTtm by Todd on .the'other side,; they put more ■ "sting into. theirplay..' i. Tlio Now Zealandors then rallied a -liEtlo, and their two tries wero scored by Todd and /Wynyard, the kicks ;af goal. r • -t This brought 1 to. a, close ■•. a ?•'aisojipqintmg and uninspiring match. ; ..j Tho "Daily News" says the : All Blacks had to play against .a. strong-wind-in. the first half, but they were nearly always defending, and wero cle'arly outclassed.