ALL BLACKS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 37, 12 August 1914, Page 2

ALL BLACKS

NEW ZEALANDERS IN AUSTRALIA A DULL GAME. TWO MEN" INJURED. SYDNEY, Bth August. Wednesday's match against Metropolitan, in aid of the Olympic Fund, was not at all a financial success, only a few hundred spectators .being present. This was, of course, largely due to the excitement caused by the European situation, not only, sport, but business of all kinds being neglected while the larger issue of war or peace overshadows them. At intervals during the game war bulletins were posted on the scoring board) and the spectators paid less attention to the game than to the extra editions of the newspapers which were sold on the ground. .Owing to an epidemic of colds and influenza throughout our party, it was a matter of some difficulty to muster a full team, especially in the forward division. Bruce, Cain, and M'JNeece were unfit to play, and right up to the last moment Wilson was doubtful. Loveridge was suffering from an attack ot tonsilitis, which made it imperative that Lynch, who was quite unfit to play, should play on the wing. In the circumstances, it was hardly; to bo expected that the team would give a brilliant display, even though the home team was not a strong one, and the game was easily the dullest of the tour. The forwards played sluggishly, and the ouly who did any fa-st following were Francis and Fisher, though Wilson at times, made an eilort to show his usual dash in that branch of the game. At one time the BCore stood at 8 to 6 in favour of New Zea-, land, and at this stage Lindsay and M'Kenzie received injuries which compelled them to leave the field. As they were not replaced we were lett with only thirteen men, and a dpfeat seemed imminent. From this on, however, the forwards made a dashing effort, and not only enabled Black bo score the winning try, but kept the home team on the delensive for the vest of the game.' In .order to cope with <the 'altered conditions two wing forwards were played, Wilson being the second one, and no effort was made to secure the ball in the scrums. The plan answered admirably, and the final 25 minutes of the game produced the brightest football of the match. From the kiok^ffl our men were aggressive, but their efforts were largely nullified by the persistent and illegal obstruction by the home forwards Certainly we were granted a number of iree kicks, but it was aot possible for the referee to detect every offender, and the penalties granted 4 were. a poor recompense Wr the nullifying of our attacking movements. Owing to the ragged scrums the ball, did not come out at all Cleanly,' and there was Very little effective back play.. At last, irom a quick heel, E. Roberts broke away, and from him the ball Went to M'Ken&ie, to Black, who ran straight and/ fast, and, transferring to Lynch; the latter crossed the line at the corner flag. Graham failed to add the extra points. Following this score piay became very dull for a time, scrums and line-kicking being the main features of the game. Just before the first spell ended the play livened up considerably, and smart running and passing by E. Roberts, M'Kenzie, Black, and R. Roberts ended by the captain, crossing the line well under and running right behind the .posts. E. Roberts had no difficulty in kicking a goal. On resuming after the interval the home team came with a good deal of dash and taxed our defence very mufth. Eventually they scored twice, though the second try would have.been prevented but for a glaring case of obstruction by one of their forwards. Neither of the tries was converted and we stall had a lead of,- two points. Shortly after the accidents referred to occurred and from them on our forwards rose to the occasion and hammered away in the most dogged and plucky manner. The backs were, as a rule, doing little attacking, but contented themselves with nursing the 'forwards by effective line-kicking. With about ten minutes to go E. Roberts • picked up in the loose and dodged through to the home three-quarters in a remarkable manner. There lie passed to Black, whose pace carried him past the full-back and over the line, where he wisely touohed down without attempting ] to improve his position. In the last few ! minutes of the game' the Metropolitans ! made a strong attack on our line, but the defence was equal to the occasion and play finished close to tho home line. Though there were not many instances of good combined play by the backs, j they were all very sound, and the first ! two tries scored came from- very effective | movements. Cockroft was again caqgh't out of position several times, but usually managed to do all that was- necessary and was not to blame for either of the tries scored against the side. R. Roberts did a great deal of effective work and handled the team with good judgment. M'Kenzie and Black combined well; and with E. Roberts did a lot of work which kept the opposition very busy. Neither of our wing three-quartera got much chance of doing any scoring, though Taylor 'made strenuous efforts to get into action. Lynch was content and well' advised to take things quietly, xbtit made t4ie most of the one chance which came his way. His line-licking was as effective as usual. Murray again played a dashing game, and is now at the top of his form. The rest of the forwards, were a very even lot, with Downing generally a little ahead. Fisher and Francis were quick in getting down on to the home baoks, and Wilson, who improved as the game went on, was very effective in the closing stages, when he played' wing-forward. As before stated, tho Metropolitan team was not a strong one and the scores do. not represent the difference between the two sides. Baker and Coone-y were, perhaps, the best of their forwards, and among the backs, Buokle, at full, and Morris, at three-quarter, were the most effective. The latter was Until recently a member of the Poneke CJub's senior team. Lindsay and M'Kenzie, though not seriously injured, will not be able to play in either of the two remaining games. The kicking of M'Kenzie appeared to be so deliberate and intentional that only the prompt and tactful action of one of our forwards prevented retaliatory action by two of his comrades, who had a clear view of the occurrence. Certainly the ball was so far from him when the incident occurred that the referee had no chance to notice it. Thursday afternoon wag spent at the Stadium, on the invitation of Mr. "Snowy" Baker, who has been very kind to the 'team, both here and in Brisbane. A light practice "was held on Friday morning, and in the afternoon the team witnessed » match under the Victorian rules between South Australia and Queensland. Outside of some good kicking and marking we were not at all impressed by the game.