NEW ZEALAND ON TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 150, 29 June 1925, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND ON TOUR

VICTORY AT NEWCASTLE

TEAM EQUAL TO DOMINION'S

BEST STANDARDS.

(OSITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.)

SYDNEY, 27th June,

After a lapse of many years,, a New Zealand. Rugby Union team was again seen in action at Newcastle to-day, when it played: a New South Wales fifteen, ■which included several local stars. The game was witnessed by seven thousand enthusiastic spectators, and resulted in a win for the All Blacks by 20 points to 13. Generally, the play of the New ■Zealanders showed a decided; improve-

ment over their previous matches. They were quite up to New Zealand's best standards. Doubtless the beautiful wea-

ther had much to do with this, though the ground was bumpy and rough in places, with slush in some parts. New Zealand for the greater part had the better of the game, but they were '■ at times sorely pressed. Thanks, however, to the fine play of Wise, 1 Harris, Wright, Johnson, and Blake in the back division, and Walter, Finlayson, Knight, Dickson, and Lomas in the vanguard, New Zealand managed to maintain the

lead. Donald was not up to his usual form. Mattspn replaced Elvy in the New Zealand team. Towards the close of tho second spell Donald received a kick on the leg and had to leave the field. He was replaced; by Thonias. Shortly afterwards Nothling look Smith's place in the New South Wales team.

The first half was mainly in favour of the visitors, who gained the majority

of the scrums and line-outs, and their backs also combined in some splendid passing movements. The New South

Wales attack; lacked finish. ■ Play was mostly in their half, and their backs showed a marked disinclination to go down to the ball before the New Zealand

forward rushes. A pleasing feature of this spell was the absence of penaltiesagainst the All Blacks, and their play was scrupulously fair,.while the off-side proclivities which were so prominent a feature of.the earlier matches were en-; tirely; absent. Walter was the best player on the,ground. The score at halftime was: New Zealand 17 points, New South Wales 5. ;

The game in the second spell .was I more' even, though marked by more illegalities 02 both sides than.the first half." jNew South Wales .worked several good passing movements by the forwards gaining the ball from line-outs and passing to their backs, but Anderson;, proved tho weak spot. Tho full-backs, Harris and Ross, wore again towers of strength to their respective, sides, .and ■their sure handling and excellent linekicking several times extricated their

sides from difficulties. In the final stages Now South Wales were ' playing.: with great dash and determination, and soiinewhat disorganised the New Zealand backs' cohesion. The game also became very willing. The most sensation try oE tho day was one scored by Reid. Smith intercepted a New Zea-

land pass in his own twenty-five and transformed to lleid, -who ran fifty yards, closely pursued by Lomas, and scored ■under the posts. ■

Tries for New Zealand were obtained by Knight (2), Walter, Blake, Wright, and Wise, of which one was converted by Dickson. For New South Wales Erby and Reid scored tries, both of which were converted by Ross, while Morri^sey kicked a goal from a penalty-