WON BY NEW ZEALAND

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 18, 21 July 1926, Page 9

WON BY NEW ZEALAND

GAME NOT UP TO STANDARD

NEW SOUTH WALES FAILS TO SCORE.'

(United Prass Association.—copyright.) SYDNEY, 20th July.

For tho , third Rugby Tost between New Zealand and New South Wales the weather was perfect. A slight wind favoured tho Blues, who won the toss. The attendance was 15,000. The following were the teams:— j Now Zealand.—Full-back: D. R, I.J Stevenson; three-quarters, W. E. Elvy, H. W. Brown, K. S. Svonsou; fiveeighths, M. Nicholls, A. E. Cooke; halfback, J. Mill; wing-forward, C. G. Porter (captain); forwards, A. R. Lomas. W. Irvine, I. H. Harvey, M. Brownlin. A. Knight, B. Finlayson, and R. T. Stewart. New South Wales.—Full-back, A. W. Ross; three-quarters, A. C. Wallace, C. V. Morrissey, S. King, O. C. Crossman; five-eighth, W. Sheehan; half-back, F. W. Meagher; forwards, E. j. Thorn (captain), W. Ives, A. N. Finlay, C. Fox, B. Judd, J. G. Blackwood, H. Woods, and Tancred. Even play followed the kick-off, then off-side play by the All Blacks put New South Wales in a good position, but they were unable to follow it up. The New Zealanders set up an attack and carried it to the Blues' quarteus, but were penalised, Ross kicking to the centre. The Blues were prominent in some ineffectual passing rushes, play being confined mostly to the Blues' half. Then New South Wales took the ball well down the field, and the All Blacks were penalised in their own twenty-five. Ross attempted to kick a goal, but was unsuccessful. A free-kick was awarded New Zealand, and Finlaysen followed up quickly, but the Blues forced. Tho All Blacks camo again, Ross saving with a good lino-kick. The Blues were caught off-side, arid Nicholls attempted a kick from almost the centre, the ball going just outside. A fine run by Elvy was nullified by offside play, Ross returning to the centre. From a scrum, Porter sent the backs away, and play was taken to the Blues' line, where a knock-on saved the home team. From the ensuing scramble, Svenson dashed over and scored in the right corner. Nicholls failed to convert. New Zealand 3 New South Wales 0 The game had then progressed fifteen minutes. Fumbling by the Blues saw New Zealand again on the attack. Following a kick through by Nicholls, Ross was brought down on his own line by Cooke. The All Blacks continued the pressure, but Svenson was forced out at the corner. New Zealand was again penalised, Ross finding the line well up. Splendid opening work by Porter and Elvy was spoiled by a knock-on. The defence was almost beaten at this stage, New Zealand having the best of the game territorially and otherwise. Wallace was prominent in a good run which took the ball to the All Blacks' quarters, where the defenders were penalised, but Ross made a poor attempt. An aggressive Blue rush was stopped by Knight marking. Play became harder, and was marked by strenuous tackling. Woods had to leave the field, being replaced by Telford. Following another penalty, the ball went out in the Blues' quarters, but an offence by New Zealand relieved. A rousing Blue attack found the ball out close to tho All Blacks' line. Owing to an infringement, the Bluce were awarded a kick in front of New Zealand's posts, but Ross missed an easy kick. The Blues returned to the assault, but Cooke found the line near half-way. The closing stages of the first spell became more intense. Ross made a splendid run, and the ball was carried over the New Zealand line, but was forced. A splendid burst by Porter threatened the Blues' line, but he was hauled down and Ross found the line with' a long kick. The half-time score was:— New Zealand 3 New South Wales 0 THE SECOND SPELL. Resumption saw even play in midfield. The All Blacks attacked, but Ross made a wonderful kick, which sent the ball out in midfleld, where New Zealand was penalised. Play was carried on to the visitors' twenty-five through Stevenson being slow in taking the ball. High tackling by the Blues enabled the New Zealanders to work back. A long kick by -b'inlay put New South Wales again on the attack, Svenson relieving with a useful kick. Crossman almost goaled when the All Blacks were again penalised in their own ground, and a New Zealand passing rush was spoiled by a knock-on. The Blues returned to tho attack, when a good run by Wallace took the ball to his opponents' territory, where Ross had another unsuccessful attempt from a penalty. The game, which was mostly in the New Zealand half, was being confined to the forwards, and there were several minor injuries. Then the Blue backs combined in some nice movements, but the opposing forwards got in among them and broke them up. An ugly rush by the visitors was stopped by off-side play. Ross returned with a long kick. The All Blacks were prominent in a passing rush, which was stemmed by Ross marking. Continuing the pressure, New Zealand was awarded a penalty near the line, which gave Nicholls an opportunity, with which he made no mistake. It was an easy kick. t New Zealand 6 New South Wales 0 New South Wales rallied, Stevenson being called npon to stop some good movements, Finlayson assisting him. The Blues' attack persisted, and ground was gained by a series of line kicks. New Zealand players coming round the scrum, were penalised, and Thorn attempted a goal, his kick falling short.' A penalty against the Blues, inside the half-way, gave Nicholls an opportunity, but he missed. Ross, running up, transferred to Thorn, who was off-side, and this time Nicholls kicked a nice goal. New Zealand 9 New South Wales 0 Just on time Cooke made a magnificent individual dash. He snapped up the ball from the ruck, and the Blue backs being well out of position, he raced through from half-way and scored, Nicholls converting, Tho final whistle sounded immediately after, the score being:— New Zealand 14 New South Wales 0 NOT UP TO SPECIFICATION. The game throughout never attained the excellence of the preceding games. It was inclined to raggedness till the final stages, when both teams showed to better advantage. New Zealand's continual battering tactics finally wore down the Blues' defence, and two scores were obtained in the last few minutes. Mostly the visitors gained possession from the scrums, but their atttfck often lacked successful issue owing to mis-handling. There were frequent stoppages, particularly in the first spell, due to penalties, and in some cases the referee's decision was difficult to interpret. In the second spell more scrums were gained by the Blues, who attacked vigorously, but spasmodically, lacking the usual cohesion in the backs. Ross was again surerb, his lino kicking being •uneaaaji The AH Btacke .woie -Mxmv-

ior in the vanguard, gaining the ball, in most of the line-outs and rucking more successfully. The Blues were unlucky in not registering at least two penalties, but 'on the day's play tho better side won.

Stevenson played scrvicenbly. Elvy and Mill were the best of the backs. Svenson and Nicholls wero both prominent. Browit's inclusion at centre was an improvement. Cooke was well marked, but was conspicuous for his fine kicking. Porter played at the side of the scrum successfully, and all the forwards contributed a quota of hard work, Finlayson and Stewart being the most outstanding.