ALL BLACKS’ TOUR.

Evening Star, Issue 18810, 8 December 1924, Page 8

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR.

TWENTY-THIRD WIN. EAST MIDLANDS EASILY BEATEN. STEEL SCORES THREE TRIES, NEPIA CONVERTS FIVE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, December 6. The Now Zealanders met East Midlands it Northampton to-day, and won easily by 31 points to 7. The All Blacks’ team was as follows : Backs: Ncpiaj Lucas, Brown, Stool; M’Grogor, Cooke; Mill. Forwards ; Porter, Donald, Irvine, Richardson, Masters, C. Brownlie, Barker, Cripples. This was looked upon as a surprisingly strong side to put in the field, seeing that no serious opposition was expected. The Midlands men were drawn almost exclusively from the Bedford and Northampton Clubs, and contained a number rf players who have done very well in local matches. The match was played under the very best conditions, the day being sunny and calm and the turf in splendid order. Fifteen thousand persons were present. FIRST SPELL. New Zealand lost the toss, and within i few monutes of Porter’s kick-off first Steel and then Richardson were all but across Midland’s goal lino. The visitors continued aggressive play, but one momentary lapse on their part let their opponents in. To the huge delight of the crowd it was promptly turned to account, and first blood fell to the home team. A weak cross-kick gave Jones, Midland’s half-back, his opportunity. Dashing in rapidly he got the ball at his toe and dribbfed it across and touched down. Churchill, the full-back, took the kick, but failed. East Midlands 3 New Zealand 0 This success roused the homo men, and some remarkably fast and keen play followed. The All Blacks, though much below form at this stage, mostly held the upper hand, but the Midlanders made to mistakes in their tackling, which was deadly. For a time they gave their opponents some anxious moments, and once there was nearly a repetition of Jones’s feat. Townell, the five-eighth, intercepted a rather loose pass, and before the All Blacks realised it he was clear away. Ho ran almost the length of the field before he was brought down. For a time the game was confined to the visitors’ quarters. The local men attacked so strongly that the All Blacks had to set up a stern defence; but at last Mil! set his three-quarters moving, and the New Zealanders romped down the field in a dangerous rush. Steel completed a vigorous offensive movement with one of his characteristic fending runs, humping all tacklers off and scoring in the corner. With a splendid kick Nepia turned it into a goal. New Zealand 5 East Midlands 3 Tlie New Zealand forwards had now shaken themselves together, and they look charge of the game. Richardson broke smartly away from the scrum and passed to Brownlie, who dived across for a try; but this time Nepia’s kick failed. New Zealand 8 East Midlands 3 The All Blacks continued to gain possession, hut their passing was so uncertain and ineffective that they made no use of their advantage, and the first spell ended without further score. SECOND SPELL. On resuming the home side attacked strongly until the effects of their rest wore off. When it was over the superior training of the visitors came into play, and they simply ran all over the Midlanders. Cooke was the first to break away, hut ho spoiled what looked a certain try by hanging on to the hall too long. Then Cupples put in a brilliant piece of dribbling, attended hy Brownlie, who at the finish picked up the ball and grounded it under the posts. Nepia had no difficulty in adding the goal. New Zealand 13 East Midlands 3 The All Black forwards continued to use their feet with great effect in the open, and kept the game in their opponents’ twenty-five. Here Mill sent out a long pass to Brown, who took it at top speed and flashed across at the corner. Once again from this difficult angle Nepia kicked a superb goal. New Zealand 18 East Midlands 3 The New Zealanders in this half were playing altogether more scientifically and methodically. Only occasionally did the Midlanders get anywhere near the other end, but on one of these fleeting incursions Jones managed to drop a neat goal to cheer the drooping spirits of his side. New Zeland 18 East Midlands 7 In a few minutes the All Blacks wiped off this score. A pass from M‘Gregor let Cooke in, and he ran over close to the posts, Nepia converting. New Zealand 23 East Midlands 7 After further chances of scoring had been nullified by forward passes and fumbling, Brown gave Steel a well-judged pass, and the latter got over at the corner. Nepia all but scored a goal from the kick. New Zealand 26 East Midlands 7 Almost immediately Steel repeated the performance, and this time Nepia put another magnificent goal to his credit. New Zealand 31 East Midlands 7 The Midlandors made valiant efforts to reduce the deficit, but the New Zealand defence was always sound, and their efforts went for nothing, There was no further score on either side, and the game ended : New Zealand 31 East Midlands 7 —A. and N.Z. Cable. WEIGHT AND PAGE AGAIN. LONDON, December 6. The game, although fast and interesting, was deficient in the finer points of play. The All Blacks’ weight and stamina were great factors in their victory, and wore down all opposition. Richardson stood out as the finest forward on the field, and Cupples was always conspicuous, though neither of them actually scored himself. Nepia, who was in wonderful form, kicked five goals from seven tries —two of them from the sideline. Brown, Steel, and Cooke were the best of the backs.—A. and N.Z. Cable. RESULTS TO DATE. Against Devon.—Won, 11 to 0. Against Cornwall. —Won, 29 to 0. Against Somerset.—Won, 6 to 0. Against Gloucester. —Won, 6 to 0. Against Swansea. —Won, 39 to 3. Against Newport.—Won, 13 to 10. Against Leicester.—Won, 27 to 0. Against North Midlands. —Won, 40 to 3. Against Cheshire.—Won, 18 to 5. Against Durham.—Won, 43 to 7. Against Yorkshire. —Won, 42 to 4. Against Lancashire. —Won, 23 to 0. Against Cumberland. —Won, 41 to 0. Against Ireland (First Test). —Won, 6 lO u Against Ulster.—Won, 28 to 6. Against Northumberland.—Won, 27 to 4. Against Cambridge University.—Won, b to 0, Against London Counties.—'Won, 31 to Against Oxford University.—Won, 33 to 15. Against Cardiff.—Won, 15 to 8. Against W r ales (Second Test). —Won, 19 to 0. Against Llanelly.—Won, 8 to 3-

Against East Midlands.—Won, 31 to 7. Points for, 542; against, 81. [The 1906 All Blacks did not meet East Midlands. The present team’s next match is against Warwickshire.] THE SCORERS. TRIES (125). Cooke (15), Parker (13), Steel (11), i Brown (5), Donald (3), M. Brownlie (6), I Irvine (5), Mill (9), Svenson (13), Lucas ! (4), M'Grogor (2), Guppies (2), Richard- [ son (5), White (3), C. Brownlie (2), Stewart (2), Hart (17), Porter (3), West (1), Masters (2), Nicholls (2), Robilj Hard (1). | GOALS FROM TRIES (64). Nicholls (29), Nqpia (24), Brown (2j, White (5), Hart (1), Mill (3). | POTTED GOALS (3). Nicholls (2), Steel (1). | PENALTY GOALS (8). | Nicholls 'S' Nepia (3). TEMPTING OFFERS REJECTED. NEPIA TURNS DOWN £1,500 AND BIG SALARY. LONDON, December 7. (Received December 8, at 1.30 p.m.) Several of the All Blacks have rejected tempting offers to join Northern Union Clubs. I Nepia. was offered £1,500, also a big j salary.—Sydney ‘ Sun 1 Cable. | UNFOUNDED' INSINUATIONS. TIME THEY WERE ENDED. LONDON, December 7. (Received December 8, -at 2 p.m.) General Kentish, the British representative on the Olympic Council, in condemning a letter in ’“Sporting Life’ suggesting , that England’s team should include a clever place-kicker, who would reap the benefit of many penalties a strict referee would give against the All Blacks, says: “Fair-minded Englishmen will be in--1 censed at such insults to our guests and kinsmen. It is time that unfounded insinuations, which antagonise our dominion supporters, were ended.” —Sydney ‘ Sun Cable. *