Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9th., 1935. ALL BLACKS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 November 1935, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9th., 1935. ALL BLACKS.

ysE All Blacks are entering the second and more difficult half of their programme, and this fact must be remembered when discussing the results. The tourists have had their fair share of casualties, if their opponents have not escaped unscatched in this direction. As was to be expected, the match against Oxford was “one of the - most enjoyable fxamess of the tour.'’’ but this did not prevent one collegian receiving a wound in Ihe head. If such, incidents can. occur in a ’Varsity match, not much imagination is required tn estimate the vigour in matches where the game is perhaps, played in a less sporting spirit. Admiral Percy Royds recently referred tn the roughness of “colliery-loams’ ” Rugby, and his is not the only oomplaint of too much, reliance on strength to overcome ski]]. One strange claim about some of the All Blacks’ victories is that the better teams lost. This does occur, occasionally, in football, as

in other sports, but could not occur so frequently as claimed, where the Nevz Zealanders are concerned. Luck averages itself over a series of games, and any opinion that one side gets it all, must be regarded as biased. What has happened is that the “unlucky” home teams have played better than expected, but not quite well enough to assert superiority. The fact that the All Blacks have won some of these close matches in the last minutes of the play, demonstrates their gameness, and credit is due to them for battling until the final, whistle. Their opponents should follow the example.

Collectively, the All Blacks have, to date, put up a good record, and their standard of sportsmanship has not been questioned. Individually, Gilbert stands out, and West Coasters will be gratified with his success, his goal-kicking being a valuable asset.die has done enough to justify his selection, and to silence his critics. King, too, has proved to be one of the best forwards in the side, and both Coasters, on their form, hitherto, should play in the international matches, the first of which, against Scotland, takes place to-day fortnight. It is claimed that too much hospitality has been showered on the team, but Mr. Meredith may be relied upon to keep these social engagements within reason. New Zealanders are popular in the Homeland, and the general desire to make the AH Blacks’ visit as interesting and agreeable to them as possible, will be understood. Congratulations are due to the manager and the team, on the results of the first half of the tour, and, in this country, it will be generally expected that the second spell will see the All Blacks rise'to the occasion. however hard pressed.