TQUR OF TRIUMPH

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 October 1924, Page 5

TQUR OF TRIUMPH

CUMBERLAND DEFEATED. ' BY 41 TO NIL. GREAT PLAY BY HART. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Oct. 25. New Zealand met Cumberland, the champion county, at Carlisle to-day, and this being, presumably, the most formidable side the All Blacks have yet faced, there was keen interest as to the .result, which was shown by the large attendance, numbering 16,000 people. The visitors, however, once again emerged triumphant from the contest with the largest nett total they have achieved to their .credit, while Cumberland could not suceeded in even recording a score of any kind. The New Zealand team was: Full-back —Nepia. Three-quarters—Hart, Cooke, Parker. Five-eighths—Nicholls, Paewai. Half—Mill. Wing forward—Porter. Forwards —Irvine, Donald, M. Brown, lie, Masters, Richardson, Stewart, White. From this it will be seen that several important changes have been made in the position of the men. The ground was not in the best condition, being greasy on the surface owing to rain in the morning. Play opened briskly and was for n time confined to the centre of the ground. Then followed a fine rush by the All Blacks,- which looked like a certain score, but it ended in failure. At the last moment, when, the defeuce was beaten, Cooke’s pass to Parker went wild and the new wing threequarter missed it.

The county men retaliated with a bold attack, in which the forwards were prominent, but Nepia coolly took a. mark and blocked them. Hart put in one of his swift runs and cleared the New Zealand quarters. The All Blacks settled down to concentrated play and worked their way to the other end, and in ten minutes their first score came. Nicholls started Cooke off, and at the last moment lie passed to Parker, who this time made no mistake and crossed the line at the corner. The kick was too far out and Nepia made nothing of it. The Cumberland forwards stood up well to their redoubtable opponents and some very close play; was witnessed. The county team was evidently trying to keep the game among the forwards, but though the move succeeded for the moment, the superior height, weight, and pace of the colonials gradually wore the opposition down. The All Blacks got possession from the scrums and then got their backs going. The passing of the latter was splendid, but for a while it was met by fine tackling. Up to this the tactics of the county players were surprisingly different from those of previous teams met by the New Zealanders. They endeavoured to keep play in motion, and were not afraid to attack, which they did whole-heartedly as long as their condition lasted. Unfortunately for them, it broke down before the tremendous vim of the All Blacks, who kept hammering at them relentlessly. Finally Irvine charged down the connty back, and as he was attempting to kick. Irvine secured the ball and passed to Mill, who scored in a fine position. Nicholls’ kick failed. The opposition then seemed to melt away and Cooke, Mill, and Hart all secured tries. Once more the place kicking was “off,” and none of them was -converted. At half-time the score was : All Blacks 15 Cumberland o When play was resumed the county team made a fast, inspiring effort and got so far down the field that the All Blacks were forced down. After this Cumberland simply collapsed, and the game went so completely in New Zealand’s favour as to be reminiscent of the tremendous energy the original All Blacks used to put in the second half of their games. The New Zealanders now took complete charge of the scrums and line-nuts and threw the ball about in a brilliant fashion. They seemed to be able to do as thev liked, and the English champions looked on dazed; It was the finest collective display the visitors have given in this tour, in strong contrast to some of the earlier games. Rarely was a pass dropped, despite the tremendous pace at which the men were going. Hart obtained three more tries and ten art, Cooke, and Nicholls one pnA The place-kicking, too, showed a gr«a+ improvement, as four out of six trie* were converted, three by White and nrie by Nepia. In the end the N*w Zen ladders heat the champions ridiculous ease, the final score being: All Blacks ; 41 Cumberland 0 Hart and Nicholls were the heroes of the match. It was simply impossible to stop the former, owing to the superb openings made for him bv his epmrades.

COMMENTS ON THE MATCH. (By Spectator). The expectations of a substantial win have-been more than realised. After a first spell, in which the Cumberlanders. reported to be the strongest of the Northern County teams, put up a. fairly determined , opposition, but' despite which the All Blacks crossed the line five times, our men simply ran over their opponents and gave them no chance whatever. The second spell score, even without the rest*, would l>e a runaway victory. The outstanding and 'most satisfactory . feature is that the backs were able to carry to a successful conclusion so many ot the brilliant attacking movements initiated during the game. This, with the fact that they woe li-i-ln*'- on the threequarter line, a five-eighths, and a wing the reading very good. Hart again demonstrated his ability as .a. scoring wing, and heat the opposition no less than four times. The work cf the half and inside backs must have been excellent. Nicholls is given the greatest share of the credit

for the opportunities given to the wingers, but the others must have done their work sbundly and taken their proper place in making the essential for a success —an effective combination, working like, a machine, the •if getting the ball away smartly from, the forwards, who let it out cleanly, and the five-eighths running straight and cutting in to. beat his man. It was freely admitted that Parker could play back if required, his scoring ability and his pace and dash making him a man who could play almost anywhere. The selection of the Test team is going to be a difficulty, for lie and Porter are both, if fit, good enough foa* the team. Nicholls and Nepia both appeared to be off colour in place-kick-ing, but a new kicker was brought out in the person of White, who cop verted three of the tries. The team are making football history and putting up a record which for total of points scored is little, if anything, behind their great forerunners of 1905. And this when it is recalled that the general opinion had been that the standard in the Old Country i s better than it was twenty years .ago. Still, comparisons are not generally good. One can only feel proud that the team are doing so well and showing form that seems likely -to continue. They are making good all the time, showing an all-round form and combination that is most satisfactory.

THE FIRST TEST.

All thoughts now centre oh the great struggle with the famous men of Erin next Saturday, in the historic city of Dublin. The Irishmen have a record for keen, good football, which will make their meeting with New Zealand an event to be awaited with the liveliest anticipation. They have also a great record behind them, which we may rest assured they will do their very utmost to uphold. One can honestly envy the luck of those New Zealanders who were able to go ivith the team and so be present at the groat struggle. The result of the match will serve to give a pretty reliable indication of the probable result .against England and Wales. Saturday will be a notable day in Dublin. The message over the wires on Sunday morning will he watched for by countless thousands all over tho world.

RESULTS TO DATE. Won by F. •July 5 —N.S.W., 1st test N.S.W. 1ft A. 20 July y—Metropolitan N.Z. 37 5 July 12—N.S.W., 2nd test N.Z. 21 5 July lb—N.S.W., 3rd test N.Z. 38 8 Sept. 13—Devon .. N.Z. 11 o Sept. 17—Cornwall N.Z. 29 6 Sept. 20 —Somerset . Sept. 25 —Gloucester N.Z. N.Z. 6 6 0 0 Sept. 27—Swansea N.Z. 39 3 Oct. 2—Newport N.Z. 13 10 Oct. 4—Leicester N.Z. 27 0 Oct. 8—North Midlands N.Z. 40 3 Oct. 1.1 —Cheshire N.Z. 18 5 Oct. 15—Durham N.Z. 43 7 Oct. 18—Yorkshire N.Z. 42 4 Oct. 22 —Lancashire .... N.Z. 23 0 Oct. 25—Cumberland .. N.Z. 41 0