FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 November 1924, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE ALL BLACKS

TO-DAY’S MATCH

The, All Blacks are to play Northumberland at Newcastle this afternoon. This is the sixteenth match of the torn - . In 1905 the score was 31—0.

R. F. Oakes, the English international, has the following notes on -the County:—“Northumberland, the most fancied of the Northern last season, must he accounted just a little unfortunate, for she had a v.ellbalanced side and gave some delightful exhibitions of good class footer.* A little luck, or rather I should say freedom from had luck, would have made a vast difference in the final table or results, and one cannot hut help feeling -a little sympathetic towards this County of genuine sportsmen.” Referring to. chib football in the. northern counties, the same writer tornarks: “Turning to chib football, enthusiasm was not only well maintained, but there was a distinct allround advance in the class of footer played. IVhile there has never 1 een anything lacking in the real spirit of the game, one must candidly confess that, with few exceptions, the higher intelligence somehow or other was Lot always forthcoming, and if vim and devil were there ‘in abundance, tlie ’finer points were often missing. One 'could not but observe a manifestly improved intelligence brought to hear, in club games last season, but it is not outside the province of thoughtful anticipation to believe that even a gvcarev improvement will be seen next/'