NARROW MARGIN

Northern Advocate, 22 June 1925, Page 5

NARROW MARGIN

NEW ZEALAND VICTORY SECOND RUGBY TEST. DROPPED GOAL TO NIL. (Received 9.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The second Rugby test match, New South Wales versus New Zealand, 'was played in threatening weather. The gTOund was soft after overnight and morning rain. Sixteen thousand people were present, including the Go-vernor-General (Lord Forster), Sir Dudley de ChaiT (Governor of New South Wales) and Lord Stradbroke (Victorian Governor), who shook hands with the members of both teams, who took the field as follows:— NEW SOUTH WALES. Pull-back: Ross. Three-quarters: Bondfield, Reid, Morrissey and Smith. Five-eighths': George. Half-back: Snell. Forwards: Thorn, Laycock, Ribney, Fox, Shaw, Erby, Tarlton and Ritchie. NEW ZEALAND. Full-back: Harris. Three-quarters: Law, Blake, Wise. Five-eighths: Matson and Johnson. Half-back: Wright. Forwards: Donald (wing), Lomas, Ivirkpatrick, Finlayson, Righton, Ivnight, Walters and Dickson. IMPREGNABLE DEFENCE.

New Zealand lost the toss and kicked off against a fairly strong wind. The game was a much better display than the first test. The ball wa? greasy and prevented accurate handling. The tackling by both teams was good. New South Wales were unfortunate in losing Thorn in the middle of the first half. He was suffering from an injury to a calf of the leg sustained m Wednesday's match. Breckenridge replaced Kim. Throughout, the game was very even; in fact, neither line was crossed, which speaks volumes for the defence of both sides. New South Wales in the first half made good use of the wind, but some of their kicks were too hard and the ball went dead. Some- nice passing by both sides was witnessed. Snell behind the New South Wales pack was well supplied with the ball and set the backs moving in smart fashion. The ball frequently passed through all the backs' hand?. The New Zealand backs also handled well. Their backing up was a feature of the ganre. Both fullbacks played excellently. Ross' line kicks were a delight.

Knight, in his first appearance of the tour, was prominent in all forward movements. Righton, Finlayson, and Dickson also showed up. There were many off-side penalties. Donald in particular was an offender. The referee allowed him no latitude. On the whole the game was a forward one, nicely interspersed by back movements. . WINNING SHOT. Harris' winning kick was an excellent one. He secured the ball just inside the New South Wales half, slightly at an angle, and kicked a beautiful goal. Having the wind behind them, New South Wales did most of the attacking in the first half. New Zealand commenced the attack and carried play to the Now South Wales twenty-five, where they were awarded a penalty for a scrum offence, but missed. Then Bondfield relieved with a nice ling kick. A faulty pass at half-way by Snell let Donald away,, but Morissey gained possession, slipped past several New Zealanders anr] sent the ball to the New Zealand line, where Harris relieved. Ross returned and sent the ball out at the New Zealand corner. From an ensuing scramble New Zealand forced. OFF-SIDE DONALD. Donald, being off-side, gave Ross an opportunity, but his kick fell short. Play hung in New Zealand territory. "Blake, Matson, Harris and Wise all

made strenuous efforts to transfer plav from the dagger zone. A bad kick by George let New Zealand into a good position, but Ross was there. New South Wales had another attempt to "kick a goal, but the ball went outside. From a scrum Wright worked the blind «ide cleverly, but offside play enabled New South Wales to return the baTl to the New Zealand half. Wise, "Mfttson-Smd then Knight and Finlayson made good attempts to'take the ball up-field, but each time it was returned. The h.*:lf-time whistle saw New South Wales pressing New Zealand hard,, but the visitors' defence was sound and thp spell ended without any score. ! THE ONLY SCORE. On resumption the New Zealand forwards launched a strong attack and the ball went out at the corner. Clarke, ' being offside, saved New South Wales from a dangerous position. Then the ball came out to Harris, who scored the only points of the day. New Zealand continued to press. Ross found the line with good kicks twice i.i succession and carried play io half-way. The New Sontff Wales forwards took' the ball at foot to the New Zealand

line, but Harris was safe and made a long kick. Quick following up by Wise saw the ball out at the New South Wales twentv-flve. SPEED SAVES VISITORS. New South Wales thereafter did their share of attacking. Several times the N*ew Zealand line was endangered, but they always managed to extricate themselves. Snell was getting the ball away nicely to the backs from line-outs, where Fox was playing a great game. Law made a good opening, but was collared on the line. Morrissey returned with a good run and kicked at half-way. The New Zealanders' superior speed saved the situation. The New South Wales backs were initiating some splendid movements, but none succeeded in crossing the line. In the last few 1 minutes New South Wales attacked strongly, but the visit-* ing forwards saved and the final whistle blew without alteration of the score, which was— Now Zealand 4 , New South Wales 0 —A. and N.Z.