ALL BLACKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 29 December 1924, Page 5

ALL BLACKS

SECOND WIN AGAINST LON, DON COUNTIES 28 TO 3 (By Electric Telegraph-Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cabin Association) LONDON, Dec. 27. The All Black team to play London Counties was:—Nepia, Svenson, Cooke, Steele. Nieliolis, McGregor, Mill, Parker Irvine, Donald, Masters, C. Brownlie, M. Brownlie, Guppies, and Richardson. The' Leant was in excellent, fettle, except Stewart, who has slight quinsy. Shoals of messages from New Zealand were received wishing the team success. Many people considered that to-mor-row’s match would bo as hard as that against England. The ground at Blackheath holds only 20,000 people, ancl a huge crush is expected. After the match the team will return to Deal to complete its preparation for the international game on the following Saturday. The All Blacks defeated London Counties in the second match by 28 to 3, the margin being the same as in the first game against the Londoners when tho score was 31 to 6. I lie London team underwent- many changes, only seven of the original selection taking the field. Practically all the internationals for the match on -Sat-uiday next, including Raymond, were withdrawn. Ten thousand spectators braved most atrocious weather. Heavy and continuous rain fell, and the ground was waterlogged in places. The Londoners spotless” white uniforms soon took on their opponents’ colour. Tho New Zealanders kicked off a"a i nst a strong disconcerting diagonal wind. The London forwards, usingtheir feet chvverlv in the loose, established an early ‘footing in the New Zealanders’ territory and for the first fifteen minutes the YU. Blacks were mostly defending with Nicholls, Cooke and Svenson most effective; then Cooke broke through in the centre of the field and dribbled on to the Londoners’ line, w I, CV e C. Brownlie secured in the looso and dived across near the posts and Nicholls converted. Despite numerous penalties against the AIL Blacks, the Londoners were allowed little respite. The New 'Zealand backs handled the creasy ball brilliantly and with certainty The next score was sensational. Hamilton' Wicks, profiting from a slip by Svenson, r<vn brill inn tly right np to Nepia. but his pass went astray and Nicholls gathered up the ball arid passed to M. Brownlie, who ran forty yards, before passing to Donald, who scored unoppospd between Die posts. Nicholls failed to convert. The Londoners were next, to score. Steel slipped and lost- the hall, winch the fleet-footed Gibbs annexed and ran .along the touchline to Nepia; he short-punted past the full back and scored in the corner, The kick at goal failed. . Immediately afterwards, Nepia. lan into position (o set the All Blacks backs away and the ball went from Steel to M. Brownlie, who forced lus wav across. Nicholls failed with the kick and at half/time the, score was 11 3 With the assistance of tho wind in the second spell the Now Zealanders dominated the game to an even greater extent, than hitherto. -the ball was rarely out of the Londoners’ twentyfive. ‘ Soon after resumption _ Cooke tackled the Counties’ full back in possession and Svenson, who was backing up, paved the way for C. Brownlie to. score. Nicliolls’s kick hit- the post and rebounded and failed. ® Within a } lew minutes C. Brownlie repeated bis pciformance after a brilliant- run by Svenson, and Nicholls again failed to pilot the heavy, slippery ball between Die posts. From now on the New Zealanders took complete'control of the game, giving a. magnificent, demonstration <;f wet., weather football. Three more tries were scored in quick succession. Parker ran across from a scrum near the line, Nepia just failing in a great effort, to convert-, tho ball striking .tb6 post. Richardson was the next scorer and his try was converted bv Nicholls. Irvine completed the New 'Zealanders’ tally, crossing from a scramble near the lme. Nieliolis failed. There were numerous other scoring chances which were nullified by uncertain handling.. Nevertheless, the passing of backs and forwards alike reached a high standard of excellence, completely demoralising their opponents. Having regard to the conditions, which were the worst the tourists have vet experienced, ifc was an excellent game, pronouncedly in the New Zealanders’ favour. Their forwards were all brilliant, with the’ Brownlies, Richardson, Donald and Irvine the most, conspicuous. Svenson and Cooke were in magnificent form and Nicholls’s play demonstrated that' he has lost nothing in versatility by Ins enforced spell. Nepia performed a very easy task with his customary soundness. It is interesting to note that the New Zealanders! eight tries were 'all scored by the forwards and that, both front row men succeeded in crossing their opponents’ line, _ 1 , > LONDON, Dec. 28. The Observer says the All Blacks’ victory exploded tho old theory that wet conditions would hamper the New Zealanders’, attack. Long before half time the visitors wero covered with mud, friend and foe alike being indistinguishable, yet the New Zealanders genius triumphed over all handicaps. NEW ZEALAND AND SCOTLAND LONDON, Dec. 29. Mr Dean, replying for the All Blacks at the London Rugby Union’s dinner, expressed the hope that the British team visiting New Zealand in 1926 would include Scottish players. He dissociated himself from the suggestion of friction between Scotland and New Zealand.