LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 13 July 1925, Page 5

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

NEW ZEALANDERS AT SYDNEY

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.? (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association

SYDNEY, July 12

The New Zealand Rugby League team, though defeated by seven Jo tour, won all the honours in a hard rugged conflict with New South Wales in the presence of 25,000. The Black vanguard gave a fine exhibition throughout the contest but the hacks were unable to finalise the forwards good work when the critical moment arrived. Though only one try was registered the New Zealanders should have crossed several times. In fact they did on two occasions, but breaclies extricated the Blues from awkward situations. The visitors deputed Brown to bottle up New South Wales star winger, Wearing, and Brown succeeded admirably. The visitor tackled his vis a vis determinedly whenever tiie latter touched the leather. 0 Rourko instead of transferring to the wing cutin smartly on one occasion, leaving Dufty to contemplate Wearing, who was expected to receive the ball but did not. Apart 4 from this error, ol which Iho most brilliant full blacks could be pardoned, Dufty gave a. sterling display, his powerful line kicking and deadly tackling being rcminescent of Doughty, the English full hack and Sullivan who loured Australia and New Zealand in .1924. Wearing converted a try and then I.aing in quick succession landed two penalty goals, at the interval the motes being 5 to 4. ‘Dumvorlli was car ried from the field owing to slight concussion, Hayes replacing him. Delgrasso was injured in the right arm but continued playing. After the spell Dclgrasvm decided not to resume and following a brief conference, Parkes was allowed to replace him.

Play in the second session was decidedly open but rot brilliant in consequence of the effective tackling of both sides. Mouatl, O’Brien and Avery shone in all conquering invasions to New South Wales goal area but faulty handling checked each movement. The Bluos apparently felt a beaten side and certainly plavd like one, their customary enterpiise and sparkle willing under a determind spoiling tactics of the visitors. Penalty for an illegal tackle was •onverted into a goal by Wearing late in the second half. I.aing subsequently failing with a eamparatively easy penalty in the opponents twenty-five. The Blacks electrified (lie spectators with a brilliant three-quarter rush on time but n knock on near the line spoilt a certain try. With a little polish the visitors are expected to turn the tables in the future.