ALL BLACKS WIN AGAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18896, 19 December 1924, Page 13

ALL BLACKS WIN AGAIN.

DEFEAT OF HAMPSHIRE.

twenty-two to nil.

r GAME FINISHES IN FOG.

GOOD COMBINATION SHOWN.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. A., and N.Z. LONDON. Dec. 17. Tho All Blacks defeated Hampshire at Portsmouth to-day by 22 points to 0 before a crowd of 15,000 spectators on the Association ground Tho ground was so crowded that the spectators encroached within five yards of the lino.

Tho New Zealand team was:—Nepia; Hart, Lucas, Svenson; Cooke, McGregor; Mill; Parker; Irvine, Donald, Harvey, M. Brownlie, West, White, Cupples.

From Parker's kick-off tho All Blacks initiated an immediate attack, but scoring chances were nullified by McGregor twice dropping passes. The Hampshire forwards took up tho challenge with epirit nnd carried play to the All Blacks' line. Twice Mill brought relief by finding touch at critical moments. After these early exchanges, play slowed down owing to the heaviness of the ground, and became mostly a dour and desperate struggle between the packs. Hampshire quito holdtheir own.

The old international halfback, KerBh:> w was conspicuous in several attacking movements. Once tho international wing-threequarter, Hamilton Wicke-s, made a long and brilliant run. Then the Irish international, Stephenson, brought off a similar performance, but Nepia proved equal to the occasion. After half-an-hour Mill set the New Zealand backs moving, and Svenson inK.'tsed to Donald, who scorcd a try that epia failed to convert-. All Blacks 3 Hampshire 0 Just on half-time, Cooke nnd Parker figured in a brilliant dribbling rush, and the former crowned a splendid effort with a fry that White converted. The score at half-time was :—

All Blacks . . .. . . 8 Hampshire 0 The Second Spell. Up to this stage play had not been brilliant, hut had been of the hardest and closest description. On resuming, Hampshire made two i;plendid attacks. Bight on tho New Zealand line Cooko broke away, and dribbled fifty yards down the centre, with the result that McGregor scored in a good position. White failed to convert. All Blacks 11 Hampshire 0 The New Zealanders* combination began to assert itself, and Cooke narrowly missed a drop-kick at goal. Hampshire's forward; were penalised for off-side, and Nepia Kicked a magnificent goal almost from the tcuchline. All Blacks . . ..14 Hampshire 0 At this stage a heavy fog enveloped the ground, and it was most difficult to distinguish the players. The game continued to be fought on Hampshire's line. Mill worked his -favourite "blind side" trick, enabling Svenson to score at tho corner. Nepia failed to convert. All Blacks 17 Hampshire . . .. .. 0 The next score was the result of a delightful interchange of passing by Mill, McGregor and Svenson, as tho result of which McGregor scored his second try of the match. Hepia kicked an excellent goal. All Blacks .. w. 22 Hampshire .. .. • • 0 Toward the end of the game the fog increased, making it impossible to pick out the players, and " lost ball" several times momentarily held up tho game. Tho All Blacks"' unfailing combination was the deciding factor. Hampshire performed well individually. Tho visitors were only twice penalised. White, who captained the All Blacks, retired in the closing stages of the game, with a recurrence of his shoulder trouble. He had been playing a magnificent game. Among the others Donald, Cupples, Brownlie, Cooke, McGregor and Svenson wero tho most conspicuous.

The complete record c>£ the All Blacks of 1905 and the results of the matches played by the present team to dato are as follow:— igoj I'JOS. Devon Y. 11—0 Devon . . 55-4 Cornwall .. 2'J—o Cornwall . . -11 0 Somerset . . (>—o Bnstol ■ 1, I Gloucester . f,—o 32—0 Swansea .. 30-3 Leicester .. 28-0 Newport . . 13—10 Middlesex . 34—0 Leicester . 27—0 Durham . . 16—0 N. Midlands 40—3 Hartlepool . f.3-0 Cheshire . ISt—s Vthuni land 31—0 Durham . . 43—7 Gloucester . 44—0 Yorkshire . 42—4 Somerset . . 22—0 Lancashire 23—0 Devonport Cumberland 41 —0 Albion , . -1 Ireland .. 6—o Midland _ Ulster . . 28—0 r , Counties .21—u N'thum'land 27-4 2 Camhridf.fi . s—o lilackheath 32- 0 London Coun- Gxfc.rd. . . 4i — 0 tie? 31—6 Cambridge . 14—0 Oxford .! ' 33—15 Ricl mond . 17—0 Cardiff .. 16—8 Bedford .. 41—0 Wales .. 19—0 .Scotland '. . 12—7 Llanelly . . B—3 Vv\ Scotland 22-0 East M'lands 31—7 Irelai.d . . 15—0 Wasw'kshire 20—0 Munser .. 33—0 Combined Em;l«vul . . J 5 Services 25 3 Chfrlu.'nlium < Hampshire' 22—n Cheshire .. 34—0 Yorkshire . 40—O Total points 607—81 Wales .. o—3 Glamorgan . 9—j) Newport . . <>—3 Cardiff . . 10—8 Swansea . . 4—3 Total points 830—39 The remaining fixtures uf tiio All Blacks' tour are:— December 27, v. London Counties at Twickeniiaui. . • January 3, v. England, at Twickenham. January 11, v. France, at Paris. January 18. v France, at Toulouse.