RUGBY TEST MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19129, 22 September 1925, Page 6

RUGBY TEST MATCH.

BRILLIANT ALU BLACKS. fine display by visitors, team of great promise. The display by the Now South Wales Rugby representatives in the memorable test match against the redoubtable All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday showed that in a few yews they should have developed into a combination capable of testing tho strongest team New Zealand can produce. Several factors lead to this conclusion. In the first place the Dominion players have had much more experience in representative Lugbj than the great majority of the visitors, who are generally young. Three members of tho visiting team in the pack on Saturday are only 19, although are over 14st. in weight, and the third weighs 13st. It is almost certain that such young players who can put up a sterling game against New Zealand s be., team must improve wUhexpenence. In Saturday's match Nesv South Wales showed that already they are quite us good as any team that has come hero torn New South Wales. Their sure handling, straight running, resource, elective scrummaging and infrequent _ infringements indicateu physical condition and coaching along the right lines. , , . Even taking into consideration the fact that the New Zealanders had endured two seasons of strenuous football practically on end, and that some tune had elapsed since they last played together, there is no doubt that New South Wales took tho field on Saturday under handicaps. Strain ol Travelling. The most telling disadvantage was the effect of their extensivo travelling and frequent matches. The visitors arrived at Wellington on August 18 and played a combined Wellington team afc Palmers ton North on August 22. They then went to the South Island and oa August 26 and 29 and September 2 met teams at Greymouth, Dunedin and Christchurch respectively. Returning to the North Island they played at Hawera, Masterton, Gisborne, Rotoraa and Taaroarunui in the space of 12 days. There was thus omy two days' rest before tho test match, and as the teams encountered were in most eases strong and the travelling very trying their display on Saturday was exceptionally good. It would appear that the most important game should have been played early in the tour instead of at the finish. The absence of Thorn, the New South Wales captain, through an injury, was also felt, as he is au experienced leader and has the reputation of being a splendid forward, who rises to the occasion. Tho clean and brilliant game on Saturday will not soon be forgptten by the great crowd of spectators, who no doubt wish they could witness the next test of supremacy. . New Zealand's exhibition was magnificent especially in the second Y half, when they threw the ball about with remarkable ease, and demonstrated skill which gave an idea of the factors that enabled them to vanquish 'all-comers in their tour of the British Isles. Final Match oJ Tour. New .'South Wales left Auckland yesterday rcorning by train for Whangarei, where they meet 'the North Auckland representatives to-morrow. .They return to Auckland on Thursday evening rnd Bail ,by the Moeraki for Sydney on Friday. v The New' South Wales team for the match against North Auckland will be:—Fullback, King; threequarters, N. Smithy' Dorah. George, Foot©; halfbacks, Lawton (captain), Snell; forwards, ,iudd. Blackwood, Woods. Tqlfprd, Shaw, Laycock, Ford, Rigney. • Emergencies: Backs, Horrisey, Reid, Grossman, Toby: forwards, Greatorex. Following are the results of matches played by the New South Wales' team since thoy commenced their tour on August 22: — . "" . - * iV. Wellington • H'orowhcnua- , Manawatu , . .. _.. Won 20 to 8 *V. West Coaflt-Bttller .. .. Won 32 to 14 V. Otago-Southland .. . . Won 22 to 17 V. Canterbury-South Canterbury .. .. ~ Lost 18 to 22 v. TaranaM-Wangauui .. Won 1" to 11 V. Wairarapa-Buah ... .. Won 38 to 8 V. Poverty Bay-lJact Coast .. Won 11 to 3 V. King Conn try Waikato Won 19 to 16 V. Rotorua .. . ... Won SO to 8 Y. New Zealand .. ~ . Lost 10 to 86 Tho team has- scored 208 points, while 143 have been registered against it. , , End of Season In Sight. Within a month the Auckland season will be brought to. a close. Next Saturday the local representatives will play Wellington at Eden Park. Many exciting games have resulted from the meetings of tho two rival provincial teams, arid the forthcoming event is sure to bo no exception. The Wellington team arrives on Thursday morning after playing King Country at Taumarunui io-morrowc The Auckland B representatives leave on Saturday morning to play the annual match with Thames. The Auckland team which defeated Taranabi on Saturday by 18 points to 12, returned yesterday morning by charabanc. On October 3 Taranaki will play a return game at Edoh Park. The season will conclude on October 10 with the V. Badeley benefit match between Ponsonby seniors, Auckland club champions, and Poneko, Wellington champion/ senior team for the season. '<. AUCKLAND TEAMS SELECTED. GAME AGAINST WELLINGTON The Auckland team to play Wellington on Saturday is, with one exception, composed of the players who represented the province' in the drawn game with Hawke's Bay on September 12. It is as follows Fullback.—Good acre. Threequarters.—Olseu. Lucas, Matson. Five-eighths.—-Cooke, Sheen. Halfback.-—McManus. Rover.—Keene. Forwards.—Palmer, Lomas, L. Knight, A. Knight, McWilliams, Batty, Righton. Emergencies.—Gould, Webber, O'Brien, nook. The B.team to play at Thames is:— Fullback, Gillespie; threequarters, Loft, Svme, Brodsrick; five-eighths, Carter, Menzies; half, liirk; rover, Chaiter; forwards, Peters, Fiulayson, McDonald, Koreiison, Gallagher, I. Keary, Bean, Emergencies r McGinley, Solomon, Pulham, Fmlay. Both teams aro requested to attend practice on Thursday evening at eictht o clock. Any player selected for the Ihames match, • who is unable to mako the trip is requested to advise the secretary of tne union without delay. FRANKLIN CHALLENGE SHIELD. : (*B¥ TELEGRAPH.—OWN COItHESPONDENT. ]J TUAKATL Monday. The Tuakau Club successfully defended the Imperial Challenge Shieid against the Bombay Club in a match at Tuakau on Saturday, the holders winning by & points to 3. Trie game was fast and open. Tuakau scored first, a good passing movement ending in Sroeed, at wing thiee- , quarter, crossing the line. In the second 5 half Tuakau repeated the movement, Smeed again scoring. Bombay tried hard • to but their only score was a penalty goal by W. Lowrie. THE OPOTIKI UNION. [nX TELEGRAPH."OWi CORRESf ONIJENT. ] OPOTIKL Monday. The Ruffbv Union senior competition wag continued on Saturday. Play was