ALL BLACKS BEATEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19377, 12 July 1926, Page 10

ALL BLACKS BEATEN.

* - '<»■ * NEW SOUTH WALES WIN. TWENTY-SIX TO TWENTY, ; SURPRISE IN FIRST TEST. I HOME TEAM BRILUANT. ' By Telegraph.—Press Association —Copyright. (Received 9.35 p.m,) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, July 11. New South Wales defeated the All Blacks in the first, test match yesterday by 26 points to 20. The game was played at the Agricultural Grounds in perfect weather and before an attendance of 40,000' spectators. Tho ground was in excellent order. Brown replaced Stevenson at fullhacic in the New Zealand team, Mill going to five-eighth position and Bailey taking his place at halfback. The Auckland five-eighths, Sheen, was unable to play owing to flight indisposition and Stevenson, Svenson and Robilliard stood down owing to slight leg injuries. Both teams were given rousing receptions on entering the field. New South Wales won the toss and played from tho north end with a slight advantage from wind and sun. Home Forwards Excel. Following a penalty against New South Wales the All Blacks commenced to attack and gained a good position. Tho defence of New South Wales proved sound, however, and tho home team retaliated with sharp attacks, play hovering in the All Blacks' quarters. Intercepting a loose pass by Porter, Bowers, with a great burst of speed, .crossed at tho corner, but lost possession over the line. An exchange of kicks between Nicholls and Boss left play in midfield. Up to this stage the New South Wales forwards were showing wonderful form. An offside penalty against the All Blacks gavo Grossman a kick at goai, but he failed. Following an electric run by Elvey, the Ail Blacks for the first tinie gained a position close to the home line. Nicholls unsuccessfully attempted to drop a goal, Ross finding the line well down with a return kick. Ross was playing consistently safe as fullback for New South Wales. He relieved a dangerous position, gaining the line well out. Finlayson made a characteristic rush to Ross, who proved equal to the occasion, bringing down the North Auckland giant in brilliant fashion. New Zealand Takes Lead, Immediately afterwards M. Brownlie gained possession, ran well into position,' and transferred to Porter, who scored. Nicholls narrowly missed with, the kick. —New Zealand, 3; New South Wales, 0. Play had then been in progress for 20 minutes. New South Wales retaliated, Crossman making a wonderful run, but being pushed out within inches of the All Blacks' line. Five minutes later a smart passing rush saw Sheebah in possession. He beautifully "dummied" his way through, and scored under the posts. (Crossman made a lamentable attempt to convert the try. —New Zealand, 3; New South Wales, 3. An off-side infringement iff ~ front of the goal gave" Nicholls the opportunity of adding three points to the Ail Blacks' 6core, and he succeeded.—New Zealand, 6; New South-Wales, 3. . Splendid combined play by. the All Black backs almost, put Elvey over; but Crossman's-speed enabled him. to haul,the Canterbury man down. Both sides were playing brilliantly and the pace was gradually being increased. Offside By Porter Expensive.. Following a firte' attractive passing besut; "King passed to Bowers on the'loft wing and he dashed over for a try.' Ross made a good but unsuccessful attempt- to goal, and the scores were level at' 6 all.; t V New South Wales again rushed the ball to the All Blacks* -line, arid -from a" scramble the referee awarded 1 a force-' down. Porter was offside twicii in succe'ssion, the second occasion being immediately in front of the post,- and Ros3 kicked a goal, giving New South Wales the lead by 9 points to 6 amid intense excitement. Just before half-time Grossman, who ■was playing a magnificent game, almost crossed New Zealand's line bat he put his foot outside. The spell ended with the All Blacks attaching, the score being:— New South Wales ' L. * s 9 New Zealand . . . ... 6 Immediately after the resumption Porter T?as caught offside running round the scrum and Ross, from 40yds. out, placed a magnificent goal. New South Wales, 12: New Zealand, 6. The All Blacks attacked) vigorously. Ross marked on his own lino and brought relief. Sheehan and King made prominent runs and put the New Zealand line in danger, but the forwards saved. Home Side Gain Big Lead. Bowers then made an opening and passed to Towers. Ford handled next and transferred to Crossman, who scored in a good position. Boss converted: —New South Wales, 17; New Zealand, 6. Bad handling by the All Black backs left New South Wales in an attacking position. From a forward rush Woods broke away and passed to Thorne, v.'ho transferred to Ford, the latter dashing over. Boss failed to convert:—New South Wales, 20; New Zealand, 6, At this stage play was exhilarating. The All Black forwards broke away, but a magnificent left-foot kick by Ross found the line past lialx-way. All Blacks Great Efforts. The All Blacks now made titanic efforts. Finlayson, Porter and Stewart combined in a bout from which a score almost resulted, but: a forward pass stopped the movement. Another attack followed, Stewart forcing his way over at the corner. Nicholls missed the kick; — New South Wales, 20; New Zealand, 9. Play in the second spell had then been in progress 20 minutes. Elvey was prominent in a brilliant ruu," which took the ball to the home team's territory, where a penalty was awarded and Nicholls kicked a goal:—New South Wales, 20; New Zealand, 12. Much hard, willing forward play and close rucking ensued in midfield. Fox was temporarily injured. Following a good New Zealand passing rush—the best the visiting backs had given—Blake gained much ground. Ross and Ballcy exchanged kicks, the bail going out in New Zealand territory. A New Zealand player was adjudged off side coming round the scrum and this |ave Ross a chance from mid-field. He succeeded with a magnifcent kick, making the score:—New South -Wales, 23; New Zealand, 12.

With ten minutes to go the All Black vanguard, led by Finlayson and M. Brcwvnlie, made great efforts to retrieve the .situation and Finlayson almost scored but .New South Wales forced. A splendid individual effort by Lomas, who showed good footwork, resulted in his diving over the line and scoring in the .corner. Nicliolls made a good effort but ifhiled to convert:—New South Wales, 23; sTew Zealand, 15. Til** All Blacks renewed their attack. Portion caught Rbss on the latter's 'line, but jthe position "was saved by the ball rollirs into touch. From a scramble on the line C. Brownlie farced his way over and scored. Nichols's succeeded with a splendid kick:— New South Wales, 23; New Zealand, 20. Play continued at a tremendous pace. Supei work by Elvey, M. Brownlie and Cooke almost resulted in a score by the latter,, but a pass from the ground saved the home side. Porfifcr was caught off-side and Boss kicked the ball out close to New Zealand's line. From the line-out Meagher secured!; a mark from a knock-on and kicked ii brilliant goal. Time was called a few minutes later with the score: — 01 NeiW South Wales ,«• * • 26 Ncav" Zealand > . . . . . 20 •COMMENTS ON MATCH. ALL EQLACKS LITTLE; UNLUCKY PENACXY OF OFF-SIDE PLAY. Australian a.nd N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. July 10. New JEiouth Wales' victory over the All Blacks created a profound sensation, exceeding the most sanguine expectations. The off-inde proclivities of the visitors cost them the game. Nevertheless the home silde practically outplayed the visitors. In the second spell New South Wales rose in birilliancy in crescendo fashion. In this spell both sides gave a dazzling exhibition, the increased efficiency of the All Blacks; being met by the vastlyimproved defence of New South Wales, particularly* in tackling. The result remained in tloubt almost to the close. The All \ Blacks were somewhat unlucky, par ticularly in forward rushes being stopped on the line. The usual cohesion of the All Blacks' back division was somewltet below the usual standard until too la<ie in the game. The passing of the New South Wales backs, on the other hand,; was consistently correct, although inclined to be lateral.' The inside backs, ,teheehan, King and Meagher, were above their usual form. Ross was the hero of tihe match. . Brown served well at fullback. Cooke, Nicholls and Elvey- were the best of the backs. In thie vanguard Lomas, Finlayson, M. Brovmlie, Stewart and Porter, apart from ouer-eagerness, played most serviceably throughout. The All Blaicks were penalised eight times in the first, spell and New South Wales four. In the second spell both sides were penalised almost equally. New South Wales gjainecl possession .of the ball in quite 6*t) per cent, of the scrums. From the line-cmt each side secured the ball fairly evenly. The game was contested throughout in excellent spirit. The All Blades' play is considered by experts to have been below the expectations raised by the reputations of the players, but the game throughout was fully up to international- standard. ; 1 i '