ALL BLACKS BEATEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11874, 7 July 1924, Page 7

ALL BLACKS BEATEN

NEW SOUTH WALES TRIUMPHS IN FIRST TEST NEW ZEALAND BACKS INFERIOR TO DEFENDERS MANY CHANCES LBT BY FAULTY HANDLING SCORES VERY CLOSE AFTER STRENUOUS CAME The All Blacks played their first match on Saturday, and were beaten. The fast and more experienced backs of ‘New South Wales, brilliant in attack and defensive alike, were the decisive factor. The New Zealanders threw away many chances by faulty handling of the ball. New South Wales scored five tries, and New Zealand three. New Zealand converted two tries, and New South Wales one. Each side scored a penalty goal. Cooke (who was the best of the New Zealand backs), Hart, and Masters were the try-getters. Sydney naoefs comment on the faulty handling by the New Zealand backs, and declare that they at least are not up to the standard set by the All Blacks of 1905. At the same time they say the present team contains some champion forwards.

HARD, BUT CLEAN BCORE INDICATES MERITS N.S.W, BACKS BRILLIANT. Bv Telegraph-—Press Assn.—Copyright ('Received July 6, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 6. The All Blacks played the first match, of their tour on the Show Ground, against New South Wales, in the presence of 30,000 people. There was practically ho wind of sun, and the ground was in good condition. New South wales won by 20 points to 16. Thn game was won by more experienced backs. The New Zealand train Worked hard, hut the fast New South Wales backs and forwards smothered moat of . their movements. The state or the scores gives a fair indication of the relative merits of the teams. The New Zealand line-kicking was faulty. Several fine passing rushes by both aides were witnessed The game was hard and absolutely Clean. THE TEAMS NEW SOUTH WALES (Blue). Full-back.—O. Nothling. Three-quarters.—O. 0. Grossman, L. V. Wogan, R. G. Stanley, N. C. Smith. Five-eighths.-—W-. B. ; J. Sheehan. Half.—A. S. B. Walker. Forwards.—T. S. R. Davis, J. G. Blackwood, Ritchie, J. Bonner, .0. L. Fox, E. J. Thorn, G. O. Hoskins, and E NV Greatorex. Nothling replaced Toby as full-back owing to Toby’s illness. Morrissey was dropped from the three-quarter line. NEW ZEALAND (Black), Full-baric.—G. Nepia. Three-quartere.—H. W. Brown, F. W. Lucas. A. Hart. Fiveeighths—A. B. Cooke, C. B. Badeley. Ha U.—3. Mill. Forwards.—W. R. Irvine, H. Q. Munro, R. R. Masters, M. Brownlie, O. Brownlie. J. Richardson. A. White, C. G. Porter (wing). THE PLAY HOME TEAM WINS SCRUMS. New South Wales Won the toss. New Zealand attacked from the kick-off, but Hart went out of touch at the corner. Play worked backwards and forwards for a time, Munro being conspicuous in some good work. Porter, who was probably the best player on the field, was always handy. Two New 1 South Wales hacks made a dangerous rush, and had only Nepia to para, but Fox fumbled. New South Wales was getting the ball mostly from the scrums. Lucas played a good game, and with Brown and Hart took the ball to the New South Wales linte, but Nothling saved. From a scrum the ball went through the hands of ' aB the New Sr,oth Wales hacks, but a knock-on spoiled the movement, and the ball went out at tjie comer. From a line-out at half-way the New South Wales backs got moving, and after, a fine run Croesman scored at the comer, after twenty-five minutes’ play. The kick at 'goal failed. Five minutes later, as the result of good back work, Smith crossed, and Nothling converted. New South Wales ... 9 points New Zealand Nil

NEPIA KICKS A GOAL. Bren play followed for a time, anil then a penalty just outside, the home territory enabled Nepia to kick a goal A few minutes before half-time Rica 1 ardson picked the ball up, and aftet it had passed to Cooke. Brown, and Lucas it went bock to Cooke, who ran under the posts. Nepia was successful with the kick. New South Wales ... 8 points New Zealand 8 points Just before the spell ended, as the result of Stanley’s work. New South Wales again scored, ana the figures lead: New South Wales ... 11 point* New Zealand 8 points THE SECOND HALF. In the second half a splendid run h> Brown took the play to the line, where a penalty was awarded the visitors, but Nepia’e kick fell short. Give and take play followed, until " the New Zealanders were penalised on tbeir own line, and Stanley kicked a goal. New South Wales ... 14 {mints New Zealand 8 points The All Blacks now began to make their weight felt. From a loose rush Mill passed to Cooke, who transferred to Hart who scored. Nepia’s kick at goal failed. New South Wales ... 14 {mints New Zealand 11 points RAPID SCORING BY NEW SOUTH WALES. New South Wales now showed great football. From a line-out Hoskin* made an opening, and rise bid! passed f to Thom, who crossed the line, hut I ms try was not converted. Stanley

FORWARDS RULE. The big Mack forwards dominated the game whenever rocking or line-outs were the order, but the home pack had been trained to the minute, end used every endeavour to let their backs have the bail. It was not Porter’s fault that “Watkka” Walker served his backs so well for though the 3-2-3 pack heeled the ball from over >seventy per cent, of the scrums, the wing-forward, speedy and brilliant, worked like two men. For more than half the spell fortunes fluctuated, each b&okline beginning some fine movements only to spoil them at the critical stage. A MISSED TRY. Thus New Zealand lost a try which was fairly earned by a swift cut in by Lucas, and the blues when Sheehan began a dash which saw Smith fumble at the wyong time. The pace was Often terrific and could nob lost. Whsn Owen Crossman drew first blood for his side after a great ajnd determined dash it came as a positive relief, and it was not long before with an extra spurt Stanley came round outside Smith and drew the last man to let the speedy winger through the solid All Black defence orice again. CLOSE PLAY.

There was little between the teams from then on. The blacks pressed desperately, and the rival forwards engaged in the blue territory, until for an infringement. Nepia was given a shot at goal and magnificently succeeded. Four New Zealanders worked together for the equalising score, and it was a brilliant one, Cooke handling twice and bounding over like a stag

started another movement, and passed to Greatorex, who scored, hut the attempt at goal was abortive. New South Wales ... 20 points New Zealand 11 points In the last five minutes New Zealand attacked hotly. Cooke made several Ineffectual attempts to score, hut finally Masters managed to work hri way over from the loose and Richard son converted. The final score wasi New South Wales ... 20 points New Zealand 16 points GAME ALL BLACKS’ DEFECT FAULTY HANDMNG. The “Sunday Sun” says: “New Zea- • land was a trifle unlucky to lose. Yet perhaps it was the team’s own fault, tor mishandling of the ball was responsible for the loss of at least four tries. It was eolely due to this Serious defect that the All Blacks failed to win this test. Several times thei'. forwards were within a yard or two of the New South Wales line, and had only two men to beat. That they did not soore was not the fault of the defenders, but was due to the Blacks giving bad passes, or dropping the ba'l “The New South Welshmen made fewer mistakes, and made better use of the ball.” BACKS NOT IMPRESSIVE “SOME CHAMPION FOR WARDS.” “The ‘‘Sunday News” says. "the tackling of the home side was the winning factor. It must he said that'the New Zealanders, or at any rate their hacks, are not up to tho standard of the 1905 team, hut they have , some! ohampion forwards. The haoks failed to swing the hall about with the same precision shown by previous teams, and backing up and running round fot tho return was absent. Cooke,, at five-eighth, was the only one' who showed the sharpness of a ■ Champion. His play was the one feature of the game.” N.Z. LACKS FINISH FINE MOVEMENTS SPOILED A RECORD ATTENDANCE. There were over 30,000 people to witness the All Black-New South Woles fixture on the - Sydney agricultural ground, the largest number to assemble for a Rugby match sinoe 1918. The teams took the field under ideal conditions, the luck of the toss going against the All Blacks, who sent out a strong side. , Harvey, who haS developed tonsilitiß, is their one noncombatant. Morrissey was omitted from the home team. A GREAT START, Riohairdson’s kick-off was the signal for an epic straggle. The New South Welshmen went out to make the play open from the jump, and the All Blanks were nothing loath. The blue backs, who have been training together for three weeks, often gave a daszling exhibition, and both teams went out to retain possession of the ball as much as possible. Passing rushes swept up and down the field at high speed, and a sample of the play was when the entire black baoklino handled in nippy fashion, Cooke catting out his man brilliantly and Hart just being checked at the flag by Nofhling’B tremendous tackle.

undei the uprights. It was the easiest of goals. The scores were now even, and the 1 way in which New South Wales regained the lead was somewhat lucky. Stanley fielded a kick in great fashion and shot through a gap to cross unopposed almost with the half-time hell. THE SAME GAME. There was little variation in the teams’ tactics when the second spell began. The New South Welshmen were confident. Their forwards had held their redoubtable opponents well, were faster, all round, and often worked with the backs. They had 'beaten the blacks for the ball in the scrums, but could not equal them in the tight work. Their game was still to send the hall away, and the blue three-quarter line kept up a series of sweeping rushes which ever and again bore fruit. Nevertheless, the New Zealanders Showed superior form, and had distinctly the better of the spell. WORKING BADLY. . Their hackline did not work together as did the opposing chain, and oveieagerness often spoiled good work. The black forwards threw the ball abouit in attack also, but their passing game Was marred by errors at critical momenta and this way they lost splendid chances. • ■ Had the New Zealanders handling been better the blues would have spent much more time behind their own goal line. The gruelling task of holding a heavier pack told on the home forwards in the last quarter, and the blue backs bad a harder problem than ever. i EOR/WARDS PUSH HARD. The New Zealand forward division battered its way through the opposing ranks, and often ran all over the New South Wales line. Here again, more careful play would have made a radical difference to the final scores, but pace seemed to be the first consideration, and the blacks sacrificed much .for speed. Stanley put New South Wales further ahead with a penalty kick'. Thereafter matters settled down to even exchanges, and New South Wales 'made the best of their chances. E. J. Thorn and Greatorex getting over from combined work, Stanley being prominent on each occasion. Masters scored a typical forward try for the blacks, and the match ended with New South Wales one np for the ashes. Stanley was brillant for the blue team, Grossman and Smith showing up well, and Thorn, Davis and! Ritchie working hard in the pack. The New Zealand combination, Cooke, Lucas, Brown was incessantly dangerous, and •well fed by Mill, while Badeley played sound football, and M. Brownlie, Richardson and White were the blacks’ best forwards. Porter towered above all players on the ground. THREE MORE MATCHES CRITICAL TEST ON SATURDAY. The AH Blacks’ itinerary is as follows : July 9th—v. Metropolitan. July 12th —v. New South Wales (Second test). ■ ’ ■ ■July 19th—v. New South Wales (third* teat). The team will return on Tuesday, July 22nd, and will play an exhibition game' on July 28th, at Palmerston' North. ' .

The full team, under the managership of Mr S. S. Dean, will sail for England on Sunday, July 27th.

"ARE WE DOWNHEARTED?’ MR MASSEY SAYS “NO.” “WILL WIN MOST MATCHES.” “I am sorry to learn that the All Blacks haive suffered! defeat in Australia,” Mr Massey announced to the audience at the winter show social gathering on Saturday evening. ‘‘Bu.t we are not downhearted over it, and I don’t think they are. I don’t know what has taken place, but .1 think that the Tasman Sea, had a great deal to do with it. It will have this effect. This little defeat will stimulate them to 'greater efforts, and -they will he better prepared when the great test comes, when they meet our British fellow citizens on the other side of the world. I think they will win most of the matches. I don't like to think of them losing one.” Mr Massey proceeded that he did not see the original Ail Blacks, hut he saw the military All Blacks play and win tlio King’s Cup. If these All Blacks did as well as the original team and the military All Blacks they would do well. (Cheers.) He must take an interest in the national game, and be had a look at it now and then when the opportunity allowed him.