ALL BLACKS WIN FINAL GAME

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12185, 9 July 1925, Page 7

ALL BLACKS WIN FINAL GAME

PROVINCIAL TEAM SWEPT ASIDE BY BIG FORWARDS MUD PREVENTS FINE PLAY FINLAYSON AND THE 1924 ALL BLACKS OUTSTANDING About 3000 people braved a cold southerly wind and driving showers of rain in order to see the New Zealand team, just back from Australia, defeat a combined team from Wellington, Manawatu, and Horowhenua by 25 points to 11. No team could have played great football on Athletic Park yesterday, but the game was as good as it could have been under the conditions. The combined team played well, and in the first half did all the scoring, but at the end it could do little against the rushes of the big New Zealand forwards, led by the giant Finlayson.

In the first spell the combined team had the wind in their favour and the better of the game. They scored 11 points to the All Blacks’ nil, but in the second half the national side turned the tables in a manner most convincing. The combined team made several desperate spurts that called for the best defensive tactics, but in the main they had to give way to irresistible

forward rushes by Finlayson. Donald. Walters, Dickson, and company. These players were perhaps the most prominent of the New Zealand vanguard, although all played well. Finlayson was the best forward on the ground. In the backs, Johnson and the threequarters—Elvey, Blake, and Wise—were the most conspicuous. Porter and S. Shearer were the combined team’s most consistent workers as far as the forwards were concerned. Jacob and Moynihan showed up occasionally. Of the backs, Svenson, Nicholls, and Brophy were the pick. Warwick played a plucky game, and Love was as solid as a rock. ’ THE TEAMS TKe teams lined out as follow.; NEW ZEALAND (Black). Full-back: Harris. Three-quarters: Wise, Blake, Elvey. Five-eighths: Corkill. L. Johnson. Half: Wright. Wing-forward: J. Donald (captain). Hookers: Lomas. Kirkpatrick. Lock: Righton. Sides: Finlayson, Walters. Back row: Knight, Dickson. COMBINED TEAM (White). Full-back: Akuira. Three-quarters: Svenson, Brophy, Leader. Five-eighths: Love, Nicholls. Half: Warwick. Wing-forward: Porter (captain). Hookers: S. Shearer, B. Wilson. Lock: Tuna. Sides: J. Shearer, Moynihan. Back row: Russell, Jacob.

PROVINCIALS SCORE EARLY Wellington attacked from the kick-off. r l'hey had the better of an exchange of kicks, and* 1 from a penalty near the half-way line Mark Nicholls had an unsuccessful shot at goal, illak© attempted to clear, but Rvenson, coming down the line took the hall on the full and crosskicked. Corkill by a clever mock

saved a dangerous situation. Just as tho blacks .had got their opponents out of their territory, however. they were again penalised, and Mark Nicholls kicked a fine goal. Combined 3 New Zealand 0 The All Blacks showed up better after the kick-off, and soon it was the whites’ turn to defend. Akuira twice saved his side by clever marks

and Porter was proving a tower of strength on the defence. WISE JUST MISSED A pretty passing rush ensued in which the ■- ball went out to Wise on the wing and he was collared just inches off the line. A forward rush cleared the line, and the scene changed quickly to the other end of the field. Nicholls sent Svenson away on the blifidside, but Wise brought Svenson down before he had, travelled far. Porter dribbled across the line, but a black’s hands got bn the ball first. A TRY LOST Soon after the kick-out, Finlayson picked up and hullocked his way through and passed to Blvey. The latter got into his stride quickly and sidestepped three men in great style. He drew the full-hack and passed to Corkill, but the latter over-ran the hall when he had a clear run in. Once again the Wellington forwards led by Moynihan, Porter and S. Shearer swept down the field, and the dribbling rush was stopped until the blacks’ line wqs reached. After a temporary check Moynihan booted over the line hut Johnson beat' him in the race for the hall, and forced down. The kickout gave hut temporary relief and again Wellington were pressing hard. BROPHY GETS OVER

A Rcrum five yards from the line saw Warwick whin nut the hall and it travelled out to Brophy, .who scored near tho posts. Nicholls easily converted - » Combined v 8 New Zealand 0

There wa sa great deal of tight play in the next few minutes, and in this the blacks were superior. A nice run by Leader on the wing, followed by a short punt, gained ground, and Harris, was forced to find the touch-line at his own .twenty-five flag. A fine dribbling rush by lrinfayson, Dickson, and Walters was checked by

Nicholls, who was playing a great gams. Warwick

was the next to stop a black forward rush, and he did so /by a clever mark

oft the toes of the on-coming pack. Up to now the whites had certainly had the better of the game, but it must bo remembered that they had a stiff cold wind in their favour. WITH A MAN TO SPARE Porter commenced a passing rush by sending the ball to Warwick. The half changed the venue of attack, and unexpectedly in-passed to Love. The latter drew two men and sent on to Brophy, who crossed with Leader ready to take a pass if required. The kick was too much for Nicholls. Combined 11 New Zealand 0 Looking, like business, the All Blacks at once went on attack. They dribbled the ball within striking distance and commenced a passing rush, in which the ball went out to Wise. The winger cross-kicked, but Love took a good mark which gave relief. Even Forward play followed. The ground was now well charmed up and the ball lioavy. After a spell of tight play in a pool of slime the black forwards made great efforts to score. Twice they got within striking distance, and once the whites were compelled to force down. From a scramble near the twenty-five line Porter broke away, and travelled over half the field before he kicked. Leader followed up and dribbled over the .line, but he missed the ball in the dive and Harris cleared. Finlayson led a fine forward rush soon after the kick-out, but when the halftime bell sounded the whites were attacking again. ALL BLACKS ON THE JOB New Zealand were on the job quick-

ly when the game was resumed. In three minutes they had scored eight points, and in six minutes their score was 11. From the kickoff the forwards carried the hall before them. Donald dribbled over the line and • scored near the posts within half ! a minute of the start. Johnson converted. Combined ... 11 New Zealand... 5 They scored again almost at once. This time it was Finlayson who did the damage. With a great, solo dribbling rush lie went right through the opposition and scored. It was a magnificent piece of play. Johnson’s kick failed. Combined 11 New Zealand 8 Love stopped another rush by marking, but again the blacks proved iw resistible. Wise made a nice cross kick, and the forwards carried the movement on. Then the backs took a hand, and over the white line they went for Jllake to score. Johnson's kick flew off the side of his boot. Combined 11 New Zealand 11

From the kick out the •whites made a spurt, and their forwards’ attack had New Zealand defending hard. Moynihan? S. Shearer and Porter were in the thick of a dribbling rush that ended with the ball going out at the corner flag. A few seconds later the blacks had to force. A free kick near the twentylive flag saw Nicholls make a great attempt to goal. The play for the next few minutes was a hard forward battle round the half-way line. Then Donald came awav with the ball at his toes, but Warwick snapped it up and found the line. THREE OF THE OLD BRIGADE ; Porter and Nicholls made a fine dribbling rush up the field, and they were aided by Svenson, who carried on into the blacks’ territory.

There Harris temporarily stopped the rush, but Wilson and Russell made off attain.' Elvey saved a dangerous situation with a fine line kick. Swiftly did Walters. Dickson, Kirkpatrick and Donald work back again, and Svenson could do nothing but carry the ball over the line. Line-outs and scrummages followed until the blacks were penalised. Nicholls failed to get the line, and Blake. cross kicked back for Jacob to mark. The kick failed to give relief, and from an ensuing scrum Wright dived round on the blind side and scored. Finlayson’a kick did not rise. New Zealand 14 Combined' 11 PILING ON THE SCORE There was now'fifteen minutes to go A. fine ’ dribbling rush by Jacob saw Blake clear with a speculator. Svenson stemmed a retaliatory rush oy a mark, but again they swept tack, and Rigliton was on the ball •vhen a bunch of 'lack forwards fell over tho line. Dickson converted. New Zealand 19 Combined 11 Almost immediately afterwards came another irresistible black rush, and Finlayson scored. Dickson’s kick fell short. New Zealand 22 Combined 11 The nest rush was held up by a stubborn Wellington defence, but over the line they tumbed again, and this time Walter was on top of tho ball. Dickson missed the kick, and the teams left the field with the score:— New Zealand 25 Combined 11 Mr Thompson (Palmerston North) was referee. [Photos by Crown Studios.J „