ALL CONQUERING SPEED

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12248, 21 September 1925, Page 11

ALL CONQUERING SPEED

< ALL BLACK FIFTEEN OVERWHELMS NEW SOUTH WALES EIGHT TRIES AGAINST TWO VISITORS’ DEFENCE CRUMBLES IN SECOND SPEL Y The AU Blacks overwhelmed the New South Wales touring team at Auckland on Saturday, and left the field victors by 36 points to 10. In the first spell, with the wind and sun against them, the New Zealand team led by 5 points to nil, but in the second spell put on seven tries against two by the visitors. Nieholls converted six out of the eight tries. The All Blacks provdd too speedy for their opponents, whose stand against the count* less passing rushes was valiant, but in vain.

By Telegraph.—Special to “Times.**) AUCKLAND, September 19. Although the All Blacks who recently toured England will never be seen in action in this country as a separate team, the Test -ream that met New South Wales at Auckland today was, to all intents and purposes, practically equal to about the best side the touring All Blacks could have field?d. It included thirteen of the 19*24 side at. 1 many thousands of people lourneyed to the match, solely in order :o gauge the real strength of the famous combination. The display given to the 20,000 spectators was equal to the very best the All Blacks gave in England. it is «vue that they met with a sounder defence on several occasions, but as one who was fortunate to witness all the matches in Great Britain last year, the writer has no hesitation in stating that in no instance was n more dashing or convincing display given. The team to-day played with more lash and confidence than in most of -heir matches on tour, and displayed i freshness that was surpassing In men who have been playing for eighteen months on end. Although they were 5o badly beaten, New South Wales were strong opponents and never gave up. The speed of the New Zealand movements in conception and execution gave their opponents no chance whatever and the scorer generally had a clear run in. % The ground was in excellent order, except that a heavy’ shower fell just prior to the commencement of play, and during the game a strong wind blew directly down the field and there was a strong sun. The wind soon dried up the ground, but otherwise it quite spoilt the play. New South Wales, on winning the tos*. had the full advantage of these conditions, and f or the first quarter of an hour the play was all in the New Zealand half. The visitors showed great dash. Then, however. New Zealand, after a mediocre opening, entered the opposing half for the first time in a brilliant attack headed by Porter, in which most of the players handled. MILL GETS OVER From the line-out Brownlie shot the ball out to Mill, who dived over between the posts and Nieholls hr converting, made the opening score 5 points to nil. This movement brought the crowd to its feet wnd they remained in a state of excitement for the rest of tne game. The wind enabled the visitors to prevent New Zealand adding to this score before the interval, but play was very even with the Blacks indulging in some brilliant movements against the wind. Summed up the first spell revealed the fact that against such a sound defence the strongest attack that could he put up was useless on its own. : Lawton and company put forward their greatest endeavours to open up on attack, and anyone who # has seen them must realise thfit this present visiting side is one of the strongest and most brilliant attacking teams that has ever visited New Zealand. The All Blacks during this spell passed at every opportunity, and many of their rushes had a touch of brilliancy. Porter was from the start the outstanding player, and seemed to be a ful aid to every movement forward or hack. VISITORS BECOME BUSTLED After New Zealand’s score in the srst spell the visitors seemed to get bustled, and their passing movements lacked any degree of accuracy. Too many passes went astray, and they mainly got into the opposition territory lft rough lengthy line kicking aided by the wind. But they kicked too often in all positions, and Nepia was constantly forcing. Taken as a whole the lirst spell sealed the result of the game, :>5 the All Blacks must have expected to be in arrears at half-time. However, in their eagerness to prevent the margin against them becoming too "reat they excelle dthemselves and played such football that they lasted out forty minutes against a gale and the sun and with a greasy ball actually five points up. THE FINISHING TOUCHES The Fecond stage of the game was perhaps actually more spectacular than the preceding play, but the hard work had been done and really only the finishing touches were needed. With everything in their favour the All Blacks immediately commenced to fling ’he ball about in great style, and first McGregor and then Finlayson and then M. Brownlie scored tries, Nieholls converting one. They were passing with absolute abandon, risking everything on passing, and still more passing and carelessness in these passing bouts allowed the visitors to seize upon openings for two splendid tries from simple breakaways; Bowers and Morrissey scoring, for Lawton to convert both. M. Brownlie then scored again, Nieholls converting, and with the score at 21 points to 10, and with the result a foregone conclusion, some ridiculous risks were taken, and passing on occasions was almost reckless. COULD DO NO WRONG The play for the remainder of the game was really farcical, for although New South Wales played up to the best of their ability they were playing against men who apparently could do no wrong and for whom everything came off. The play was simply a profession. and although spectacular lacked the interest attaching to a close struggle. Before the close of the game Cooke scored twice slid Robilliard once, Nieholls converting all three, two with really great kicks. .Surveying the whole game in a sentence, it was exceedingly fast and open, with an excess of passing rushes. With regard to the individual players the writer knows of no previous match in which so many of flic players engaged Have fr'i'-c a biuli-class display.

PORTER MOST OUTSTANDING I would place Porter as the best player on the field, and he was the most outstanding and useful right through the whole game. The writer has never seen Porter play a better game, and certain it is that he has not played better this season nor when in Great Britain. In all phases of the game, be it passing or defence, loose rushes or close play, there was the captain leading and advising, but more than all, by his example, setting a high standard for his team mates. His sense of anticipation was uncanny, and bis sense of what to do was never in error. He took part in every movement, hut made practically no mistake. Next to Porter I would place Toby, the visiting fullback, and Cooke as the stars. Toby had a lot to do. hut especially in the second spell,' when lip against it he showed up particularly well. He remained calm and did not get bustled. Cooke was at his best. His was a dazzling 6tar turn, opening up movements with his quick break throughs, and his ready seizure upon the mistakes of the opposition. He has still all his old auickness and dasli, and showed remarkable speed when he followed up on some occasions. McGregor. Nieholls, Mill, and Svenson were all about on a par, all most useful; sometimes brilliant, and always dependable. Robilliard showed form greatly in excess of anything done by him at Home when he replaced Svenson in the second spell. Nepia played a very sound game, showing judgment in all he did, but to the writer he appears to be slightly stale, and to have lost his freshness. The least said about Lucas the better. He was easily the weakest back. ALL FORWARDS DO WELL All the forwards played great foot ball, with Finlayson and M. Brownlie in the lead. Finlayson showed np as equal to any of his companions, and was particularly efficient in the lineouts. Richardson and Stewart also went well in the open play, and Masters and Irvine were all there in the tight. It was noticeable again that the three-two-three opposing scrum secured the ball from the New Zealand two-three-two, but the writer believes that this will always be so whilst the present rule that the ball must pass one man on each side before it can be hooked is. retained. FORM OF VISITORS Of the visitors Lawton was easily the best attacking back, and was. continually making chances and creating openings. He. Reed, and Morrissey played really well on attack, with both wings quite good. Bowers particularly is a strong runner, whilst Crossman is fast, and Meagher was very nippy at half, but it was real team, speed and individual speed and quickness that beat them The All Blacks would come round' nearly every, time. Also defence -s the weakest point in the New; South Welshmen’s play, although they strove right well, and’manfully against overwhelming odds. Really, one could almost say it is im possible to prevent a team winning that can play as the All Blacks played in this match. Any other result of the match would have been an incorrect one, and the large defeat does not necessarilv point to any great weakness of the New South Welshmen. These All Blacks have now proved themselves under all conditions and against all manner of opposition, and one wonders whether we can replace such players when in a few years they have to retire.

THE TREND OF PLAY J

GREAT FORWARD RUSHES EVENNESS OF FIRST SPEILL. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, September 19. Twenty-five thousand spectators witnessed the Test match between New Zealand and New South Wales. The ground was in good order, but the heavy rain just before the commencement made the turf sticky. The teams were as follow: New South Wales—Full-hack, A. E. Toby; three-quarters, A. J. Bowers, E. J. Reid, C. V. Morrissey, O. G. Crossman; half-backs, T. Lawton, F. \V. Meagher; forwards, back row, Telford, J. Ford, W. A. Rigney, (second row) H. Bryant, B. Judd, (front row) H. Woods. J. G. Blackwood. T. Smith. New Zealand.—Full-back, Nepia (Hawke’s Bay); three-quarters, Svenson (Wellington), Cooke (Auckland), Lucas (Auckland); five-eighths, McGregor (Canterbury), Nieholls (Wellington); half-back, Mill (Hawke’s Bay); wing-forward, Porter (Wellington) ; forwards (front row), Lomas (Auckland), Irvine (Hawke’s Bay); lock, Masters (Canterbury); supports, M. Brownlie (Hawke’s Bay), Finlayson (North Auckland); back row, J. Richardson (Southland), R. Stewart (South Canterbury). The Blacks attacked from the outset, and Nieholls missed a penalty two minutes after the start. Then Wales attacked strongly, hut the New Zealand defence proved sound. Lawton nearly potted a goal from a good position. The Blacks attacked, but a free kick gave ' New South Wales relief. A brilliant Black rush from scrum in the visitors’ twenty-five saw Porter nearly over. Then Mill scored from a scrum, and Nieholls converted New Zealand 5 New’ South Wales Nil The Blacks continued to attack, showing that beautiful form which made them famous in England. They threw the hall about freely. Cooke made a spectacular dash but was not supported. The New South Wales backs gave an exhibition of clever passing, Bowers being pulled down just m time. The Blacks then attacked, and Sven son nearly got over as a finishing touch to a lino mail in which the New Zealand forwards participated. A penalty relieved New South Wales. Play continued fast, Cooke being prominent. Now South Wales had the best of the gnmo, but Richardson got the Blacks out of trouble by a clever line kick, and the Blacks were hammering at the New South Wales line. The Blue for

wards, however, were equal to the oc casion, and broke through the Black backs. The game was hard but clean, several players being laid out temporarily., Half-time came with the scare unchanged. CHANGE COMES OVER THE SCENE The second spell saw a change come over the scene, and the All Blacks showed their superiority. Richardson got away and passed to Cooke, who kicked and following np he caught Toby in possession. The blues, however, came away, and then a hot Black attack saw McGregor score. Nieholls missed the kick. Another score came Immediately afterwards, Finlayson dashing over, Nieholls converted. New Zealand 13 New South Wales Nil The next score came from Brownlie, who dived over the. line. The kick missed. A dashing New South Wales attack saw Bowers score in a good position, and Lawton converted. New Zealand 16 New South Wales 5 Up to this point the visitors had shown great form, but they began to get weary under the hammering attacks of the finest football pack that has ever taken the field. VISITORS SCORE AGAIN New South Wales attacked, and the ball went to Rigley, who passed infield to Morrissey who scored. . Meagher converted. New Zealand 16 New South Wales 10 The All Blacks now came away with a series of hot attaoks. BroWnlie pushed his way over from a line-out for Nieholls to goal. Svenson went off to be replaced by Robilliard. Soon after Cooke showed a great burst of speed and chased the ball over the line to score a clever try. Nieholls again converted. Play was now mostly in favour of the All Blacks who were showing great form. ' The next score came from Cooke who ran over at the oorner, Nieholls kicking a fine goal; making scores: New Zealand 31 New South Wales 10 Cooke smothered the opposing back, and as a result Mill dashed up, snapped up the ball, and sent to Robilliard, who scored an easy try. Nieholls converted. Tlie Blacks were still attacking when the final whistle blew. New Zealand .: 36 New South Wales 10

GREAT EXPOSITION

FEATURES OF THE GAME “A TEAM OF CHAMPIONS.” AUCKLAND, September 20. There was a fine sporting spirit amongst the crowd, which gave the visitors an ovation whenever they showed brilliant play. The All Blacks showed their superiority in all departments of the game, their great speed enabling them to put the finishing touches to several clever movements. In tlfis connection the great speed and dash of Cooke was a frequent factor. The score at Half-time rather flattered the visitors, as the blacks did not warm up to it until the second spell. They then set out to pile up points against a weary opposition. The two tries scored by New South Wales were the result of clever bits of work, but the blacks made them stop at that, and from then onwards they were never in the picture. Nieholls kicked goals like clockwork. Porter played a fine game and so did Mill. Finlayson shone among the forwards. Robilliard, who replaced Svenson 1 in the second spell, played well. Lucas was below form. Nepia has played better football. NO ROUGH PLAY A feature of the game was the control kept pn the play by the referee, Mr Sutherland. He gave very few freekicks, and consequently the game was fast and full of incident. Throughout both sides played clean football, and there was not the slightest trace of rough play. Porter, whose methods have been criticised abroad, was never off-side, and if every wing-forward adopted the same tactics as the New Zealand captain did there would be no cause for complaint. The tackling on both sides was at times deadly, and several players were knocked out for short spells, but no serious damage was done. Taken as a whole, the match was one of the finest advertisements for the Rugby code it has ever had in Auckland, and the huge crowd went home by devious routes well satisfied that they had seen a great exposition by a team of champions on the one hand and a team of plucky young players on the other. MATCH ABANDONED Per Press Association. GREYMOUTH, September 19. A match between the West Coast representatives and Christchurch Old Boys started in driving rain", but had to be abandoned at half-time. The visitors Were then leading by 6 points to nil.