FINAL TEST TO NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12504, 21 July 1926, Page 7

FINAL TEST TO NEW ZEALAND

FORWARDS WIN THROUGH AFTER LONG, HARD BATTLE BRILLIANT SCORE BY COOKE FIRST TRY BY SVENSON, AND TWO PENALTY GOALS BY NICHOLLS In a game which though not so spectacular, was just as hard as its two predecessors, the AH Blacks won the third and decisive Test match in Sydney. The New South Wales men gave way at last under the persistent attacks of the Black forwards.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright (Received July 20, 10.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 20. Fifteen thousand people ah the Show Ground saw New South Wales beaten by 14 points to nil in the final Test match. The game throughout never attained the excellence of the preceding games. It was inclined to raggedness till the

final stages, when both teams showed to better advantage. The All Blacks’ continual battering tactics finally wore down the blues’ defence, and two •scores were obtained in the last few minutes. The visitors gained possession of the ball from most- of the scrums, but their attacks often lacked successful issue owing to mishandling. There were frequent stoppages, par-

ticularly in the first spell, owing to penalties, and iii some cases the referee’s decision was difficult to interpret. In the second spell more scrums were gained by the blues, who attacked vigorously, but spasmodically, lacking theii usual cohesion in the backs. Ross was again in superb form, and his line-kicking was uncanny. The All Blacks were superior in the forwards, gained the hall in most of the line-outs, and were more successful in the loose play. New South Wales were unlucky in not scoring from at least two penalty kicks, hut on the day’s play the better side won. Stevenson played serviceably. Elvy and Mill were the best of the backs. Svenson and Nicholls were both prominent, Brown’s inclusion at centre was an improvement. Cooke was well marked, but was conspicuous for his line kicking. Porter played on the side of the scrum successfully. All the forwards contributed their share to the hard work, Finlayson and Stewart being outstanding. THE TEAMS The weather was perfect. A slight wind favoured New South Wales when

they won the toss, and the teams took the field as follows: NEW ZEALAND. Full-back: D. R. L. Stevenson Three-quarters: W. E. EWy, H. W. Brown, K. S. Svenson. Five-eighths: M. Nicholls, A. <5. Cooke. Half-back: J. Mill. Wing-forward; G. C. Porter (captain)*

Forwards: A. R. Lomas, W. Irvine, I. H. Harvey, M. Brownlie, A. Knight, B. Finlaysou, and R. T. Stewart. NEW SOUTH WALES. Full-back: A. W. Ross. Three-guarters: A. O. Wallace, C. V. Morrissey, S. Kilig, 0. C. Crossman. Five-eighth: W. Sheehan. Half-back: F. W. Meagher. Forwards: E. J. Thorn (captain), W Ives, A. N. Finlay, C. Fox, B. Judd, J. G. Blackwood, H. Woods, and Tancred, THE PLAY DESCRIBED Even play followed the kick-off, and then offside play by the blacks put New South Wales in a good position, but they were unable to follow it up. The blacks set up an attack, and carried it to the blues’ quarters, but were penalised, and Ross kicked to the centre. The blues were prominent in some ineffectual passing rushes, but the play for the most part stayed in their half. Then they took the ball well »down field, amd tbe blacks were penalised in tlieir own twenty-five. Ross attempted to kick a goal, but was unsuccessful. A free-kick was awarded tbe All Blacks, and Finlayson followed up quickly, but the blues forced. The blacks camo again, and Ross sent them back with a good line kick. The blues were caught offside, and Nicholls attempted a kick from almost* at half-way; the ball went just outside the goalposts. A fine run by

Elvey was nullified by offside play, and Ross returned the ball to the centre. SVENSON OVER From a scrum Porter sent the backs away and play was taken to the blues* line, where a knock-on checked the advance. From the ensuing scramble Svenson dashed oyer, and scored in the right corner. Nicholls failed to convert. The game was then 15 minutes old. New Zealand 3 points Now South Wales ml Fumbling by the blues gave New Zealand the opportunity to attack, and after a kick tlirougn by Nicholls Ross was brought down on his own goal-line by Cooke. The blacks continued the pressure, but Svenson was forced out at the corner, and then New Zealand was again penalised, and Ross found tTie ltne well up. Splendid opening work by Porter and Elvey was spoiled by ft knockon when the defence was almost beaten. Up to this stage New Zealand were having the best of the play, territorially and otherwise. Wallace was prominent in a good run which took the ball to the blacks’ quarters, where the defenders were penalised, but Ross made a poor attempt at goal. An aggressive blue rush was stopped by Knight’s mark.

AN EASY SHOT MISSED The play became harder, was marked by strenuous tackling. Woods had to leave the field, beinc replaced by Telford. Following another penalty the ball went out in the blues’ quarters, but a penalty against New Zealand relieved the position. A rousing blue attack took tho ball out of touch close to the blacks’ lino. Owing to an infringement the blu«s

wore awarded a kick in front of New Zealand’s posts, but Ross missed to easy kick. The bines returned to the assault, but Cooko found the line near the lialf-way. 1 In Uio closing stages of the first spell play became more intense. Ross made a splendid run, and the ball was carried over the blacks’ line, but was forced. Porter, in a splendid burst, threatened the blues’ line till he was hauled down, and Ross found touch with * long kick. The half-time score waa 3 —nil in favour of New Zealand. BLACKS FORCED ON DEFENCE When play was resumed there was even play in midfield, and then the blacks attacked, but Ross made a wonderful kick, which sent the ball out at half-way, where the blacks were penalised. The ball was carried on to the visitors’ twenty-five, through Stevenson being slow in taking the balk High tackling by the blues enabled tbe New Zealanders to work back. A long kick by Finlay put New South Wales again on attack, but Svenson checked them with a useful kick. Crossman almost kicked a goal when the blacks were again penalised in their own ground; and a black passing rush was spoiled by a knock-on. The blues returned to the attack, and a good run by Wallace took the ball to their opponents’ territory, where Ross had another unsuccessful attempt at goal from a penalty. Tho game, which was mostly in the blacks’ half, was being confined to the forwards. There were several minor injuries. Then tire blue backs combined in some nice movements, but tho opposing forwards got in among them, and broke them up. An ugly rush by the visitors was stopped by

offside play, and Ross returned the ball with a long kick. NICHOLLS KICKED A GOAL; The All Blacks were prominent in M passing rush, which was stemmed by Ross marking. Continuing the pressure, the blacks were awarded a penalty near the line, and Nicholls had an opportunity, with which he made no mistake. It was an easy kick. New Zealand 6 points N.S.W nil

The blues rallied, and Stevenson wa* called upon to stop some good move* meats, Finlayson assisting him. The blues’ attack persisted, and ground was gained by a series of line kicks* The blacks* coming round the scram, were penalised, and Thorn attempted to kick a goal, but the ball fell short. A penalty against the blues inside half-way gave Nicholls an opportunity to kick a goal, but he missed. Boss, running up, transferred the ball to Thorn, who was off-side, and this time Nicholls kicked a nice goal* New Zealand 3 points N.S.W nil Just on time Cooke made » magnificent individual dash. He snapped up the ball front tho ruck. and. the Blue backs well out of position, he raced through from half-way and scored. Nicholls converted. The final whittle sounded immediately afterwards. New Zealand points New South Wales •. nil

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(JEW ZEALAND FAIRLY BEATEN IN THE FIRST TEST

Written for the “Times” by A. R. B. Palmer, Rugby critic of the Sydnew ‘•Guardian.”)

Nothing since the war has done as much to restore The Ivugby Union game to public favour in Sydney as the first Test between the All Blacks and New South Wales on the showground on July 10th.

New South Wales won by 26 to 20, but it was the quality of the play quite ns much as its closeness that raised the crowd of 36,000 people to the fever pitch of excitement.

For weeks before the arrival of the All Blacks, New South Wales officials were avowedly optimistic and, after exhaustive trials, chose a team with four reserves and housed them in a seaside hotel. • * * *

Then came a tragic nosetting of their plans. Returned Rhodes scholars. Lawton and Wallace, and Tniversity ninger, Foote, were hurt; Morrissey’s Father died. and was hnried on the day of the Test. The brains and the brawn of the Mew Smith Wales back division were absent.. Comparatively it was like the loss of Porter. Niclmlls. Cooke and Lucas from a New Zealand side. • # *

New South Wales made shift with the next best and. strange to say, it was the New Zealand side that suffered more from absentees in the first Test; for Sheehan, Towers. Ring and Crossman rose to greater heights than they had previously attained, while the All Blacks, with re-shuffled hacks, showed little cohesion. Stevenson, Svenson and Rohilliard weren’t fit to play: Iheir substitutes were out of position. • * * * FOUR TRIES EACH The game was eventful. Each side scored four tries and the margin at the finish represented a penalty goal and a goal from a mark. But New South Wales, relying on possession and pace, were the aggrestors, and leaders, during the greater part of the game. Tactically they tried to keep the ball away from the giant New Zealand forwards, and succeeded. The bines won five out of every six scrums, and their backs seldom finished their passes. From the loose rucks the lighter New South Wales forwards heeled whenever • possible. ' Their superiority in this phase was remarkable. As a variation they came through the rucks with the ball on the ground. Led by Ted Thorne, who on the day was the equal of Jock Richardson at his best. dribbling rushes repeatedly made from 20 to 40 yards of ground. Fox. who invariably goes up for the ball, was a limping passenger for most of the game. Ju the line-out. therefore, one expected the All Blacks to excel. That they failed to do co was due to the adoption of stereotyped tactics. * * # * * LACKED VARIETY There was no variety in the leap of Finlavson, Cyril Brownlie or Stewart. with the object of deflecting tho ball to a waiting pair of hands. Clever and spectacular, this mov© to set the forwards in a passing rush was too regular to succeed. The blue forwards were quick to rally round. Indeed the blacks got the hall but could do little with it! * * * * The only variation was a knockback to the inside backs who were given little room to manoeuvre. Throughout the game the New Zealanders showed that the key-move to the goal-line was to be the passing rush of the forwards. They didn’t like thp ball on the ground. • . * * m OUT OF USUAL POSITION With both Mill and Dailey in the side, Nicholls and Cooke were too far out to make position running effeefive Oil the rare occasions the ball went out to the New Zealand backs, a light-blue flash in the shape of King checked the movement before Nicliolls could reveal his resource. It was particularly unfortunate for

the All Blacks that their outside back deployment was astray. This was ovident in the 20 minutes towards the close of the game when, in a superhuman effort to retrieve the position, New Zealand Rugby rose to its greatest heights. New South Wales led by 20 points to 9. The big forwards were showing signs of the terrific pace they had been set. Maurice Brownlie appeared to be run to a standstill; but he wasn’t, as his subsequent efforts proved. It was Mark Nicholls who galvanised the side into action. He went to first five-eighths and commenced an onslaught on the blue goalline that was the forerunner of two tries, and as fierce a bombardment as a New South Wales goal-line has ever sustained. Every man in the New Zealand team responded. The forwards at last succeeded in bringing off their close passing rushes. Both wings were brought into action and, repeatedly, Elvey and Blake streaked down the touch-line on the way to seemingly certain scores. Only great tackling stopped them. It is significant that none of the four All Black tries was scored by a hack. * * * * ANYONE’S GAME That pressure lasted the end. With the score New South Wales 23 points to 20, and five minutes only left for play, it appeared that the All Blacks would snatch victory on the post. The crowd realised it, and, much as it wanted the blues to win, would have appreciated any result. * * * The big black battalions surged once again to the New South Wales twenty-five. ' They were driven hack with a great line-kick by Ross, who played a full-back game that hasn’t been surpassed on any Rugby field. * # * # A line-out. Finlayson in the air. A tap that went forward. And Meagher, the New South Wales half, marked almost at the feet of the towering forward. The goal he kicked saved the day. Two minutes later two thoroughly spent teams dragged themselves to 'the dressing-room, • * * * Looking back on the match one wonders why the All Blacks didn’t concentrate on Crossman’a wing «arly in tho game. New Zealand, however, will improve—tactically, in team work and condition —was the verdict of her supporters after the game. ELVEY STARS Of the individual players Brown was noL a great success at full-back; Elvey gave many a glimpse of his greatness on the wing and side-step-ped superbly; Blake, on the other side, was quick off the . mark, resolute and straight in his runs; Cooke had few chances to show his genius in attack *, Mill and Dailey were overshadowed by their opponents. *• - * • * •

Cliff Porter played a dashing game. Rfc> repeatedly overran the scrums, where the New South Wales eight always held the New Zealand seven. Porter’s anticipation in defence was wonderful. One always saw him streaking for the place where the ball was going to be kicked. Time after time he was there beforehand. At thv end of the line-out he was always ready to race away. Naturally he was well marked; but he played a sportsman’s gamo from start to finish. His handling, pace and intuition have secured him respect as one of the greatest footballers Sydney has seen.

In the nack the front row pair, Lomas and Irvine, could not secure the ball. Irvine was as hard, a rucker as any on the field. Stewart, Finlavson and Maurice Brownlie were always on the ball. Cyril Brownlie had an off-day. In the many loose rucks he and Harvey seldom seemed to got in low enough to resist the pressure of the lighter blues. Cyril, too, mishandled once or twice.

High packing, by the wav. was a noticeable fault with the big All Blacks in many of the scrambles for the hall.