RUGBY AT ITS BEST

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12508, 26 July 1926, Page 7

RUGBY AT ITS BEST

ALL BLACKS IN MELBOURNE BRILLIANT PLAY IMPRESSES PUBLIC FIVE TRIES BY ELVEY By Telegraph.—Press Assn Copyright. (Received July 25, 5.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, July 25. Twelve thousand people watched the Rugby match between 'the All Blacks and Victoria at Carlton Oval yesterday. The All Blacks gave a wonderful pyrotechnic display of spectacular Rugby at its best, gathering the ball in every conceivable place and position. They were smart in their interchanges, and passed with a splendid certainty which bewildered the opposition and roused the crowds to demonstrations of delight. Elvey’s meteoric runs were dazzling in their effect. The Victorians lacked combination, though individually they were brilliant on occasion, and they displayed pluck and determination throughout the game, which was fast, in spite of a heavy ground. The referee gave a liberal interpretation of the rules, and a good standard of play was maintained. FIVE NEW ZEA. LANDERS Five of the Victorian team and the referee are Maorilanders. The visitors’ combination, methods, and physique, and the game generally created a favourable impression on the public. The All Blacks, on the average, were a stone heavier per man than the Victorians. All the visitors showed up equally well, but Elvey was outstanding for his running, and Svenson was consistently fine in kicking. The best for Victoria were Lane, McNeilage, Rae, Peek, Smith, McCausland, and Abbott. Mr H. J. Manson, the New Zealand Trade Commissioner, in an interview, stated that the visit of the All Blacks and the match were a wonderful advertisement for the Dominion. He hoped the visit would be repeated. THE PLAY DESCRIBED The climatic conditions were unfavourable. The ground was very heavy, as the result of sharp showers during the night and in the morning. A fresh breeze blew diagonally across the ground. The teams were:— New Zealand. Svenson, Elvey, Blake, Robilliard, Cooke, Sheen, Mill. Porter, Lomas, Kirkpatrick, Alley 7 Knight, Stewart, O. Brownlie, and Hazlett. Victoria.—Backs: Rae Hamilton, Lane, McNeilage, Ewen, Coupland, Peek; forwards, McCowan, Youffa, Spencer, Smith, Waekett, Abbott, Maugham, and McCausland. Victoria won the toss, and took advantage of the wind and sun, Porter kicking off. After a period of ragged play in the centre of the field Victoria became prominent in an initial attack, and Elvey, Cooke and Blake relieved with line kicks. A fine passing movement followed, the ball going through several hands till Blake sent it to Elvey, wbo got over. Svenson failed to convert the try. New Zealand 8 Victoria 0 The play had then been in progress seven minutes. SVENSON CAUGHT WITH BALL Victoria returned immediately to the attack, and Svenson, in taking a kick to clear the ball, was charged down, and Smith, scored for Victoria. Abbott’s attempt at goal was fruitless. New Zealand 3 Victoria 8 The New Zealanders knocked the ball back in the line-out, and all the backs handled it in succession till Elvey crossed at the corner. The angle was too much for Svenson. N.Z. 6 Vic 3 Various short exchanges between the forwards followed, and then a fine movement ended in Hazlett crossing. Svenson kicked a goal.. New Zealand 11 Victoria 3 Tlie home forwards set up a rush which enabled Smith to score again for Victoria, after 20 minutes’ play. No goal resulted, and the scores stood : New Zealand 11 Victoria f 6 porter as the result of a collision with a Victorian player, retired with a strained knee, and Finlayson replaced him. A great dash by Elvey ended in his passing to Mill, who scored between the posts, and Svenson converted. New Zealand 16 Victoria ....... 6 McCausland headed an ugly Victorian rush, which compelled the All Blacks to foroo down. Thu visitors then took another turn at attacking, and a Cooke-Blake effort ended in Blake scoring a try for Svenson to convert. New Zealand 21 Victoria 6 ELVEY SCOES THREE TIMES Elvey scored his third trv as the result of . a brilliant interchange of passing, an:l Svenson again converted. Almost immediately afteidvai’ds UTVey ran brilliantly through all" the opposition twice, and Svenson converted both tries. Close on half-time Robilliavd scored, but Svenson failed with the kick. New Zealand ■ 39 Victoria 6 On the resumption of play Blake passed to Robilliard, enabling him to

oaou,. locaoi 'r.’Ka,i 1 1< get over at the oomer. Svensen’s kick failed. Then Svensen almost ran through thg Victorians, who forced down. The home forwards then made a fine rush, McNeilage and Lane coming into the movement but Lane failed to score, although given an easy ohan ce, as Sheen intercepted a pass. \Tictoria returned w* the attack, but Sheen saved with a line kick. Cooke also effected a fine save. Alley got off-side, and Peek kicked a penalty goal for Victoria. Stewart waa the next All Black to get across, but Svenson failed with the kick. After 20 minutes’ play Victoria livened up again, and Lane scored, but Peek’s kick was valueless. Now Zealand 45 points Victoria 12 points VICTORIA TRYING HARD At this stage the Victorians showed t« better advantage, and persistently attacked, until a passing rush by Finlayson and Brownlie landed the hail in Cooke’s hands, and he got over. Stewart converted. A great run effort by Sheen ended in his Bodging across, but his kick at goal failed. Cooke next got across, and added the goal himself. Just on time Peek scored another try for Victoria, but it was not converted. New Zealand 58 points Victoria 15 points NEXT MATCH IN SYDNEY N.S.W, TEAM "TRAINING HARD. SYDNEY, July 24. The New Zealand team will return to Sydney on Tuesday. They will meet a powerful New South Wales team on the Show Ground on Thursday. The New South AVales team goos into quarters to-night.