All Blacks Retain "The Ashes"

NZ Truth, Issue 1078, 22 July 1926, Page 11

All Blacks Retain "The Ashes"

(By Cable from "Truth's" Special Sydney Representative.) THE All Blacks, on Tuesday, won the third and concluding game of the test series and acquired the right to holdi the Rugby Union "Ashes." New South Wales suffered defeat by fourteen points to nil at the Agricultural showground m a fast, hard game m which the ball was thrown about freely. The Maoriland backs handled splendidly, as the scores show, and altogether had much the better of matters m defence. Both teams played solid g^mes and it was shown how the Rugby Union standard m New South Wales has improved, since the, war^due chiefly to the strength of the teams from the great public schools, which have ' always been the backbone of the Union since the beginning of the League code. Nevertheless, the general standard of play has been much below that of League football.. The All Blacks had a great time m Sydney, iliey received a civic welcome from the Lord Mayor and were entertained freely m Union circles. The crowds at the matches '■■ have paid close on £4000 to «see the games, so a huge profit will be shown. The first game attracted 40;000, the second test about 35,---000, and Tuesday's game 18,000 which was good for a week day. wuiiliiiiuiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimniiii raiiiiiiin iiiiiiiiihii iiiiiiiui mi i i iiiiiMiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiin