FOOTBALL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 1, 3 September 1923, Page 3

FOOTBALL

SECOND TEST MATCH. ALL-BLACKS' EASY WIN. FINAL SCORES 35-6. Per Press Association. Christchurch, September 1. TKe second test mutch between New South' Wales and New Zealand was played on Lancaster Park to-day in the presence of about fourteen thousand spectators, when New Zealand won 34 points to 6. The conditions were ideal, there being just a faint breeze, which favoured neither 6ide, while the ground was hard and, fast. The visitors were confident of winning, but never at any moment did tfaey look like doing so. But at no stage were they disheartened, and they pegged with vigor till the [final whistle. The first spell was 'disappointingly tame, the final of the inter-provincial schools' tournament (played as a curtain-raiser) providing much better football. The second half was decidedly better and some bright play was witnessed.. New Zealand, however, were superior in all departments and never looked like losing. The backs and forwards combined beautifully and once into their stride swept all before them. The New Zealand pack indulged in a lot of obstruction in- the first half which escaped the eye of the referee.

There were numerous stoppages for injuries. Ford, Peterson and Bellis having to leave the field, the first two being replaced by Potaka and Brownlie, while Bellis, who wa& injured in the. last five minutes w » s not, replaced. Each of the players gave' of his best and if would be invidious to single any out for distinction. New Zealand very rarely got the ball from the scrum, New South Wales having the advantage in this respect throughout, but they nullified it often by breaches. The All Blacks kicked off with a light breeze behind them. The first incident of note -vya 8 a penalty kick by the All Blacks, which went wide. From a scrum Paterson broke away with!* the Jba.ll and passed to Bellis, who after a spirited dash, transferred to Bell, Avho touched down. Sinclair converted.—(5 —0) An All Blacks passing bdut was brought to nothing through Lucas giving a shocking pass. New South Wales were penalised, but Sinclair's shot fell under the bar. Nothling also had a shot a few minutes later from a penalty, but; it went outside. The ensuing playt was rather dreary, but New South Wales forced once a s a result of too hard a. kick. From loose scrambling play Williams dived over but Sinclair just failed with the kick. -(8-0). The next score for the AH Blacks was secured by Pringle who snapped up the ball in a forward rush, and Sinclair landed a great goul.--(13—0). . The score was unchanged at halftime. Not long after starting the second spell, Erasmus fo r the visitors scored after a brilliant dash a s the result of a passing bout*—(l3 —3). Then. Potaka added three more points for New Zealand with a good try. which was not converted — (16 3"). Sinclair kicked a penalty goal, adding 3 more—(l9—3). The gam© at thi s stage provided sparkling football. As the result of ai N.S.W. forward rush, Marrott scored," but the kick failed— (19— G). Then Richardson scored under the posts after good passing from a scrum though Williams was obviously offside. The All Blacks were playing good football, and New South Wales were forced. From passing started by Bell, Brownlie scored under the bar and Sinclair converted—(29—6). Then Luca e scored and Sinclair converted again—(34—6). Mr J. F. Peake was,referee. The comment of Mr Bosward (manager of the New South Wales team) orr the result was: "We were welt stoushed." In the opinion of the referee the game wa 8 not up to standard.

OPINIONS ON THE MATCH. Per Press Assi elation. Christchureh, September 2. At a. dinner to the test teams last night. Mr S. F. Wilson (president of the New Zealand Rugby Union) said he wa & disappointed with the New South Wales team. He felt they had noij giyen as good a showing as they could have at the top of their form. Mr Bosward (manager of the New South Wales toarn) said: ",We have no squeal coming. We were benten on our merits." He remarked that so long a s the New Zealanders were led by men like Richardson and Bellis the good feeling which existed between New South Wales and New Zealand players would continue (applause). Mr J. F. Peak© (the referee), in an interviow, said he did not think much of the 1 match, judging it from 'an All Black standard. It was the hardest gam© to control he had ever experienced. The scrums were frequently badly formed and there was a good deal of off-side: play on the,Jhie out. There .was also,.;too much inclination to appeal and the decisions were frequently taken badly: NEW THIRD TEST TEAM. Fw Press Association. Christchureh, September 2. The twenty players from whom the New Zealand team for the third tost match will be selected was announced last night by Mr S, pm\

(of the: New Zealand Rugby Union). He explained that the selection of an entirely new team was not due to dissatisfaction with the Kecouil test, team but to the selectors' desire to obtain the best team available in New Zealand for the English tour next year. The twenty are:—

Backs.—MoLenn (Bay of Plenty), Fairbrother (South Canterbury), Morgan (Otago), Griffith (Auckland), Stewart. (Otago), Doc. Nichollg (WellingtonfT Poiwai (Hawke's Bay), H. E. Nicholla (Wellington), St. Ueorge (Ashburton),. Cooke (Auckland). Forwards: Porter and Swain (Wellington), Irvine (Hawke's Bay), Tunnecliffe'(Buller), Cupples (Bay of Plenty). B. Masters and Parker (Canterbury), .11. Stewart (South Canterbury), Onnond (Hawke's Bay), Whyte (Sr thland). SOUTHLAND 16 V. MANAWATU 11 Per Press Association. Invercargill, September 2. On a sodden ground and with a ! high wind. Southland 16 (four tries two converted) beat Manawatu 11 (three tries one converted). PONEKE DEFEAT PETONE. Per Press Association Wellington, September 2. The old rivals, Petone (this year's champion team) and Poneke, met at Athletic Park on Saturday, when four thousand spectators witnessed a disappointing exhibition. The majority of the players were not at their best owing to an enforced rest } but the gam© wt» s played In what appeared to be a bad spirit by half a dozen players. One Petone player (Corner) was ordered off and several others were cautioned. Poneke won by 11 points to 3, itflicting the only defeat Petone have suffered thi H season. On the run of the game the city team deserved to win.

ASSOCIATION CAME. Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, September 2. 'The Chinese "Soccer" team drew with Ulawarra at Wollongong, the scores being one all. AUCKLAND 16 V. OTAGO 5. Auckland, September 1. Auckland defeated Otago by 16 points to 5 after a v good, open game in ideal weather. The attendance wag the largest this season. In the first spell the backs were evenly matched, though the Otago forwards were, if anything, slightly superior. la the second the Auckland backs appeared to great advantage, and though not up to the standard of previous matches, wore down the opposition. OTAGO 34 V. WAIRARAPA 11. Dunedin, September 1. Otago defeated the Wairarapa touring team at Carisbrook to-day by 34 points to 11. The local forwards showed marked superiority over the visitors, both in loose rushes and in tight work, while the backs, especially in the second spell, were alto* gether too fast for the opposition.