WIN FOR ALL-BLACKS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 68, 15 September 1924, Page 5

WIN FOR ALL-BLACKS

RAGGED GAME AT DEVONTOKT. THREE TKIES (ONE CONVERTED) TO ML. Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. London, September 13. The All Blacks team opened their tour to-day with a match against Devon, on tihe rectory ground at Devon port. . The New Zealantlers had a tremendous reception from the crowd numbering 16,000, which packed the ground to its utmost capacity. The turf, was in an excellent state an ( i all the conditions were favorable to a first-class game. Devon won the toss. The All Blacks immediately opened up an attack, but the form displayed on both sides was very ragged. This was to some extent the result of over-keenness by the players, which led them into mistakes. The Devon men made a surprisingly fine stand and to the general surprise held their adversaries in the scrummages. They really made tremendous efforts against such redoubtable opponents, but in actual trutli there was little linesse or method on either side. Half an hour of hard, rough play passed before the first score came, during which the AH Blacks were mostly in the county men's quarters. Some line passing then put Svenson over, but it was close to the corner, and Nepia, failed with the kick at goal. (3—o). Shortly afterwards Hanley almost potted a goal for Devon.. The inside New Zealand backs tlien got to work and a bout of goo,j passing froip a scrum eventually gave . Cooke an opening and he went over. This time Nepia succeeded with the kick. (S—o). This reverse did not discourage rlie home side, but it seemed to harden them up, and the All Blacks were forced down twice in succession. The first spell then ended with the score unchanged.

THE THIRD SCORE. The New Zealanders had underestimated tlie strength of the forward opposition, and after the interval they showed increasing cohesion and more clever play,, Svenson, following up his own kick, passed inward to Browli, and,,the, i.Taranaki representative dashed, rficrpss the line. ,Nepia did not convert. There was no further score, and the match ended: AHjjßlacks ~ 11 Devon ' . 0 The forwards more or less took charge of the game and continual scrummages and loose scrambles seemed;.to induce rough play on both sides,' : ; v [T)ie passing of the New Zealanders**was not up to their usual standard, although they were gen-, erally successful in gaining possession of the ba.l|k>from the scrummages. Frequent knocks on spoiled their movements, and prevented them bringing*-'*their passing bouts to a successful conclusion.

The players had their turn now and'then, and twice came near scoring, "but the defence held good anil surfe'. collaring stopped their bursts. v-Erequent use of the side line by the Devon backs appreciably slowed the game an ( ] prevented the visitors giving a spectacular exhibition. The general concensus of opinion is that the New Zealand team has been considerably over-rated. Cooke and Svenson to-day were ■ the : best of the backs, and Richardson and M. Brownlie were the best forwards. The New Zealanders had the advantage in weight, hut their play was not convincing. Colonials present were surprised at the fine showing made by Devon, but they regarded the form of the All Blacks as hardly an index of the future.

ENGLISH PRESS COMMENT. NOT EQUAL TO 1905 TEAM. (Received 9.5 a.m.) London, September 14. The Sunday News Hays: "The New Zealanders on a hard ground will he difficult to beat, but it will l>e surprising if they even approach the record of their predecessors." THE WING FORWARD GAME. Tbe News of the WorltJ gives a similar and expresses the opinion that Dalley and Cooke aro likely, to distinguish themselves. The paper slates Porter's mission as an extra hall', wing forward, or rover, does not appeal to the English footballers for most of the time he was purely an obstructionist. That style is not wanted here. THE RACK;-) IMPRESS. The Observer slates: "The New Zealanders on this sfibwmg are not a whit in at'A'ance of Devon, hut they have a decided pull, outside." SCRUM TACTICS DISPLEASE CROWD. The Sunday Express states: of the New Zealanders' ways in the scrums displeased the spectators. The crowdl at one time demanding that, two should be sent oh". The team is amazingly fast."