FIRST TEST MATCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1929, Page 8

FIRST TEST MATCH.

Though there will be a little disappointment in New Zealand at the defeat of the All Blacks in their first test match with Australia there should be no heartburnings, The score itself is proof that ■it was any side’s game, and that a little good fortune might have made a difference to the resuit. The game appears to have been a clean, hard-fought tussle with errors on both sides due more to over keenness than anything else. There is no doubt that New Zealand had bad luck in losing the services of the captain of the team (Porter) and Dailey in the first test match. K'dh are seasoned international players, and it is on such occasions as a test match that experienced generalship is worth a great deal to a team. Further, the injury to Nepia was an additional misfortune for the All Blacks, coming as it did when they were playing a defensive game. Admitting all this, the Australian team will receive hearty congratulations upon its success from lovers of the game in the Dominion. The fact that they were able to achieve it is proof of the resuscitation of Rugby in the Commonwealth. In that revival of interest the visits of New Zealand teams have played no small part, and the fact that one of them has now been successfully challenged should afford additional stimulus in the progress of the game in Australia and serve to combat the professional code. It may be taken for granted that Saturday’s defeat will make the All Blacks more determined than ever to win the test matches that have yet to be played, and the general wish in New Zealand will be that they will be able to field all their best players in those contests.