RUNAWAY VICTORY FOR ALL BLACKS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17346, 29 September 1924, Page 4

RUNAWAY VICTORY FOR ALL BLACKS.

SWANSEA BEATEN BY 39 POINTS TO 3.

THREE TRIES BY THE WEST COAST WINGER.

By Telegraph.—-Press Assn.—Copyright.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Ass:

THE TEAM.

The New Zealand team was as fob ; low?: — Full-back : G. Nepia. Three-quarters : J. Steel, H. W. Brown, F. W. Lucas. Five-eighths : M. Nicholls. A. E. Cooke. Half-back : W. Dailey. Forwards: C. G. Porter (wirigb W. Irvine. J. Donald. ■ M. Brownlie, li. Harvey. C. Brownlie. A. White, A. West. MATCH WON TWENTY MINUTES FROM START. The visitors attacked from the jump, and. in twenty minutes, had the opposition well beaten. Nicholls failed to obtain a goal from a mark and then Ncpia, with one of his spectacular dashes from full-back, nearly ran through the Welshmen. A promising attack was opened up but was spoiled at the last moment by men getting offside. In the same way, later oil, St-eel lost what seemed a certain try. By this time, however, it was apparent that the Swansea side was no match for their opponents, and that a score was only a matter oi moments. It came when Nicholls. taking a reverse pass from Brown, side-stepped his man and dropped a beautiful goal. New Zealand * 4 Swansea . . . . . U The backs kept hammering at the goal line and, from a movement initiated by Porter, the ball passed to Brown and then to Lucas, and the latter got across. Nepia failed with the kick at goal. New Zealand . . . .7 Swansea 0 Again the backs got going, but, in endeavouring to take the last pass which would have landed him over the line. Brown knocked on and the chance was lost. However, Irvine scrambled over at the corner and was allowed a try. the referee's decision being badly received by the crowd which shouted its derision. Nepia’s kick was a poor attempt. New Zealand . . . .10 Swansea . . . . .0 The New Zealanders • nearly Always gained possession of the ball from the line-outs and their combination, both in. the forward and back division, was much too superior for Swansea. The local backs showed poor defensive qualities and were evidently nervous. Their play was quite bad. especially in tackling, as they went for their men too high. There was no further score in the first spell which ended:— New Zealand . . . .10 Swansea 0 STEEL SCORES THREE TRIES. In the second half the game became a mere debacle. The superior speed and weight of the New Zealand backs pulverised the local defence, which was even worse than in the first period, and became almost contemptible. Dailey shone at half-back, and consistent--1 v fed the men behind him, who indulged in an almost continuous succession of passing rushes, which ended in repeated scores. Steel made his presence felt in the team by putting three tries to his name. Brown, who was plaving a brilliant game, got two, and M. Brownlie and Cooke one each. F?om these Nicholls kicked four goals. The only compensation the Welshmen got was the satisfaction of registering the first score against the All Blacks. This was from a penalty incurred by Nepia holding on to the ball too long, and Parker succeeded in landing the ball over the bar. There was great applause. The game ended with the score : New Zealand . . „ * . 39 Swansea » , . . 3 7n this game the New Zealanders carried most of the scrums and secured possession of the ball. the -• loose head ’’ troubles noticed in previous games having disappeared. The Swansea backs, when they did obtain the bail, ran blindly and passed erratically. NEW ZEALAND KICKING WEAK. One of the weak points of the New Zealand play was the place-kicking, which again failed signally. The most conspicuous players on the visiting side were Cooke. Brown, Dailey and Nicholls among the backs, and M. Brownlie, Donald and White among the forwards. Despite their big total, the New Zealanders lost at least a dozen tries by faulty handling and injudicious kicking, and, with cleaner work, they might have largely added to the total. The result of the game created a tremendous sensation. Swansea’s weakness in every department demonstrates the terrible depreciation in Welsh form. The local critics are confounded at the result, as the Swansea men have been training together every day for a full week. Welsh Union officials are surprised and concerned at this sudden and unexpected display of the All Blacks’ * true form.

LONDON, September 27. In face of predictions by English critics as to what would „ happen when the All Blacks met the Welsh clubs they not only won handsomely at Swansea to-day but put together the highest score of the tour so far, viz., 39 points to 3. Fine weather had returned, with a bright day and warm sunshine, and the New Zealanders were at their best on the dry ground. There ■was a very large attendance, estimated at 30,000, and the spectators gave the visitors a tumultuous, enthusiastic reception.

COMMENTS ON THE GAME.

The news that the All Blacks defeated Swansea by 39 points to 3 will be received with "reat satisfaction by followers of the game in New Zealand. It was generally expected that Swansea would give the team a hard game. This opinion was based largelv on the cabled reports of the statements of English critics, predicted that the Welsh teams would prove tough propositions. Further, it was reported that the Ail Blacks intended to put in their strongest team against Swansea. It is difficult, at this distance, to sav exactly why the English critics should have had such a high opinion of Welsh football. During the past few years the standard of Rugbv Union football in Wales lias fallen. This was shown by the results of the international matches last season. To-dav Wales is not the great Rugby football country it was in 1905. However, if Swansea is considered a strong team in the Old Country. then the result of Saturday’s match is all the more pleasing. Although a cablegram received on Saturdav stated that the AH Blacks intended to put in their strongest team against Swansea, it does not appear that they did so. For 'instance. Richardson was not playing, and Cuppies was also an absentee from the pack, which, however, was a well balanced one. The back division was a strong It was announced on Saturday that M ’Cleary would be playing against Swansea. but lie did not do so. M’Cleary has not yet played in the Old Countryj and followers of the game in Christchurch are wondering why. No reason lias been given for his non-inclu-sion in any of the teams to date. The ground and weather conditions on Saturday suited the All Blacks, with the result that their speed was of great advantage to them. They showed something of their true form, but, nevertheless. their play is evidently not yet free from faults. The report of the match states that the New Zealanders lost at least a dozen tries by faulty handling and injudicious kicking. These faults, to a certain extent, may have been due to over-keenness, but they are faults that will have to be eradicated if the All Blacks are to go through the tour with an unbeaten record. Another weakness is in goal-kicking, it looks as if the goal-kickers in the New Zealand team will have to devote more time to practising this branch of the game. Good goal-kicking often makes all the difference between defeat and victory. Still. New Zealand evidently played they impressed the English critics. The critics in the Old Country have not been slow to point out the faults in the All Blacks 5 play, and this fact lends added weight to their praise. J. Steel played his first game in the Old Country on Saturday, and played well. Three tries were scored by him. Steel is just the right build for a wing three-quarter. He is fast, has plenty of weight, and he is a difficult man to stop even with good tackling. Y ho tackling of the Swansea backs was weak, and so it would hot worry Steel very much. It be keeps his form. Steel is likely to prove a prolific scoring man. Once again Dailey played a good game, and Cooke. Brown and Niclioils are also mentioned as being conspicuous among the New Zealand backs. All these players look like making names for themselves in England. Swansea have the honour of being the first team in Britain to score against the All. Blacks. When the .score of Saturday’s match was an- i nounced, the general question was whe- | ther Swansea had scored a try against the New Zealanders. However, the All Black line has not yet been crossed. This speaks well lor the defensive tactics of the team. The All Blacks will nlay Newport on Thursday, and they will meet- Leicestershire on Saturday.