IMPROVED PLAY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18420, 29 June 1925, Page 8

IMPROVED PLAY.

ALL BLACKS WIN AT NEWCASTLE. A MARGIN OF SEVEN POINTS. v nv c\r.;.-.--rr.T.fist association- rcmiOßTl vAfS7S.M.I\X AND .V.;. CABLS A3SOCIJOIOS.) (,Received .Time I'Sth, 5.5 p.m.) STDNEY. June ir. ' After n lapse ot" vinny years, a Neir Zoa.laud Rugby Unicci team was tgsia seen ir. action in Nevvastle, when the All Blacks played 3 .Vow South Valet fifteen, which et>nt:uno»l several stars. The game was witnessed by 7000 enthusiastic spectators, and resulted in a win for the .\\l Blacks bv SJ points to 13. Generally, the piny of tlw> New Zealanders showed a decided improvement over their previous matches. They- were ipiite up ta cu " Zealand's best staiiilariis. Doubtless, the beautiful weather had much to do with this, though the ground was bumpy aad rough in places, with slush ia some parts. New Zealand, for the greater ytttf had t!ie better of the game, but they were at times sorely pressed. Thanks, however, to the fine play of Wit*, Harris, Wright. Johnson, and Biato ia the back division, and Walters, Finlayson. Knight, "Dickson, and Loru33, in the vanguard. New Zealand managed to maintain their lead. Donald was not up to his usual form. Watson replaced Elvy in ike New Zealaaid team. Towards the close of the second spell Donald received a kick on the leg and had to leave tee field. Ho was replaced by Thomas. Shortly afterwards Nothling toolSmith's place in the New South Wales team. Tho first half waif mainly in favour of the visitors, who gained the majority of the scrums and lino-outs. The tacks also combined in some splendid passiag movements. The New South Waks attack lacked finish. Tho play was mostly in their half, and their backs showed a marked disinclination to f» down to the ball before the Black £w»'» ward rushes. A pleasing feature of this spell was the absence of penalties against tho All Blacks. Their playwa* scrupulously fair, and the off-side proclivities, which trcre so prominent * feature in tho earlier matches, wexe ■ entirely absent. Walters was the heat player on the ground. The score at half-time was: , # Now Zealand .. IT 1 New South Wales .. 5 1 The game in tho second spell waa more even, though marked by more illegalities on both sides than tha first . half. New South Wales worked several good passing movements by the far* wards gaining tho ball from the lia*«£ cuts and passing to their backs, bat Anderson proved the weak spot, Tho full-backs, Harris and Ross,..! were again towers of strength to their j respective sides. Their sure handliag '? and excellent lino kicking several tUftta;,; extricated their sides from dUfienltSeafi In tho final stages New South Wale% * playing with great dash and determllsV tion, somewhat disorganised the Sft# Zealand backs' cohesion. The {MM ■ also becamo very willing. Tho most sensational try of the day was ono scored by Beid. Bait& inter* e opted a pass in his own and transferred to Beid, wka *** tt*r yards, closely pursued by bunas* and scored under tho posts. Tries for New Zealand t**rt *)Mal*ad by Knight (two), Walter*, Slake, Wright, and Wise, of which «M ■**» converted by Dickson. For New South Wales, EAy •*» Rcid scored tries, both being «oantl»4 by Ross, while Morrissey kicked a §»nl ' from a penalty. The final score thus was:— I,

New Zealand ..SO New South Wales .. 13 THORN'S TEAM. (BT CABLE—rRZSS ABfOOATIOX—COnUOR} VAUSTKAUAS AHD X.X. CASU AStOCUnOSj SYDNEY, June 27. Tho following comprise Thorn** fifteen to play tho New Zealand Rugfcr team on "Wednesday:— Full-back: Toby. Three-quarters; Smith, Reid, Doran, Jamiesoo. Fiw>eifihth: Gibbons. Half-back: King. Forwards: Thorn, Telford, Palfrejman, Fox, Hall, Davis, Jleldrum, Windeyer.