THE ALL BLACKS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 59, 3 December 1907, Page 5

THE ALL BLACKS.

SCRIBES' PREMONITIONS. FQRWARDS ARE WEAK IN SECURING ' ■■'■'«: ' THE BALL. BACKS, WHEN THEY-GET IT, PASS ■ •'•';;■■ badly; BY TELEGRAM!— PRESS* ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGIT* (Hoc. Dec, 2, 5.34. p.m.) ' - -—;. Sydnoy; December 2. lDiiglisli ' papers comment as 'follows oil the sixth match of the team's Oour,. played against Leeds at Leeds,, a Fortnight "before the Now 'Zealanders , first :lofeat:— '■■■"■ •••»',. ■ ■■'•.• / A STIFF TASK. The "Daily Clironiclo"' says, that, with all their stars loft out, the New Zealanders bad a stiff task- to defeat -tlie strong .side lyhicli Leeds put., in the Held, and though they won by 8 points to ?,(a goal and two tries to a. g0a1),., they: had to strive their liardesk 'Tliero is still, something faulty about '.the Colonials' play, which tho matches so far havo not eliminated. They do'not,, command the ball in the scrummage, and ' their passing is far from perfect. | . • "The forwards arc good in the open, but they, are always striving to handle the ball, instead of at times rolyiug oilman effective dribble. The result is. that, the man so' handling the ball fails to recover his bal-j unco, and .cannot''see whero'he is passing the leather. Forward; ; transfers ■ spoiled many chances, and inaccurate' handling negatived several openings. , . WRICLEY'S SINS. '.. . "JSvon with' a clear field the" combination \■-•' was indifferent, and -Wrigloy was a great sinner, in this regard. Lavery's form against Wakefield Trinity ho would seemyto ■' bo a better-, man on the wing than W'rigley." , . The "Daily Teldgraph" says that the Now'. ' Zealandors did not hold a particularly strong , advantage, but their form-was superior to '. that of their opponents. Towards the finish' ' - the Colonials returned to ,tjj'q -att'aok, but- . their passing was faulty, and tlioy were un- ; ,'•' able to increase the' load which they had.' already,.established." .■ •, ;, . - -. ' .' MATCH AGAINST BROUGHTON iRANGERS.; , '■;'■•.. -"STAMINA WON A STRENUOUS " '"'" CONTEST.'! ; ;'"■■ New Zealand; "... 20 ; • 1 Rangers ■'....'" : ... 14 [BY A." H), BASKERVILLE.] ' ( ' ■' The All Blacks' first test is over, and thej; breathe complacently for a while. Broughton .. Rangers wore defeated on Saturday (October- .- 19),.. YiV are now "Hall-marked." Whatj is, more, we eamo through the ordeal' with flying colours.; Both Press_and_ public were : delighled Ivith "our"'d'ispVayr.and"-wo were in turn niado happy by tho attendance of the; public. Tho attendance was estimated to be., nearly ?0,000; and the gate amounted to approximately £1100. We. had a great welcome a,t the station, aiul a magnificent at the.grpund. .-Never m recent years has so' much;-interest'been-taken in, a Northern Onion fixture in Lancashire. At 3 o'clock tho stands were packed, and the ground w»s, fu11.., There still, seeinod thousands outside awaiting, their turn to press through Uie tiuiisfiies.- They, all pressed in, howover. Broughton has stood for many years as one ■ of tho finest and most accomplished teams 'Union.'.. Their.;record is; excellent. Thoy play open, attractive football of a kind which it was predicted we- i would find it difficult tp cope with succcssr fully. . Combination is their strong point, owing to their- possession, of a tricky pair 08.. half-backs, and a steady reliable set of three? quarters.. - DEATEN AT THEIR OWN CAME. , They gave a very good exhibition, buii wore actually beaten at their own,-game,, and it is'jileasing to relate even their own supporters admitted .that , the margin should have.been greater between the scores. Wβ have not yet thoroughly mastered the rules, and it was the Blacks' ignorauce in thJ3 direction which practically led to all their < opponents' -scores.' -The Now Zealanders were' keyed up to a' high pitch of: excitement by the importance , of the match. It meant life, or death to-a,certain extent to the future success of. the tour. Thus the ovor-oa«erncss of certain members is excusable, and was not surprising. The first half of th'e' game produced splendid football. The brilliant and bewildering' passing, rushes of the "All Blacks" went straight; .' to the hearts of the crowd. Thoy could not help being partial. Lancashire 'people like the passing gauuf in the 'same,degree as the forward game is appreciated .'.in Yorkshire. They were given an opportunity of- seeing both, because in' the ' second, spell the New Zealand forwards were the controlling fao" tor. 1 -fancy me Dominion public would, have' preferred the second period' of the game. ■ The occasional enthralling Hashes in the first half would have caused much excitomentj • no doubt, but give me the second spell, when the spectators were continually "oil edse." The magnificent; Forwardrushes, the-keenness of the "tight" battles. oi\ each goal lino, and the deadly tackling. - kept one in a state of suspense. A vivid Hash - of lightning which, played over the . ground in tlie. closing- scenes of the game did not; seem at all out of placu. It was a* fitting accompaniment to the strenuous cqntest;; :, ..',\ ' -,-..- ' ■■ ■ '' ■ ' ; ' '■; NEW ZEALAND WINS THE TOSS, New Zealand wgn the. toss, and chose td play with a*, slight -breeze favouring them. 'Tho ground, One of tho finest in the United Kingdom, was-, in. perfect condition. Rrough. toiv,'s kick-off was well returned by Turtill, and marked. Owing , to the Black forwards following up briskly,' their kick was in turn then marked by Turtill on the half-way lino. .Messenger tried to kick a goal, but the ball, ; though propelled quite far enough, was a , few loot wide of' tho mark'.. Broughton forced down. Wrigley secured the ball from tho-kick-out, and dashed down the liiie. A .' scrum took place near their twenty-five", line. Now Zealand obtained possession and [{~' Wynyard made an opening. He passed to.Todd," who in turn handed to \V. Wynyard. Tho latter was tackled when alinosb over.." Again a scrum took phit'e, this time nearer their line. W. Wynyard secured the, ball after a similar pyolution, and made no mistnlio on this occasion, v ' ' WYNYARD SCORES, He scored a few -minutes after the game liad started, and Messenger kicked an unmistakable goal. . AVrigloy returned their kick-off well, but the Broughton forwards tvbrKcd the play into midfield. They secured the ball from a scrum, started u passing riish, ;and cross-kicked. Smith hero made ii mark. This iind a free kick given for olf-sido play relieved tho Blacks. Todd found tho touch-line at the/ half-way flag. _ The resulting sci'iim Saw Now Zealand again iu possession,'but tho defence was too strong. Loqso play saw the ball carried to the. Broughton lino, and a passing rush in which several hacks \vero concerncu enabled Todd. to receive ball with n-clear run in; but tho refereo ruled ono of the passes to be forward.'- A few minutes later Todd waa ngafn a'li'ost over. Tliis time he was pulled Jown a'few yVirds away.- New Zealand wore seen at thSr iTesf about this time. Another brilliant palsing rush, participated in by,

nearly all the backs, was just settled by a Broughton-man kicking into touch. Thoy secured from tlio. scrum and took the opportunity to invade our territory. .HOT WORK. - ' Then followed somo hot' work on the .-•". Blacks' line. Jfroughton' almost got over by a'passing rush. Quo of them passed the;ball off'the ground, nnd was penalised.''. Tlio free kick found the touch-line fit half-way,' and relieved our side. A scrum .at length saw It. Wynyard, Todd, and Messenger racing for ( tlio goal-posts. The latter was downed none too soon. Another and away-went the Now Zealand backs again.- They matlo the spectators gasp. The ball was flashed about by both forwards and backs'so quickly that the passers-could not bo recorded. It was also bewildering, to our opponents, who saved with difficulty. Thoy worked hard, and camo back to the "All Blacks'" end. 1 iNew ..Zealand -.sccurccKin' ii sfrum and screwed it adVaiitageously. Cross'and Johnston dribbled , some distaneo. Todd gained inoro ground Vby. , - finding-; the lino after/, a . scrum. In'a Scrum-,Broughton'Wro penalised for ."li/ting," and , JWngley,with a huge v kick, found touch;at half-way., New Zealand secured froin-the scrum, and away went tlio back) again'. , Todd,'who had been play-brilliantly-both on attack and defence, got the ba,ll-and sailed for the line. but-was : tac-klcd, 'and "not ""playing the ball , ' proporly them a free.kick. ■ This "placed the ; Blacks on the defensive. r .Tllcir backs tried I a hand at passing. Wrigley, .too ambitious ■ as usual, tried to box throe of them, :but missed-the lot. . Turtill tackled- his man .Burely, but ho fell forward, land reaching out ,'.; grounded, the. ball-, just over;.'the' 1in0..: The .try was unconverted. ■ After- this success * Broughton seemed to get their nervej which before appeared, shattered. Loose : play' took t place near the centre of the field after the kick-off, and■:■ a Broughton/back made a , brilliant run- 'for the '■ corner. Finding liis progress barrel there, he did the unexpected—that is' passed the ball'blindly in- .-.. . field. \ : .;-'; . .;'■' ' ' . , / A CLEAR RpN IN. '. . By sh'pefiUiick one' of his forwards hap} to/bo- there anithad a clear rim \n. The try being converted, left the scores:—" . -.-'.; Broughton ... /...'„. ■■;'-..;' 8 ... ".'j New Zealand ... ........ 5. f■• ( l ' The_" All Blacks", then roused themselves, and pitched into the game-with a will. Cross ■>and'others;-rushed play to the centre; and /Smith and others v started ' a."passing ■ bout, ) and the ball must have passed.through quite ,■■.-. 1 ton pairs of'hands before the last receiver v was downed' near .tub ' -goal-posts.,: ;What • j aroused-', the.-spectators, to such.a ■'state; of ~ 1 excitement was''the factilthat nearly '■;, all the Iplayors in this fine movement were forwards. • jßyrne'made another-dash, and a Broughton the situation by "botching" tho ball. A' scrum -was awarded.- New Zeasecured the'ball , and B. . Wynyard I started the fun. A series', of'passes.'and' re'- |. passes' saw the samd player' score a try one "yard.from the touch-line. • "'/ •'■'-

A MARVELLOUS COAL,

• . ■ .Messenger kicked a marvellous, goal from it, and gavo us the lead , once niore. •' Even jplay, near-the centre resulted for a wkilo. each set of • forwards fighting " hammer and - U°? gS ni mastery." Down" "came' the ■ ' fonva J ds > Cross, and Johnston . v .-dribbling in the van. Their full-back saved /'(• on his own line by lying';on the ball. Play ■ N jwas worked back to halfway, and , lt: Wynyard secured after a'scriim, and punted high ■ ,rodd raced after the'kick,'. and tackled the' •catcher, and the Now Zealand forwards ; swarmed down on him. They rushed tho bail along, and the übiquitous It. Wynyard : always at hand, da,rted over, and scored well out.- Messenger failed to convert from 'a difficult angle. Broughton forced the pace with the kick-off, and threatened the blackline, until Wrigley relieved with a hugo lineinding punt.,Trevarthon carried play.further down with a fine: dribble:, Broughton'worked . back ™ ° ur Jme, fighting:every inch of tlw •way. They secured from a scrum, and a dauI gerous passing rush was only nullified- by' a , ; pass forward/ It. Wynyard secured'from "the ! scrum, and'puiitcd high. Messongor fallowed •i up fast, and.got control of the Ball: Ho dribbled it superbly down the field, but uriluckily it went; out near the corner, and wrpugnton secured, and kicked it well back ag H"i ■9 nce more R. Wynyard punfel.high, .and Todd reached his man with theadvent'of the ball,-tackled him surely, and secured the' ball himself. He made a fine opening, and passed to Johnston.v ' ■.•■-•,-• ■•■'.'

, THE FINEST TRY OF THE DAY.' ■ The big Ota'go man made an excellent dash and literally dived over to score the finest try ; of,-the day; Messenger converted it and raised'..the.score, to 18—8 The vjhistle_soundod; immediately after ■ for half ■■time. No lpver of .Rugby football could cavil at the display given in tho first half of the igame. Both sides- played good, bright, open football of a sort that would send a New (Zealand audience crazy with-delight.. Soccer enthusiasts are nover very keen on giving' the ,-Rugby game praise, particiilarlv about j .-Manchester, but a knot of them, I am told / ■ openly expressed their delight at the exhibition,, and gave but that they would: attend every one of our matches'in the neighbour- . hood. They were amazed-at, the \vaV-our men snapped up the ball going'full speed .fund,.passed so accurately. .. : . ■..' THE SECOND SPELL. ' Wright -started , the b,all rolling for Now Zealand -m, tho second spell, now against the breeze. /.I hen began, a' hot Encounter. In.ey ruahed-the ball' well down, out a forward got offside, and Broughton with a (mo free kick, and ; the wind sent the ball ovor our dead ball ; lmo. This again, occurred when the' Jack-out was "returned bv Broughton. Unco more they came down with the wind, but jWrigloy saved by .finding touch at the 25 - yards, inc. ■ 'They worked down to the New ZeaJand lmo, where a scrum was ordered. It appears they hooked the ball, and Messenger and R. Wynyard, anxious to nip in the bud any passing work, sprang forward, but, were promptly penalised for being-.off-side before the ball left'the scrum. Broughton put tho free-kick over the bar. Now livened, up a bit again,, and < they i; secured m a Tscrum-and screwed splendidly;' Johnston and Byrne came away, and gained ground with a fine dribble, but the home team worked play back again to our twentyfive. Smith relieved with afiiio, flashy.run to half-way, but Now Zealand, by" offside pay, soon lost the advantage,'gaine'd.'"•They kicked into touch at pur twenty-five..-■ New Zealand then opened up.the game! and tried a-passing rush, but did nofcgain much ground against the wind. Smith .secured, about half-way, and by a brilliant individual efforti : got within striking distance,.■ but an acci- . dental pass. into touch' spoiled : .ja. promising situation. From a scrum 'a fow minutes later the;.-,ball .was handed on to Wrigley, 1 who was just pushed into touch in a good ; position. . . • . •• .■?■■ ' ■>' ■•-.'.- . • i . AN EASY COAL. , .i;On' play being worked^back to New Zea- • land territory. Broughton were given a freekick for an infringement by us in tho scrum, and easily landed a goal with fche wind. I'nis mado, tho score':— . . . New Zealand ....;. ... 18 . v Broughton Rangers J2 : Messenger was-next .vory conspicuous' Ho . mado a fine run and opening. This was a forerunner to a brilliant piece of work. 'About half of tho "All Black" team, forwards and backs, took part in it, passing and re-passing the, hair many times,:, until, n pass forward 'suspended ouoratfotis, Broughton relieved by UicU'in'ghigh. Turtilt fielded badly, and let play ; come back. A free-kick brought relief, Messenger finding' the lino at half-way. New Zealand secured from tho scruni, and swept down with a passing rush. Messenger punted high, and Todd got to tho rceoivor. He tackled him on the Erie, but Broughton relieved tho' situation with a Unity kick. W. Wynyard then punted high, followed up quickly, and spoiled tho return. This led to a scrum, from which It. Wynyard secured, and, running ■ to tho blind sido, ho handed on to' Smith. Iho speedy Aucklander was nlmost over before s'ou could say "knife." Another scrum, and New Zealand secured -the ball. Ri Wynyard 'made an opening, and passed to Johnston,

who had withdrawn from the pack to break through'tlio defeiicei Ho was, howover, unsuccessful. The defence, though solid, did not relish our tactics, and they hnd many " lives " just then. Next tinio Smith secured, hepot'tcd at goal, but the drop kick foil a few feet short of the bar! - Ho was obstructed from following his kick, and the "Blacks.'!- wer'o given a freo-kick in conscf]ueiice».JMossoiiger kicked an easy coal. New Zealand .' ... 20 Broughton Rangers 12 Up" and down the play surged, untiT'New Zealand lp got, .offside again. Broughton then kicked; a'penalty goal, aiid made ,tho scores-^ ■iNew ''-Zealand/ ... ... ... 20 •;; ■ Broughton'.;.;:«"... .').;. ... 14. •Thus it'remained until the <- l-.ul anil rain—a thunderstorm'—intorfe;' an exciting finish. Both forward t-. , ' ight It out to a finish. Wrigley, Sinn : . J Messenger each made exciting indiviihcii runs in the somi-darkui'ss.,; but the scores remained unaltered , , , and 'thus ended one of'the most brilliant' games, , -Vccqrding /to Northern Unionist, statements, 'that has ever been .played under etheuv' rules. • ■.. '. '.■-'• THE CAME OF THEIR LIVES. Individually, and collectively for that matter, the Now ZoiiJanders played the game of their lives. All nrelcertain it was the fastest game: they ever .played, and' , very few mistakes wero made during tho day, though Wrigley is blamed ;by . critics for Broughton's trips. Ho did. well otherwise , His. kicking , was a treat. Turtill played another.fiiio game. In fact, his best so far., Only once was he at fault slightly, and on that occasion he recovered well. Smith played brilliantly-throughout,-but hard luck robbed him of two or more tries. Messenger played up! to "his usual Standard 111 all departments. Like Smith, his. chances were not scoring ones. Todd playedashencver, did before. He improves with overy frame. His tackling, speed, and goneral trickinoss were superb. ■' W. Wynyard. improving himself one of the best wing three-quarters -of _' the teani. :His smart dashes- and paco caiight the 'eye' very frequently. E-. Wynyard makes a clover, nippy half-back. Ho is .eminently suitable for a Northern Union player in that position. To our forwards , ' grit/and tenacity is due the victory... Their 'game fight' against odds in the. -swtontl-"spell' really saved tho match. Johnston was on it< from start'to'finish.' On his own admission -he never , ';' played better before. It'would have required' a-very solid, phalanx of Broughton -men' to resist him when he dived for -his magnificent try, and Cross iw'as Visually ?a good seconder to his elforts.V All :fihe 'other forwards •■ Wright Byrne,-.pilchrist-and Troyarthen, played excellent games. Both -teams were entertained at dinner after the game-at the Grosvonor Hotel. -Both at that: function and away from it a desire was" expressed that wo should' meet Broughton again, so that if a .supplementary programmois arranged, no doubt the contest at. Manchester will be •fought, over again. Judging ,by the visible 'signs of satisfaction ,, observed everywhere tho public rwill: attend again, too. '