JAUNT OF ALL BLACKS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1927, 9 December 1913, Page 11

JAUNT OF ALL BLACKS.

FOOTRALL & MUD. MORE PACIFIC SLOPE GAMES. [Br One of the Team.] (Specially written for The Doitisrox.) After our match against the University of California, in which we were successful by 38 to 3, the whole team looked forward to the trip through tho mountains to Reno, . Our matchstarted at 2.30 p.m., and nearly every shop in Reno closed for three hours. The attendance was not very largo, although it was the largest crowd they lmvp had so far ,to witness a football match. This -was our second appearance oil a turf field, but our men did not play very well, as the train, journey seemed to make them very lazy. The following team lined out: —Loveridge, Cuthill. Mitchinson, Stohr, Gray, M'Kenzie, Roberts, Murray, Williams, Cain, Graham, Downing, Wvlio, Douglas, Dewar. ■the game was not a very startling exhibition of football, yet the points were high considering that the spells were only 25 minutes each. The Nevada team showed great promise-, as a good ] all-round side. They are all from the university. Of our men Gray played best in tho backs, being the only one to show any dash at all. In the- first spell the scoro was twenty-one to nil, tho following putting on tries: —Douglas (2), Stohr, Downing, and M'Kenzie. Graham converted three.

In the second half the New Zealand | team went a little better, although tho forwards woro doiiij? most of tho.work. Douglas played easily the best game of tho forwards, putting plenty of dash into his play. Tho following added tiie remainder of the points:—W'ylie (2), Mitchinson, Graham, Douglas, Cain, Murray, and Stohr, Graham converted four tries. Match in Mud Quag. 'Hie third match with California was set down to bo p'ayod on Saturday, November 1, but owing t<i wet weather it- was postponed until tho Monday. Unfortunately the weather did not clear so the ground was much worso than on 'Saturday. It was, in fact, in an awful state. The mud was above 'our boottops, and at times it was impossible to see tho ball. This is the ground which wo havo to play on for the All American game. The scoro registered by tho team (33 —0) may bo regarded as a very' good one, taking tho conditions into consideration. The game was not altogether a friendly one. At times tho play was very hard. Mr. Hill (who' was hero to referee for tho big game against tho two Universities California and Stanford) acted as referee, and kept proceedings under good control. At times some of his ruling); wore not in sympathy with ours, and tho result was one or two heated arguments. Tho game was an amusing quo for tho spectators. Once when M'Donald eamo out from a scrum it was isnpossiblo to tell where his jersey ended, for his head was covered with mud an inch thick. It was amusing to see Taylor endeavouring to start a passing rush, for the ball weighed at times over fifteen pounds, and when it was transferred to Gray it nearly knocked him over. Onco or twice a passing rush was got off, and it must bo considered a ercditablo performance with tho ball as it was. M'Donald scored four tries out of the eleven, and ho deserved them all. Slurray also played a good game, seeming to revel in tho mud. Ho also scored three tries, his last one being a very pretty hit of work. Of tho backs little can be said, as it was entirely a forward game. Goal kicking was not attempted, as tho hall could not be kicked more than three feet high owing to its weight.

The following was tho team: —Cuthill, M'Gregor, Roberts, Lynch, Mitchinson, Gray, Taylor, Sellars, Dewar, Downing, Wylic, Grahams M'Donald. Douglas. Another Mud March, This match was played at tho St. Ignatius Ground in the city. Tho mud was again up to the boot-tops. Our score could not be regarded as a good one. This team should havo been beaten by 50 points. Tho attondnncc was very poor, not more than fifty people paying for admission. I think tho ltugby Union are at fault a little for not advertising the games more. Tho gamo onded in our favour by 26 points to nil. Of the individual play littlo can bo said, as not ono sltono out. It was mostly a forward game, the backs having littlo to do. At times tho backs attempted passing rushes, but tho ball could not bo thrown with any accuracy, as the mud on it was sometimes an inch thick. Mr. Iteeding acted as referee. Tho following was the line-up :—Stohr, Cuthill, Roberts, Loveridgo, Mitchinson, M'Kenzie, E. Roberts, Cain, Sellars, Aitkinson, Graham, iVylio, Douglas, M'Donald.

The Trip to Los Angeles, Our trip to Southern California was eagerly looked forward to by everyone. Wo wero scheduled to travel by train to Los Angeles by what is termed the "Owl" train, which covers the distance of 500 miles in fourteen hours, so wero all anxious to have the experience of travelling at such :.i speed. Tlio pleasure, however, was not to be for tho 'Rugby Union here are- rather short of fends, so wo had to content ourselves to travelling down tlio coast in an old tub called tlio Queen. By having to take this boat, our time was very limited in that beautiful city Los Angeles. We took thirty-two hours en route, instead of fourteen hours by train. Tho team to play against tlio Southerners was as followsCutliill, Lynch, Lovei'idgc. M'Gregor, Mitcliinson, Gray, Roberts, Williams, Sellars, Aitkinson, Downing, Graham, Douglas) Cain. This game was played on a tan field, and we thought' this kind of ground better than tlio dirt field. The attendance was very good, and I belicvo brought the union a good sum of money. The cheapest seat ivas 25., and they went up as liigh as ss. a seat. The Los Angeles 'Varsity team lined out a good solid lot, ami gave our follows plenty to think about. This was tlifl best team wo bad met up to date as regards collaring. Our backs had to show some of their true form, but, at the same time, they did not give a very creditable display, their passing at times being very erratic. Another very disagreeable pointwas the collaring, several member; of the team seeming to have lost tlio art altogether. Lynch was probably tho worst offender, 1: lis display light through tlio game being very poor. Mitcliinson and Loveridge wen? not at tbeir best. Roberts, at half, worked very hard, but bis failing in not gutting "down to it" was noticeable. M'Gregor was at his best, and gave a great display lor a wing three-qumter. Gilo of liis runs was grouted willi great applause. Tfo ran nearly the -length of the ■ field, and planted the ball underneath the posts. The first spell ended in our favour by 19—0, and (lie team generally were glad to hear the gun sound, as the day was very hot indeed. The second spell saw twenty* ono nioro points added. These were scored mostly by the forwards. Graham was again at his best at placekicking, only missing ono out of seven shots. In this game one thing that was very noticeable was the very. impartial |

hearing that the All Blacks got. Tho spectators choorcd every good piece of play Hint our team did. This was something that lias . been rather unusual on this tour. The 'Varsity men aro a team of promise. They havo a really good idea of tho game as it should be played. Their chief fault was the dribbling, tho forwards having only a very vacuo idea of this. Another point whore tliey lacked was the following up, but I am sure that with a good coach they would bo a first-class team. Tho journey to Los Angeles was decidedly tiie most pleasant one wo havo iiad on our whole tour. From the moment we arrived til! the moment we left wo were treated splendidly. Everything possible was done to make our short stay a success, and I am speaking for every member of tho team when I say that every man regretted leaving tli'.s beautiful and pretty town, and also the men and the boys who had made our sojourn such ai! enjoyable one. It was a thousand pities that two games had not- been sot down at Southern California, for I am positive that it would have helped on the game in that part, of the country to a marked extent. _ I d-o not know whether I have mentioned in my previous letters that, liruoe had to na under an operation, and was laid up in hospital for two weeks. Ho received a kick on the leg, and it turned to blood poisoning, so ho had to have the operation performed. I am pleased to say ho is again back with us, looking as Jit- and as well as ho ever did, but ho will not play any more games on tho tour. All tjio members of the team are looking very jit, and arc i getting reacfy for o;ir big ganio against All America.