TOUR OF ALL-BLACKS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 12

TOUR OF ALL-BLACKS.

CONCLUDING MATCHES.

SAD OCCURRENCE ON THE FIDEL; ' v ' f [Br One of Teem.] (Specially Written for The Dominion.) .;,i Tlio return match against Santa Clara was played at the placo of that -name. It is about 60 miles from San Francisco. The morning saw it raining vory hard, and at 11.30 it had been decided not to play. At noon, however, it cleared, ana the committee changed their minds. We found that the Santa Clara team had improved wonderfully since our previous game. Our team gavo a rather straggling exhibition, although we put up forty points to nothing. About 3000 people looked on. Tho play for tho first quarter of an hour was very even, tho Collegians putting dash into their game. At length, however, a scrum near tho line saw Taylor open tho Ecoro by dodging round the blind sido for a try. From then onwards tho Now Zealand forwards held tho upper hand, and the scoro mounted up tu 17 —0 in tho first spell. Stohr kicked a penalty goal, and Sellars, Stohr, and Mitcliinson scored tries, Stohr converting one. Tho second hair saw tho Santa Clara men again opening hard, but they seemed to die off very quickly, and our 6oore rose rapidly to 33—0. The prettiest passing rash of the tour was' seen in this game. The ball travelled from Taylor to Downing, Wylie, Murray, Gray, Roberts, Miteliiiieon, Loveridge, and again to Mitcliinson, who scored. It waß indeed a very pretty passing rush, and tho spectators cheered long and loudly. After the match tho team was lavishly entertained by tho Priests of the Collego at dinner. A really gocd musical programmo was arranged, and everyone was delighted with the ovelung. During tho course of tho speeches, Father Ricard spoko highly of our play, All-American Came. This was tho gamo that, I think, every member of the team looked forward to. The gamo was not played ei: tho best ground for us, as wo lVould havo favoured a grass field as at Stanford, and at ono timo this was almost ordored, on account of tho bad weather. Fortunately, or unfortunately, it eleared up on tho Friday, and so we had to play on a dirt field. Nearly twelve thousand witnessed the game. It was thought by most of tho Rugby enthusiasts that tho gamo would, bo very even. They wero evidently basing their opinion on tho All-America game last year against tho Australians, which tho Australians only _ won by 12—8. The American team lined out a very good one, in our opinion, and although the enthusisast3 criticised it rather much, wo thought it their best team. Our team had a great reception on taking tho field; the gamo had only commenced five minutes wlion, from a scrum near half-way, Taylor started a passing rush which ended in Roberts scoring tho first try. From this stage onwards every man worked as if ho meant it f and tho scoro mounted fast. Frcekicks were rather numerous and it was from ono of theso that tho Americans got their only points, Peart (Stanford) placing a very pretty goal. From this onwards wo had tho better of the gamo, tiie scorers being: Roberts (2),M'Doniild (2), M'Konzie (2), Murray (1), Graham converting three. Tho sccond half saw tho backs playing still better. An American journal stated that "tho Eork behind tho scrum could not bo better, the passing being deadly, accurato, and suro,' and easily tlio best seen in America." The forwards also gavo a fino display. Their rushes quito bowildored their opponents. Of tho forwards M'Donald must bo mentioned in particular, for showed that ho still is in his prime. His tiro scores wore brilliant, not becauso of his play in tho open- field, but becauso of his characteristic dash for tho lino which no ono could stop. Tho American team, although beaten badly, played up to the last minuto. At times they showed plenty of dash, but always seemed, to do tho Wrong thing just at . tho critical moment. Carrol (of tho Australian representative team last year) stood out well.

Dircctly after tho game wo had to make for the boat for Seattle. Tha gamo was played at 1.30 so as to allow lis to catch it. Had it not been played so early I am sura that tho crowd would havo been largely increased. Wo were hustled into the dressing room awl hardly had time to dress before tho agent for tho steamship.company came and bustled' us on. Wo had very little timo to say good-byo to our many friends in California. Wo were no sooner on board that tho gangway was lowered and the boat steamed off. One little incident of note happened here. No sooner had tho ship got clear of tho wharf than it was discovered that the manager had been left behind. All of a sudden, howover, ho was seen waving his hand frantically from a motor-car. Tho boat could not put back and so ho had to obtain a launch to 'get him to tho ship's side out in tho stream. As ho was climbing 011 board lie was accorded three hearty cheers from all tho boys and passengers who had assembled at tho sido to scs tho fun. On British Soil. .Wo readied Seattle at 10 o'clock at night. The only friend wo had .to meet 11s was an old'Wellingtoniaii {Mr. Nicholson by name) who had come from Victoria to see- us. Wo stayed on the boat that night and next morning embarked for Victoria, 8.C., on tho s.s. Princess Victoria. Tho run took four hours. ■Tho Victoria, team turned out to be tho best team wo had met. They seemed to play more of our own game, and at times they showed plenty of dash. Ithink wo were lucky that they did not scoro for, onco or twice, they made some good rushes. Tho first spell ended in our favour by 14—0, tries being scored by It. Roberts and Blitcbinson, Slitchinson converting ono and kicked .7 penalty. In tho second half tho Victoria men played even bettor and at times held our boys at bay. llitchinson, however, played in great stylo, his running and following-up proving him tlte best back of the day. E. Roberts scored one trv, whilo Cain and Loveridge also added one each, tho game ending by 23—0 in our favour. E. Roberts, at half, played his best gamo for the tour. After the gamo wo were entertained at supper by the' Camosim Club. 1 It was. a great evening as w® were once again amongst nnr own kinsman, and on British soil. Several speeches were given by members of the club and when tho local captain (Mr. 11. V. Watkins, who, by the way, was an old Welsh International player) got up to fulfil his part of the programme, ho was highly amusing. Next day we played our second match with Victoria. TIIO attendance was nearly 3000. Tlie_ gamo opened up'in lively style, tho forwards going strongly and. for a time, play was oven. The end of tho first half saw the scoro at fourteen to nil. Lynch being tho chief scorer, with three tries.< In the second half the game- opened-no considerably, so tho backs soon got in action. Tho scoro nrndually mounted ur> and when the whistle souudod'.we had nmdo 35 points to 0. It was during this game that the only .accident; of "tho whole tour happened. . .yi Player Fatally tnlyratl, it Tg«_fljo« ef.&vwjr

serious r.atUro^hd-'kt'er /caused I'no death of oiio ■■Peter:' Ogden.' v In' spell ho received 'a slight knock ■ head. whilef going': : down to/ a ■ forward, rush; f .but "soon was.up again and took his. place'atLfull-back:'f During tho second half lie again 1 , got "hurt,■-■but 1 once .more ! he ' irsumcd- hia .. place. . Xoar tho end of to ,collar ono of our 'get..up'again, tho doctor 'was oil the iiold.and conveyed to hiswhome where in ,:n hour-he died.-.Tivo 'of- Slio team' were. f. at=■■ the/•' inquest—-31 '.Dona Id and Douglas, r Thei ,i verdict, of■■ accidotail.y ; 1 lc<l;:x'i(;iiilc,; playing footl)all. , .'s' , ''r3 :; ;®^ll :^^ i ■' On Sunday, Novembflr toria for' cess Victoria." . weather .had?i)oV. left us,' 1 aiul';rsin ; feiU; incessantly/for three daysi > V ';-We ffera ; met;byjsei : enir members .of tlio local 'Ilugby..Union/ aiid, were soon housed at-11)0.',. St.. Regis' Hotel. .. Next morning'' wo .started .oft'. on a four hours' "cruiso 1 - rpUMlythojeity;. of Vancouver: ./-To tlio majority of. tis it: was not ..up to expectations as■.a ■city, although 'wo saw; it- at a ,: .greaV'disad : : vantage, owing'to the" The' drive was. nevertheless,.' I "very;enjoyable.' On the following day'wo .played our last match," defeating 'Vancouver .by .<! ! points to nothing.. ' , Tho tc-am had;;now'compiled ■;610 points against ■sis/, which, if ~l;amnot mistaken, heats any previous 'rcoortl of any Rugby team vot sent out of .New Zealand. Ono could not help noticing tho number of '. Now Zealanoers.. „ihnt were present at "tho last-match. /•:Before tho game started several war cries were given by the local Now Zcalanders, 1 and all through tho game they kept up. oho continual yell, making us-fec-l; that wa wero not very far from'homo', after all. Tho following morning saw everyone astir Very early, as tho.'' R.M.S.! Niagara left at eloven o'clock, en route" for tho land of the silver svft The All-Black Captain Honoured. Just prior to our arrival at Auckland, tho team assembled in tho music-room,'. ; to present our captain, "Alee" M'Don-. i nld, with a small token, in remembrance . of the tour and. of tho-team he. cap-.. . tftineu. Mr. Mason made the presenta- ! tion, which was in tho form of a' set'; . of carvers. In asking "Alec", to fie-; cept tho present, Mr. Mason remarked what a grand captain ho was, and. ; .ho . was sure that'that was the opinion of ; everyono in tho team. Tho captain replied, thanking tho hoys for the beau-' tiful present, which, he saicl, ho/would. [ keep and treasuro more than-any.-,others " present ho had ever received.