BY 41 TO NIL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9846, 27 October 1924, Page 5

BY 41 TO NIL

CHAMPION COUNTY FALLS TO ALL BLACKS. BEST PLAY OF THE TOUR, ‘ ‘REMINISCENT OF ORIGINAL TEAM.” HART AND NICHOLLS THE HEROES. United Press Association —Copyright. (Received Oct. 26, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 25. New Zealand met Cumberland, the champion county, at Carlisle to-day and, this being, presumably, the most formidable side the All Blacks have yet faced, there was keen interest as to the result, which was shown by the large attendance, numbering sixteen thousand people. Hie visitors, however, onfce again emerged triumphant from the coi> test with the largest nett total they have achieved: to their credit, while. Cumberland could not succeed in even recording a score of any kind.

The New Zealand team was: p.n inHart Cooke Parker Nicholls Paewai Mill Porter Irvine Donald M. Brownlie Masters Richardson Stewart "White From this, it will he seen that sev. oral important changes have been made in the positions of , the men. The ground was not in the host condition, being greasy- oii the surface owing to the rain in the morning, Play opened briskly and was for a time confined to the centre of the ground. Then' followed a fine rush by the All Blacks, which locked 1 like a certain score, but ended in failure at the last moment, when tho defence was beaten. Cooke’s pass to Parker went wild and the new wing-three-quarter .missed it. The County men retaliated with a hold attack in which the forwards were prominent, but No pi.a coolly took a mark and blocked them. Hart put in one of his swift runs and cleared the New Zealand quarters.

The All Blacks settled down to a concentrated play and worked their way to the other end and in ten minutes, their first score came.

Nicholls started 1 Cooke off and, at the right moment, he passed to Parker who this time made no mistake and crossed the lino at the cornel. The kick was too far out and Nepia made nothing of it. The Cumberland forwards stood up well to their redoubtable opponents and some very close play was witnessed. County was evidently trying to keep the game among the forwards hut, though tlio move succeeded for the moment, the superior height, weight and pace of the colonials gradually wore the opposition down. They mostly got possession from the scrums and then set their hacks going. The passing of tlio latter was splendid but, for a while, it was met by fine tackling.

Up to this the: tactics of County were surprisingly different from those of previous teams met by the New Zealanders. They endeavored to keep play in motion and were not afraid, to attack, which they did whole-hearted-ly as long as their condition lasted. Unfortunately for them, it broke down before the tremendous vim of the All Blacks, who kept hammering at them relentlessly.

Finally, Irvine charged down the County hack as he was attempting a kick, secured the hall and pa.ssed to Mill, who scored in a fine position. Nicholls’ kick failed.

Tho opposition then seemed to melt away and Cooke. Mill and Hart all secured tries. Once more the placekicking was “off” and none of them were converted.

At half-time the score was 15 to 0.

AVhen p 1 ay was resumed County made a last expiring effort and got so far down field that the All Blacks were forced down.

After this, Cumberland simply collapsed and the game wont so" completely in New Zealand’s favor as to bo reminiscent of the tremendous energy of the original “All Blacks” used to put into tlie second half of their games. They took complete charge of the scrums and line-outs and throw the hall about in brilliant fashion. They seemed to be able to do as they liked and' the. English champions looked on dazed.

It was tho finest collective display the visitors have given this tour and in strong contrast to some of their earlier games. Rarely was a pass dropped despite the tremendous pace at which the moil were going. Hart obtained three more tries, and Stewart, Cooke and Nicliolls one each. The place-kicking too showed a great improvement, as four of the six were converted, three by AYhitc and one by Nepia. In the end the New Zealanders heat the champions with ridiculous ease bv 41 to 0. Hart and Nicliolls were the heroes of the match. It was simply impossible to stop the former owing to the superb openings made for him by his comrade.—A. and N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE RIVAL SCORE SHEETS. • 1924 1903 Devon (AA 7 ) 11—0 55—4 Cornwall (AV) 29—0 41—0 Somerset (AA 7 ) 6 —o 23 —C Gloucester (AA 7 ) 6—o 44- —0 Swansea (AA 7 ) 39—3 4—3 Newport (AA 7 ) 13—10 6 —3 Leicester (AA 7 ) 27—0 28—0 Midlands (AA 7 ) 40—3 21—5 Cheshire (AV) 18—5 34—0 Durham (AV) 43—7 16—3 Yorkshire (AV) 42—4 40^0 Lancashire (AA 7 ) 23 —0 Cumberland (AA 7 ) ... 41—0 ’ —

338—32 321—18

ALT, BLACK SCORERS

Nepia. 18 conversions, 3 penalty goals—4s points. Hart, 13 tries, 1 conversion*—4l points. Nicliolls, 9 conversions, 2 penalty goals, 1 potted goal 1 try—3l points. Cooke, 10 tries —30 points. Darker, 9 tries—27 points. Sven son, 7 tries —21 points. Mill, 6 tries—lß points. Steel, 5 tries —15 points. AA 7 liite, 1 try, 5 conversions 13 points. Brown, 3 tries and 2 conversions—--13 points. Donald,- 3 tries—9 points. Richardson. 3 tries—9 points. Porter, 3 tries—9 points. Lucas, 3 tries—9 points. M. Brownlie, 2 tries —6 points. Masters, 2 tries —6 points. McGregor, 2 tries —0 points. Stewart, 2 tries —6 points. Irvine, 2 tries—6 points. Cupples, 1 try—3 points. O. Brownlie, 1 try—3 points. AVest, 1 try—3 points. There' were three other tries, but tho s coders are unknown.

REMAINING MATCHES

November I.—v. Ireland, at Dublin November s.—v. Ulster, at Belfast. November B.—v. Northumberland, at Newcastle. „ . November 12.—y. Cambridge University. , ~ November 15—v. London Counties, at Twickenham. , ~ . ~ November 20 —v. Oxford University November 22.—v. Cardiff. November 29. — v. Wales, at Swansea. ~ ~ Decembci 2. — v. Llanellv. . December 6—v. -East Midland, at Northampton. . , , • „Y December 10.—v. Warwickshire, at Coventry. x (Continued ot p'ot of next column.)

December 11.—v. Warwickshire;, at Coventry (second match). December I'3. v. Combined Services, at Twickenham. Deccmbei 17.—v. Hampshire, at Portsmouth. .December- 27.—-v. London Counties (second match). . January 3.— v. England, at Twickenham. . ~ ‘