SIX TO NIL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9852, 3 November 1924, Page 5

SIX TO NIL

ALL BLACKS VICTORIOUS IN FIRST TEST MATCH.

NARROW WIN BY 6 POINTS TO 0

WEATHER FAVORS IRISHMEN IN BOTH SPELLS.

SVENSON SCORES TRY . AND NICHOLLS KICKS PENALTY GOAL

CHEERING THOUSANDS STAND •rd IN POURING RAIN

United Press Association—Copyright. (Received Nov. 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 1. The-All Blacks played their first—internation'al match against Ireland at Dublin to-day, and after a wellrcontested game, emerged victors by 6 points to 0. The New Zealand team was: . Nepia Hart Lucas Svenson Cooke Nicliolls Dally Parker Irvine Donald Masters M. Brownlie Chippies Richardson White Pleurisy prevented the inclusion of Ri. Stewart. The Irish side was: Crawford

H. Stephenson G. Stephenson F. Hewitt, McDowell Gardiner, T. Hewitt. R, C'ollopy, Crichton, C’ollis McLeiland, McVicker Spain, Clinch, Brand

Intense interest was taken in the first appearance of the famous Dominion players, whose chances were strongly favored, and even before the day it was known that a huge crowd was assured. This expectation was fully born© out, as the attendance numbered twenty-six thousand. The spectators gave an 1 enthusiastic welcome to the visitors when they filed out to the ground. New Zealand lost the toss and kicked off against a strong wind.

THE FIRST THRILL. It was early seen that it eland had' put in the field a Heavy well-balanced team in excellent condition. Tney stood up boldly to tneir ionnidaoie opponents, ana' it was not surprising. Witn tlie, reputation tlie Irish lor-' wards have gained m the last two or uuce years, mat tney made a most ei’CditaDle light of it. The first incident of note was a brilliant rush by tlie All Black forwards, ending m Earlier putting m a wulijuttgeu cross kick. Hart gathered it in ms stride, and a thrill went through tlie crowds as he dashed ior the lin’c. Tlie full-back, Crawxord, however, was equal to the occasion and got- there m time to hold up tlie Taranaki winger by inches only. With a line kicic up tne side-iine Clinch removed the bail out of danger. AILL BLACKS’ TER RIFIC TACK-

LE'S G. A series of scrums and line-outs followed, in which Ireland ably held its own, showing equally good lorin with the New Zeula-naei’S, but- their backs’ attempts at passing were entirely nullified by the All Blacks’ terrific tackling, wliicn, indeed, was the •striking feature of the opening stages. They nave greatly improved in tins branch of tlie game, which at- one time was a decided weakness in their play, IRELAND NARROWLY MISSES PENALTY GOAL.

The keenness led them into some infractions of tlie rules, and the majority of the penalties awarded were against them. From one. of these Urawiord, who was kicking splendidly, narrowly missed, the goal. Helped very much by the wind, the Irishmen were able to keep the game in their adversaries’ territory for quite a long time, until a fine passing rush, in which the ball passed through t-lie hands of Niclioils, Cooke and micas, almost enabled Hart- to score. Again determined collaring just stopping him in time

SPOILING METHODS BY BOTH , TEAMS. Both sets of forwards were playing a .magnilicent game and giving a dashing exhibition. The Irishmen displayed a remarkable aptitude for smothering the All Blacks' pass.ng from the liase of the scrums, and so clipped l off the attempts of the backs to get going. Both teams, in fact, resorted to spoiling methods, and the game, therefore, was very close without much room for scientific methods'. Obviously the New Zealanders, struggling against the wind, could not' afford to take risks and could hardly do .anything else but keep the game tight while it was near the goal. Nor were they disposed to let their opponents open out. Both sides kefit up a great pace and, if it was not scientific, the play was decidedly robust and hard.

Nicholls, Dailey and Parker were conspicuous for fine defensive work at this stage, Nicholls’ kicks into touch being specially certain and effective. GRUELLING WORK TELLS ON IRISHMEN.

Gruelling work, however, began to tell its tale, and, before the first half ended, there were signs that the pace was having its effect on the Home side. The New Zealanders began more and more to get possession of the ball, but the backs, though passing brilliantly, were unable to penetrate the' Irishmen’s sturdy defence, and the spell ended without any scorer

NEPIA’S MAGNIFICENT PLAY. On resumption of play the All Blacks immediately took the offensive, the forwards excelling themselves with most effective dribbling rushes, while Nenia and Nicholls. who were both playing brilliantly, inspired their colleagues ini the back division by their example. The Maori player was magnificent, fielding the ball faultlessly and kicking a wonderful length. ALL BLACKS PLAY AGAINST

WIND AND HEAVY,RAIN. Once again conditions entirely favored the Home side. It was really extraordinary bad luck for the New Zealanders that, after battling against the wind in the first half, it should veer completely round, and again blow from behind Ireland, and this time accompanied by heavy rain squalls.' Nothing could be worse for the visitors, but they faced the heavy task with resolution “and undiminished vigor.

SVENSON SCORES FOR NEW ZEALAND. After twenty minutes of hard, gruelling play the All Black forwards developed a tremendous loose attack, which completely broke .the opposition up, Parker secured the ball, passed to Lucas, and lie handed it on to Svenson, who crossed the line half-way from, the corner to score a thorough-ly-deserved try. Nepia’s kick failed.

NICHOLES' PLACES PENALTY GOAL. Five minutes later Nicholls lauded a superb goal from a penalty kick. The New Zealanders’ heeling out of the scrum improved as the game progressed’, but the chances tins gave the hacks of promising passing movements were nullified bv inability to handle tthe greasy ball with certainty. T. Hewitt (Ireland) retired hurt at tins juncture. • . , Notwithstanding their disadvantage the All Blacks had clearly asserted their supremacy and twice Hart was almost across. Nothing hut their magnificent tackling saved Ireland. F. Hewitt was particularly conspicuous in defence.

DESPERATE FIGHT FROM START TO FINISH.

The game was contested! in the finest possible spirit and aroused the great mass of onlookers to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. The battle between the forwards was the most notable feature of the game. AH through’, both packs', fought desperately for every inch of ground. New Zealand’s success was primarily due to the collective excellence of the vanguard, who fulfilled the greatest, expectations. Notwithstanding their obstinate defence, the Irishmen were a beaten team in the second! half and, had the turf remained dry, it is agreed! that the All Blacks would probably have 71111 up twenty points against them. PARKER THE MOST BRILLIANT PLAYER OF ALL.

Brownlie, 'White. Richardson and Cupples were prominent, but in justice to the remaining forwards it must be added that all alike played magnificently. The display of both full-backs was also another outstanding feature of the day. Dailey rose meritoriously to the occasion but Cooke and Lucas did not appear to handle the ball with their usual sureness. Svenson, on the wing, was comparatively neglected. Parker was possibly the most brilliant player of -all, on the day, showing out consistently well, both in attack and defence.

New Zealand was penalised eight, times in the first half, chiefly through mistakes in tlie scrum play, but fared better in the next spell, when only six penalties were given, three of them against Parker. Luckily they were mostly out of easy range of the goal. The stamina of both sides wes exceptional and tremendous pressure was maintained throughout. The game, from beginning to end, . was quite up to the best international standard.

During the final exciting stages, when the AH Blacks were mostly in the ascendancy and threatening to score at any moment- the people, were roused to such a pittcli of excitement that thousands stood in the pouring rain regardless of the weather, cheering frantically. PROPOSED GAME IN BRITISH COLUMBIA-. NEGOTIATIONS STILL INDEFINITE. (R-ceeiv-cd Nov. 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. L Negotiations for the game iff .British Columbia remain indefinite till the homeward route is decided on. ft libs been suggested that the tour should end with a match against France at Toulouse and the team should return bv the Suez Canal. — A, and N.Z.C.A 1 *

THE RIVAL SCORE SHEETS. ” 1924 1905 Devon (W) 11—0 55 Cornwall (W) 29—0 41—0 Somerset (W) 6 —o 23 C Gloucester (W) 6—o 4-1 0 Swansea (W) 39—3 4—B Newport (W) 13—10 6 3 Leicester (W) 27—0 28—0 Midlands (W) 40—3 21 5 Cheshire (W) IS—-5 34 0 Durham (W) 43—7 16—3 -Yorkshire (W) 42—4 40—0 Lancashire (W) 23 —0 Cumberland (W) ••• 41-—0 • Ireland (W) 6—o 15 0

344—32 33G—IS ALL BLACK SCORERS. Nepia. IS conversions, 3 penalty goals—4s points. Hart, 13 tries,’ 1 conversion* —11 points. Nicliolls, 9 conversions, 3 penalty goals, 1 notted goal, 1 try—3-1 points. Cooke,' 10 tries —30' points. Parker, 9 tries —27 points. Svenson S tries —24 points.

Mill, 6 tries —18 points. Steel, 5 tries —15 points. White, 1 try, 5 conversions—l 3 points. Brown, 3 tries and 2 conversions—--13 points. Donald, 3 trios—9 points. Richardson. 3 tries—-9 points. Porter, 3 tries—9 points. Lucas, 3 tries—9 points. M. Brownlie, 2 tries—6 points, blasters, ,2 tries- —6 points. McGregor, 2 tries —b points. Stewart, 2 tries—6 points. Irvine, 2 tries—6 points. Cripples, 1 try—3 points. C. Brownlie, 1 try—3 points. West, 1 try—3 points. There were three other tries, hut the scorers are unknown.

REMAINING MATCHES. November 5. —v. Ulster, at Belfast. November B.—v. Northumberland, at Newcastle. November 12.—v. Cambridge University. November 15 —v. London Counties, at Twickenham. November 20—v. Oxford University , November 22.—v. Cardiff. November 29.—v. Wales, at SwanDecemhei 2.—v. Llanelly. Decembei 6. —v. East Midland, at Northampton. December 10. —v. Warwickshire, at Coventry. . , , . December 11.—v. Warwickshire, at Coventry (second match). December 13. —v. Combined Services, at Twickenham. Decembei 17.—v. Hampshire, at Portsmouth. December 27. —v. London Counties (second match). . January 3.—v. England, at Twickenham.