FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 August 1922, Page 1

FOOTBALL

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. N.S.W. WIN RUBBER. SYDNEY, August 7. Ideal weather conditions prevailed for the final Rugby Test match to-day. The attendance was £SOOO.

Apart from occasional sparkling flashes the game throughout resembled the crude display of two country teams rather than that' of. Internationals disputing the possession of a rubber. Both combinations were palpably tired in consequence of the recent strenuous games.

The scoring was confined to the first half, Brownlie, getting two tries for New Zealand, neither of which was converted. Raymond and Mariott scored a try each for New Sooth Wales, the former being converted by Stanley. For the major part of the game, the All Blacks had the Blues on the defensive, hut unerring kicking by Nothling, nbled by a nippy three-quarter line, thwarted many New Zealand attacks at critical periods. The first score resulted from a New Zealand forward rush, Brownlie falling on the hall. M. Nicholls failed with the lack. The All Blacks vanguard immediately raided the Blue goal line again, and Brownloe worked his way through the ruck, and again scored. Nicholls’ attempt at goal was again fruitless.

Raymond converted a New Zealand three-quarter attack into a defensive movement, by intercepting and short punting on reaching Bell. Then in a race for the hall over the lino, Raymond won, and Stanley added a goal. The locals’ second try was marred by a knock on. early in the attacking movement, as N. Smith failed to gather up the hall cleanly. However, Stanley secured the hall and sent it on to Thom, who transferred to Marriott and flm latter scored. Stanley’s kick failed. Shearer replaced Chlcinai in the second spell. Flay hovered in New South Wales territory, the New Zealand hacks gaining ground by stab punting, which was invariably nullified hv Nothling gathering and roturning the hall to the centre.

The Blues’ backs broke away from their own twenty-five the whole line handling the ball, and tbe attack was rrdy terminated by Bell grassing Raymond near tbe New Zealand line. Ford and Donald retaliated with a sprint down the loft wing, a mark sat - ing the Blues when a score seemed imminent The visitors continued pressing. Steel nearly scoring in a. rare for the hall near the corner flag.

The game on the whole lacked pop. Both sides were too prone to play the eorreet. orthodox game instead of finessing oeenssionnlly. Sheehan, with a fine sprint, carried play past the centre, and passed to Raymond, who was forced into touch in the Now Zealand twenty-five. Nothling then secured and essayed a field goal. The hall crossed the bar, but it had touched a New Zealander in its flight. Bel!, from his own line, ran down the wing, Dickinson then carrying the ball to the Now Smith Wales goal. Tn a race for the leather over the lino, Marriott heat Steel l>v t-lie narrowest of margins. There was no further score the game ending: New South Wales 8, New Zca. land 6.

FOOTBALL DINNER. (Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Auk 7. Sir H. Braddon at the New Zealand dinner, said New Zealand held a record in the annals of Rugby of 122 victories out of 137 representative conflicts. The visitors had a shade of Inch against them in the present series especially in not having tho services of their captain in the final test. They were also slightly bothered by the difference of interpretations Mr Deane (Manager), admitted they were sometimes astray over the focal interpretations and advocated a conference between New Zealand and