ALL BLACKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1924, Page 4

ALL BLACKS.

AUCKLAND MATCH COJLM.ENT,

AUCKLAND, July 23,

The All Hlaeks suffered their second defeat to-day tit the hands of not the best team Auckland could produce. It was a great pity as far as the players were concerned. It was all very well for the New Zealand Union arranging the game from the financial point of view, hut it should study the iilayers. Aucklanders to-night arc proclaiming that the All Hlaeks are a poor team, which is absolutely unfair to the players. They arrived at eleven o’clock the night before after a fairly rough passage. On Monday, day and night, the -Manuka rolled badly with disastrous effects to the players, some of whom never attended the table during the passage. To ask them to play the following day was nothing short of a crime. The inevitable result was that the players were quite unable to find their feet.

Perhaps, now Auckland people at least are able to understand why the New Zealanders lost the first test match with Australia. After loutdays ashore there, they felt groggy, so it call well he imagined how they felt to-day. It is a great pity, as many Aucklanders are now saying that the All Hlaeks arc a poor side. One redeeming feature is that the win may do good here to help to counter the opposition game.

The All Hlaeks wore white crepe hands ill memory of .Mr T. IL Henderson. who died here yesterday, and who was the founder of L!te New Zealand Rugby Union.

The game was chiefly a battle between the forwards. The Auckland hacks supported their forwards much heller than did the All Blacks. Ibis made a big difference, especially with such a general as f\. Ilwerson leading them. His kicking was very line indeed. The New Zealanders' hacks were all at •v.t. They handled the hall noorly, passed badly, and kicked without direction ; .in short, they gave such another exhibition as in the first test match with Australia. Cupples, M. Brownlie. Irvine and Hichardsott were the outstanding forwards in a rather lifeless pack. Nopia was belter than in Australia, hut still not si good as in those trials.

There was an enormous crowd id 34,999 present. The onlookers swnrme.l over the ground at half time and the restarting of the play was held nr for ten minutes while the police and officials cleared the held. FOK P.\ i.M KliSTt IN MATCH. [IIY TELEGRAPH —TEH PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON. July 21. The following will be the All Hhtck team at Palmei.sleu North to morrow. Nopia Steel Drown KobiKiunl IJaddelev Cooke 1 laliey Parker Mimru Mm loar.v Ma-tci-Wc-t Cupi lev Kiihardson JYhito