ALL BLACKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1924, Page 4

ALL BLACKS.

fur tki.konaimi —i*ku press association

AU. ill ACKS DEPART

('HOWL'S FAHKWKI.L Til KM. WKI.LI.VOrON. .(illy ‘-'9

( I ring crowds packed tho wharf this afternoon when the All Blacks embarked on tlic Itemuera for England. The foot haliers’ hotel was besieged all the morning by well-wishers, and admirers, and their journey to the wharf was a slow procession. Before stepping on the gangway, each All Black was introduced to the Beninere.’s cap-lain. Then his name was anolinced and he ho- riled the ship to ;|i> ::c: ninpaniiiiciit of cheers and banter. Boiler, the newly-appointed captain presently appeared with l!<d Indian headgear, and stood admired of all beholders. A mass of streamers linked the departing footballers with frienns ashore, and. a- the ship moved oat. ringing cheers were given hy the as.-:.'lidded thousands. The footballers wore luitbamb with the ,-ilver fern prominent. \ STATK I.FNCHKOX. WKI.I.IN't:TON. July 23. The A.M B'tt: k lea’ll was tendered a Inneheon at Parliament Buddings today. the (ioverunr-fi.’iirral p residing. In calling on .Mr .Massey to j I'.ipcse the least of “Our due is.’’ Burd Jellieoe reealh'd his own oNperietiees in | laying Rugby. lie It ;] ed the present team would rival the IJO-i cimbiim-

tion’a a: liiei cineiit. Toe Prime Minister .aid the team was going away to upheld the honour of the (ouiitry. lie ho; e l they would win all their mat’-lavs. While in Engluml he had heatd lunch of the 191 to '.'.n. and the people of "Wales had never lest pleasure in re. ailing that visit.

Air Ala-sey .‘aid il was not only in loolhall that New Zealand had distinguished itself, for when he and Sir .lo.se;.it Ward were in Paiis an Army

rowing eight Iroin the Dominion had a lremeudoii.s .struggle with an Anicri- < :tti etew and the New Zealanders won. lie Believed that emite-ts between dilfclviit | arts of the Empire

"e.ye of great benefit

Supporting the toast, Mr T. M. Wilfonl (header of the ((position) referred to the mcU'.bin.s <•!' the Halil as ’’et angels ef Empire." lie left sati.-.lvd that the team would uphold the lest traditions il “I’ughyhiml,'' and that titter its memhers hid had the opportunity of playing together, the side would he AO pen rent hotter than any

previous team. Mr Wilford referred (n the fact tlial one of the -member.- ef the Arniv All Bht’.’k team iWi-ll was present, and lie (-tilled upon him to show himself, upon whit It tie* Taianuki | layer was greeted with loud applause. On behalf ef the (); posit ion. Mr Wilford wi-heil the team well, an I impressed upon it tin* fact that il had to keen i p tin* good nano* New Zealand had gained in Kughy. .Mr 11. K, I lol.land i I .(aider of the l.al.amr Party) .-aid he believed the team Would achieve sueioss. lull he reminded ii- memhers that it was belter to play for the sake of spoil than for the -ake of winning. Mr Holland rais'd a laugh by applying a number of Rilgb.v e.\p!esscnis to the | rocodiire ef the House. One of the jobs of the l.ahour lhirn In the lleti-e, lie said, "•as to keep the I'lime Minister liaek in his own hall, lie com-hided by

wishing the team .-tie.-e—, and saying that when il returned it would have

a still heartier to. option than it was being accorded at ihe srud-o(T. The manager ol the team, .Mr 3. S.

Dean, .said that the 19(1.) team had bred a Whip (Mr W. S. 01 *ini. M.l'.f. all.l be hoped the 1921 team would breed a Prime Minister. II" was sure I lie It a 111 would uphold tile best traditions of the game. They were tie-

I, rmili, ,| to plat the gall". . leg < : oil lie* !i,.ld. bit oil the Icld. When l iicy met the Welshmen with their S'.illg. the All Blacks would have siinel.liing in “pill the wind up them." The Hen. A. T. Xgata, Sir Maui l’omere. and Si- Jaim - ( arroll had .supplied tlti'U) with a verse to serve as a war cry. Mr H. F;i>-1. | resident i f the Xe'.v Zealand Bugby ITnoii. Mr 0. 11. Dixon manager cl the I!)*’•» All Blacks and ('. E. (). Baddeley. ea] tain of the prosi'Kt team, nls i spoke. I'OII.TF.B EI.E(TKI) CAPTAIN. Wi:i.UXf*'Ti)X. July 21 The cxei'iitive ef the X' w Zealand I’ngby I ni"ii to-night appointed ( . 0. Porter, of Wellington, wing-forward, to ea'.ilain the All Blacks. it i- at least a coincidence and may it not he taken as a good augury? - Hull tin* cnj'.t tin of tin* great I9HT lcam was «.!»•> a wing-!o: ward the late Dave (lallaher.

I’urtiT j laved It's early foi.il.all iio the S.: 111! i Wellington ,School, vvhieli was ill, i. high in the sTiool ehanipionshi|s. lie was a seltool ie; resell tat ivo in J9BI and 191 !. and in I9IA ha v.eu.t to Wellington C illcg*'. ’I lie lollow il'g, year lie was in the ((iimtry. and did mu play, hut in 1917 he letnrned to Wellitiglan and played tot' Old Boys. In 1913 he was unsettled, a,ml ill 1919-29-21 was a 11 mow henna representative, both junior and senior. 'lheio he played at, ceiitre-thrce-quniTor. In 8)29i lie returned to Wellington and began playing for the Athletic Club, ciiptniiiing the senior team. After tt lew matches lie was moved to win'g-forwaril, u.s he ptoveil too mu ' of •• ;,n indivuliu'.lisil tor t/h ) o’* 1* selectors.

At ouio lie leapt into | roniineiri* and attained lepreseiitative rank in ibis capacity, making a name for himself by b. : s versatility anil remarkable eiiergv. Bast season he was chosen to plav against New .South M ides in the third Test, and this year ‘’made" the North Island team for the first time, captaining it in it* encounter with the Smith Island.

Porter is 21 years of age, and weighs 12m S!b.

PI. A V AND PI.AY KBS. IXPIYfDI'Ab Wtl'HK PATCHY. (.VIZ. Times.i To most of the speetatfirs the Pal-in;'t.-:.m North mateli was a disappointment. For long periods the play was a. dull hti-im'ss of straggling s. i ttmumgcs. ill-'ttdged kicking, and crude ef’rors in tactics. Then an individual All Bbtek would Hash into att:’."k. raise the hopes of the spectator'. look round for supporters, find them nlxont. and go down ignoininioitslv before the sound tackling ol the p.ovineial team. Another dull spell w,,u!d follow, and again an individual would dart through an opening and go on to score, cr more frequently

throw score away by wild passing. Pomiiltties were numeror?;, hut only one resulted in added points. The LCoal-iJiekiug on hotli sides was extremely poor, until in the second half lira tv ii, of the All Blacks was given a chance, and suc< weded with three shots.

OPPORTUNITIES TOST.

The All Blacks, judged hy their form on Saturday, are not yet n tea in. Keen as individuals their faults are elusive and speedy Cooke thieiul his way through half the opposing fifteen to put his wings in a t,coning position. They could not take, or give, a pass without err* r. Front the .scrums the hall went out slowly and tt.itc,_*rt*:t Lilly. Baddcloy. finding difficulty in g.ith:ring in Dailey's ‘‘.-.iimped" passes, gained little ground. If an oj cuing was made, it was Cooke who made it. and often hy the dime Co da* got the hall, the opposing centre lui'-ks were upon him. Consequently his best work was done in the lor.se j lay. from whic h he would emerge time and again to put his side on attn *.k.

I.FISI BKI.V FOB WARDS. The Bhe k furuauls all worked well, hut they seldom worked at the same time. Bit hn.'dson and .Mtntro were probably the most consistent grafters, but Cupples. White. Stewart, and Musters all allowed tip occasionally, setlie; an example to their hacks in Mr: ght running and accurate pas.*-

Mm.ro and MeCleaty by no means had it monopoly of tin* hall, hut when they '.vt it they hooked it cleanly. On. i* or twice* it shot hack to Dailey with tin* speed of lightning, and the (rovxl gasped in admiration. BADDEEEY'S HARD BOW.

In the New Zealand team Baddeley. Jtiehunl.son. Dailey, and Cooke appeared to lie doing their best at all times. Baddeley .especially w orked very hard. Inn left one with the impres-lion that he is too light for the position ol first live-eighth. I'uliko Cooke, vlio-e I'ontw,; k enahltis hint to minimise the* force of a tackle, and often to elude it altogether. Baddeley is not difficult to bring to earth, and on Saturday except, when the hall came to him he was frequently caught in possession of it. and the attack was nipI 1 in the bml. There is little fault in p ( . found with hi.; (’'.Tensive work, and h" is quick to sec and seize an e; ;:e: tunity. as he showed when he .-cored Id- two tries on Saturday. ('Mike is the krticiali. and mastermind of tin* tva'ii. and with a sturdier mail at first live-iliglith lit* could do even mole for the side than he liahitunllv (locs now. HALLEY IMPROVED. Dailey has improved a good deal -im-e In* pluvial ill the last trial match. irk-footed a.ill plucky, hi; moven'leiits about the serum are reminiscent uf I’nrter's. His principal weakness at present is in erratic passing. At time-, he is slow in getting ille hall away, and he has not yet arrived at an adequate understanding with Baddeley. DVF.B-( 'ONFIDKXCK.

Tie.* three-quarter.-. Steel. Brown, ; ,ed Bohilliaid. were not impiessive. •••).(. AVcsl' Coast player ha- nai retrieved Ins reputation as a scoring man. On Saturday Brnphy and l.aw made .short work of hint before lie could eet into his stride. Brown is obviousIv sulfi’i'ing from over-confidence arising Irom a “swelled head.’’ Afauy times on Saturday In* over-played his p.rt. ami then, instead ol passing the ball, merely east it aside. lie shows more promise than tinv other player in l P,. team, bin his value may he dlseoituted h.v his carelessness. Robilliai'd had fewer eluc.it es ...an the other-, and

hi- he-1 (out lilnition to the game wa--11,,. splendid dash which resulted in the I* mi I score.

X FBI A C.\ B I'l .F.-T. 1.i1.e Broun. X'epia at present ii«.* *J-e.f*ilid'"*iit ’ami F arele- s. On Saturde.v hi- line-kicking was occasionally ntagiiilieeiil, hut he was st-vcial times eau'dil m t> (-.session, and oiilv the otoieagci lic-s of the .Manawatit forwardprevented them from scoring. PARKER NOT A WI.NOHIi. Due player might have made a wot Id , , ,|if!\ icn'i,- to tin- All Blacks, and to the play gencialU I’nrler. I lie '-the! \. ing-forwai'd of the team. I’arkpr stilI'cr. bv eoinpai'i-on. 11 is greatest tis,l is his sp- • I. Imt he i- n it quick in In-, movement - :■ **i,:tt the scrum, and il Pe j- | , he of value to th" team lie • h.cil'l be tfieri in tlie hack' line. ITt K (APIA IN'S OPINION. •■|l was a hard clean contest.” siii I C. o. O. Baddeley. capiain of the team mi the Australian lour, after the match. “They played a fast open game ait I (lid Splendidly, their forwards especially. ’| heir pack, indeed, worried us a •rrrfit Ol tln* Ail flliicKs In* saiil: “W«* - s ImII need to develop a better understanding c-p,chilly in tin* hack line, hut I think we can do it. The ground, ol i nurse, was again a change. Me have had .-oft grounds here, then hard li"!<b in Australia, aml now this pebbly ground. But it was the same for both sides. “Th" ball. too. was very light, and made handling diflicult. Kicking iharil with silcli a hall, and men arc inclined to over-run their passes.” NOT AXX KM’S.

Mr F. Little, manager of lbe All Bl n k team (luring the Australian tour, toll I " "Times" rep.trier tlmi lie fell no anxiety as to the future .MU'ccss of the team. It had not shown its true form in th" Dominion, and criticism levelled at it had failed to take many important facts into consideration. DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.

First of all. the ground' were entirely dijioront. and after the hard fields in Australia, the team had found itself all at sea ill the Auckland match. For instance, the “pace of the wicket’ bothered the hacks a good deal. Abo some of the players had made a had crossing.

Furthi'initiie. the teams fielded in New Zealand eoiitaincd new men who were strange to th" plav of their lellews. ’he this*. .(..miner due b.r Saturday's mateli. for instance, included two new men. and the live-eight line one limn who had played only in me Australian gam". ONLY ONE CAM IB Same of ! Ie- i.n u seen in the Dominion had played oelv one.’ in Sidney, a:.,1 .nil. rs. nun ietiinrly the forwards, had mu done mm a wal k since they had w,:i the rubber. There were young p'aveis in the team, and it was only reasoua hie to ‘-uppa-.e that they would improve. state tf\m stbdncf.i:. _ The :::n! of ill" New South Wales repri'-cutativi's. in Air l ittle's eyes, wa- mm h jiigh"i’ than previously. Some of the ne.'ii v.iio had toured New Zealand lasi >• utson were not even entergema'i’:. for the sei -ml fifteen this year. Ala: il,e 3ia: • lai -k line inelialed such player.- Walker. Megan. Sheehan ami St "’do.. who had been tog,'titer for about four seasons, as well as Crossman, the wing three-quarter, who. tin(limbioiilv. w- a vet v dangerous mail. 111 E TESTS.

In th" id'sl t.--: Xev. - South AY.ales had wo:: bv s'.r.au ior play. In the seI 00.1 tb,* \l! Bl." Ic- Ie"! bad a brilliant “patch" in-' after th -tan. and put

up six tiic- in tw.dv" or fifteen minute--. pi ti* t!t.:t pffid.l il: v -.■•emi'd irresistilde. pet f. on ili-ii mi it should he reim iuh i I. X"w South. Wa’-*s more than he'll tbeir own. seoriitg A 'mints in th* -"•(>■.: 1 *.p"!l i i New Z"al.mil's !1. Ami tb~ All Bla, I. .' -■ vei.th tty was I regi ti'ivd in the !.i--; moment' of the game. X S.W. WERE WEAKPb*. The third T, t saw a dieideillv weaker ■State team file out. Walker, a mainstay. w:ls lost, and Cres-nian had to retire • while th" forwards were feeling the strain. Nevertheless, the New Smith Wcl-hmen fought every inch of ground.

AX .U’CKI AND CRITICISM. AT'CKT AND. Jc.lv

The “Herald''” spotting editor, who saw the All Blacks play in both Auckland and Palmerston North, writes as follows in regard to the latter game:— The All Black backs wore certainly lUuro impressive on Saturday than in

their match last Wednesday, hut it was bright individual efforts, rather than good combination, that accounted for the* margin between the teams. The forwards were little hotter than the Alanawatii-Jlorowheiiua vanguard, hilt showed more cleverness and made better openings for their hacks. The All Black pack was inclined to play too loose, and the opposition forwards frequently broke right through. Ihe 1 inoon t work was not of a very high standard. The value of the Brownlie brothers in this department was emphasised in their absence. Though the game was not as attractive as might he exported under the conditions, there were many exciting incidents. On attack the All Blacks hacks outclassed their opponents in the .second -pell, and showed that with unproved combination they could confidently he* expected to give a good display.' hut their defence geueraTly was below standard. Dailey made a very favourable impression as hall-back, and did a lot of good work, varying his attack nicely. With experiene.* and a better knowledge of the other bucks, ho should work in well, but as yet there is apparently not the best understanding among the inside hacks. W hatever may ho his faults, however. Daliey shows plenty of gametic.ss O Cooke's appearance was keenly awaited. and though he was well marked, lie was constantly in the limelight, being responsible for some clever play. He has the happy knack of being alwavs lmmly. and is a great asset to the team. Steel, who was playing his first game in the team, was also well marked. and did not get the best of opportluities. lie showed his old l"ii* and (leterniiniitioii. and was very hard ti stop. Some of his work was first-class. R»billiard. on tho other wing, atoned I'm* anv mistakes hv scoring a great try. II" got the hall outside the 2b. I cat several opponents, outpaced the olhers. ami touched down ilisf w hen tackled hy l.aw. Baddeley allowed a return to old form at limes, his first try being brilliant. He snapped up the hail in the louse, threaded his wav through tin* opposition with a tricky run, and scoied near the posts. | X'epia was not impressive, for thong**, he saved at tini"s. his phi;, was patchy. If,* frequently waited for the hall to bounce, when lie should have taken it .(ii Hie full, and still has a weakness for speculating. Hi ki'kiug was good, and he opened up the attack well on several occasions, hut on the day could not ho termed reliable.

Brown, at centre-llire,'-quarter, did not show up as well as in Auckland. Il" ha- determination. but did not display nuidi cleverness on atiaek. The hast ef the hacks were Dailey. Cooke. Baddeley ami Steel. The forwards a- ti whole did not greatly improve tltt’ir reputation, lint there was some line work by individuals, Rwhardsoti was always prominent, and Monro played an excellent game. Tiles;’ two. with Stewart ami Cupples. were the best of the park. Barker played a much better game than in Auckland, handling well, and li-ing his pace ami weight to advantage.