THE ALL BLACKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1924, Page 1

THE ALL BLACKS.

DEFEAT UNITED SERVICES. BY 25 POINTS TO .‘S. [Reuters Telegrams.] LONDON, December 13. The King received a wonderful welcome from twenty thousand subjects at Twickenham to-day, when the All Blacks played the United Services. The New Zealand team was ns follows: Nepia; Steel, Lucas. Svenson; Cooke McGregor; Mill; Porter; Irvine, Donald, Masters, Richardson, M. Brownlie, West and White. The game had been arousing considerable interest, and the United Services were expected to provide a serious obstacle to the visitors’ unbeaten run. No effort had been spared to secure the best possible team, and it was .one that played together in four matches. It was splendidly lit, and included four internationals, practically every member of the team having played already against the All Blacks in different games. Gird Unnfurly visited the New Zealanders oil Frday. and iio expressed pleasure at the team’s success. Both teams, together with the members of the New Zealand ofiieial party, were preented to His Majesty on the ground. The attendance was lielow expectations. as was also the resistance of the Services’ team, which was defeated with comparative ease by 25 points to 3.

Bitter cold weather prevailed. No doubt this a fleeted the attendance. The .Services kicked off against a bleak wind. Good work- by their forwards gave them an early footing in the All Blacks’ twenty-live but they were driven back by lengthy line kicks. From a serum in mid-field, the New Zealand hacks initiated a splendidlyengineered passing movement, and within live minutes Steel had crossed the line unopposed, to score under the posts. White converted. New Zealand 5 Services I) The New Zealanders pressed hard and continuously, and the Services were compelled to force six times within twenty minutes. A clever move by .McGregor and Cooke provided a clear opening and Lucas scored well out. White’s kick struck the cross-bar and hounded infield. New Zealand S Services 0 The game had barely been resumed wli(>n the New Zealanders were penalise! just inside the centre and Forrest kicked a magnificent goal registering the Services’ only score. New Zealand >3 Services 3 TCncournjiod by thoir success the services took up the attack, in which they demonstrated, for the lirst time, some measure of combined effort. The All Black defence, however, was always sound, and their opponents seldom looked like penetrating it. Tu the second half, the Services resumed play with one man short, Isiris-ton-Clarke (Navy) having had to retire just before the interval, owing to an injury. The spell opened sensationally. Brownlie lidded the kick-off in his stride, and he passed to Richardson. wlio sent out a long pass to McGregor. The hall went to Cooke who carried the movement on till he transferred in. a, good position to Lucas who scored near Ihe corner. The whole of this maunilieent movement had been completed before Ihe majority el the Foiled Service team had lime lo colled, their thoughts. While failed to con vert.

New Zealand II Services 3 During the next ten- minutes, the play was slightly in the Service men’s favour, but alter that the All Blacks’ all round supe lioritv asserted itself. 'Pile score began to mount- rapidly. First Masters fielded a weak kick, and hurled himself across in the corner. Nepia missed with the kick. New Zealand I I Services •* Then Richardson sent out a splendid long pass to McGregor, and the hall went through the hands of Lucas to Steel and Steel scored a try in the corner. Nepia. kicked a magnificent goal. New Zealani I 10 Services 3 The New Zealanders became more brilliant as the game progressed, and the crowd spontaneously acknowledged their wonderful exposition. Mill next set his jjist-moving. sure-handling backs in motion, and the ball reached Kvonsoii, who cleverly passed in to Lucas, who scored. Nepia failed to convert. New Zealand 22 Services 3 Soon after Svenson made a sparkling run through the opposition, and passed to Lucas. The ball then reached Richardson, who dived over in the corner. Nepia failed to convert. New Zealand 2o Services 1 Except that the Servicemen gained possesion ol the ball from 00 per cent of the scrums, the visitors were vastly superior in every department. Their display was one of the finest of tins tour, quite dissipating any suggestion of si.'lioness. Their passing readied a high standard of excellence, and their unerring tackling and backing up were other noteworthy features. Richardson was the finest forward on the ground, and was ably supported by Masters. Brownliy and White.

Nepia played with his usual brilliancy and consistency. Cooke’s übiquity and opportunism found full scope. All the others added to their reputations. Seventeen penalties were given against the All Blacks, many of which were difficult to follow. The four penalties given against- the Servicemen were ted with ironical applause by little groups of Dominion supporters, scattered among the crowd. REFORM IN RUGRY HULKS. LONDON. December 12. The Imperial Conference of Hie Home and Dominion Rugby Unions commenced this morning. During the luncheon adjournment. Dr Leonard Brown, who, with Mr A. C. Wallace, represents New .South Wales, informed the Australian Press Association that a substantial measure of the oversea proposals was likely to be adopted. The Home Union were most considerate and sympathetic towards the Dominion delegates. The Secretary of the International Rugby Hoard lias issued a statement to the effect that the Conference freely and frankly discussed the proposed alterations. He pointed out 'that the conference has no legislative power. Consequently it reached no definite decisions. A further conference will presumably be called after the Unions have considered the report. The delegates are not disposed to disclose the trend of the discussion, although the Dominion representatives expressed satisfaction at the attitude of the Home delegates towards what are regarded in