THE ALL BLACKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1925, Page 1

THE ALL BLACKS.

iUBIHALIAN AND N.Z. OA3LE ASSOCIATION. ENGLISH FORWARD REPORTED. LONDON. .January ■!. It is understood that the referee lias reported one of the English forwards to the Rugby Fnion. allegedly for striking Mill. It is stated tlmt Richardson (the New Zealand captain) requested Wakefield (the English Captain) to intervene on behalf of Brownlie. 'Wakefield states lie was wearing ear guards and did not hear the request. Had lie known it was the custom in Australia and New Zealand for an opposing captain to plead for clemency, he would have done so. BAD FEELING ALLEGED. LONDON, January I. The “Daily Express” in a eulogistic leading article, entitled. “Well Played All Blacks” states that had firm action not been taken, the game would undoubtedly have degenerated to one of the roughest ever played. It would he unfair to suppose that Brownlie oven was the worst, offender. It was liis misfortune to catch the referee’s eye twice. His departure was rather as a general warning than as individual punishment. He or the rest of the Ail Blacks may return L..me confident that all who played against ami watched them, recognise the great qualities of ,skill, experience, and goodsportsmn’n.sliip exhibited, throughout their victorious career.”

ENGLISH PRESS COMMENT. LONDON. January ■>. The “.Morning Post” says: ‘'This glorious partnership was some consolation for England's defeat hy the All Blacks. 'l’lie Now Zealand victories have been due to the straight running of their inside hacks, and the. whole side’s resolute hacking up. England’s hack play has become stereotyped. The kick ahead and cross kick have been overdone. An All British team must visit New calami, and the centre three quarters and stand off hacks must not he players of mechanical mentality.” Finally, as a ‘friendly• hint, to the All Blacks, the “Post” writer says: “Their game is permeated hy offside jpla.v and obstruction. Apparently such illegal tactics arc condoned in their fortunate islands, hut such tactics are opposed to the very spirit of Rugby. If allowed to persist they will destroy the game.”

'l’he. “Daily Telegraph” says: I he, All Blacks thoroughly deserve their laurels, ft is evident the game lias developed in New Zealand quicker than here, and in the welcome direction of making the [day quicker and more.spectacular. There has been some criticism of the. All Blacks methods, which are condemned as cup-tie methods. The All Blacks have taken the criticism very well. They have been at pains to send messages contradicting the statements that their victories have been ill received by the English crowds. Nothing could he further from the truth. Their skill aroused immense enthusiasm and admiration.” AYR AY’S CON <IR AT FT, ATI O NS. WELLINGTON, dan. 5. Mr Cecil .1. Wray, the representative of the New Zealand Rugby I mull, is outspoken upon the Brownlie incident. In a cablegram received hy the New Zealand I nioii yesterday. Mr Winy says: “Warmest congrat illal ions on Si'ii Zealanders' magnificent mol d ! EI V ina t i'll non. and Ihe last on Ihe lainoiis Twiekenlin m ground, nlieic England looks for victurv. but the stK'll was broken by the glorious delormination of fourteen men against the lull fifteen of the English side. I Dike oil my hat to the sporting and manly hearing of every man in the team, ii.eluding Cyril Brownlie, who was a victim of circumstances. All the New Zealanders in 'Loudon join with me in saying: ‘Well done New Zealand.’ ” To this the Rugby Fnion sent Jim following brief reply: “Appreciate cougralualuons. All New Zealand jubilant.” THE NEW ZEALAND TRIES. LONDON, dan. !. Tt transpires in connection with the All Blacks last try Dial Parker and Svonson went across the line togei her, knocking out the corner post.. Rotli touched down simultaneously, hut Parker is officially credited wiili the try. Several of the newspapers express strong doubts as whether the try should have been awarded. They also describe FleiTs lrv as a had decision. The critical comments on these decisions have given rise lo the possibility of a controversy recalling that which took place after the All Black malcli against AA'ales in 1905. STOIC OF AY HOLE SHOW. LONDON, dan. 1. One of Ihe All Blacks says: Ii: is incredible that Brownlie kicked a man when la* was down. Brownlie, although a giant, is the quietest in the team, and he was liiek-named ‘Dummy because he talked so little.

Mi- Deans says: “Mr Freelhy told me t lint lie .lid not know which Englishman Brownlie lnnl kicked. I eu(inired of the English team. Iml none remembered being kicked wlien lying on t lie ground. We sludl not take any fnrtlier action. Nevertheless. the incident which lias lioon magnified nut of all proportion. much upset us. V. o looked forward to heating Eiiginnd. 'Ac heat ihein with a man .short. and I suppose wo should leel 1 1‘iutil jt!mut. Instead, we feel sick about the whole show.” GOVERNOR'S CnN'tiHATH.ATJONS. AUCKLAND, dan. •*>. The following cablegram of congratulation lias been forwarded l>v the Lo-vernor-Ceneral to the manager ol the All Black team: “ I k-artiest congratuhitions oil splendid success. Warmest welcome awaits team on* it.* l-eturn.—Eergusson, (oivei nor-t .onerMr H. Frost. President of the New Zealand Rugby Union, has forwarded the following congratulatory message to the team: “New Zealand players and supporters are delighted with great victory, crowning -Uccessitii tour.”

“ TIMES " COMMENT. [••Tiie Times” Service.] • Received this day at S a.in.) LONDON, January The •■Times” attributes the All Blacks triumphal tour to tlieir ceaseless energy and speed in Billowing up. which, also is the reason fur the charges of obstruction and unfairness. Nevertheless the All Blacks' lapses were preponderatingly unintentional. Saturday’s crowd genuinely sympathised with Brownlie in temporarily forgetting himself in the heat ot the struggle in which both sides nine ov rpugnacious. The match will he memorable for the high standard of play and not for the errors into which an excess of zeal betrayed the players.

STIGMA NEVER 'FORGOTTEN. (Received this day at S-30 a.m.) LONDON. January 5. Doctor Teddy Morgan, the man who scored the famous try in the V, ales v. New Zealand match in 1905, writing to a Cardiff newspaper, takes Free-

they (the role roe) to task over the Brownlie incident, lie says the referee spoiled the day for all sportsmen. Whatever was done eoukl not justify tlie decision. The incident will ho a stigma which will never bo forgotten bv New Zealand.

THE TIMES’ COMMENT'. [“The Times” Service.J (Received tins day at 9.25 a.mA LONDON, Jan. 5. The “.rimes” in a leader headed “End of Triumphal Tour” pays a tribute to the zeal wiili which Hie New Zealanders follow up the ball. It says: “Keenness in this ueparunent of the game has been largely responsible for their unbroken senes of .successes and incidentally for the charges of obstructive and even unfair tactics brought against them. With these charges our own correspondent who Jins seen nearly all the matches is unable to agree. His considered judgment is tlmt*ill a preponderating number of eases their lapses have been unintentional. That, v.e believe, will he the verdit t of every '.spectator with an (intelligent knotvle Igc fo the rules of the game, who saw Saturday’s match. No team can claim to he entirely free from occasional breaches, and the predominant feeling in the minds of the immense crowd who watched Saturday’s game was undoubtedly one of genuine sympathy for Brownlie, who temporarily forgot himself in the heat of a terribly tense and exciting struggle. COMING MATCHES. Jan. 11.- v. France, at Paris. .Tan. 18.—v. A. French fifteen at Toulouse.

The total of ST goals includes 72 conversion.s. II polled goals, and 10 other goa Is. icx,'irKsrirrrTr-^-’arcinr^r ,^A**Aixia

In callinjj; in Sir Sinn Kay and Sir Vincent lUivou, .Mr. C'uiites did wisely. Doll) sire specialists in the railway field, and ns outsiders they were hound lo see more ni. the inherent weaknesses ot the Slate* railway system than tlio.se on the spot. Mr Mi ley showed us years ujjjo that there was something radically wromj; with our railway administration and policy, and his successors have emphasised Mr. Ihlov's views. The outbreak ot war jlljh >■ d the lliley repot I into Ihr hark ground, which was, perhaps, not an umuixed evil, in view of transport dv'velopement .since. We knew little of feeder lines and less of the possibilities of the motor away hack in 191 |.—9‘Christchurch Sun.’’

Til K IIONOI'I? Gann s boai ID. Waved His. Vies. (Ms. Niiliiills, .M. ... 15 m o *10 Xcpia, G. 28 (IG — 31 ffnrfc, X. 13 50 IS I Steel, J. 1.1 Ao 17 1 Cooke, A. K. ... 21 ■IS IG — .Svenson, K. S. 19 ■IS IG — Barker, .1. 11. l 5 ■12 It — .Mill, .1. 17 33 9 3 White, A. ID 2.T :i 7 Lucas, l 1 '. 12 21 7 — Brownlie. .M. ... 22 21 S 1! if-lia I'll.son. -1. 22 21 7 — Blown, II. 12 19 5 2 Irvine, W. H. .. 25 IS G — Bn:wiili<', C. ... 1 1 IS 0 M'cGrejror. X. .. 19 15 5 riiinalil. <). 19 15 5 Porter, C. IG 9 A — Masters, IL H. 21 9 2 _ Stewart.!?. H G 2 — West. A. 10 2. 1 — ( llpples. 1.,. I’aewai 1 IG 1 1 Ha i li i 11 in id. A. .; 1 Dailey. W. (!. ... 11 - Met‘leary. B. ... 7 Harvey. I. r, ■ - Minim. 1!. ■i Ikiddoley. C. ... - Totals Gj 1 15G 85