FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1926, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

ALL BLACKS WIN. [Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] ■SYDNEY, July 14. In the AH Blacks match to-day, against the Metropolitan team, Alley replaced Harvey in tho All Black 1 irwards. The weather was tine and bright, and the ground in good order. Tho attendance was seven thousand. The Blacks won the toss, and played with tho wind. Following the kick off, the Now South Wales men attacked, and George made a quick rush through, but Cooke with a powerful lino‘kick, drove his opponents back. Then New Zealand

were penalised in their own territory and Hessolein kicked n good goal Iron an Scuto angle. Metropolitan 3; New Zealand 0. Play quickened, Georg© again figuring in a prominent movement. Nicholl.s relieved with an excellent kick. A heavy Black attack was nullified by Nicholls kicking into the- dead ball area. The Blacks continued to press, and, after a movement in which the ball passed through the hands of many of the hacks, Blake crossed the lino and scored in a good position. Nicholls’s kick was a “poster.” N.Z. 3: Metropolitan 3. The New Zealanders were again penalised in their own quarters, and TTesslein made a good, hut unsuccessful attempt at goal. The hall returned to half way, where Nicholls made an opening, and passed to Cooke, near the Blues’ line, but Cooke lost possession. However, Einlayson was close up, ami be secured the ball and dived over. Nicholls converted. N.Z. 8; Metropolitan 3.

Play had then been in progress 29 minutes. The Blacks continued their pressure, and ten minutes later, after a fine pasing movement. Robillinrd scored right at the corner. Nicholls converted with a magnificent Kick. Th© score now was N.Z. 13 : Metropolitan 3. The Blacks again came on, hut hard kicks by Nicholls and Cooke saw the hall in the dead area. From a scrum five yards out, the blind side was worked beautifully, and Elvey scored. Nicholls again added the major points. N. Z. 18, Metropolitan 3. Just on time, splendid work by Porter and Co., who kicked bard across

the lino, ended in Knight (basing up fast and falling on the ball to score. Nieholls’s kick was successful. The h.alf time score was thus 23 to 3 in favour of New Zealand. In the second session, Wnddington replaced Turloton in tho Metropolitan team. Weak ph’-y by Stevenson gave tho Blues an opportunity, but Cooke drove them back.

They cam© again, and as the result of an offside infringement by New Zealand, Hesslein kicked a splendid goal. Metropolitan 0: N.Z. 23. Play now improved all round. The Blues attacked vigorously on four occasions, and New Zealand obtained relief by forcing. Then Brownlie, scouring tho ball in the open, sot l is backs in motion, and Bobilliard. after a dodgy run, scored in tho corner.

Nicholls’s kick was unsuccessful. N.Z. 26; Metropolitan (i. A lino dribbling rush by the Blacks took tho ball dangerously near tin* Blues’ lino, but a knock-on spoiled the chance. Play then hovered in Ihe centre, becoming close and hard. Bobilliard broke away beautifully, hut was grassed by George close in. Then Johnstone, obtaining possession, made a dashing run, hut was hauled down close to the visitors’ line. The Blacks returned to the attack, and, after a nice .piece of work, Porter scored under the posts, Nicholls having no difli-

nilty in converting, making the score il t<! 0 in favour of the All Blacks. The Blues then got going, and play lung in New Zealand quarters for (oivie time. Then Afnrrisscy, breaking through brilliantly transferred to fhomson, the latter scoring under the ousts. Hesslein converted. .Metropolian 11; New Zealand 31. The home team continued to hammer away, and a few minutes Intel.

Blake was offside over the imaginary ine in the iiuoout, and a penalty be-

ing awarded in front of the goal, Hesslein succeeded in piloting the hall over the bar, bringing the score to 31 to 14.

The.ro was no further score, the ;ame ending with the Blues attack-

ing strongly. The mfitch lacked the spectacular, thrilling interest of Saturday’s game, but nevertheless it was sternly contested throughout. In the second spell the run of the ptoy territorially was in the home side’s favour. They showed excellent stamina. Nineteen penalties were recorded against the Blacks and seven against the Blues. Possession of the hall from the. scrums went seventeen times to the Blues and seven to the Blacks. There were many neutral fcruins, the Blues through lack of hack combination, lost chan-

ces. The Blacks were guilty of fumbling land over-running the ball, and they resorted too much to line-kicking when with the wind, and the leather four times went into the dead area. The Blacks’ play generally showed an improvement. ’lke game was clean, moderately fast, and scrappy in parts. Finlayson was the host- forward on the ground. FSa/.lett and Tvnight played excellently, and Elvey. Robillianl, Nicholls and Cooke were the best of the hacks. Porter was also prominent but Stevenson was not impressive.

' PA [[l A TEA. July 14. After holding it for years, the Bush Union lost the Bebbington Shield to Horowhennn to-day in an exciting tussle, being defeated by 11 to 9. The ground was very heavy, but the game was an open one. The Bush team started indifferently. Horowhenua. putting on eight points, Hunt and McDonald scoring from back rushes, for Jacobs to convert one try. Bush forwards then rose to the occasion, and their hacks slung the ball about nicely, Woodland scoring. Jacobs then kicked a penalty, Graham retaliated with a goal from, a, mark. This was followed by n try by P. Galvin, bringing the score to eleven to nine. Xn an exciting finish. Bush dominated the play, but their efforts were not. rewarded. Horowhenua playing a safe game and defending stubbornly.

AUCKLAND v. MAORI TOURING TEAM. AUCKLAND. July 14. The following Rugby team has been chosen to represent Auckland against the New Zealand Maori touring team nt. Auckland on Saturday:—full-back. Goodacre: threequarters. D. Reid. Lucas raid Hook; five-eighths, Cammiek and Meyer; half, McManus; rover, Lynch; forwards. S. Hadley. Palmer, Cathcnrt, Webber. Keene, Battv and McWilliams. Two players. Mattson and Olsen, were .not available owing to injuries. Mattson sustaining a broken collarbone in a trial match to-day.