FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4783, 1 December 1924, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THF ALL BLACKS’ TOUR. WAIES DECISIVELY BEATEN. Considerable interest locally was taken in the result of the All Blacks’ match against Wales, which was played no Saturday. Soon after 9 o’clock yesterday morning a small knot of enthusiasts assembled at the local post office to await the news. Shortly before 10 a.m. word was received that the Al) Blacks had decisively beaten Wales by 19 points to O'. Although the general opinion was freely expressed that the All Blacks would be able to beat their doughty opponents, even the most optimistic never anticipated such a big score being registered against Wales, which was the only team to defeat the 1905 All Blacks. Saturday's victory marks the twenty-first consecutive win since the All Blacks arrived in England. The next match will be played against Llanelly on December 2. THE ALL BLACKS’ CRITICS. The All Blacks must, be heartily sick by this time of hearing comparisons between them and the 1905 team. Admittedly, the 1905 team put up a splendid record, and incidentally gave New Zealand one of the best advertisements it ever had : but there was an element of surprise aLout their visit that was all in their favour, and that is entirely absent this year. Critics, both in New Zealand and at Home, do not make enough allowance for this, and all it entails, in any case, records of the past are invariably read through rose-coloured spectacles, whilst those of the present day are usually surveyed from the wrong end of the telescope. Ask any veteran about the champions of his day and see how quickly supermen are conjured up. The plain truth of the matter is that the All Blacks are doing remarkably well, and New Zealand has good reason for being proud of them in more senses than one. Why worry about what English critics say ? They did not like the Maori war r cry, and possibly twenty-one successive victories, despite all that has been sale in 'disparagement of. the team are not to their liking, especially after the decisive beating of Wales on Samrday. What counts is that our boys win. and win in a manner that is pleasing to all lovers of clean and manly sport If the team should meet with a reverse, and that, of course, is possible even at this - stage of the tour, New Zealand may safely rest assured that the fight will be carried to the last ditch. Let it be supposed, to satisfy the critics, that the present All Blacks are not such consummate tacticians as the 1905 men; they are certainly not interior in fighting spirit, and even if they are defeated they will not discredit New Zealand in that very essential qualification. It is about time they were accorded a little more praise and encouragement than they have received through the metropolitan newspapers so far.