ALL BLACKS DEFEAT SOMER SET.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2788, 23 September 1924, Page 3

ALL BLACKS DEFEAT SOMER SET.

—_ BY SIX TO NIL.

London, Septemb. 2ft The All Blacks’ third match against Somerset at Weston-Super-Mare was only won by the narrow margin of 6 points to nil. A great defence was put up by the Englishmen. There were 12,000 spectators, hut the ground was totally inadequate to accommodate them, and the players were often thrown on to the people in close proximity to the playing area. Saturday’s players were: Fullback, G. Nepia; three-quarters: A. Ck O. Rohilliard, F. Lucas, S. K. Sven,son; five-eighths: A. E. Cooke (2), L. Paewai (1); half J. Mill; winger: .T. IT. Parker; hack-row: L. F. Cupples, A. White; supports: M. Brownlie, J. Richardson (Captain); lock: T. 11. Harvey; hookers: TI. G. Munro, W. R. Irvine. Heavy rain fell during {lie day, leaving pools of water about the ground, and making the turf slushy and slippery. There was no wind. The All Blacks al once opened up the attack, but a wild pass by Aril! gave Sommersef relief. Slill the county forced down twice in the first five minutes. Somerset proved to have a well-balanced side, and placed a winger opposite Parker. Their forwards set up a resolute defence. Both in the serums and the loose dribbling their work was most effective. The New Zealanders made titanic efforts to break through their stubborn opponents' defence, but all they succeeded in doing was to make Somerset force eight .times in the first half. The handling by the N.Z. hacks was ineffective and their kicking was wild and 100 long. Nepia was prominent when the game swayed into N.Z. quarters. Svenson retired hurt before the interval, but resumed later on before half lime, which arrived with no score.

For a long time after resuming, flic county men, playing above themselves, held continued All Black

rushes in check, notwithstanding ihe wet state of the ground, which, of course, had a tendency to level up the play. The game was chock full of incident and is held to he a vivid illustration of the general improvement in the play of English Rugby Clubs. At last, however, the persistency

of the All Blacks was rewarded. They were determined to score, and kept going with the result that Cooke got in a short kick along the ground, and following it up headlong he scored in a good position. The slippery ball was too much for Nepia and lie failed badly with the kick. N.Z. 3, Somerset nil. Again the All Blacks hurled themselves down Ihe field and the defence gave once more. Mill got possession and (lew across the line close to the posts, but for the second time Nepia failed with an easy kick and the match ended N.Z. 6, Somerset nil.