A CLOSE CALL FOR ALL BLACKS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2819, 4 December 1924, Page 3

A CLOSE CALL FOR ALL BLACKS.

AT LLANELLY. GAME ENDS B—3. London, December 2. The rill Blacks secured the twen-ty-second victory of tbeir tour today, when they defeated Llunelly Club by eight points to three. Extraordinary local enthusiasm was shown over the All Blacks’ last appearance in Wales. The ground was packed to its utmost capacity over 20,000 being, present.

The sun shone out and there was n*. wind, but the ground was not in good condition and was very heavy. The local side included eight Welsh internationalists and they played eight forwards. New Zealand had made only one alteration in the forwai'ds who defeated Wales but the backs were considerably changed, and a further alteration was that Paewai replaced McGregor. N.Z. FORWARDS OUTCLASSED. The Llanelly match started sensationally, the visitors pressing so that Elwyn Evans was forced to touch down twice. After ten minutes, Hart scored and Nepia converted.

The Llanelly forwards, playing a thrilling game, out-classed the All Black forwards, who were much taller and heavier.

Svenson then secured a try, which was unconverted. Llanelly again attacked. Finch beat Nepia and scored a try, but the try was not converted. The locals looked like scoring again, but Porter saved the All Blacks’ line, initiating passing bouts. The second spell produced a great struggle, in which Nepia proved a tower of strength. The visitors were beaten in the forward line, and had little to spare among the backs. THE VICTORIOUS ALL BLACKS. CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES. The All Blacks are receiving hundreds of Anglo-New Zealand congratulations. Sir James Allen telegraphed Mr Dean: “Your splendid victory has written off 1905.” The “Star” says it is doubtful whether the All Blacks will be beater. on the present tour, although the fact that the match against England is fixed for a time when the New Zealanders are likely to be stale, may be in England’s favour. England’s only chance lies in the immediate selection of the team so as to enable the men to get in as much combined practice as possible, and also to develop enough cleverness to frustrate the All Blacks’ ingenuity in securing the ball from the line-outs, from which they score seventy per cent of their points.