ALL BLACKS DEFEAT ARMY AND NAVY BY 25 TO 3.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2824, 16 December 1924, Page 3

ALL BLACKS DEFEAT ARMY AND NAVY BY 25 TO 3.

KING WITNESSED MATCH. FINE EXPOSITION OF RUGBY. ' London,. December 13. The King attended the match between All Blacks and combined Army and Navy at Twickenham today and received a wonderful welcome from 20,000 subjects. Both teams, together with memberfe of the N.Z. official party were presented to His Majesty on the ground. The weather was bitterly cold. The All Blacks were as follows: — "Full-back: G. Nepia; fchreequarters: K. S. Svenson, F. W. Lucas, J Steel; five-eighths: A. E. Cooke (2), N. P. McGregor (lj; half: J. Mill; rover: C. G. Porter (captain); back row : A. White, A. H. West; supports J Rchardson, M.,J. Brownlie; lofck R. Masters; hookers: W. R. Irvine, Q. Donald. The Services kicked off against a • bleak wind. Good work by their forwards gave them an early footing in the All Blacks 25, but they were driven back by lengthy line kicks. From a scrum in mid-field, the New Zealand backs initiated a splendidly engineered passing movement and within five minutes, Steel had crossed unopposed to score under the posts. White converted. N.Z. 5, Services nil.

The New Zealanders pressed hard and continuously, the Services being compelled to force six times within twenty minutes. A clever move by McGregor-Cooke, provided a clear opening for Lucas, who scored well out. White's kick struck the crossbar and bounded in-field. N.Z. 8, Services nil. The game had barely been resumed when the New Zealanders were . penalised just inside the centre and Forest kicked a magnificent goal, registering Services’ only score. N.Z. 8, Services 3. Encouraged by this success, Services took up the attack, in' which they demonstrated for the first time some measure of combined effort. The Blacks defence, however, was always sound and their opponents \ seldom looked like penetrating if. The half-time score was B—3. The second spell opened sensationally, but with Servioes playing one man short. Brownlie fielded the kick-off in his stride and passed to Richardson, who sent out a long pass to McGregor. The ball then went to Cooke,. who earned on the movement till he transferred in a good position to Lucas, and the last named scored near the corner. The whole of this magnificent movement had been completed before the majority of the United Services team had had time to collect their thoughts. White failed to convert. N.Z. 11, Services 3. Service now shone for a while, but Masters fielded a weak kick near their line and hurled himself across in the comer. Nepia missed. N.Z. 14, Services 3. Then Richardson sent out a splendid long pass to McGregor and tho ball went through the hands of Lucas to Steel, who scored a try in the corner. Nepia kicked a magnificent goal. N.Z. 19, Services 3. The New Zealanders became more brilliant as the game progressed and the„ crowd spontaneously acknowledged the wonderful exposition. Mill set the fast-moving and surehandling backs in motion and the ball reached Svenson, the winger cleverly passing in to Lucas, who scored. Nepia failed. N.Z. 22, Services 3. Soon after Svenson made a sparkling run through the opposition and passed to Lucas. The ball then reached Richardson who dived over in the comer. Nepia failed with the kick and the game ended New Zealand 25, Services 3. Richardson was the finest forward on the ground and was ably supported by Masters, Brownlie, and White. Nepia played with his usual brilliancy and consistency. Cooke’s übiquity and opportunism found full scope. All others added to their re;putatiops. Seventeen penalties were

Soon after Svenson made a sparkling run through the opposition and passed to Lucas. The ball then reached Richardson who dived over in the comer. Nepia failed with the kick and the game ended New Zealand 25, Services 3. Richardson was the finest forward on the ground and was ably supported by Masters, Brownlie, and White. Nepia played with his usual brilliancy and consistency. Cooke’s übiquity and opportunism found full scope. All others added to their re'putatiqps. Seventeen penalties were given against the All Blacks, many of them being difficult to follow. The four penalties given against the Service-men were greeted with ironical applause by little groups of Dominion supporters scattered in the crowd.