NEW SOUTH WALES’ EASY VICTORY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2927, 25 August 1925, Page 2

NEW SOUTH WALES’ EASY VICTORY.

COMBINED TEAM OUTCLASSED.

lii the intial game of the Dominion tour, played at Palmerston on Saturday, the X.S.W. Rugby team set a standard of play which will require an exceptionally good provincial side to surpass. On a dry ground they outclassed the combined Mann watui-Horowhenua-Wel-lington side in every department of the game, winning by 20 points to S. The attendance was about 0000.

Although the weights showed the visitors on an average half a stone lighter, the backs were heavier than the home team and in both back and forward play far superior. Lack of eohension rendered the combined team practically ineffective when the fast, nippy Aussie hacks commenced to move. Not uin-e did the combined forwards encounter the New South Wales hacks in defence. The formation of the visitors’ team played havoc with the untrained local players. Pour men in the three-quarter line enabled reinforcing to he carried out with precision while the threc-two-tliree scrum placed others at a tactical disadvantage, with material loss of power. For 20 minutes after the commencement there was no incident worthy of record. The Mnnnwelnua backs were making most of the visitors’ uncertainty. Free kicks were all too frequent throughout- the match, and the players did not spare one another. Hickey quickly shot into his stride in a determined dash for the objective after securing the ball from Walter's kick. Rignev and Thorn broke through on a counter-offen-sive, but the latter kicked liadlv with two penalties. Jacob initiated a run which resulted in the Combined team drawing first blood. Tlrophy picked up the hall when Jacobs dropped and, streaked across and scored just as Snell (lew at and grassed him. Jacob gonled. Combined tpam 5, N. S.W, nil.

The Aussie hacks then began concerted play.

Then the Lawson-Rcid Morrisey combination operated with mach-ine-like precision. The cross-tac-tics in passing and clever reinforcing baffled the opposition. Snell was a perfect- half at playing the orlhdox game of getting rid of the

hull smarflv, and Lawton provided

an invaluable link to the rearguard. Morrisey drew close to levelling the score when he picked up in the loose and How to the line. Hailey forced him out at the corner. Thenceforward X.S.W. had command and were hammering persistently at the goal line. On!\ ihe tenacious defence of Johnson, Walters, and 11. Wilson saved a big score. There were many strenuous incidents before X.S.W. scored.. Ilickcy squeezed in on the line frequently, Lawton accounting for him consistently. He came again. The ball travelled through Moynihan, Brophy, Wilson, Hickey, Porter, and Johnson; hack to the speedy winger only Grossman with fleet wing from the other side, dashing in just in time. Hickey again fooled the opposition hacks bv clever dummies, and Snell smartly planted the leather over the line. Lawton goaled. Combined f>. X.S.W. 5.

It was fortunate for the local players that there was a slight inaccuracy in the X.S.W. hack mechanism, during the second spell for llie combined team possessed no punch and were outmanoevred.

The Australians added a try by a masterly piece of play. Lawton opened the "nine for Morrisey and Reid. Morrisey cut in quickly to reinforce Reid, and be dashed over as Porter and Hailey tlew blindly a| the winger, Crossman. Lawton again goaled. N.S.M. 15, Combined 5.

The Combined team forwards were doing a lot of back work, but individual breaks gained nothing. Toby was the intial instrument in a clever try. lie created a comfortable opening for Lawton and Reid and the latter transferred swiftly to Morrisey, who raced across. Lawton converted. N.S.M. 20, Combined 5.

With 15 points disadvantage, the Combined team rallied. There was pleatv of sting in the next few minutes, when three N.S.M'. men, went out together. All recovered. McLean, 11. Wilson, and luna promised well in the forwards, but Snell grabbed the hall time after time and had it away long before Porter ,-ould get there. Once, however, the Inter secured and passed to Law, who made a great run, transferring' to 11. Wilson, who in turn shot at Bailey. As Toby apepaied Bailey shot across the line. The lrv was unconverted. N.S.M’. 20, Combined 8.

The finish of the game saw the Combined team defending, the visitors having the play well in hand. The home kicking was bad, while on the contrary Lawton was in great form.