TEST RUGBY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2939, 22 September 1925, Page 3

TEST RUGBY.

♦ EASY WIN FOR ALL BLACKS. NEW ZEALAND 36; N.S.W. 10. The Test 'between N.S.W. and New Zealand' attracted twenty-five thousand spectators at Auckland on Saturday. The game was fast and exciting throughout, but in the closing stages, the New Zealanders showed their superiority. The first spell saw play travelling up and down-field, the score at the whistle being: New Zealand 5, N.S.W. 0, Mill scoring a try from a serum near the New South Wales’ line, which Nicholls converted.

In. the second spell, New Zealand had all the better of the play, although, the visitors showed occasional glimpses of brilliant form. McGregor scored for New Zealand three minutes after the start and then Finlayson got over and Nicholls converted, .making the score: — New Zealand, 13; N.S.W* nil. Brownlie scored soon after, but Nicholls’ shot hit the post. —New Zealand 16, N.S.W. nil. The visitors then attacked, Bowers scoring and Meagher converting.—New Zealand sixteen, New South Wales five.

From a fine passing rush, Morrisey scored and Meagher again converted. From then on the All Blacks piled up the score. Brownlie got a try, which Nicholls converted. A few minutes later, Cooke chased the ball over the line to score, and Nicholls once again converted. Cooke ran over at the corner as the result of a fine passing rush. Nicholls converting with a fine goal. Mill was responsible for the next try. He sent to Robilliard and the latter scored, which Nicholls converted. The game ended with the score: New Zealand 36, N.S.W. 10. A feature of the game was the sporting spirit of the crowd, which gave the visitors an ovation whenever they showed brilliant play. The All Blacks showed their superiority in all departments of the game, their great speed enabling them to put the finishing touches to several clever movements.

In (this connection, the great speed and dash of Cooke was a frequent factor. The score at halftime rather flattered the visitors as the All Blacks did not. warm up to it until the second spell. They then set out to pile up the points against the weary opposition. The two tries scored by New South Wales were the result of clever bits of work, but the blacks made them stop at that and from then onwards they were never in the picture. Nicholls kicked goals like clockwork. Porter played a flue game throughout, so did Mill.

Among the forwards, Fiudlayson shone. Robilliard, who replaced Svenson in the second spell, played well. Lucas was below form. Mill was prominent. Nepia has played better football.