RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3975, 25 July 1929, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THE ALL BLACKS. GREAT IN ADVERSITY. Tlie “Sydney Morning Herald” says: “[Because the All Blacks have been' beaten, there is a tendency to underrate their ability. The average ‘New Zealand resident in Sydney declares that Porter’s present team is the worst that has ever worn the silver fern. What an injustice to Rugby! An explanation can fee made without any apologies after surveying their performances. “They have been wonderful. Alter a storm-tossed trip they lost their captain, and Dailey, leading a fifteen not then moulded into a t cairn, played a scoreless draw against a snore than' a Waratah side, a side regarded as equal to the strength of Australia. The next big loss was Dailey, and the New Zealanders were struggling to maintain a national record second to none. 'The second Test was at hand and now Stringfellow had become hors de combat. Nepia and Raid were also laid up. Fate seemed to tread on their heels, and the gallant band could not es/cape the ■train smash. It is not often that All Blacks level at the interval are beaten, but the retirement of Oliver in the second Test must be remembered.

“The New Zealanders met an ascendant Australia.. The effect of the Waratah tour cannot he overestimated. How the present All Blaicks would have fajred, if at full strength, is a matter of conjecture. At least justice should |be done to their record in the light of unforeseen ‘casualties. It is overlooked that for the ff(rst time for twenty years New Zealand was outweighed man for man. These remarks are actuated by a desire not merely to present the case of Australia’s Rugby advance, but to do justice to the ability of a great sorely-stricken side, which, notwithstanding that it struggled hard against adversity, has proved itself the most popular New Zealand side which has ever visited this country.” The following will represent Foxton Seniors against Wanderers in the championship final match to he played at Levin on Saturday: — Horini, Robinson, Procter, Taylor, Stevenson, Moses, Huff, Barnes, Andrews, Carter, Pine, Renata, Harrison, McGregor, (Hindu. Emergencies : Backs: G. Hartley, R. Beta; forwards: A. Thompson.

’Bus will leave) at 1.30 sharp. On Saturday Foxton and Levin Wanderers will try conclusions in the Senior Championship final on the Levin Domain. The first round of the Nash Cup will fee played on Saturday, 3rd August, as follows: — Wanderers v. Shannon at Levin. Hui 'Mai v. Otaki at Otaki. Foxton a bye. ALL BLACKS EASY WIN. DEFEAT QUEENSLAND BY 27 TO NIL. At Brisbane yesterday, before a crowd of 2000 the All Blacks easilydefeated Queensland fey 27 points to nil. RESULTS OF MATCHES. The following table shows how the New Zealand team has fared in the matches it has so, fan played in Australia: — Points Teams played Result F. A. •New S. Wales Draiwn 0 0 Newcastle Won 35 8 Australia (Ist Test) Lost 8 9 New S. Wales Won 22 9 Australia Wfon 25 4 Com. i Country Team Wion 27 8 Australia (2nd Test) Lost 9 17 Queensland Won 27 0 Points for, 153; against, 55. Summary: Matches played, 8; won, 5; lost, 2; drawn, 1. ■ “The players have to assemble at the nearest station at their own expense,” said the president of the llorowhenua Rugby District Council, in speaking on the expenses of representative players, at the meeting of the Management Committee on Tuesday evening. “I am not going to allow professional players to come into the Union. If I find one getting more than he is entitled to, he is going up.” Palmerston North High School, holders of the Moasear Cup, suffered their first defeat in an intercollegiate match of the season at the Palmerston North Showgrounds yesterday afternoon when they went sunder to Wanganui Technical College !by 21 points to 12.