BRIGHT RUGBY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 18 July 1929, Page 6

BRIGHT RUGBY

ALL BLACKS BEAT COUNTRY NEW EEALANDERS’ HANDLING THRILLS SPECTATORS (United Praia Aeeoclalßon— By Ueoiri* Telesrapb—Uopxricht) MELBOURNE, 17lli July. At Armidalc to-day, superior combination and condition enabled the All Blacks to triumph over a Combined Country team. The weather was delightful and the game played in the presence of 6000 spectators drawn front many miles. Disappointment was felt at the nonappearance of Porter and Nepia. The latter was admitted to the Armidalo hospital to-day suffering from influenza. The Country team was without their speedy fullback, O’Connor. who had gashed his leg with an axe. Country won the toss and the All Blacks had to play with the sun in their faces. The home team attacked and kept the visitors defending for the first few minutes till Stringfellow secured the ball, passed to Leys, who sent it back to Hook, and the Gutter passed back to Stringfellow, who crossed the line in a handy position for Cundy to add the extra points., New Zealand 5, Country 0 Country again pressed hard, and Ebert intercepted smartly, but a scrum followed for a knock on.

A penalty to the home side gave .Ebert a chance to goal, amidst much applause. Country 3, N ew Zealand 5 A few minutes later Cundy initiated a great movement, the ball passing to Stringfellow to Cotterill, and across the field to Rika, thence to Reside, \ but the latter knocked on when a try was within grasp. The home team’s tackling was good, and the handling of the ball improved as the game progressed. The next score to the All Blacks came from a passing movement in which Cotterell, Hook, Stringfellow and Cundy participated, the latter just scrambling over at the corner. His kick at goal failed. New Zealand 8, Country 3 The home forwards were now putting up a great game, but the backs were too light. Laycock, Country’s captain, tried a two-three-two pack with success for the spare man. Country secured the ball from a scrum and scored between the jiosts.. Ebert- added the goal. , Country 8, New Zealand 8 Aqother unconverted try by Stringfellow made the scores at half time : New Zealand 11, Country 8 Soon after resumption the visitors attacked strongly. Cotterell was pulled down by Britton, but Stringfellow raced up, took the ball, and scored in the corner. New Zealand 14, Country 8 j, Hook, who was playing a brilliam i. game, was responsible for tile next score. When he was ’going for the line he was brought down, but managed to transfer to Geddes who out-paced the field and crossed the line. Cundy kicked a great goal. New Zealand 19, Country 8 • The crowd was thrilled by the handling of the All Blacks and when Sontag secured and passed to Cundy to Hook to Stringfellow and on to Waterman, who scored near the posts, the incident fairly brought down the stand. Carleton’s attempt at goal failed. New Zealand 22, Country 8 Just before the final’bell Leys started a movement in which Geddes and Palmer figured, the last-named scoring between the posts. Cundv kicked for goal, the ball striking the bar and rolling over, making the final scores: New Zealand 27, Country 8 HOOK, STRINGFELLOW AND CUNDY OUTSTANDING ' Hook, Stringfellow and Cundy were the outstanding players of the day. The teams were as follows: All Blacks —Carleton, Geddes, Stringfellow, Waterman, Hook, Cundy, Leys, Cotterell, Souter, Palmer, Mahoney, Sontag, Kivell. Rika and Reside. Country—Nelson, Ebert, Oshannessy, Bqrthwick, Smith, Werner, Croft, Ireland, Delbridge, Munsie, Lamb, Richardson, Davidson, Britton and Laycock.