ALL BLACKS v. COMBINED TEAM.

Shannon News, 29 July 1924, Page 3

ALL BLACKS v. COMBINED TEAM.

FINE SHOWING BY LOCAL MEN. RECORD CROWD AT PALMERSTON. Last Saturday will be written in red letters in tile football annals oi Palmerston North,, and although the , 15,000 people wno gathered ion the Showgrounds fo witness the struggle between the All-Black—Horowhenua-Manawatu combination was not treated to. a very finished exhibition oi football, the day will linger in the memories of those who attended,, it for no other reason, for the enthusiasm, which prevailed, and the curious dual loyalty which was evident amongst the partisans of the local team. Eager as these were to see the Combined team score, eyien in their enthusiasm there was a patent regret that it was possible to (score against “The All Blacks,” and the Combined try, which opened the scoring, brought dhiiost dismay. On the whole it may be said that tlie locai team wag let down lightly, and this without any desirg to disparage* a very creditable performance, tapeciaJiy in hie first hail'. The Ah Blacks could have won by 47 to 11 - just as easily as by 27 to 4*2, as the manner in which they slacked off in the‘ second half after making theit lead sale, demonstrated.

The game may be summarised as primarily a. forward one, and it 'was only in the second half that the New Zealand team got their hacks moving. Even then the passing movements gained little ground, as the Combined iorwards pressing always down in a solid mass and tacking in deadly fashion, smashed any movement before it could be got going. McHerron of Horowhenua was undoubtedly one of the leading forwards in the game. Rangi Broughton and Carroll, of Mauawatu, who played magnificently, were the best of the remaining forwards.

In the back§, Cowie at full back, showed up prominently, his linekicking being particularly good, and as the old rules were played, fids pro.ved a very useful factor. Cowie was sound 'in defence also, and wim Law, brought in'from the reserves at the last moment, was probably the best of Manawatu’s quota. The outstanding bftck o.n the combined side, and perhaps, taking the circumstances into consideration, on the field, was Jacob. Before- the game the question of what Jacob, with his .16. stone of brawn, would

do to the 10-stone Baddeley, who op'posed him at first five-eighths, was iree-iy canvassed. The All Blacks were taking no. risks however. 'io an appearances two or throe men had been specially told off to watch Jacob and to smotner him good and solid every time he got the bail.' mat he

showed up as prominently as he did

in the first half is a tribute to his line piiysique as well as to his knowledge

of tactics, and Baddeley’s prominence l in the game at all,stages was undoubtedly due to the blocking tactics employed. Tahiwi showed up well on occasion, but displayed ins old individualistic failing. Nepla, in view oi the adverse criticism which, has been hurled at him from ail directions, was watched with considerable interest, and Bom ins game, gave no indication oi meriting tn© utter condemnation which he bus received in some quarters. He undoubtedly permitted one score through failing to take a fairly easy ball, but except for this one break played a sound and consistent gauiei. As was only to he hoped from the representatives 'of the whole of N.Z., the scrum work of the AH Blacks was considerably superior to that of the local.men, McCleary and Munro giving a finished exhibition of hooking. Dailey at lhaif back supported ably, getting flhe ball away in splendid iashion. (in the position, Parker was decidedly' slippery and on the occasions when Earle, playing halt lor the combined team, secured the ball was round the scrum m a iashion 'that left Earle “caught with the goods’’ on more than one occasion. Summing up, it may be said that the local men did all tihat was expected of them, and that, indeed, tjheir combination was better than had been expected, and speaks highly lor trainer, Ryan’s coaching. At the same time, had the team, been' a stronger ' one, the spectators would ©have been treated to a, better exhibition of football. Although ■ the combined team apparently held the opposition on their merit in the first half, in the second they were patently out-classed, tyid the All Blacks looked as if they merely did not wish to'make the score -too uneven.

REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS. HOROWHENUA AGAINST BUSH. The following team will represent Horowhenua in the game against me Bush Union ior the Be hiring ton Shield, at iPaihatua on Wednesday, July 30:— Full back; Johnstone (H;ui Mai). Three-quarters: D’Ath (Otaki), P. » Hakaraia (Weraroa), Wilson ■ (Wanderers). Five-eighths: Jacob (Wianderers), capt; Hiwi (Wanderers'). .Half: Lenihah (Shannon). Wing-forward: R. George (Hui Mai). Hookers: McHerrqn (Weraroa), G. Hereinaia (Weraroa). Lock: Tana (Hui Mai). Sides: Broughton (Weraroa), Moymhan (Sliannon). Backs: McLean (Hui Mai), O’Reilly (Foxton). Emergencies: Forwards—Tatana (Wanderers), ,H. Roibinson (Foxton). Backs: Winiata (Wanderers), Moses. . (Otaki). JUNIOR A. V. B. TEAMS. The following will represent A versus B in the Junior match to he played on Saturday next at Otaki for the purpose of picking a rep. team to play Manawatu: — A TEAM. Full back: R. Wells (Rahui). Three-quarters : J.' Clay (Parapara-