ALL BLACKS WIN FIRST TEST.

Shannon News, 4 November 1924, Page 4

ALL BLACKS WIN FIRST TEST.

IRELAND! DEFEATED. TRY AND PENALTY TO NIL. LONDON, Nov. 2. The AU Blacks defeated Ireland by 6 to nil at Dublin, HEAVY RAIN AND GREASY BALL. (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) ' ' DUBLIN, Oct. 2. The ground was very heavy a,s a result ol soaking rain. For the first twenty minut.es the Irish ’ forwards played splendidly, although they only twice seriously threatened the visitors’ fine, tut gradually the New Zealanders began to hold the Irish pack. i , Both sides found difficulty in handling the greasy ball. The Irish forwards were outweighed and got possession of only six out of twenty scrums in the fust half,' but gave a grand display in the loose. , . In the second ; spell, during a continuous downpour of rain, the Irish pack made a number of determined rushes, but failed to beat the scientific defence, . , , n Tha' game was finely defended °n both sides to the end.

PORTER STANDS DOWN. AND PARKER PLAYS GAME OF LIFE. STEEL ALSO ON THE BANK. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 1. if The All Blacks. The New Zealanders fielded the following fifteen: — Full-back: G. Nepia. Threequarters: A. H. Hart, F. W. Lucas (centre), K. S. Svenson. Five-eighths: A. E. Cooke (1)» MiF. Nicholls (2). Half: W. C. Dailey. Winger: J. H. Parker. Back-row: F. L. Cupples, A. White. Supports: J. Richardson (captain)* M. J. Brownlie. > I Lock: R. R. Masters. ; Hookers: W. R. Ivine, Q. Donald. i (Pleurisy prevented the inclusion of R. L. Stewart). The All Greens. Ireland turned out the following representatives: Full-back: Crawford. j Three-quarters: H. Stephenson, G* Stephenson, Gardiner, T. Hewitt. ; Halves: F. Hewitt, McDowell. Forwards: Collopy, Crichton, Colllsf McLelland, McVicker, Spain, Cl Inc n, and Brand. _ I Ireland Stands Up Boldly. __ Intense interest was taken in the first appearance of th,e famous Dominion players, whose chances were strongly favoured, and even before the day, it was known that a huge crowd was assured. This expectation was fully borne out as the attendance numbered 26,000. The spectators gave an enthusiastic welcome to the visitors when they filed on to the ground 1 . New Zealand lost the toss and kicked off against a strong wind. It was early seen 1 that Ireland had put in the field a heavy, well-balanced team, in excellent condition. They stood up boldly to their formidable opponents and it was not surprising with the reputation the Irish forwards nave gained in the last two or three years that they made a most creditable fight of it. _ x ' ' Parker Sends, Hart Away. The first incident of note was a brilliant rush by the All Black forwards, ending in Parker putting in a welljudged cross kick. Hart gathered it in his stride, and a thrill went through the crowd as he dashed for the line. Full-back Crawford, however, was equal to the occasion, and got there in time to hold up the Taranaki winger by inches only.. With a fine kieh U P the side-line, Clinch removed the ball out of danger. Blacks Tackle Like Demons. A series of scrums and line-outs followed in which Ireland ably held its own,’ showing equally good form with the New Zealanders. Their backs’ attempts at passing were nullified by the All Blacks terriflfo tackling, which, indeed, was the most striking feature of the opening stages. They have greatly improved in this branch of the game. At one time it was a decided "weakness m their play. Crawford Nearly Lands Penalty. Their keenness, led them, into,some infractions of the rules and the majority of the penalties awarded -were against them. From ope Of these, Crawford, who was kicking splendidly, narrowly missed the goal. Hart Again Goes Close. Helped very much by the wind the Irishmen were able to keep the game in their adversaries’ territory for quite a long time, until a fine passing rush, in which the ball passed through the hands of Nicolls, Cooke,' and Lucas almost enabled Hart to score. Again determined collaring just stopped him in time. Both sets of forwards were playing a magnificent game and giving a dashing exhibition. Closing Up The Game. The Irishmen displayed a remarkable aptitude for smothering the Blacks’ passing from base of the scrum, and so clipped off the attempts of the backs to get going.. Both teams, , in fact, resorted to spoiling methods and the game therefore was very close, without much room for scientvfic methods. Obviously the New Zealanders, struggling against the wind, could not afford to take risks and could hardly do anything else . but keep the game tight while it was near their goal. Nor were they disposed to let their opponents open out. Both sides kept up a great pace, and, if not scientific, the play was decidedly robust and hard. “Mark” Wears Greens Down. Nicholls, Dailey and Parker were conspicuous for fine defensive work at this stage, Nicholls’ . kicks into touch being specially certain and effective. The gruelling work, however, began to tell its tale, and before the first half ended, there were signs the pace was having its effect on the home side. New Zealand began more and more to get possession of the ball, but the backs, though passing* brilliantly, were unable to penetrate the Irishmen’s sturdy defence. gcore Before IntervaL The spell ended without any score: ; New Zealand • 0 j Ireland 0 ,

New Zealand Opens Strongly. On the resumption of play the All Blacks immediately took the offensive, the forwards themselves with most effective dribbling , rushes, while Nepia and Nicholls; both - playing brilliantly, inspired their col-cagi-V-

leagues hr the back division by their example. The Maori nifleent, fielding the ball faultlessly and kicking a wonderful length. The Wind Changes! .. . Once again the conditions entirely favoured the home side. It was really extraordinary bad luck for the New Zealanders that, after battling against the wind in the' first half, it should veer completely-round and; again blow from behind Ireland, this time .accompanied by heavy rain squalls. Nothing .co.uld have been worse for the visitors, but .they faced their heavy task with resolution and undimimshed Vlß ° Svenson Ptet Scorer In Teste. After twenty minutes of hard play the Black forwards developed a tremendous loose attack, which’ completely br ° k ® h t J e b < Sf )0 ’ up. Parker secured the ball, pass ed to Lucas and he handed it on o Svenson, who crossed the line half wav from the corner to score a thoroughly deserved try. Nepia s kick failed: ■ ' <* ■ j New Zealand " • Ireland ” ■.•••• • ‘ ‘ * Nicholls Goals a Penalty. ’ Five minutes later, Nicholls landed a superb goal from a penalty kl £ K - New Zealand " * jj j " ThANew Zealanders’ heeling out of j 1 the scrum improved as the I^ve sressed, but the chances this gave the backs of promising passing move-

ments were nullified by inability to handle the greasy ball wlth_ certainty. T? Hewitt (Ireland) retired hurt at Notwithstanding their disadvantages, the AH Blacks had clearly asserted their supremacy and twice Hart was almost across. Nothing but their j magnificent tackling saved Ireland. * Hewitt was particularly conspicuous , in defence. ■ . . I Packs Fight Desperately. | The game was contested in the fin- ] possible spirit and aroused the great mass of onlookers to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. The battle between the forwards was the most notable feature of the game. All through both packs fought desperately for every inch of ground. Zea--and’s success was primarily due to the collective excellence of the vanguard, who fulfilled the greatest expectations. Notwithstanding their obstinate d e f ence > i-h e Irishmen were a beaten team in the second half ana had the turf remained dry it is agreed the All Blacks would probably have out up twenty points against them. The Roll Call. Brownlie, White, Richardson and Cupples were prominent, but in justice to the remaining forwards, « must be added'that all..alike, played magnificently. The display of. both full backs was also another outstanding feature of the day. Dailey rose meritoriously to the occasion, but Cooke and Lucas did not appear to handle

the - ball' with' their usual Svenson, on the wing, was compara tiV possibly the most 15 Ff. 1 ” of hll^t^y^l^l out consistently well both in attaca and Penalties Against NeW’Zealand. . New Zealand was penalised eight times in the first'half, cbiefly tbrough mistakes in the scrum .play, but torg better in the next speH.whenonly cix penalties were given three of them against Parker. Luckily they were mostly-out of easy range Of the goal. A Great Finish. The stamina of both sides was ex ®® p " tional and tremendous Pressure was maintained throughout. from beginning to end was fij 11 *® to the best International standard. During the final exciting stages, when the •All Blacks were mostly in the ascendency and threatening to score at any moment; the people w ere roused to such a pitch of excitement ■ that thousands stood in the pouri ing rain, regardless of weather, eheerj ing frantically. ; Which Way Home? > Negotiations for a game in British ; Columbia remain indefinite nil tne homeward route is' decided on. It has i been suggested the tour should end with a match' against France at Toultuse, and that the team should return by Suez Canal.