A CLOSE CALL.

Shannon News, 14 November 1924, Page 3

A CLOSE CALL.

NARROW WIN FO ALL BLACKS. CAMBRIDGE BEATS NEW ZEALAND IN SCRUMS. Fielding a weak team owing to conservation of the crack players lor the game at Twickenham on Saturday, the All Blacks defeated , Cambridge University on Wednesday by only a goal to nil Apart from the handicap of a wet ball, the New Zealanders were once again inferior in the scrummaging. Cambridge fielded A. T Young (scram -half) and Rowe Harding, Wales and Swansea’s crack threequarter), who were out at the Cape with the Britishers. For the second successive match there was a disinclination on the All Blacks’ ,part to go down to rushes. MILL AND NICHOLLS ONLY CONSISTENT BACKS. MeGREGOR FAILS AGAIN. (Received Thursday 7 p.m) LONDON, November 12 The attendance at the All Blacks v. Cambridge match .was 7000. The game was played in drizzling rain, which had the usual effect in cramping the play and preventing certainty in handling the ball. West Locks the Scrum. The New Zealand team was: — Full back: G. Nepia. Three-quarters: A. Hart, H. W. Brown, A. G. C. Robilliard Five-eighths": N. P. McGregor (2), M. F. Nicholls (1). Half: J. Mill, Winger: C. G. Porter (captain.) Back-row: A. White, F, L. Cupples. Supports; J, Richardson, C. J. Brownlie. Lock: A. H. West.

Hookers: W. H. Irvine, B. V. McCleary

[Robilliard has no't played since the Somerset match on September 20th, having been incapacitated through an injured ankle.] ’Varsity Superior Serummagers. Though the All Blacks had the advantage in weight, the Blues in the early part of the match carried mosi of the scrums. This was no great advantage to them as they indulged in loose and ineffective passing, and were very dilatory an getting to the ball. '

The, Blues had a slight advantage In the straggling forward rushes. One of these looked dangerous, but Nepia with great dash, stopped it. Mill put in a serviceable run, which came to nothing. New Zealand’s Defence Weak. The battle between the forwards was of a most strenuous description, but the New Zealand back s were below the usual form, and were oftfen caught out of position. Of the two, the Varsity’s defence at this stage was stronger. Once more they looked to have a chance when Devitt ran through ,all the opposition till Nepia tackled him.. No Score at Interval. White and Cupples. then led a forward rush by the All Blacks, which regained the lost ground. The team’s display, however, was unconvincing. McGregor spoiled a possible chance of a try by over-kicking, and the spell ended: — New Zealand 0 Cambridge ..... 0