BLUES FORWARDS GO WELL.

Shannon News, 14 November 1924, Page 3

BLUES FORWARDS GO WELL.

MILL’S OPPORTUNISM WINS * GAME After the interval, the 1 Home forwards struck their best form, notably Sbott, Macmyn and Tuckei’. Following fifteen minutes hard struggling Young (the Cambridge half) misdirected a pass and from the resultant scramble Mill dived over the line and Nicholls easily converted.

New Zealand 5 Cambridge ....... # # # 0 Nepia Kept Busy, The Blacks’ stamina began to tell and play now was mostly in the Blues’ territory. Following a Blues’ brilliant forward rush, Nepia had to force down. Then Rowe Harding, the Welsh sprint champion, put in a spectacular run, but kicked to the line when approaching Nepia. Porter broke through, but Douty sent the ball back with a great kick to the centre flag. The Blues frequently broke away fiom the line out and splendidly controlled the forward rushes. Canterbury Backs Painful. Robilliard was weak on the wing, Mill and Nicholls were the only consistent backs. Richardson, Cyril Brownlie and White were the best forwards. The Blacks’ cohesion was faulty, notably among the backs. McGregor was slow in passing out, and weak in handling, but the worst feature was the side’s’ failure to stop its opponents’ rushes.

The game was remarkably close, In most trying conditions. There was no further score and the game ended: —■ New Zealand 5 Cambridge 0

The result caused surprise and some sensation. The game emphasised the All Blacks’ weakness in adapting themselves to sodden grounds. Their only scqre was due to Young’s wild pass. The forwards were individually capable, but weak collectively. Cambridge had easily the better of the scrums.

Sir James Allen, the New Zealand High Commissioner was present,