ALL BLACKS HAVE EASY WIN.

Shannon News, 9 December 1924, Page 3

ALL BLACKS HAVE EASY WIN.

NEPIA’S BOOT REGAINS ITS CUNNING, •■•••' (Received Sunday, 7 p.m.) LONDON, December 6. Tbe New Zealanders met East Midlands at Northampton to-day and won easily by 31 to 7. The Team. The team was: Full-back: Nepia. Three-quarters: Lucas, Brown and Steel. Five-eighths: McGregor and Cooke. Half: Mill. Forwards: Donald, Irvine, Richardson, Masters, C. Brownlie, Parker and Cupples.

This was looked upon as a surprisingly strong side to put in the field, seeing that no serious opposition,was expected. The Midlands men were drawn almost exclusively from the Bedford and Northampton Clubs and contained a number of players who have done very well in local matches. s The match was played under the very best conditions, the day being sunny and calm and the turf in splendid order, Fifteen thousand people were present. New Zealand lost the toss and within a few minutes of Porter’s kick-off, first Steel and then Richardson were all but across the Midlands goal line. First Blood to Home Side. The visitors continued their aggressive play, but one momentary lapse on their part let their opponents in, to the huge delight of the crowd. It was promptly turned to account, and first blood fell to the home team. A weak cross-kick gave Jones, the Midlands half-back, his opportunity. Dashing in rapidly, he got the ball at his toe, dribbled it across and touched down. Churchill, full-back, took the kick, but failed. Ferns Below Form. This roused the 'home men and some remarkably fast and keen *play followed.

The All Blacks, though much below form at this stage, mostly held the upper hand, but the Midlanders made no mistakes in their tackling, which was deadly. For a time, they give their opponents some anxious moments and once there was nearly a repetition of Jones’ feat. Townell, at five-eighths, intercepted a rather loose pass and before the All Blacks realised it, he was clear away. He ran almost the length of the field before he was brought down. New Zealand Scoring 1 Begins. For a time, the game was confined to New Zealand quarters. The local men attacked so strongly that the All Blacks had to set up a strong defence, but at last Mill set his threequa rters moving and the New Zealanders romped down the field in a dangerous rush. Steel completed a vigorous offensive movement with one of his characteristic finding runs, bumping all tacklers off and scoring in the corner. With a splendid kick, Nepia turned it into a goal. The New Zealand forwards had now shaken themselves together, and took charge of the game. Richardson broke smartly away from a scrum and passed to Brownlie, who dived across for a try, but this time Nepia’s kick failed. Erratic Passing. ’ The All Blacks continued to gain possession, but their passing was so uncertain and ineffectual that they made no use of their advantage and the first spell ended without a further score. New • Zealand - 8 , East Midlands 3 Conditions Begins to Tell On resuming, the Home side attacked strongly, until the effects? of their rest wore off and the All Blacks had their, defence well tried, while this spurt was on. When if was spent, the superior training of the visitors came into play and they, simply ran all over the Midlands. Cooke was the first to break away, but he spoiled what looked a certain try by hanging on to the ball too long. Then Cupples put in a brilliant piece of dribbling, being attended \by Brownlie, who at the finish picked up the ball and grounded it under ~ the posts. Nepia had no difficulty in adding the goal. Brilliant Passage. The All Black forwards continued to use their feet with great effect in the open and kept the game in their opponents’ twenty-five. Here Mill sent a long pass to Brown, who took it at top speed and flashed across at the corner. Once again from this difficulty angle Nepia kicked a superb goal.

Dropped Goal for Drooping Spirits. The New Zealanders, In this half, were playing altogether -more scientifically and methodically and only occasionaally did the Midlands get anything near the other end, but on one of these fleeting incursions, Jones managed to drop a neat goal to cheer the drooping spirits of his side. In a few minutes, the All Blacks had wiped this score off. A pass from McGregor let Cooke in and he ran over close to the posts, Nepia converting. Steel Gives an Encore. After further chances of scoring had been nullified by forward passes, and fumbling, Brown gave Steel a welljudged pass and the latter got over at the corner. Nepia all but scored a goal from the kick. Almost immediately, Steel repeated the performance and this time Nepia put another magnificent goal to his credit.

The Midlands made valiant efforts to reduce the deficit, but the New Zealand defence was always sound and their efforts- went for- nothing. There was no further score on either, side when the bell went. Deficient In Finer Points. The .game, although fast and interesting, was deficient in the finer points of play. The All Blacks' weight and stamina were great factors in their victory and they wore down all opposition. ~ Heroes of the Day. Richardson stood out as the finest

forward on the field and Cupples was always conspicuous, though neither of them actually scored himself. Nepia, who was in wonderful form, kicked five goals from seven tries —two of them from the side line. Brown, Steel and Cooke were the best of the backs. New Zealand 31 East Midlands 7 the great test. ENGLISH TRIAL MATCHES. The first international trial took place at Bradford on Saturday, when the North v. South match was staged and the results appear below. The 30 players engaged will be re-sorted for the next trial at Twickenham on December 20 when England will play the Rest The second London Counties' match on December 27 may also be utilised by the English selectors to give most of England’s fifteen a final canter preparatory to t;he meeting with the All Blacks at Twickenham on January 3. INTERNATIONAL TRIALS. NORTH DEFEATS SOUTH. LONDON, December 6. At Rugby football international trials, North beat South, 13t—5, at Bradford. Glasgow defeated Edinburgh by 28 —6 at Edinburgh.