CONTRAST IN SCORES.

Shannon News, 2 January 1925, Page 3

CONTRAST IN SCORES.

(By R. A. Byers Barr, "Times” Representative with team.)

' After being to a large extent he’d, tbe New Zealanders showed brilliant form in their match at Newcastle against Northumberland on November 8, and gained a fine victory by three goals a. id four tries to a dropped goal. They thus continued their unchecked run of success. The match took place in dull weather, but there were 16,000 people present. Out-played though they were in the end, the Northumberland fifteen offered such a stout resistance up to half time, that, to the surprise of everyone, the All Blacks were only able to cross their opponents’ line on one occasion, the try being scored just before the interval. As a matter of fact, the victors should have established a substantial advantage, for they had a good- deal ihe best of the match. Northumberla id began rather shakily, but as the game progressed they settled down to very strong tacKling. Wilkinson, the Northumberland full-back, was in particularly good form, his coolness m the face of many attacks being worthy of great praise. He not only fielded the ball accurately, but he found touch with splendid kicks. Catciieside, Cartmell, ai*l Whitley were all very good in defence, and Whitley’s work was only slightly less prominent than that of Wilkinson. ah Blacks at Their Best.

After ends had been changed, the Northumberland players still worked hard, but the superior pace and condition of their opponents told its inevitable tale, and gradually the defence yielded. Once they had established a superiority, the All Blacks brought off a number of brilliant passing movements, and whereas their handling up to half-time... had left a good deal to be desired, it was extremely good afterwards. They gave their opponents no respite in going to a substantial victory. :At no period of the game did Norihumber--1 land attempt inueh passing. When, on rare occasions, they did, the Now Zealanders, with their wondetfui defence, easily checked the movement. While the All Blacks owed a lot to their all-round team work, many of the men were, individually, very fine s indeed. Hart made splendid use oC his speed, and Parker, Steel, and Richardson all showed fine form. NARROW VICTORY. CAMBRIDGE RUNS TOURISTS TO FIVE POINTS. The All Blacks rested several of their best players against Cambridge University on the following Wednesday, November 12th, with the result that the New Zealanders had to battle very hard for victory, which they secured by the narrow margin of a. converted goal to nil. The New Zealanders have thus won the seventeen games played up to date. The Cambridge side included B. K. Turnbull (Cardiff), Rowe Harding (Swansea), and W. Idris Jones, (Llanelly). Heary rain overnight and on Wednesday morning rendered the ground very slippery. In the opening minutes Cambridge got more of the ball than the AH Blacks and were frequently passing, but were unable to break through. Play swung up and down quickly, but neither side could gain much advantage, although Cambridge were much better in the loose rushes. They certainly clever in dribbling. Once Cambridge got going splendidly and Devitt made a lot of ground, getting within ten yards of the New Zealand line. New Zealand replied vigorously, and Cambridge were forced to touen down. After the interval New Zealand went all out, and after fifteen minutes Mill slipped through for a try, which Nicholls converted. Cambridge twice got close, but could not score, but they had tfie better of the game for fifteen minutes, and although the visitors pressed at the close, they failed to increase their lead. The teams were as follow: —Cambridge University: S. Douty (Pembroke), Sir T. G. Devitt (Corpus Christi), B. R. Turnbull (Christs and Cardiff), J. R. Bordass (Caius), and W. Rowe Harding (Pembroke and Swansea), D. S. Francis (Pembroke), and A. T. Young (Caius), B. J. McMyn {Pembroke), W. E. Tucker (Caius), W. B. Scott (Pembroke), D. C. Gumming (Caius), W. Idris Jones (Caius and Llanelly), C. T. Barlow (Caius), R . G. Howell (Caius), and W. Ross-Skinner.

New Zealand: G. Nepia, A. C. C. Robilliard, H. W.< Brown and A. H. Hart, M. F. Nicholls and N. P. McGregor, J. Mill and J. H. Parker, W. Irvine, JB. B. McCleary, A. H. West, J. Richardson, C. J. Brbwnlie, F. L. Cupples and A. White.