MARRED GLORY OF TOUR.

Shannon News, 6 January 1925, Page 4

MARRED GLORY OF TOUR.

CYRIL BROWNLIE MARCHED OFF LONDON, January 8. The All Blacks v. England ) match

will always, be remembered for the sensational punishment of ■ Cyril Brownlie, who was ordered-' off sevenminutes after the start of the game, for retorting to th e referee, who had previously cautioned- him for* using his fists and knees in the ‘scrum. The incident followed a scrummage, in which Voyce (Gloucestershire) was hurt in the mouth.

The Englishmen in the opening stages showed , such suprising, dash that the All Blacks hardly saw the ball. The crowd of 50,000 was watching the Home' side’s first successful aggressive movement and there was tumult and excitement as Corbett and Davies crossed the AU Blacks’ line unopposed. Suddenly, there wag an unforgettable silence, the crowd realising that something was amiss, and that the whistle had previously been blown. Then Brownlie separated himself from the group, in obedience to the referee’s gesture, and walked dejectedly, head down, fifty yards to the exit, under the Prince of Wales’ and Mr Baldwin’s box. It was the most unexpected and tragic moment in classic rugby. The crowd, unaware of the nature of the offence, felt it marred the glory of a triumphal tour at its climax and later showed exaggerated generosity in cheering the New Zealanders’ prowess. His comrades were grievously discouraged and lacked “zip." The Englishmen bungled three dis. tinct onslaughts before the first score by Cove-Smith. It was not till half an hour had elapsed that the All Blacks got really into their stride, and took advantage of th e strong wind. There was constant scrummaging in the second half, wherein the Englishmen got most of the ball, wheeling the scrum cleverly. After the All Blacks had secured a fourteen points’ lead, the crowd showed irritation and loudly expressed indignation at what they considered the New Zealanders’ deliberate dawdling in bringing the ball into play. • In the last twenty minutes, the Englishmen again overwhelmed the All Blacks, and after Kittermaster’s try, there was again an uproar at the visitors’ slowness.

THE CHARGE. ‘DELIBERATELY KICKING ENGLISH FORWARD." (Received Sunday 7 p.m) LONDON, January 3. Mr A. E. Freethey, of Wales, states' he ordered C. Brownlie off for deliberately kicking on the leg an English forward, who was lying face downwards on the ground. Mr Freethey adds he had warned each side generally three times —therefore he was obliged to act drastically. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. •MISSING—ENGLAND’S NINE PENALTIES. FREE-KICKS AGAINST NEW ZEALANDERS INSTEAD. (Received Sunday 7 p.m) LONDON, January 3. Spectators began to appear at Twickenham before dawn and 6000 were waiting at 10 a.m. Numbers of soldiers and sailors were noticeable 1 , including a score of the crew of the Royal Sovereign, some wearing New Zealand favours'.

At th e outset, England attacked, but a. free-kick relieved the pressure five minutes from the start. England continued to press, but met with wonderfully sound defence. Seven minutes from the start there was an unpleasant incident ending in the New Zealander, Cyril Brownlie, being sent off the field. Cove-Smith Opens Scoring. England’s forwards scrummaged splendidly, and several penalty kicks were given against New Zealand. After a quarter of an hour, Voyce secured from a scrum, kicked past Nepta, and Cove-Smith, dashing up, scored a try for England wide out. Sighting the Goal. Five minutes later; England were penalised near half-way. Nepia took the kick, and the ball went very close to the goal-post. The tourists continued to press and Steel attempted a dropped goal, but missed. Again England were penalised, and Nepia found touch within a few yards of the Home line. Two New Zealand “Breaks.” Fierce scrummages ensued, 1 but Young cleared. Faulty handling let the Blacks in, and after much scrummaging on the line, Cooke flung out tp Svenson, who scored wide out. The New Zealanders played up with determination and from a scrum near the Home line; Steel went over at the corner. Just before the interval, Nicholls scored a penalty goal. Immediately after resumption, Corbett, with a clever kick, carried play into New Zealand's half. The English forwards, still scrummaging finely, kept up the pressure and occasionally the Home backs got going, but they were never allowed to make much ground. The game veered round In favour of the visitors, and ten minutes from resumption, M. Brownlie crossed close to the corner flag. The place kick was most difficult, but Nicholls. with a grand- effort, converted the try. The New Zealanders j continued to attack, and Richardson, J gathering the ball in the loose, managed, although collared, to pass it to Svenson, who scrambled over.

AH Whites’ Desperate Finish. New Zealand, being penalised, Hamilton-Wiclcs found touch well upheld, and a minute later a capital passing movement by the Home backs saw Gibbs racing away in good Style. He kicked ahead, and an exciting race ensued, resulting in favour of the visitors, who just managed to touch down. Another penalty was awarded England, but Brough missed the kick. Gibbs again got away and ran splendidly, but finished with a kick ahead over the line, and Mill just managed to touch down, saving a certain try. Then from a penalty, Corbett kicked a goal for England. Shortly before the end, England were hard pressed on their own line, but Young started a passing movement, which ended in Kittermaster’s try under ■ the bar.

England, although’ they lost, finished very strpngly. ' iNEVnAttLE’'INVEST;' CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS — DEAN SPEAKS. LONDON, January 3. , Some of the members of the New Zealand team state that Cyril Brownlie was not the aggressor, blit retaliated when struck by* an English ■ player, who had been previously warned three times. The King was kept informed telegraphically ’of the trend of the 1 game. The first arrival was a woman who appeared at the gates shortly before pawn. Large parties of Scotsmen who had been denied the privilege of seeing the visitors in Scotland made long journeys to London. There was also a big party of English residents in Paris, who braved the channel gales in order to see the match. The “Sunday Express” reports that # Mr Freethey, the referee, • after the match said: “I have for a long time admired Brownlie's play. I spoke t© \ both captains before the match and emphasised that they must impress players to keep their tempers. I warned two players on either side, and gave two general warnings to the teams before I ordered .Brownlie off the field. It hurt very much to do this, but I felt I had no alternative.’’’ Brownlie said: “It was a piece of sheer ill-luck on my part. I found my. self involved in a series of minor retaliations and was unfortunate to be dropped upon as the second man in the affair. I am most sorry this happened in the last match, but I do think another man should have gone off the field besides myself. Nevertheless, there is no ill feeling." Wakefield, the English captain, said : he witnessed the Incident, but preferred to say nothing. He had formed his own conclusion.

The “Siimday Express’’ adds that members of the All Blacks agree with the facts' stated by the referee, but maintained that one. of the English forwards had been repeatedly off.side. The. Central News agency say B it was evident the incident still rankled at dinner at' the Cafe Royal, when both teams were entertained by the English Rugby Union. Mr Dean declared that in the team’s opinion the referee made a mistake. Brownlie appeared to feel the position keenly and emphatically denied he was guilty of the conduct attributed to him. ONE AND ONLY TOPIC. , ENGLISH SKIPPER’S VERDICT —’’BROWNLIE GUILTY.” CLEAN, HARD,"FAST, ENJOYABLE GAME. LONDON, January 3. There was a tremendous traffic block at Twickenham despite' most elaborate precautions. The police diverted the traffic through ex-King Manoel’s and other neighbburing estates. Many motor cars failed to reached the ground. The All Blacks produced a new war cry: "We are about to slaughter our enemies.” A wag on the grandstand retorted with a Latin quotation: “Those about to die salute you." Pessimists Now Optimists

The visitors had a gruelilng encounter with what is admittedly the best team Britain ever sent into the field, No more remarkable demonstration has been seen at Twickenham than that on the (occasion of the first try. The crowd rose as one man with a crescendo of cheers and the confusion lasted five minutes, while hats and sticks were being recovered. The All Blacks have abandoned their intention to fly to Paris owing to the gale. Wakefield’s Weighty Pronouncement. Interviewed after the match Wakefield said: “We were beaten but hot disgraced. Another ten minutes’ might have told a different story. Anyway I would like to meet the All' Blacks again. Brownlie has only himself t«y blame; He was cautioned twice or thrice for swinging his arms and legs about, persistently playing the man instead of the ball, and the referee finally caught him tackling a main five yards from the ball. We wont stand i behaviour from any team. It is not football. It was clear the referee had put his finger on the source of the trouble because after Brownlie’s toward incident. The game was beautifully clean, hard, fast and enjoyable.”

Other English players expressed the opinion that the referee might have refrained from dismissal until a departure there was hot a single unother chance. One said: "It would have been unfortunate if we had won seeing that the All Blacks were playing a man short.” An Englishman who was beside Brownlie commented: later stage and given Brownlie an“Brownlie foolishly gave back chat. That settled It and the referee pointed to the pavilion.” Lost Opportunities.

Mr Dean was visibly affected and said it was a regrettable incident in the most important match. He declined to comment, apart from saying lie saw a little bit of temper in the opening stages on both sides. “England surprised us. They got off the mark, going great guns. The speed, accuracy in passing and strong kickin of their threequarters was rematlcable. ' Luckily for us, England did not make better uses of the chances in the first ten minutes.” Idol Meets His Match.

Nepia was again the idol of - the crowd. His line kicking was magnificent and he was always pushing in the thickest of the fray. After the i atcli he said: "Gee! It was the fastest game, I was ever in. That fellow Gibbs runs like a hare. I riould not catch him.”