ALL BLACKS VICTORIOUS.

Shannon News, 16 June 1925, Page 4

ALL BLACKS VICTORIOUS.

DEFEAT N.S.W. 26 TO 3. SYDNEY, June 14. Fifteen thousand witnessed tha firsl test between the All Blacks and New South Wales. The weather was dull and threatening, and the ground on the soft side as a result of tha recent rains. Bryant replaced Ford in the NeW South Wales team. The New Zealanders played as cabled. In the first half, New South Wales had th'.i advantage of the wind, and made food use of it, but all efforts to kick goals failed. Play was mostly in the All Blacks' territory during the fin.t half, but they managed to keep the home team out. The All Blacks proved a fast and nippy let of players, who, with practice, wiil improve considerably. Their combination was good, but their passing rushes were apt to break down en account of over keenness. New S mth Wales was much superior in this respect. The handling of the ball by both sides vas not of the best, but there were some notable exceptions. . The game Avas a splendid exhibition of wing play. Elvy was easily the best buck on the ground, with Blake and Wise prominent. New i South V/alcs, however, were heaviey in the scrum, and obtained the ball more than C'A their opponents, and were usually superior in the line-outs. The line kicking was also a feature of the plr.y. Ross, New South Wales' full-back, played an excellent game, his long line kijks, especially in the second half, frequently saving his side from trouble. The half time score of 3 all gives a fiiii- indication of the merits of the teams, but in the latter part of the second half, New South went to pieces, and the New ZealanderS had things their own way. ■ New South Wales commenced to attack from the outset. Bowers took the ball down the line, but Righton marked and relieved the pressure. The attack was, however, maintained. Harris marked on the line and then play shifted back to halfway, but a long line kick by Ross again brought the New Zealanders into danger. Mason smartly intercepted a pass, and a certain score by the Blue backs was a knockon.

The All Blacks were several times penalised in ther own territory but New South Wales like the New Zealanders, lacked good goal kickers, all attempts going wide. Bowers retired after 20 minutes and was replaced by Mulligan. > Greatorex, knocked on near the All Blacks' line and from the resulting scrum, the same player pushed his way over, but Crossman failed to convert. A few minutes later Wright started the backs going and in «. scramble in a corer, Kirkpatrick crossed, but Dickson's kick fell short. The All Blacks continued to ittack, and Johnson was forced out close to the New South Wales line. Faulty handling by the Black backs raised the hopes of the New South Wales' supporters, but' the forwards retrieved the position. Greatorex, who was the most prominent among the New South Wales forwards, commenced a likely movement, but his pass was intercepted and danger averted. The Blues continued to attack in the second half, but a Black passing movement saw Wise pulled down at the New Sduth Wales ' twenty-five, after which, except for sporadic rushes, the game remained in the Blues' half. A New Zealand forward rush took the ball to the line, wliere a scrum from a knock-on favoured New South Wales, the ball being sent into touch.

Off-side play by the All Blacks spoiled a promising piece of play. The ball went to Crossman, who made a speedy run past halfway, and Wise, in diving to collar him, succeeded, but was temporarily laid out. A brilliant back passing rush from a line out resulted in Elvy getting over at the corner. Harris' kick failed. Elvy again made a great dash down the line, but was pushed out, Wright, behind the scrum, was responsible for much good work. He was setting back moving well. From a piece of off-side play by Greatorex, Dickson had a kick at goal. The ball hit the post and bounced over the line.

Kicking by Ross enabled the Blues to invade New Zealand's half, but the All Blacks were equal to the occasion, and play went back to the Blues' line, where Humphrey picked the ball out of the scrum. Harris' kick tell just outside the post. Wise., from half way, made a good run down the line, but Rainbow intercepted his pass and kicked the ball which came into Elvy's hands. He again distinguished himself by a great run, crossing at the corner. Johnson's kick failed.

The New South Wales backs were unable to profit by the forwards' efforts, and in the last ten minutes the whole side seemed to lose heart, New Zealand being allowed to score thrice in succession. First, Wise made a dash down the line and then passed to Lomax, who crossed. Some clever work by Blake saw Righton over and Wise was again prominent in taking the ball in front of the posts, cutting in and scoring l . Dickson converted the latter's try. The other kicks failed.

Just on time, Wise again got over at the corner. Johnson's kick was unsuccessful, and the game ended:Now "Zealand 26 New South Wales 3