NEW ZEALAND VARSITY TEAM’S FIRST MATCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 48, 19 May 1927, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND VARSITY TEAM’S FIRST MATCH

EASY WIN AGAINST MANLY FINE FOOTBALL DISPLAY By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright SYDNEY, Wednesday. The New Zealand University Rugby footballers to-day won the first match of their tour. They defeated Manly by 26 points to 11. The New Zealand team comprised Lindsay, Bradanovich, Freeman, Pacey, Ross, Love, Childs, Keegan, Smith, Alley, O’Regan, Forks, Linton and Morete. The weather was ideal and the ground was in good order. The first spell was evenly contested. A quarter of an hour after the kick-off the Blacks were penalised and Thorn was successful with the kick. Lindsay, at fullback, played surely, but made one bad miss early in the game and nearly let Manly through. Pacey and Bradanovich showed up with good runs, but the best player on the field was Love, who was always on the ball and played a great game. New Zealand scored twice in this half. Both scores were initiated by Morete (wing). On the first occasion he got away alone, but he was dragged down just across the line. O’Regan converted the next try. Hammill, Manly’s winger, got away, and when he was hauled down he ti'ansferred the ball to Thorn, who scored and converted. From the kick-off Morete marked, Linton followed up Morete’s kick very quickly, secured the ball and dashed oyer. O’Regan was again successful with the kick. The score at half-time was 10-8 in favour of New Zealand. Twenty minutes after the commencement of the second spell, Love secured the ball from a scrum and set his backs in motion. After the ball had passed through several hands Bradanovich found an opening, through which he scored. O’Regan added the major points. Two fine passing rushes by the Manly backs saw the Black line in danger, but it was relieved. Then Gibbons, the Manly halfback, dropped the ball inside his own half. It was kicked on to Linton, who dashed through and scored. O’Regan failed to convert. Give-and-take play followed. Manly pressed hard, but good play by Lindsay saved New Zealand. The forwards were working hard and all were doing their fair share. A free-kick almost in front of Manly’s goal enabled O’Regan to kick a goal. Love Was again prominent behind the scrum. Morete was penalised for the way he put the ball into a scrum and Thorn kicked an easy goal. Manly again got away. Freeman kicked the ball dead. New Zealand returned to the attack and from a forward rush Childs scored under the posts. O’Regan converted and the game ended: New Zealand 26 Manly 11 —A. and N.Z.