Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Thursday 10 August 1922, page 8


I THE ALL BLACKS.

A HOLLOW VICTORY.

LAST MATCH OF TOUR.

For their defeat In the test match series the visiting New Zealand Rugby Union footballers had a full measure of revenge in the last fixture of the tour against a second New

South Wales fifteen at the Manly Oval yesterday

Playing the fast, open football which supporters of the game always associate with All Black teams, they registered a runaway

win of 56 points to 19

The New Zealanders fielded a strong combination, practically the best available Their opponents were mostly young players we were wearing the blue jersey for the first time, and lacked the experience effectively to repel the almost continuous Black attack Ten minutes after the kick-off how they were kept out for that length of time is something of a mystery- they opened their scoring, and thenceforward threw the ball about or took it on the ice in a manner which bewildered the home defence The nature of the game did not vary until towards the close when the visitors, fatigued from their scoring efforts, slackened up, and the Blues took a turn in the scoring The New Zealand forwards were keenness personified the New South Wales pack never moved together with the same compactness and were left in the shade by the lightning-like manner in which their rivals broke away from the scrum, and away from the heavy ruck work In fact, there was scarcely a passing movement by the Blacks In which at least several of the forwards figured, while in the greatest number of cases they were there to score The backs gave an immeasurably better display than in any of the preceding matches, and some of their flying, passing rushes were reminiscent of the "fireworks' which the New Zealanders of the old school were wont to provide That was in attack had they been called upon to exert any strenuous measures of defence their honours would have been probably a good deal! less, for their tackling w s for the most part indifferent Lindsay, the New South Wales hook, got the ball from the scrum fairly regularly, but the New South Wales three-quarter line managed to dissipate Its many chances It Jjad not the dash and workmanship of the star Blue back division, and its movements

were easily checked

There was little doubt that the final scores would have shown a greater disparity had Steel, the speedy Black winger, been given an occasional opportunity Regarded as one of the finest by getting three-quarters that the Dominion has produced, he has been literally starved of chances during the tour Mark Nicholls and Dickenson distinguished themselves by their tracks and elusive runs, but had a tendency to subordinate team play to Individual efforts Like the books, the forwards were wonderful opportunists, and quite a number of their tries were gained as the result of mistakes by their opponents The bulk of their try-getters went across unopposed and scored between the posts Mark Nicholls consequently had a field day of goal-kicking, no fewer than 20 points

coming from his boot

Although outclassed, the Blues stuck man-fully to their guns Louden, Douglas, Eyre and Lindsay were the pick of an honest, hard-working pack while Black, Mingay,, Cooney, and Dawson played well among the backs The game was witnessed by several thousand en-thusiasts who, in spite of the one-sided nature of the play, found much to interest them during

the afternoon

Till- PLAY

New South Wales bull back, G C Walker three quarters 1 J Burrowes, It C Cooney, 1 Dawson, 1 H Black, the eighth K Chambers halfback, V Mingay forwards, F Eyre, C I indray, A B Erby, T H Holdsworth W Douglas, A li Thom, G K M'lvav, D H Loudon (captain)

New Zealand sMall back, is Bell three quarters, J Steel W A Jon! G Dickenson five eights M Nicholls, B O Mathieson half back H F Nicholls; forwards, S Shearer U P Calcinai, 1! Masters J Richardson, b Cupples X White, L Peterson, wing forward, L A Bellis (captain)

The play had not long been in progress after the change of ends when some great footwork by Peterson gave Whyte a clear opening to score Dickenson's opportunity came when, after securing well Inside half way, he went ahead towards the open goal, and in a fine feinting run shook off the opposition, and scored for Nicholls to convert Two minutes later the Blacks were over again 1' Nicholls starting a forward rush, which culminated in Cvipples going across for a con-verted try Then Whyte got his second trip, after a. bear move, In which Bell and Bells were prominent

Nicholls goaled At this stage the visitors' run of accring received a severe setback Mlncav set his backs moving nicely and Black took a difficult high pass to score a splendid try in the corner Eyre failed from a difficult angle Chamber", who had been playing

well at full-back, gained considerable ground with a resolute run from his own goal line to past half way, and then passed to Eyre, who showed 4 great fund of speed to score Mlngnj filled at goal Then followed another brilliant three quarter rush by the Blues and Black was over in the comer again Thom who had been in the thick of everything, goaled with a great kick from a difficult angle Just on full time ford 'speculated' vigorously and followed on smartly to score a rather lucky try which Nicholls converted

After eight minutes of even exchanges the New South Wales forwards with Douglas and M'Kay in the van, came away with a fine dribbling rush in the lastmentioned dived for an excellent try Mingay failed to convert Burrowes and Cooney were conspicuous in several good but fruitless runs and then the Black half-back sold a neat "dummy" and made a fine opening for Bellis to score between the postMark Nicholls was successful with the kick The same player a few minutes later was applauded for a great dodgy run from 40 yards out which resulted in a try but he missed the goal Steel, from just inside halfway, kicked a great penalty goal, and the New Zealanders led 14 to 3 Peterson of star in the line outs and always on the ball was the next scorer and Meliolls added the major points with an easy kick Then Richardson (his seventh of the tour and Win the scored tries both of which Nicholls converted Richardson, who had played with characteristic virility and intelligence, retired with an Injured shall] der and Williams took his-, place The game took rather a dramatic turn when the Blue forwards, with Douglas conspicuous came through splendidly, and Cooney was on hand to score Mingay gold! The home team suffered a severe loss when Walker the sound and resourceful full back was forced to retire P Tindale of North Sydney, took his place Just before half time Mark Nicholls sent out a long pass to Ford on the wing, and another try was recorded Nicholls goaled At the interval! the scores were -New Zealand, 319 New South Wales, 8