Wanganui, the Australians’ next opponents, had usually combined with other unions against overseas teams but on the occasions when they had not done so they had given a good account of themselves. The visitors therefore took no chances and put most of the team chosen for the first test onto the field.

The ground was in good order, but there was a strong wind and recent rain had made the surface greasy in places.

The home team had no All Blacks among its complement but one nationally known player was Alex Takarangi, who could well have represented New Zealand. This brilliant Maori footballer had made his name as a fullback and three-quarter between 1896 and 1909, but with increasing weight he moved into the forwards, where he continued to show excellent form. He played 100 first-class matches, including 34 for New Zealand Maoris, later rendering fine service as a Maori selector. Takarangi, who was awarded the MBE, died in 1960 at the age of 84.

Australia won the toss and played with the advantage of the wind in the first half. They did not make the best use of the elements and there was no score at halftime.

Wanganui attacked early in the second half, and from a forward rush Caldwell dived over. Australia hit back when McMahon completed a passing movement by touching down by the posts but made a poor attempt at the conversion.

The locals took the lead again with Atkins turning the ball back to his forwards and R.Leahy surging over. He failed to convert his own try. Flynn equalized when he kicked a goal from a mark, but late in the game Takarangi scored from a scrum 10 yards from the Australian line and Faber converted to give the locals an 11-6 lead at fulltime. Wanganui deserved to win, being superior in all aspects of the game, and things did not look good for the visitors in the first test.