FIRST MATCH WON

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 286, 16 September 1935, Page 6

FIRST MATCH WON

ALL BLACKS’ GOOD START

SCORE THIRTY-FIVE TO SIX.

SPEEDY, ACCURATE PASSING

United Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, September 14.

In the opening match of the All Blacks’ tour, at Devon port, New Zealand beat Devon and Cornwall by 35 points to 6. A heavy shower before the game did not affect the playing field. The Rectory ground was packed and many people were unable to gain admittance. The New Zealanders did not give a haka, though the spectators asked for one. The players were introduced to Lord Rledisloe before the game. Several of them had heavy colds.

The. All Black team was Full-back: Gilbert. Three-quarters: Hart, Oliver, Ball Five-eighths: Caughey, Page. Half: Corner.

Forwards: McLean, Manchester, King, Reid, Mahoney, Ho,re, Hadley, Lambourn.

Devon was the first scrum. New Zealand was packing a three - four scrum, with McLean loose. Devou pressed at the outset, but New Zealand was first to score, Gilbert kicking a penalty goal from the half-way line, Gilbert scored again ten minutes later, with neat field goal. The New Zealanders were on their toes, but fox a period their handling was faulty,’ After a battle on the New’ Zealand line Matthews scored for Devon. ' Toward the end of the first half the New Zealand backs combined in a movement which resulted in a magnificent try by Hart. Caughey, in his new position, appeared to be thoroughly at home. Gilbert made no mistaken and saved his side several times.

The half-time score was, New Zealand 18, Devon and Cornwall 6. New Zealand then had the measure of its opponents, and seemed set for a big score. In the forwards New Zealand had no great advantage in weight. Devon won the ball mostly. In the first half McLean put the ball in the scram fen - New Zealand, and stood as extra five-eighth when Devon put the ball in. It was raining when play was resumed after half-time. The New Zealand forwards’ baeking-up nonplussed their opponents. In spite of the wet hall the New Zealanders had no dittn culty in handling. They took every opportunity of opening up play. A^ e scrum formation was changed in the second spell, and Corner put the ball in the scrum and McLean packed in. The New Zealand backs, whose passing was speedy and accurate, were always dangerous. They were too fast for their opponents. New Zealand showed marked superiority and domm,ated the play, except for the first ten minutes. The Devon backs were often caught in possession. The forwards fought hard. v Gilbert, Corner, Caughey, Ohve , McLean, Manchester, Reid, and King were outstanding. Oliver often cut in and heat two or three opponents. M - Lean handled finely and made many pood runs. „ , ~ For New Zealand King, Hart, Manchester/ Caughey Ball )+ and Reic scored tries. Gilbert potted a 0 » kicked three penalties, and converted two tries, accounting for 17 P« ints ° the New Zealand total. His handling was extremely accurate, and Ins line kicking excellent. Bone, the Devon half-back, ieceived a kick on the head lieai finish, and was earned oil on a stretcher. Mr V. R. Meredith (manager) was satisfied with the team’s showing. He believes the team will mould into a good combination. The critics express varying opinions. Some think the team will go through undefeated. They ' pressed with the handling of the back and the backing up of the forwards and the team work. Gilbert, they declare, is a magnificent full-hack.

SCRUM FORMATION CRITICISED.

THE ROVER NOT FAVOURED. (Received This Day, 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, September 15. Paying a tribute to the New Zealanders’ sportsmanship and anxiety to abide by the spirit of the game, Mr Howard Marshall, writing m the “Daily Telegraph,” says that. nevertheless he considers the experiment o packing the three-four scrum failed legally and technically and should be abandoned. Firstly, because the All Blacks do not appear to possess seven forwards sufficiently heavy for a scrummage against eight hard workers, as indicated by McLean packing in second half, although it might be different when the side was fit. beconclly McLean was certainly unintentionally offside. As he did not attempt to. get on-side when the forwaids heeled, he should have been penalised. Thirdly, although he stood unusually far from the scrummage, and although he did not deliberately obstruct . the Counties’ scrum-half, it is difficult to see how the lover, putting the ball in, can avoid passive obstruction. The “News-Chronicle” expresses the opinion that McLean occasionally bordered on obstruction.

INCiDENTS IN THE GAME.

GILBERT’S MAGNIFICENT PLAY. (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 15. Gilbert’s opening penalty goal was rather against the run of play. The visitors first- bout of passing, in which Oliver and Hart were dashing, encountered stiff defence, similai ly With Caughey’s lone attempt to drop kick a goal. Devon’s tackling was rig-

orous, but Gilbert recourcefully dropped a neat second goal on a pick-up from Cone.

McLean and Gilbert paved the way for King’s try, Gilbert converting. Caughey brilliantly made an opening for Oliver to send Hart over. Next Manchester crashed through. After the interval Gilbert kicked another penalty, and then, two minutes later, another magnificent angle kick from almost half-way. * The Counties broke the orgy with passing bouts, poorly finished, which crumpled against the defence. As the result of quick heeling at the corner, Page enabled Caughey to squirm through for a try. Then a forward pass prevented Oliver ilanding off the finest bout of passing. Ball survived two tackles, and got through. Jennings missed a penalty shot. Then the All Blacks, after a glorious combined movement, sent Oliver away with six unmarked men on the left, but Mahoney unluckily knocked on Oliver’s pass. In the last minute Reid scored a splendid opportunist try, Gilbert converting. Caughey was outstanding with liis raking stride and baffling swerve. Oliver was solid at centre. Hart, on the left wing, created many attacks. Ball ran beautifully. Page was hailed as a great connecting five-eighths. Gilbert was magnificent in fielding and kicking, and some express the opinion that he is a worthy successor to Nepia.

NEWSPAPER COMMENT.

THE FORWARDS CRITICISED

LONDON, Sept. 15

All the critics of the Sunday newspapers declare that Devon speedily found a hole in the All Blacks’ defence. They say the backs were the best department. The general comment is that the visiting pack invariably yielded yards in the scrums, and did not greatly predominate in the lineouts.

One says the loose forward tactics will worry English sides, and all agree on the versatility and opportunism shown by the New Zealanders. They say the brilliance of the passing movements appeals to the crowds, and they lavishly praise Gilbert’s kicking, and the dash of Caughey, and the resource of Corner, who are bound to worry the opposing sides.

HADLEY COLLAPSES IN PLYMOUTH.

RESULT OF KICK ON HEAD.

LONDON, Sept. 15,

A doctor was called to examine Hadley after the game. He was kicked on the head and collapsed on reaching Plymouth. His face was partially paralysed, and it is feared than he is suffering from concussion.

CHEEKBONE TREBLY FRACTURED MAY NOT PLAY FOR MONTH. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.in.) LONDON, Sept. 15. An X-ray examination of Hadley’s head disclosed a treble fracture of the cheek-bone. He will remain in Plymouth Hospital for a week, and will probably not play for a month.

FHE ALL BLACKS IN BRITAIN.

The official itinerary of the New Zealand Rugby team’s tour of the Home counties is as follows:

September 19—y. Midland Counties, at Coventry. September 21 —v. Yorkshire and Cumberland, in Yorkshire. September 25— v. Abertillery and Cross Keys, at Abertillery. September 28- —y. Swansea, at Swansea. October 3—v. Gloucestershire and Somerset, at Bristol. October s—v. Lancashire and Cheshire, at Birkenhead. October 9—v. Northumberland and Durham, at Gosforth. October 12—v. South of Scotland, at Hawick. October 16—v. Glasgow and Edinburgh, at Glasgow. October 19—v. Combined Services, at Aldershot. October 22—v. Llanelly, at Llanelly. October 26—v. Cardiff, at Cardiff. October 31—v. Newport, at Newport. November 2—v. London Counties, at Twickenham. November 7—v. Oxford University, at Oxford. November 9—v. Hampshire and Sussex, in Hampshire. November 14—v. Cambridge University, at Cambridge. November 16—v. Leicestershire and East Midlands, at Leicester. November 2—v. Scotland, at Edinburgh. November 27—v. North of Scotland, at Aberdeen. November 30—y. Ulster, at Belfast. December 7—v. Ireland, at Dublin. December 12—v. Mid District, at Aberdare. December 14—y. Neath and Aberavon, at Aberavon. December 21—v. Wales, at Cardiff. December 26—v. London Counties, at Twickenham. January 4—-v. England, at Twick- . enham.