THE ALL BLACKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 302, 4 October 1935, Page 6

THE ALL BLACKS

GOOD WIN AT BRISTOL.

twenty-three points to THREE.

MANY SPECTACULAR MOVEMENTS.

CAUGHEY SCORES A FINE TRY,

(United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, October 3.

The Ail Blacks defeated Gloucester and Somerset at Bristol by twentythree points to three, after leading 15-0 at half-time. The All Black team was as follows: Fullback, Gilbert; three-quarters, Mitchell, Oliver, Hart ■ five-eighths, Caughey, Griffiths ; half-back, Sadler; forwards, Pepper, Lambourne, Hofe, Reid, Collins, King, Vorrath, Manchester. The weather was fine but the ground was wet and heavy. Twenty thousand people were present. The All Blacks handled well despite the slippery ball. Hore, after 10 minutes, scored from a scramble on the line. Griffiths failed to convert. New Zealand 3, Counties 0. The All Blacks continued attacking, but were kept out by the fine defence. The Counties with a great rush took the ball the length of the field', a dropped pass losing a try& Thereafter Mitchell made a fine swerving run and passed to Manchester who scored, Gilbert converting. New Zealand 8, Counties 0. Then Oliver, after a short run dropkicked a goal., INew Zealand 12, Counties 0. Hart’s fine pace resulted in a try which was not converted, and the spell ended: New Zealand ... ... 15 Counties ... ... 0

The Counties pressed at the opening of the second half, but strenuous tackling defeated the attacking backs. /Sadler, Griffiths, Caughey and Oliver burst through, and Mitchell, taking the final pass, dashed over unopposed. Gilbert with a wonderful kick from the side-line converted. New Zealand 20, Counties 0.

The All Blacks were now showing real form in many spectacular movements. Tlie Counties’ backs, however, gained ground and the ball went to the forwards, of whom "Watkins received and scored. Boughton failed to converts New Zealand 20, Counties 3.

Caughey then provided the prettiest incident in the match. He ran through the opposition and scored a try between the posts. Oliver’s kick failed. The game ended: New Zealand 23 Counties • •• 3

SCRUMMAGING A WEAK POINT.

SLOW-WORKING BENT BACKS. (Received This Day, 9.15 a.ra.) LONDON, October 3. “The Times” states that neither the 3-2-3 nor the 3-4-1 scrum formations contributed much to the victory of the Ail Blacks, whose scrummaging remained a weak point. Slow-working bent backs led to repeated failures. Howard Marshall, in the ‘ Daily Telegraph,” says that the visitors’ scrummaging was weak as ever. The forwards did not shove. He has never seen so many rounded backs. They reverted to the 3-4-1, and cheerfully allowed their opponents to get the ball. Possibly they have decided not to bother about scrumming, relying on fleetness anl alertness.

The “Daily Mail” states that the forwards did not get as much of the ball as the backs would have liked, but the backs’ sparkle and dash when they did get the ball was a great improvement on their lethargy at Swansea.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLAY.

HANDLING GENERALLY GOOD. (Received This Day, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, October 3. The special correspondent of the United Press Association, commenting on the match at Bristol, states that showery conditions, which followed four days’ rain, favoured the home team, in which Hurrell replaced Payne. The team included four internationals —< Roughton, Gerrard, Morris and Carpenter. At the outset Caughey and Griffiths were prominent, gaining ground in straight, runs, but mistakes occurred owing to the wet ball. The spectators hooted the referee for awarding Here a try after an apparent knock-on.

Both teams were playing fast, open football, especially the home team men, Sheppard, Morris and Gerrard, who made outstanding runs. Once Gloucester and Somerset players handled in a movement gaining 70 yards. The New Zealanders were attacking at every opportunity, and had decidedly improved on their display at Swansea.

Gloucester were taking scrums instead of line-outs. Toward the end of the first spell Boughton missed an easy penalty. Thereafter Sheppard, Edwards and Morris penetrated the All Blacks’ defence, but a pass was dropped at the last moment. Just prior to halftime New Zealand! held the upper hand, bad luck costing them three tries, Caughey and Mitchell hestating owing to.the condition of the ball. The All Blacks’ handling generally was good. Griffiths had the surest hands, but Caughey made occasional lapses. The defence all round, however, had greatly improved, and the home backs were not afforded room in which to move.

Gilbert’s fielding of long kicks was far safer than it was at Swansea,

Here- pluckily dived into the Centre of the rucks when the Counties _ were advancing with the ball at their toe. King was one of the hardest workers. The spectators generously applauded Oaughey’s scoring run right through his opponents. The All Blacks were not weak in the line-outs, and the backs were all taking part in attacking movements. The score would have been far higher had it been a dry day. Sadler was sound and sure, gave splendid passes, and was well protected by forwards.