ALL BLACKS WIN EASILY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 268, 25 August 1949, Page 5

ALL BLACKS WIN EASILY

SUPERIOR IN ALL PHASES V. Northern Districts Outclassed (From Claude King— N.Z.P.A. Represents tive with the All Blacks) (Rec. 9.10) ALIWAL NORTH, Aug. 21 The AH Blacks had their easiest match and their easiest win of the tour when they beat Northern Districts by 28 points to 3 at Aiiwal North to-day.

This small town, which is about the size of Levin, recently celebrated its centenary, and to-day’s match almost rivalled euch a historic occasion in interest. People poured in from the surrounding districts and, as elsewhere in South Africa, streets adjacent to the ground Were lined with attractive new cars. j

It- was the first occasion on which an All Black side had played at Aiiwal North, and a crowd of 5000 w-as present.

The cold spell of the previous day had cleared, and the weather was fine and hot and the ground hard and fast. The All Blacks dominated the scrums and line-outs, anti when halftime came with the score 17-0 in favour of- the tourists, major interest seemed to centre in how many points they would run up. They threw the ball about at every opportunity, but in the second spell the home side adopted a policy of sitting right up on tne All Blacks’ backs. This was the only disappointing aspect of an otherwise bright game, as tliese spoiling tactics led to a lot of penalties, and also compelled the All Blacks to resort to kicking. , Scrum-Half Experiment The most interesting feature or tne game from the All Blacks’ viewpoint was Black’s showing behind the scrum. With Catley winning the acrums 30 to seven, and Crowley excelling in the line-oute, in which the All Blacks won the ball cleanly on *2O occasions to five, Black had a feast of the ball. Early his passes, which always had * fine length, were inclined to be erratic, but he then settled down to give pleasingservice till near the end of the match, when his passing fell away. Still, it was an impressive performance. He appears to have a much quicker delivery than Savage or Conrad, and it eeems a pity the experiment of trying him behind the scrum was not given a trial sooner. . The whole, backliue moved freely. Three tries were scored in the first spell and two in the second. Jack Goddard converted two and kicked two penalty goals, and Kearney kicked o field goal. North Eastern’s points came from a penalty goal. Allen received a leg injury in the second spell and dropped to full-back for a short period. However, he finished the game full of his usual dash, and appeared to have suffered no ill effects from the injury. How the Points Came The scoring opened when Kearney took a long crisp pass from Black and potted a field goal from 30 yards out. The All Blacks continued to have the upper hand, but the crowd became wildly-excited when Van Rooyen secured about half-way, cleverly changed direction and caught the New Zealanders on the wrong foot. He appeared nearly through the defence, but lacked support, and a penalty enabled the All Blacks to clear. This was the only occasion when the home side looked dangerous. After 15 minutes the All Blacks won a line-out, and the ball s-wept to Allen, who sent up a high kick. Morrie Goddard raced up on the full-back, who fumbled, and Goddard secured and sent to Henderson, w T ho scored. Jack' Goddard was unable to convert from wide cut. •

The All Blacks were awarded a penalty and Jack Goddard kicked a fine goal from 35 yards out. Kearney shot through a gap and sent to Allen to Goddard, who went over • unopposed. Jack Goddard’s kick just missed.

Crowley, who wao revelling in the line-outs, brought the All Blacks’ score to 17 when he broke through to score an easy try which Jack Goddard was unable to convert from well out. In the second spell the All Blacks ran into a series of penalties in scrums and line-outs, and from one of these Grevenstein kicked a goal. Botting beat his opposite and sent a high pass infield. Allen took it and ran 30 yards to score a spectacular try under the posts. Jack Goddard converted. Then the ball went right along the' backs for Henderson to score his second try. Goddard’s kick from the sideline just missed. The home side was penalised for offside play, and Jack Goddard kicked a good goal from 35 yards out to make the final score: All Blacks .. .. .. 2S Northern Eastern Districts .. 3 Good Tries Scored Morrie Goddard made two good breaks, but did not seek to pull off any spectacular breaks through, and was mainly content to feed his wings. Henderson, as a scored two ‘nice tries, and Botting was unlucky not to score twice, being pushed ouc at the corner flag.

Kearney gave a sound display. He made two sparkling breaks in the first spell, one leading to a try by Morrie Goddard, and another in the second spell, when Botting was pushed out at the corner, but in this spell he came under the close attention, as did Black, of the opposing loose forwards, who wore often caught offside and penalised. Crowley was the outstanding forward on "the field. He dominated the line-outs, taking the ball almost at will, and scored a well-deserved try when he broke through a line-out to cross the opposing line unopposed. He appears to be playing himself into the test side, and may replace Grant, who has lost form. . Dalton confirmed the good impression he created in the last match with another fine display, and is another who is running himself into the test side. To do so he would have, to replace either Simpson or Skinner, whose form does not warrant eithei being dropped, and it is possible that

Skinner, who is one of the most dashing forwards in the side, may be given a trial in the back of the scrum. Simpson and Willocks did some grand work in the tight as well as line-outs. The All Blacks’ lino-out. play is always more effective when Willocks is pn the field. The onlv change in'the teams • was that Van Pletze replaced Labuschagne on the wing.