RUGBY TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 172, 23 July 1928, Page 13

RUGBY TEST.

ALL BLACKS WIN.

Victory By A Point In Duel Of Goal-Kicking.

GREAT FORWARD CONTEST

(,\ iii': i " ami N.Z. l'ress Association.)

KUI.WNKSIJIK'

, .lulv 22

'1 lie mimoii-n Fllis J'ark was crammed fll capacity yesterday by a crowd of 41 /.HO" v lien I lie All Blacks beat South Africa, by a penalty goal and a dropped to a goal from a mark and a penalty goal, after a desperate battle in which New Zealand had the better of the game. Everything favoured the

player-, a- I lie ground was in excellent f >M«liI i->u and the day was perfect for Bug by. The "New Zealanders deserved their win. a- tliev were unquestionably the beiier side oil J.lie day. The teams were: — ALL BLACKS. Full back: Lindsay. Three-quarters: (Jreiiside, Carleloli, Bnbilliard. l'i\e-ei'_rhlhs: Strang, -Johnson. Half-back : Dallev. ' Forwards: Stewart (rover). Swain, Jfadley, AT. Brownlie, Alley, Finlavsou, Jfazlett, Ale-Williams. SPRINGBOKS. Full-back: Tindall. Three-quarter*: Tod, Van Der AY estliui/.eii, Dobie, Brand. Half-backs: Benuie Osier, Devine. forwards: Mostert. Kruger, Van Dniien, Daueel, Van Wyk, l'retorius, Nel, I'otgict er. First Blood to Springboks. Brownlie won the toss and Bciinie Oslor kicked off for the Springboks, who were playing with a strong sun in their eyes. From a scrum one of Oiler's ' deadly line-kicks put the Springboks on attack. There was a series of determined scrums in the corner, in which the All Blacks showed vast improvement. One of the backs attempted to clear the line with a kick into touch, but Brand took the ball and in ado a dangerous dash for the corner where he was pushed out on the flag. A penalty against Devine for picking out of the scrum allowed Lindsay to find touch past the twenty-five line.

The Springbok backs then started a beautiful passing movement from a scrum, at the end of which Brand centred accurately, but Van Der Westhuizen knocked the ball 011 when he was under tho posts.

South Africa heeled the ball from the following scrum, but tho backs lost control and Hazlett, rushing through, cleared with a good kick.

There was ofninous hooting among f the crowd when Tod was laid out tern- ■ porarily, but details of the incident i could not be seen from the Press stand. , Fierce battling among the forwards j followed ill midlield. The Springboks' ; first points came a minute later, when j Mostert took a mark near half-way and , dropped a great goal. Springboks -*5 1 _ AH Blacks 0 All Blacks Get Even. The New Zealand backs started a con- ' certed movement, but Strang dropped tiis pass, Curleton clearing .just in time. A penalty for lifting in the scrum was awarded tho Springboks in the centre 1 of tho ground, and New Zealand had a narrow escape,, as Brand got in a splendid drop-kick which, luckily for the All Blacks, hit one of the posts. Tho All Blacks cleared their quarters, and from this onwards started to show I heir quality.! The forwards at last were holding the Springboks in the scrumJ. The South African backs, however, were also on their game. Breaking clean through tho New Zealand three-quarter lino Van Der Westhuizen made a brilliant run, until he was solidly grassed by Lindsay. The backs made things merry with two more runs. In a third rush, Strang let them through with a weak attempt at tackling, and only Lindsay's safe collaring saved a dangerous position. There was a spell of terrific forward battling, until from a scrum Dalley sent his backs away in a sparkling movement which went to South Africa's twenty-five. Open but dangerous passing bv New Zealand let the Springbok forwards clear. Back went the All Black forwards, and tliev stormed the Springbok lino for a * time, but the, defence was always sound, and eventually a. kick by Van Druten made ground for tlieni. There was a spell of hard, but ragged play, which resulted in the Springboks being penalised for lifting in the scrum. Lindsay landed a gieat goal from the side line, twenty-live yards out, and equalised the scores. Springboks jj All Blacks •> Game Pulled Out of Fire. Half-time came with play near nudfiold. Tho opening of the second spell was characterised by three good line kicks by Osier, which put the Springboks in handy position. Devine sent his backs away in a good movement and Brand kicked well down the line. In attempting to clear Lindsay kicked the ball into the arms of Van Druten, who hud ample time to take a pot at goal, but failed with tho kick, which fell .short. Tho New Zealand ' forwards then stiirted to play up to something like All Black standard, and the backs got moving in better style. First Strang, then Dalley cut clean through the defence, but tho passes went astray on both occasions. Sltowly the fep"»gbok I forwards worked down field. ® I Zealand forward was penalised tor Iving on the ball at the twenty-five yards line, and Osier kicked a goal. Springboks All Blacks In a fierce forward battle that raged ..n the New Zealand line a minute i.iler Uadlev'a shoulder was badly in- , ~-cd. but he kept on after receiving I,Mention. A fine combined movement U the New Zealand forwards, and a • plendid kick by Johnson put the Spri „ l!,u. i„ a desperate pos.Uon, but when i lie New Zealand backs got » .>.*«• m»iit it «" Th, the irk, Which allowed Brand to duve the Lull out at half-way.

1 oi taking the ball out of a scrum l)e\ ino was penalised, and Lindsay made a fine attempt, fit; goal, only just missing. Nt-w Zealand was having all the better of the play at this stage, the forwards packing with better effect. Several runs by the New Zealand backs looked dangerous, but the defence held good. Whipping the hall away from a sci ii 111 Da!ley started the backs going again. When Strang got possession lie. took a quick snap for the goal, the ball sailing fairly between the posts. All Blacks 7 Springboks 0 I his reverse put the Springboks on their mettle, and they started an effort to pull the game out of the tire. Abandoning their tight scrum theory they began to open up the game, the backs throwing the turil about in All Black style. Tod, in spite, of an injured ankle, made a. great dash down tha line, and short-punted over Lindsay's head, hut (_arleton came across and secured the ball. The effort petered out, and the Springboks were obviously now a beaten side. Their backs lost th<?ir fire and were merely running across "amine iki irrounu. The final whistle sounded with New still firm on the attack, the scores being: — All Blacks 7 Springboks C, i