BRITAIN FAILS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 188, 11 August 1930, Page 13

BRITAIN FAILS.

BIG SCORE RUN UP.

TWENTY-TWO TO EIGHT

PLAY FAST AND BRIGHT.

(By aeiegrapli.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Saturday.

Before a crowd of over 40,000 people New Zc.rand had a decisive victory in the fourth and last Rugby Test against Britain this afternoon, the scores being 22 points to 8. The game was an exhilarating one from start to finish, with the New Zealand team attacking for two-thirds of the time. It was remarkable for the number of times the homo forwards secured the ball, thus allowing Corner to set his backs going frequently. With the exception of brief spells in the first half and the opening 10 minutes of the second half, the British forwards were defending, although it was not until fairly late in the game that the New Zealanders could be said to have the game well in hand. Porter scored twice for New Zealand, Cook twice, and Batty and Strang once each. Strang converted two tries. For Britain Novis scored a magnificent try after cutting in and leaving the defence completely beaten. Parker kicked a penalty goal and Black converted the try by Novis. There Avas no doubt as to which was the better team on the day. The teams were:— BRITAIN. Full-back.— J. A. Bassett (Wales). Three-quarters.—A. L. Novis (England), D. Aarvold (England), H. M. Bowcott (Wales), J. S. Reeve (England). Fly Half.—R. S. Spong (England). Scrum Half.—P. F. Hurray (Ireland). Forwards'—H. Rew (England), D. Parker (Wales), H. O'H. O'Neill (Ireland), B. H. Black (England), J. L.-Far-rell (Ireland), Ivor Jones (Wales), G. R. Beamish (Ireland), W. B. Welsh (Scotland). NEW ZEALAND. Full-back. —G. Nepia (East Coast). Three-quarters.—F. W. Lucas (Auckland), A. E. Cooke (Wellington), G. Hart (Canterbury).

Five-eighths.—H. Lilburne (Canterbury), W. A. Strang (South Canterbury). Half-back. —M. Corner (Auckland). Wing-forward.—C. G. Porter (Wellington). • Forwards.—A. I. Cottrell . (Canterr bury), J. Hore (Otago), E. K. G. Steere (Hawke's Bay), K. G. McWilliams (Auckland), W. Hazlett, (Southland) W. Batty (Auckland), H. F. McLean (Wellington). Mr. F. E. Sutherland, of Auckland, was referee. Britain On Attack. Britain won the toss and there was a thrill from the start when Porter kicked off and caught the ball on the rebound from one of the British forwards, whoso comrades, however, packed round and a line-out was formed on the halfway line. Britain hooked the ball, and after Murray, Spong, Bowcott and Aarvold had handled it, Keeve .found the line in New Zealand's twenty-five, whera both forwards and backs combined in "= returning play to half-way, Lilburne and McWilliams being prominent. From the firsfc set scrum Britain hooked the ball neatly, and when Spong received it from Murray he got in one of his characteristic runs, but was held up, and McLean and Cottrell were to the fore v in heading a dribbling rush that took play back to half-way. McLean and McWilliams gofc the ball from the line-out, but a penalty for offside play let Britain clear, Nepia allowing the ball to go over the line, 'thus giving his side a drop off from the twenty-live. Farrell got offside when the forwards were scrummaging in neutral territory, and Nepia found the line. level Pegging. From the scrum Corner sold the "dummy" and, although he was smothered by the British forwards,, he managed to send the ball on to McWilliams, who forged ahead for a few yards and passed to Porter. The latter hurled himself across the line. Nepia took the kick, but missed. Within three minutes Britain had equalised. Murray and Spong combined well in an exchange of passes until Cooke intercepted. Following a scrum New Zealand was penalised, and Parker kicked a splendid goal from five yards inside the half-way line. When Murray got.' offside Nepia found the line well down, and from a scrum Corner was given the ball. It was passed out along the line to Cooke, who clapped on the pace and passed to Hart, but the ■, latter was pushed out by Reeve. Again getting the ball Corner worked the blind side and passed to Hart and McWilliams. There was a forward struggle only a few yards away from the British line until an infringement allowed Britain to clear. N.Z. In Front Halfway. A passing bout by the New Zealand backs looked dangerous, but it broke down and Aarvold forced. A rush: by the British forwards gained 50 yards before Nepia stopped it. From a scrum in New Zealand's twenty-five Murray sent the ball out along the line to Novis, but tie latter's paes in was well intercepted by Nepia, wiho brought off a great save. Spong was again prominent in evading Strang and Corner, but Porter headed a counter rush. Cooke was clean away with Hart in support when he was called back for an infringement. Ivor Jones "broke away supported by several forwards, but Porter and Lucas stopped the movement. Corner at length set his backs going. Lilburne cut in.and sent a. paes back to Strang, who went over the line for a great try. He failed to convert. Corner worked the blind side of t'he scrum to advantage on several occasions, and New Zealand ■steadily gained ground until, in a scrum not far from Britain's line, McLean was penalised. For the remainder of the spell Britain waa defending and halftime came with tie scores . ..[-.. New Zealand • 6 . . Britain ••>-•>• 3 Series of Exciting Scores. Murray put the ball in action in'the second half and the British, forwards, following up quickly, gained a good deal of ground until Corner took a neat mark and found the line. Britain secured from a scrum and the ball went out along the line to Keeve, who was held up, and Aarvold, who was in support, was. smothered by Cooke. Murray went through the pack in a solo effort, but lost possession. A hot British, attack

ended when Murray 'Was penalised and Nepia found the line well up. " Lilburne, Cooke and Lucas were associated _in a passing rueh, which ended well in British 'territory. A serum, was formed and the iball again came along the line to Cooke, who sent out a long pass to Hart, cutting put Lilburne. Hart was collared, but in the scrummaging that followed tlie ball was kicked over Britain's line and Cooke showed a great turn of &peed, to win the race for posseseion and score well out amid wild enthusiasm. Strang's kick faited.

The game went with even greater pace after the kicjk off. From a line-out after a great kick by Bassett, a British forward kicked high and Nepia was tackled by Hew, wno had 'followed up quickly. Both Nepia and Rew were hurt and the game was stopped for some minutes. From a scrum the ball was sent along the line to Novis, who Mad come in to centre, Aarvold having taken the wing position. Novis cut in beautifully and left the defence completely beaten. He ran 46 yards for a splendid try and scored between the posts. Black converted.

) Three minutes later New Zealand scored. again. From a-line-out. Corner secured the ball and sent out a beautiful, pass to Lucas just ae the British forwards were 'breaking through. Lucas performed a feat similar to that ! by Nieholls in the third Test, and cross kicked. Unfortunately for Britain Bassett fumbled the ball and before the backs in support could retrieve the mistake Cooke had come up, kicked across the line, followed up and scored. Strang converted. New Zealand Dominates Play. Play was held up for a few minutes when Spong hurt his thumb. The next excitement was when Corner brought off a wonderful save after Beamish, Rew, Farrcll and Welsh had broken through to New Zealand's twenty-five. Spong was hurt again and took some time to recover from the effects of a kick on the thigh. Murray evaded Porter and Corner in" coming round a scrum, and punted over Nepia's head. Lucas took the ball on the bounce but was smothered in goal as he forced. The British forwards were playing much better a± this stage. Aaryold was fiven the ball on the blind side and cross-kicked, but New Zealand just managed to force,in time. Strang, Lilburne, Cooke and Lucas were seen in a bright passing bout until. Lucas was pushed out. From the line-out Cooke had a shot at goal but missed. Porter scored a wonderful try when he secured the tall about ten yards out, dodged through to the line and threw himself over with two defenders hanging on him. Strang converted. Britain won applause when Ivor Jones secured the ball from the scrum and Spong, Reeve and Novis set off at top speed with the ball. In a' flash they took play to the New Zealand line, where a heap of New Zealand and British players went over the line together. A scrum was ordered, and. Porter and Corner cleared to the twenty-five. Seven minutes before time was called Lucas hurt his knee, and although he carried on he was limping badly. He changed places with Hart, but was. immediately faced with the task of bringing down Reeve after the British three-quarter line had handled the ball.

A trick kick from a penalty after Porter had got off-side failed to produce results, Porter smothering the 'movement at its start. Comer and Cooke followed up a short punt and caught Bassett in possession. A line-out was formed and McWilliams,. Batty and Lucas, and again Batty, handled the ball in quick succession, Batty going over for a try, which Strang did not convert. New Zealand 22 Britain 8 A series of line-outs saw New Zealand gain ground. McLean went over the line with British players on top of him. A scrum was ordered, and time ,was called with New Zealand still ham-: inering on the line. The crowd stormed the field when the players were walking off, and several of them ,were "chaired." There was wild cheering long after the teams had reached their dressing rooms, and the scene was one of the most enthusiastic ever witnessed at Athletic Park. Guided by wireless megaphones, the crowd was dispersed elowly, but in an orderly way, and for more than an hour afterwards, was streaming, down various roads leading from the park.