HOW TEST WAS WON.

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

HOW TEST WAS WON.

NEW ZEALAND FORWARDS.

ALWAYS IN ASCEJpANCY. PORTER AND CORNER PROMINENT. (By Telegraph.—Special Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. Raked fore and aft by a team that played with grit and determination from end to end, the British tourists were completely overwhelmed in the fourth and final Test this afternoon. It was a full tilt for the full eighty minutes, with the New Zealand forwards always confident and masters of the situation. The pace and mobility of the New Zealand forwards, were astounding, and too much for the British, whose defence eventually crumpled under the Sustained and relentless pressure. . The grim determination of the New Zealand forwards was striking, but it was characteristic of the whole team. New Zealand would be served. It was a perfect day for Kugby. The ground was in splendid order; there was no sun; and there Was just the slightest of breezes from the soutll. Athletic Park was a memorable sight. Every available corner was crammed, and in the excitement of the game the huge crowd swayed backwards and forwards. It was impressive to hear this huge mass sing the National Anthem and then burst into a deafening crescendo of cheers as the teams walked on the field. Li the game there were many highlights. Strangely enough, the tries New , Zealand scored were mostly opportunist tries, and not the result of constructive endeavour, yet they were all stamped with the determination that leads to success. Right from the early stages the New Zealand forwards got a stranglehold on the game. They were in complete command for the biggest part of the first spell, winning the ball from scrums, line-outs and rucks. In the second half their "whirlwind tactics overwhelmed the British, who could find no way; to stem the attacks. And eventually the British wer« bewildered by the storm that raged on their line. Only once during the first spell did Britain look really dangerous, and on that ocasion New Zealand blocked the way to the goal line by quick covering defence. In the second half there were occasional electric dashes by the British forwards, and at these times it took all the defensive powers of the All Blacks to keep them out. Twice in as many minutes New Zealand forced, and it must be said in fairness that the British were unlucky not to ecor« early on in the second spell. The British backs were given numerous opportunities by their forwards, and, fed generously and ewiftly by Murrayj they threw the ball about recklessly. ' Then came a brilliant endeavour, which provided sensational football. Ivor Jones broke away from the ruck, and sent the ball to Bowcott, to Novis, to Reeve, who passed infield again to Novis, to Spong and then to the forwards, who crashed over the line. It was a magnificent piece of work, which deserved to' win points. In desperation now the British forwards and backs threw the ball about with " devil-may-care " abandon. It was their only hope to retrieve themselves, for they were beaten by a fitter and more virile pack, but all their efforts were frustrated and air their schemes were met with a defence that, never failed. Britain's Only Try. Once only did Britain cross New Zealand's line. It was a brilliant try that Novis scored, typical of the methods of the British team. Just before there liad been some fireworks by the British backs. Then from a scrum Murray shot the ball out to Spong, to Bowcott, to Novis, who beat Cooke, clapped an all his pace, outran Lucas and scored behind the posts, after side-stepping Hazlett when over the goal-line. It was one of those swift, fascinating changes of fortune so dear to the heart of the football fan.

Yet, reviewing this brilliant try, one wonders just what happened to the New Zealand defence, for the ineide backs appeared to be hopelessly out of position. It is not like a New Zealand team to allow an opposing back to sail clean between the centre and the wing. Far too often that happened in the firet spell, when Aarvold was playing outside centre. His pace and his long stride were too much for'Cooke, who, on three or four occasions, ran parallel with him for a time without attempting to dive. It wae a different story in the iiecond half, when Novie took Aarvold's' place at outside centre. Novis beat Cooke only once. On all other occasions Cooke got his man.

Lilburne Excellent. It Sβ hard to assess just what difference Mark Nicholls would have made to the New Zealand team.. His place was worthily filled by Lilburne, who played an excellent game at second five-eighths. In the early stages he wae inclined to run across the field, but finally he settled down to his usual straight running, with the result that the three-quarter line was given a better opportunity. In the second half Lilburne put a good deal of sting into the New Zealand back-line attack. Hβ studied the outlook before making a move, and all his work had the polish of the finished player. The Shining Lights. Two men were ehining lights on the New Zealand and Corner. Porter's many excellences, his uncanny eye for an opening, his unsurpassed knowledge of when to • pass, were all in evidence. He was a supremely great individualist, and crowned hie international football career by playing a game that was really great. His greatness lay in the perfection of hie judgment and his capacity to create an opportunity for his fellow players. Corner played brilliantly behind the pack. He is a half-back of many gifte. His quick, accurate paseee from the scrum were exceptional. He engineered many clever movee, worked the blind side when the opportunity offered and exploited the line- judiciously. Hie defence was just ae brilliant as hie attack, and the way he went down at the feet of the relentless British forwards was a tribute to his gamehess. Strang and Cooke. Strang linked up with Corner far better than he did in Auckland, and, although he was inclined to run. acrdss the field, he played a really sound ellround game. His one mistake was when he let Spong cut claan past him. Cooke did not display the craft that he showed in Auckland, and it was puzzling to see Aarvold beat him so often in the first spell, but he compensated for all his minor mistakes by the two tries he scored. They were typical of him—the reward of adept individualism. Both were the result of fast following up and a desperate dive for the ball after it had rolled over the line.

Lucas and Hart were not seen in many dashes down the line, but once they were given reasonable room in which to work they were dangerous. Hart's dash and determination in both attack and defence were outstanding features about his play. Never once did Reeve get past him. Once again Lucas' defence was under suspicion. He persisted in attempting to collar his man round the neck, aijcl twice he found that he had been eluded, Once, in attempting to check.a British baok attack, Lucas came into violent collision with Spong. He was badly injured in the leg, but gamely carried on. It seemed to improve his defence, for he tackled with vigour after that. A clever centre kick by Lucas led to one of Cooke's tries. From the left flank he kicked high to the centre of the field. The NcW Zealand forwards bustled Bassett, who failed at this critical moment, and Cooke kicked over the. line, and followed through and scored. Both Full-backs Weak. On to-day's rorm it would be safe to say -that Nepia's big football days are over. His line-kicking was not dependable, and quite often he was caught out of position. Bassett, who has had a gruelling tour, was like Nepia. His handling was never safe, and he dropped more balls to-day than he has done in his last five matches. Even his line-kicking was not up to his usual high standard. Murray was splendid behind the British pack. He did all that was asked of him methodically and well, sending out beautifully-timed passes whenever Britain hooked the ball. Spong Well Watched. Spong was a dazzling Will o , the Wisp, and made Porter and Strang dance to merry tune. Although he brought off some brilliant moves, he was not nearly so effective as he was in Auckland, and although he was ever a puzzle to the New Zealand insides, he could not penetrate as he did before. He was too carefully watched. Aarvold aiid Reeve Weak. Bowcott did many good things, and so did Novis. The weak link in the British back chain was Aarvold, who really played far below Test football standard. So poor was his work all round in the first spell that in the second he decided to change places with Novis. Reeve was only mediocre; even Avhen a real opportunity came his way he did not accept it. The Winning Forwards. McLean, McWilliams and Batty take all the laurels among the New Zealand forwards. They played great football, and fairly tigered into the tight. The match was a gruelling one, yet this trio was going as effectively at the end aa they were at the start. In line-out work New Zealand were the masters. Frequently they beat Britain for the ball from the ruck, and the hooking of Hore and Cottrell was splendid.

The British forwards were completely beaten. They simply could not stand up to the terrific onslaughts of th 6 grim All Black forwards. Ivor Jones once again was their schemer and leader in their fast loose rushes," with Welsh lending any amount of support, while Beamish and Farrell worked amazingly hard in the tight, with Farrell prominent for his splendid efforts in lineouta. It was not great football; Test football barely is. Yet the game was full of interest from start to finish, and there was an almost continuous rour from the huge crowd.