FIRST REVERSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 231, 30 September 1935, Page 13

FIRST REVERSE.

the all blacks.

MATCH WITH SWANSEA.

eleven to three margin.

POINTLESS SECOND SPELL.

United I'ress Association. —Copyright. LONDON, September 29. The special correspondent of the United Press Association states that the All Blacks meeting - tho first entirely club fiiilo on their tour encountered the best combination to date and suffered their first defeat by 11 points to 3. All tlio points were scored in the first half. The teams were as follows:— ALL BLACKS. Full-buck. —G. D. Gilbert (West Coast). Three-quarters.—N. J. Ball (Wellington). T. H. C. Caughey (Auckland), N. A. Mitchell (Southland). Five-eighths. —D. Solomon (Auckland) E. W. Tindill (Wellington). Half-back. —M. M. N. Corner (Auckland). Forwards. —H. F. McLean (Auckland), J. E. Manchester (Canterbury), R. R. King (West Coast), W. R. Collins (Hawkc's Bay), J. G. Wynyard (Waikato), G. T. Adkins (South Canterbury), A. Lambourn (Wellington), C. S. Pepper (Auckland). SWANSEA. Full-back. —E. Jones. Three-quarters. —G. Davis, R. Williams, Davey, Griffiths. Half-backs. —W. Davies, Tanner. Forwards. —Taylor, Payne, Tarr, K. White, Han-is, Hunt, Long, D. White. Swansea was anxious to avenge the overwhelming defeat the New Zealanders inflicted upon it in 1924 and played lip to expectations. It provided tho tourists with their first real test. The Swansea forwards fought hard and had tho better of matters in tho rucks and serums, while the backs wore especially formidable, notably the "schoolboy" halves, Tanner and W. Davies. These players are regarded as the most promising pair in Welsh Rugby to-day. Davey, the international centre, is one of the surest and hardest tacklers playing in Great Britain. Backs Below Form. The Swansea backs were generally better than the All Blacks, none of •whom showed their real form. Their handling was poor and Solomon and Gilbert were decidedly weak. Caughey was definitely off form. It is understood he was not keen to play, doubting whether his injured leg would stand the strain, but ho was persuaded to turn out. The gigantic crowd sang "Land of My Fathers" when the players came on to tho field. The weather was dull and overcast and rain in tho morning caused the ground to bo heavy, this contributing to the All Blacks' defeat. Swansea kicked off, the All Blacks apparently having abandoned tho packing of a 3—4 scrum and playing a loose forward. They lost tho firet scrum, Tanner making a nice run, but he was forced out. A sfpell of- open play followed, the backs exchanging kicks, Solomon was twice called on to save. Ho fumbled, knocked on and seemed nervous. Caughey made a run almost through the defence a few minutes later. Williams and Davey were prominent in a fine run. Tho All Black inside 'backs secured, enabling Ball, in an exciting run, to beat three opponents, but his in-pass was dropped. The First Score. The Swansea forwards with great determination held their own for the first 20 minutes, heeling well from the scrums and rucks and delighting the crowd. They maintained tho pressure, leading to the first score, when Hunt, using his weight, got over. Harris failed. Swansea 3 All Blacks 0 The second try came from a great movement. Davies, going straight through tho All Blacks, passed to Davey, tho defence being well beaten and Davey scoring by tho posts. Harris converted. Swansea j»... 8 All Blacks 0 Soon afterwards Davey again pierced the defence, Solomon saving when the Welshman kicked. Tho New Zealandcrs eventually got going, Gilbert making an opening for Ball, who scored. Gilbert failed to convert. Swansea j. 8 All Blacks 3 The All Black backs were again defeated when Davey scored after a spectacular back movement, each man gaining ground. Harris failed. The score at half-time was:— Swansea ... 11 All Blacks 3 Backs Rearranged. In the second half Caughey went to centre, Gilbert to full-back and Solomon to second five-eighths. Solomon was on his toes, being eager to rectify former mistakes. The All Black forwards adopted tearaway tactics and early gained ground. Tho team evidently realised the serious position, as Swansea was playing well and giving the opposing backs little room in which to move. The Swansea side apparently sensed victory nhead and its forwards again began to hold the New Zeajandere, necessitating tho tourists defending for ten minutes. Swansea was playing a Wing forward in the line-outs, apparently aiming to swoop on to Corner and Tindill if at all possible. The All Black forwards were now fighting magnificently, Manchester, King and Collins being especially prominent. They were in the every ruck. Manchester, looking grim, spurred his men on. Swansea repeatedly took scrums instead of line-outs. A drizzle then lessened the All Blacks' chances. Corner finally got his backs moving, but they were upset by determined tackling. The Welsh players, exploiting the stab line-kicks, gained ground, hemming the All Blacks on their line and making every effort to increase their score. Swaiwea lost a chance when Davey attempted the scissors pass. The home team continued to hold tho upper hand. All Blacks Desperate. The All Blacks fought back desperately in a great effort. They tried a variety of tactics, but were uuable to made headway. Swansea held the territorial advantage for the first part of the second half. Many of the crowd began to leave, satisfied that the game was over. Gilbert, in attempting to

save, kicked over his own goal-line a scrum resulting near the posts amid a roar of excitement. The All Blacks made a final rally and a try seemed certain. A Swansea back, however, pounced on the ball iu tho nick of time ahead of Adkins The game then enaca with the score:— Swansea •., AII Blacks

"WON ON MERITS."

TRIBUTE TO SWANSEA.

MR. MEREDITH'S COMMENT,

LONDON, September 29. Tho All Blacks' manager, slr. V. R. Meredith, in an interview, said Swansea i!i WOn 0,1 its merits and played the batter football. He refused to comment on the All Blacks' display or to discuss the possibility that the experimental back formation had caused their defeat The "Observer's" Rugby writer says tho defeat of tho All Blacks by Swansea is relatively unimportant, as it cannot bo disputed that some international teams, owing to their poor combination, can bo beaten by a tip-top club side Consequently the All Blacks' international matches arc still open, although they must improve their forward play In order to succeed. Moreover, Swansea proved that clubs provide better fixtures than combined teams, which may affect future programmes. All Blacks Rattled. Dr. Gent, writing in the "Sunday Times," says Swansea had tho All Blacks rather badly rattled. In the opening stages of tho second half the referee stopped tho game three times for three minutes to speak to players on both sides. The Swansea pack repeatedly exposed the tourists' weakness forward, which tho backs' brilliance could not counteract. In the "Sunday Graphic" Mr. Sewell says tho All Blacks' defeat was duo to lack of pace behind tho scrum, for which injuries were not responsible. Swansea's victory proves the unwisdom of the tourists' fixtures, with 10 "gift matches" against English scratch sides.

ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD,

DISAPPOINTMENT OF TOURISTS. LONDON, September 28. The special correspondent of the United Press Association states that when tho final whistle was sounded the crowd rushed the ground with great enthusiasm. They cheered tho Swansea players and thousands gathered round the grandstand singing "For They Arc Jolly Good Fellows." Long, the Welsh captain, addressed the crowd. The All Blacks looked disappointed as they filed off tho field.

CAUGHEY WEIL MARKED

LONDON, September 28,

The special correspondent of the United Press Association states that Caughey was well watched during the match. At one stage he had four opponents on him and appeared to say spmcthing to one of them. The referee then spoke to the players.

YELLOW AND BLACK. '; -i-ag . : - « ■ "*

WIN IN CANTERBURY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The final representative game of the season between Canterbury and Taranaki was played to-day. Canterbury won the] toss and played from tlio northern end with tho sun behind them. Canterbury kept pressing, and, following a high kick, Taranaki forced. Several attempts were mado to open up the game, and once Dymond shot the ball out well for Sangstcr and Galbraith to gain 30 yards. Tho Taranaki forwards took a hand, with Gardner, Fowler and Gargau -iu tho lead. Tho backs carried on, only to see the movement stopped with a forward pass. Play was bright and open, but not nearly as electrifying as in tho opening stages of tho last three shield matches. Tho Tarannki forwards camo round quickly and with a vigorous buret drove Cauterlmry into their own twenty-five. A great dribbling effort by Cargan and Armstrong was cheered by tho crowd, but tho effort j was pulled up by a penalty. Canterbury then drove right through the Taranaki defence, and Collins could only check them by hanging on to the ball. 1-Ie was penalised, but Deavoll missed the kick at goal. Tho next Incident was a lightning break through by Sullivan, the Taranaki centre. Ho eluded three men and in a moment Canterbury were penned on their own line. After a perfect clearing kick by Behrns another effort of tho same kind followed, Galbraith this time doing the dodging. However, no score came from either effort. Some minutes later McAuliffo missed another easy penalty. The Canterbury forwards battled in en most, but Hattersley threw away a fine chance. Immediately Sullivan and Edwards set up a vigorous Tarannki counter rush, and carried play past the Canterbury full-back. Deavoll upended Sullivan in the nick of time. Tnralinki kept it up and Collins missed an easy penalty shot right in front of the posts. There wero sarcastic cheers a minute later when Collins missed another easy shot. Edwards and Galbraith fooled the opposition completely. After Canterbury hnd kicked off again Edwards tore down the right wing and when ho got to Henry he in-passed to Galbraith. Tho latter raced to tho full-back, and then tossed the {mil hack to Edwards, who forced ten yards from tho corner flag. Again Collins' kick was low and wldo-7-Taranaki 3, Canterbury 0. Tho next pair to work a clever dodge against Canterbury were Sullivan and Galbraith. They baffled the defence with short passes right down the middle for Sullivan to run over underneath tho posts. Young converted, though the ball hit one of the uprights and just bounced over. Taranaki 8, Canterbury 0. After a forward scramble R. loung scored Tnrnnakl's third try with three opponents on top of him. W. Young missed tho kick whieh was a difficult one. Play was at half-way when half-time was callcd with tho score still:

Tarannkt »»• Canterbury ° Canterbury began more vigorously In the second spell, and a try came within the first two minutes. Burke shot out of the ruck, charged down the Taranaki back's kick and was over the lino before the defenders realised what was happening. Deavoll's kick missed. Taranaki 11, Canterbury 3. , McPbail side-stepped two opponents ana in-passed to Poison, who flashed over under the Taranaki full-back's arras. It was a particularly bright piece of play. McAuliffo capped it by converting almost from the side-line. Taranaki 11, Canterbury 8. Galbraith tried a field goal, but it just missed by a yard or two, and Behrns kick took play to half-way. The Tarnnaki forwards came to light again. R. Y °u"" burst through, passed to Gardner on the lino and the forward scorcd the easiest of tries right behind the posts. WYoung converted. Taranaki IG, Canter cleaved a path right down the middle. He flashed between Gaskin and Brown, caught Behrns on tho wrong foot find scored beside the posts. Collins converted. There was no further scorc, and the match ended: Taranaki 21 Canterbury °

MANUKAU ON TOUR.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) TAURANGA, Saturday. Tauranga defeated Manukau Rovers senior B to-day by 10 points to 3. 'lhe match was fast and open, with tlio Tauranga forwards much heavier. M. Hartnett and Stevenson scorcd for Tauranga, Grey converting both tries, while Stevens scorcd for Manukau. , , , n „ In a junior representative* match Tauranga 0, bent Manukau Rovers thirds 3 in n vory even game. Parkes scored for Manukau, while Flctchcr and ColiarU scorcd for Taurauga.