LEAGUE TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 231, 30 September 1935, Page 14

LEAGUE TEST.

NEW, ZEALAND WINS. GAME WITH AUSTRALIA. I HOME FORWARDS' FINE DISPLAY. After a strenuously fought game, which was brilliant in patches, New Zealand on Saturday won tho first of tho series of Tests with tho touring Australian Rugby League team by 22 points to. 14. The match was witnessed by tho largest crowd seen at Carlaw Park for many a long day, and was played under perfect conditions. Thero were few dull phases, and tho features of tho tenso struggle were the repeated efforts by the visitors to break down tho Kiwis' defensive resistance by fast passing bouts, tho resolute tackling of the home team, and the wonderfully lino display by tho New Zealand forwards.

It was a ease of tho Australian backs versus tho New Zealand, forwards, and tho latter, by exploiting every trick of tho trade and bustling tho opposition, triumphed. After the visitors had scored early in tho piece tho Kiwis settled down quickly to grim, tackling both among tho forwards and backs, and with tho vanguard, working tirelessly in tho loose and fanning out in support of their backs they soon had. tho mcasuro of the men from across tho Tasman. Both sides mado mistakes, but tho New Zealanders, playing with tho will to win, pressed home most of the scoring opportunities that camo their way. Tho Australians., perhaps, might have dono better had they varied their play more instead of merely winning tho ball in tho scrums and relying on their backs, who were usually dumped beforo they could bccomo really dangerous. It is probable that they would liavo conic nearer to victory had they allowed the opposition to win more of tho ball and then profited by tho mistakes made, for thero is 110 mistaking their ability to start scoring movements from a dropped pass. Visitors Fairly Beaten. Thero is no doubt that the homo thirteen flattered and surprised their supporters with their clear-cut win. Tho majority of tho crowd who packed tho stand and lined tho tcrraces went propared to seo tho Kiwis demoralised tho brillianco of the Kangaroos' bac£, and instead they saw the visitors frustrated at every turn and beaten as fairly as any team has ever been beaten. They saw tho New Zealand pack play liko inen possessed] tireless in raiding and in getting their men and mobilo in tho loose. Many of the rushes by tho homo sextet were devastating and brought tries. In addition tho backs did their part by jumping away at top when tho Australians' passes went astray or tho ball rolled looso following the tackling of a visitor. Tho particular bright star for Now Zealand was A. E. Cooke, now a veteran player, but in Saturday's match tlio outstanding player on tho ground. Cooko gave a much better display than on tho previous Saturday in tho Aus-tralia-Auckland encounter, and hardly mado a false move. Ho was. always in tho right place at the right time, snapping tho ball up from the feet of the opposing forwards, darting clear of would-bo tacklers, finding the lino and the gap with judgment, and tackling soundly. Indeed, he was tho Cooko of old, shorn perhaps of some 01 his speed, but nevertheless as great a football genius as ever. The New Zealand backs taken collectively wero uneven on attack, although somo of them, notably Kay, Lou Brown and Mincham, teamed sweetly at times. Their defence left little to be desired. Prentico and Kay, in tho five-eighths line, were deadly from bell to bell, and this robbed the Australians of the thrust they had relied on largely to carry them to victory. Tittleton at centre was another who got through a wealth of hard work, but his tackling was not as reliable as that of the rest of the chain. Of the threequartera Brown was the pick, and waa always lively in possession. He fielded tho ball beautifully, and was always trailing in support at the business end. His ability to keep up with the play and seize any opportunity that came his way brought three magnificent tries. Australians' Backs Subdued. Fed continually by his forwards, Thicknesso behind the pack for the Australians showed what a fine halfback he really is. He sent the ball along cleanly and accurately, and was always there ready for the reverse pass. Norman in tho five-eighths was not seen to as great advantage as in his first game, and try as he might he could not carve a passage through the opposition five-eighths. Outwitted in this respect he ran diagonally across the field and attempted to feed his three-quarters by this means. Even this, however, did not avail the visitors in the face of the deadly low tackling by the New Zealand three-quarters and the quick covering defence of Cooke. D. Brown, the Australians' captain, was always dangerous in possession, but he, too, was seen in a subdued light. Once more his good kicking served his side well, and eight of their p6ints came off his boot. Goodwin and Hines wero a pair of fine wingers, but Mahon was a definite weakness in the visitors' attack. Ho dropped too many passes when the taking and handing on of tho ball meant so much. Ward, the custodian, played a rattling good game, kicking and fielding splendidly and frequently racing his backs into position in approved style. It is difficult to sort out any of the New Zealand forwards, but Tetley, Calder and Glynn were perhaps tho hardest grafters. For .the visitors ; Blue]/ good work was done by Pearce, ' Stchr and Prigg. ' The Play Described. The teams were as follow:— New Zealand: A. E. Cooke, L. Brown, W. Tittleton, E. T. Mincham, A. Kay, S. Prentice, E. Powell, H. Tetley, W. Glynn, G'. Satherly, J. Laird, L. Hutt, J. Calder.

Australia: L. Ward, S. Goodwin, W. Mahon, D. Brown, R. Hines, E. Norman, V. Thicknessc, W. Prigg, S'. Gibbs, S. Pearee, Stehr, P. Fairall, F. Curran. Australia, were first to score, Thicknesse bustling Cooke, for the ever-alert trv V ° £!' OWU . . 8W00 1 ) "P and dive for a 'T ll - 8 klek , failed - '-Thee was a M i cham ® I lv< V a .„ <l " I tako P lli y- and then Mintham electrified the crowd with a brilliant burst on.the blind side. He was supported by the forwards, and finally the West Coaster,. Glynn, went over for a fine try. Satherly mis B ed. Da-ve Brown put the visitors in front once more with a penalty, which was awarded for an illegal tackle by Kay. The New Xealandeis livened up appreciably their forwards sweeping to the attack. ' Then Lou Brown opened the play, supported by Tetley, Satherly and Hutt, and finally Hutt Bailed across. Satherly

converted and New Zealand led B—s.8 —5. Cooke paved tho wa.y for New Zealand's next try. lie side-stepped his way through the opposition, and then sent a long pass to Tetley, who made a determined dash for tho line. The forward lost possession when nearly over, but Kay was on hand to dive for a try. Satlierly Roaled. Tho run of play was now favouring the Kiwis, and before the interval Lou Brown went away to score, when tioodwin inis-passed. It was a magnificent effort by Brown. Satherly's kick from tho corner missed, and the half-time score was: New Zealand 16 Australia 5 When they went to it again Australia did uracil of the attacking, and they were finally rewarded, when D. Brown landed two penalty goals in quick succession with magnificent kicks. Fortunes fluctuated continually in the play that followed, but New Zeala.iul forged further to the front, when Kay cut through sweetly to whip a pass to Lou Brown. Tho winger accepted and finished off tho movement by circling in a handy position. Mincham could not improve the score. Now Zealand en.me again, and the Kay-Brown combination functioned once more for Brown to score again. Mincliam's kick hit tho upright and bounced in-field. Before the end came, and it was obvious now that tho Australians could not bridge tho gap of 22 points to 9, the visitors came with a rattle. The exchanges ended in Goodwin taking the ball from Glynn, outwitting the defence by cleverly changing direction and scoring. Brown converted, and the final score was: i New Zealand 22 Australia 14 Mr. M. Wetlierill was referee.

TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND.

"PLAYED THE RIGHT GAME." At the conclusion of tho game tho manager of tho Australian team, Mr. 11. Sunderland, paid a tribute to tho New Zealandcrs for their fine display. He said: "I think New Zealand played just the right typo of game to-day to catch our fellows, and they had just that little bit tho better of the game in a wonderful contest. I think everybody will agree with that. New Zealand wcro tho better team and wo havo no complaints to make. Wo are looking forward to the next two games with tremendous interest. New Zealand must bo complimented on tho excellence of their showing all round." D. Brown, tho Australian captain, had no comment to offer and when approached referred the interviewer to Mr. Sunderland. Bert Cooke, the New Zealand captain, said:' "It was a great go and a really | good game. I think our forwards to-day made all tho difference, and it all depended on that. Wo are looking forward to the next two games." Tho New Zealand manager, Mr. W. J. Taylor, expressed pleasure at the form shown by tho homo team. The team, he said, had fulfilled expectations and tho sido was tho fittest fielded by tho Dominion for a long time. It was a wonderful victory and a good. game. Tho Australians played well, but tho New Zealandera played slightly better. Donor's Congratulations. A cablegram received to-day from Sydney from the donor of the Courtney Goodwill Cup, Mr. Roy Courtney, read ; as follows: —"Astounded. Pleas© convey j congratulations to team. They must play for their lives next Test." ■

THE SECOND TEST.

NEW ZEALAND THIRTEEN CHOSEN. The following have teen selected to represent New Zealand in the second Rugby League football Test against Australia at Carlaw Park next Wednesday:— Full-back: A. E. Cooke (Auckland). Three-quarters: L. Brown (Auckland), C. Hunt (Taranaki), E. Mincham (Auckland)- . ~ c. Five-eighths: A. Kay (Auckland), S. Prentice (Auckland). Half-back: R. Powell (Auckland). Forwards: L. Hutt (Auckland), W. Glynn (West Coast), C. Satherly (Auckland), J. Calder (Weat Coast), J. Laird (Auckland), W. Ward (Canterbury). J. E. Amos, the Canterbury international back, was unavailable. According to cable messages received in Auckland since Saturday, New Zealand's success in the Test created a big surprise in Australia. As New Zealand now has first "leg" in for honours, the second Test on Wednesday should attract another bumper attendance. There are two changes in the New Zealand team. W. Tittleton, the Waikato centre three-quarter, has been dropped in favour of Cliff Hunt, the Inglewood captain and Taranaki player who has won recognition through, his outstanding display at centre for the combined team at Wellington. Hunt is a North Island representative and an experienced and versatile player capable of playing five-eighth or full-back. Ward, the Canterbury forward, has also been given a game. He is regarded as one of the best hookers in the Dominion at present. He played well at Wellington and his extra weight will be valuable in the pack. His inclusion has meant the dropping of Tetley, who performed with distinction as breakaway last Saturday and the previous week. His place will be taken by Hutt, who, though not professing to be a hooker, also was prominent in the first Test and who is highly regarded as a loose forward. The dropping of Tetley may mean the sacrifice of a little speed in the open, but upon other considerations the forward line is stronger. With Hunt in the backs the team is given further thrustfulness, and providing he feeds his wings he should be well worthy of his first international cap. The match and result on Saturday speaks for the other Dlayers. Australia on Warpath. The Australians, with a recognised big task confronting them, have cancelled a proposed run to the thermal district in order to prepare for the second Test. They will be right out to win and it will be interesting to see whether they are capable after their defeat on Saturday of turning the tables : and thus qualifying themselves for the ; third Test, which, whatever happens on < Wednesday, is sure to be a great game. ! The New South Wales centre McKinnon will take his place beside the Australian captain again, displacing the Queenslander Mahon. The Queensland full-back Whittle, who is reported to have starred at Wellington, is nominated as the rearguard emergency. The J j reserve for the vanguard is the 6ft 3in e Queensland forward H. Bichel, who 1 stepped out to play his first match in New Zealand against the combined team J and is said to be a very powerful and active type of player. Australia is not '] likely, with so much at stake, to be leaving anything to chance. The visitors have ideas of putting on some real S hurricane football, but it seems as ' though New Zealand is well prepared. j