ALL SQUARE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 234, 3 October 1935, Page 21

ALL SQUARE.

RUGBY LEAGUE TESTS.

WIN FOR AUSTRALIA.

ZEALAND OVERWHELMED

Producing their best form, the touring Australian liugby League team overwhelmed the elect of New Zealand by 20 point.-! to 8 in the second of three Tests at Cat-law- Park yesterday afternoon. The visitors won in convincing style, and at practically no stage did the home side look J;ke winners.

The game wns fought out at a fast pace from bell to boll, and the record mid-week crowd was provided with a feast of thrilling football—thrills turned on mostly, •by the Australians. The New Zealand thirteen gave as drab a display as their showing in the first Test last Saturday ■was brilliant, and the reversal of their form had to be seen to be believed. They descended to the depths of mediocrity, arul disappointed their supporters. Their tackling, which had stood them in such good stead in the earlier encounter, was palpably weak, as an attacking force their backs were negligible, and their forwards lacked devil and dash. On the other hand, the Australians were brilliant both forward and badk, and overran their opponents with the ease with which many of the s.'des from across the Taeman which have preceded them have done. The form or the visitors was in striking contrast with that which they ,showed four days previously, and it indicated just what a team can accomplish when they get down to businetst?. Their forwards overshadowed the opposing sextet in- most departments, while their backs time and time again had the New Zealanders hopelessly nonplussed with their speed, resource; and dexterity. If the "Australians were fairly beaten in the first Test, f-o were the New Zealanders well and truly cclipeed in the second. Devastating Passing Bouts. The game was spoilt as a spectacle to a large extent by the weakness of the opposition by New Zealand,: but there was a measure of Gonipe'nsation* given the spectators by the splendid team work of the visitors. Forwards and backs collaboraced with perfect understanding, and at times devastating passing rushes swept from end to end of the field, with most of the team handling the ball at some stage or other. The visitors worked with machinclike precision, and it is doubtful whether the home side could have checked their all-conquering march to the goal-line even had they played with the same elan which they showed last Saturday. The winning margin might not have been so great certainly, but on the day the Australians would have assuredly won.

The greatest weakness of the New Zealand team was in the five-eighths line, and H. T. Lilburne and A. Kay were quite incapable of silencing E. Norman and R. McKinnon. Kay, after the promise he showed in the first Test, was disappointing, while Lilburne, of whom so much was expected, failed to impress in his first appearance on Carlaw Park. As an All Black he might be brilliant, but as a League player he was a poor substitute for the man he replaced at the last minute— S. Prentice—who was unavailable owing to leg injirry. C. Hunt, the Taranaki man, shaped well at centre, but was overshadowed by the astute D. Brown, the Australian 'captain. Mincham below form on the left wing, and was outwitted time and time , again by R. Hinee, his vis-a-vis. •

Lou Brown Outstanding. The outstanding New Zealand back was Lou Brown, who at times appeared to be lighting r the visitors on his own. In possession he was always dangerous, while on defence he extricated his side from many a tangle. A. E. Cooke, the full-back, was not at his best, and did not seem to recover properly from a hard knock which he received early in the piece. R. Powed, at half-back, did not shape like an international half-back. As for the Australian chain, the only man who did not emerge with laurels thick upon him, and this incidentally was fortunate for New Zealand, was S. Goodwin, the left winger. While he showed plenty of dash on the move he dropped too many passes when the mere taking of the ball meant certain points, and in addition he was unable to quite get the measure of Lou Brown. Hines, on the opposite wing, was pretty to watch, and he finished off several passing rushes with strong and determined running. Dave Brown showed what a genius he really is at centre, and, in addition to notching several tries himself, he engineered others. He was always on hand when there was work to be done, and his ability to swerva and change direction when going at top frequently cut the defence to shreds. He snowed fine appreciation of positional play, and was always trailing in support when required. He was seen at his best, and lived right up to the reputation which preceded him.

McKinnon Mercurial. McKinnon, the second five-eighth, was mercurial, and he was a*ble to_ give to the Australian attack that additional thrust which Mahon, the Queenslander, was unablie to give in the first Test. He made the opposition look like sq many hacks at times, weaving a passage through the defence with artistry. Norman was another who shone for brilliant bursts up the centre of the field, and, like McKinnon, he very often played ducks and drakes with the defence. V. I'hicknesee, behind the pack, played another rattling good game, opening up the play well, bursting away from the scrums, and backing up in splendid style, while L. Ward, the full-back, got through a wealth of good work with credit. It was not often that the custodian was caught .in posssssion, and more often than not he sidestepped would-be tacklers to go away and 6et his chain in motion.

The forwards made things willing, at times more willing than necessary. The Australian scrummagers mixed it well in all departments with their opponents, and excelled in handling in-the loose and whipping passes out to their backs. Prigg and. Fairall were a pair of honest grafters who were outstanding for the support they gave their chain, while others who caught the eye continually were R. St'ehr and F. Curran. Stehr was one of the best forwards on the ground, but he detraetfd from his exhibition by showing a tendency to mix it with Calder in the tight stuff. C. Satherly was again prominently in the picture for New Zealand, while others who worked tirelessly in both tight, and loose were L. Hutt, Laird, and J. Calder. R. Ward, the Canterbury man, also shapsj well, and, as a result of his hooking, his side saw more of the bail than they did in the first Test. The Play Described. New Zealand had the better of the opening passages, and the visitors wive compelled to force to keep their line intact. The Australians were penalised for infringements, but neither Satherly n<H- Lilblirne was able to turn these mis-1 takes to account. Then Brown and Mcliinnon were associated in a passing bout, the fivc-eightli finally centring fo_Stehr to gather and force hie way across under the posts. Brown converted. Australia 5, New Zealand 0. After New Zealand had taken a turn on attack the visitors came again, and first Thickneese and then Goodwin came close to scoring In the play that followed Hunt missed two long-range penalty kicks, and then, when Ward lost the ball when running up to ee;;d his backs away, Satherly whipped r pass out to Kay, to Hunt, who burst across wide out. Satherly's kick missed. Australia 5, New Zealand 3. a period of give and take play, McKinnon beat Kay with a neat out in to send Brown away. The centre took his pass when it came, and swerved past Cooke to go to score wide out. He also converted, and the half-time score was: Australia 10, New Zealand 3. Shortly after the interval, Mincham. the fourth New Zealander to be given a penalty kick, failed to find the uprights, ,ind then, from loose play, IN or man sent Stehr awav on a diagonal run that had the defence nonplussed. lhe forward, when tackled, whipped a pass out to Hinesi, who finished oil' the ntovement by prancing across wide out. Browne kictf

failed. Australia 13, New Zealand 3. A tow minutes later Goodwin put in a good run after all the backs had handled, anil len in-passed to Brown, who sailed across as he was tackled by Cooke. Again Brown I failed t o convert. Australia 10, New Zealu T r„ 14 or , tune s 'fluctuated in the play! that followed, and then McKinnon penetrated deeply for Prigg, Hines, and Fairall handle, the last-named being sent in by an in-pass from the winger. Brown goaled with a magnificent kick. Australia 21, New Zealand 3. Although New Zealand were josing their grip on tho game they tought back, and were rewarded when i -i "''Oft-punted through for Kay to dnbble over the line. There was a race or possession, and Hunt, who was following through fast, pounced for a try. satherly did the rest. Australia 21, Ncw Zealand 8. In the dying stages Australia had all the better of the run of play, and first Hines finished off a passing bout bisecting in the corner, and then he put U a great dash.along touch to send Fairall over under the posts. Brown converted the last try, and the game ended: Australia 20 New Zealand 8 Mr. if. Wetherill was referee. SCHOOL CURTAIN-RAISER. Early spectators were treated to the brightest of curtain-raisers, in which Richmond were lucky to beat Green Lane by 17—11. The game was fast and spectacular and marked by brilliant passing bouts. Green Lane had territorial advantages in the second half, but Richmond, who were heavier and faster, proved greater opportunists. GLENORA CLUB. The first annual smoke concert of the Glenora Club was held last evening at the R.S.A. rooms. The club chairman, Mr. W. McNeil, presided, and the function proved a. pleasing success. Messrs. A. Hopkinson and T. Carey complimented the club on its growth on behalf of the junior board. Others in attendance were Messrs. \V„ A. Bishop and W. Heald (vice-presi-dents), Frank' Newton, J. Elshaw and J. Butterfield. Mr. Norman Muller, in proposing the toast of the club, said it was hoped soon to have teams in all grades to represent the district. Mr. J. L. Belsliam proposed "Kindred Clubs," and Messrs. B. Longbottom (Ponsonby) and H. Brady (Newton) replied. After reference to the good wqrk of the _ chairman and of the secretary (Mr. McNaniara) a I happy social evening concluded with good wishes for the fourth grade team's success in the championship curtain-raiser this week-end.. ■~...