ALL BLACKS DEFEAT COMBINED TEAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 235, 4 October 1935, Page 9

ALL BLACKS DEFEAT COMBINED TEAM.

RETURN TO FORM. Gloucester and Somerset Easily Beaten. PLAY ON SLIPPERY PIELD. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Xtccelvcd 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, October 3. After leading 15—0 at half-time, the All Blacks beat the combined Gloucester and Somerset team by 23 points to 3. The teams were:— All Blacks. Full-back: G. D. M. Gilbert. Three-quarters: N. A. Mitchell, C. J. Oliver, G. F. Hart. Five-eighths: T. H. C. Caugliey, J. L. Griffiths. Half-back: B. S. Sadler. Front Row: C. S. Pepper, A. Lambourne, J. Hore. Middle Row: W. R. Collins, Tory Reid, R. R. King, F. Vorratli. Back Row: J. E. Manchester. Gloucester and Somerset. Full-back: Boughton. Three-quarters: Sherman, Gerrard, Edwards, Shcppard. Half-backs: Morris, Hobbs. Forwards: Carpenter, Williams, Tucker, Price, Henderson, Payne, Watkin's, Maunder. A crowd of 20,000 watched the match. The weather was fine but the ground was wet and heavy. The All Blacks handled well, despite the slippery ball.

After 10 minutes' play, Horc scored from a scramble near tlie line, but Griffiths failed to convert. The All Blacks' backs continued attacking, but they were kept out by the fine defence of the counties. A great All Black rush took play the length of the field, but a dropped pass at the critical moment lost a try. Soon after Mitchell made an opening with a fine swerving run and passed to Manchester, who scored for Gilbert to convert. New Zealand's next points came from a field-goal by Oliver, who potted beautifully after a short run. Hart's fine pace resulted in another try to the All Blacks, but the kick failed. With the opening of the second half the counties'pressed hard, but strenuous tackling defeated the attacking backs. .Sadler, Griffiths, Cnughey and Oliver burst through and Mitchell, taking the final pass, dashed over unopposed. Gilbert converted with a wonderful kick from the side-line. The All Blacks were now showing real form and there were many spectacular movements.

With a good movement, the counties' backs gained ground. The ball went to the forwards, and after a short run Watkins received and scored. Boughton, the Gloucester full-back, failed to convert.. Then came tho prettiest piece of play in the match when Caughey ran right through the opposition and scored a try between the posts. But Oliver failed, «ind the match ended: — All Blacks 23 Gloucester and Somerset .. 3 The All Blacks' total was made up of five tries, two of which were converted, and a field goal. WEAK SCRUM WORK. All Blacks Unsuccessful With 3—2—3. VIEWS OF ENGLISH CRITICS. Spccial to N.Z. Press Association. (Rccclvcd 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 3. "The Times," commenting on the All Blacks match against Gloucester and Somerset, said that neither the 3—2—d nor the 3 —4 —1 formations contributed much to the victory of the New Zealandcrs, whose scrummaging remained their weak point. The slow working and bent backs of the forwards led to repeated scrum failures. Howard Marshall, Rugby critic of the "Daily Telegraph," said: "The v i slt °r s scrummaging was as weak as ever. The forwards did not shove. I have iievcr seen so many rounded backs. They reverted to the 3-4—l formation cheerfully and allowed their opponents to get the ball. Possibly they have decided not to bother about scrummaging and rely on flcetncss and alertness. Tho "Daily Mail" said that the forwards did not get as much of the ball as the would have liked, but their sparkle and clash when they cud get possession was a great improvement on the lethargy they displayed against Swansea.