AUSTRALIA WINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 237, 7 October 1935, Page 15

AUSTRALIA WINS.

LEAGUE "RUBBER."

DECIDING TEST MATCH,

NEW ZEALAND OVERWHELMED.

In the third and final Test match, the Australian Rugby League team romped homo against New Zealand at Carlaw Park on Saturday, winning by the decisive margin of 31 points to 8.

It was definitely Australia's day. For Hew Zeaaliul one epitaph could be written —they met a better team, a team that played with purpose and collaboration —licet ill pursuit and possession—and which realised that the cardinal virtue of the League game is to maintain possession of the ball. Once again the New Zealand forwards played in the resolute, tireless way which was largely responsible for the Dominion's success in the first Test, but the homo backs were overshadowed by a very brilliant Australian rearguard, which threw the ball about with glad abandon. On the move the visitors disclosed speed which the New Zealand thirteen could not match nor effectively circumvent.

Patchy iti places, the game was one of general brightness, with New Zealand slipping further into the shadows as time went oil. They did their best, but their efforts only went to show that the League code is oil a higher plane in Australia than it is in the Dominion.

If it did nothing else, the encounter revealed the Australians at their best, and demonstrated clearly just what a wonderfully fine side they are. The visitors showed signs of being rattled in the firet spell, which ended with honours even, but, from then onwards they settled down, and with splendid team work repeatedly outwitted the opposition. The Now Zealanders in the first stanza looked as though they might equal their first Test performance, when they bustled the visitors into errors and effectively bottled up their rearguard, but after the interval they once more lapsed into slipshod methods, and the fatal error of tackling high. The result was that the Kangaroos ran rings round the home side, weaving a passage through the defence with comparative ease. Fino Collaboration. The game was brilliant at times, and the pretty collaboration of the Australian team was dazzling. Wherever the ball was thrown there was suro to be an Australian to take it, and these devastating passing bouts, with both forwards and backs combining, utterly demoralised the opposition. Of the New Zealanders little need be said. They were eventually hopelessly outclassed in all departments. Their forwards worked with a will in an effort to keep the score within reasonable bounds, but their backs, with few exceptions, let theih down. The beginning of the end seemed to come when Lou Brown, the New Zealand captain, received a nasty knock when he crashed into the pickets. Brown, who had been playing his usual fine game, and had been holding his men together admirably, did not seem to quite recover from the knock, and was not nearly as lively in the dying stages. It was while ho was on the side-line that the Australians commenced their allconquering march to the goal line, Brown just coming on too late to get across to stop the speedy Hines. Thereafter, scores came in easy stages, the visitors giving the homo side little peace on defence. Teams Compared.

Hunt, at full-iback for New Zealand, was a cardinal weakness. He was uncertain in taking tho 'ball, and frequently his positional play was at fault. The youngsters of the team, Riley, the second five-eighth, and Kay, at centre, were the best backs, and emerged with honours thick upon them. They tackled with a will, :but were unable finally to cope with the superb hacking up of tho visitors. Riley showed promise of greater things, and his two tries were magnificent efforts. Prentice once more demonstrated what a fine defensive five-eighth he is, and, generally speaking, he performed well. Of the forwards Tetley played another fine game, being tireless in the loose and always endeavouring to open up tho play. Others who caught the eye for good, honest work were Calder and Laird.

The Australians left no doubt as to their superiority, and after early setbacks they settled down and ■worked with a. will. Speedy off the mark, every man did his job well, both individually and collectively. Once more Norman, the fiveeighth, was brilliant, and it was his fine thrusts or headwork that made many openings for his side. He ducked and dived his way through the opposition to send his ever-ready supports, McKinnon, Goodwin and Dave Brown, racing for the goal line. Brown was again in form, and he, too, engineered many of the manoeuvres that the visitors crowned with the success they deserved. He was always dangerous in possession, and his wonderful anticipation of the trend of the play not only extricated his side from much trouble but carved a passage through the defence. Thickneese was lively and nippy 'behind the scrum, while the right winger. Hines, played another splendid game. His dash of 40yds in the second spell, which culminated in a glorious try, will be long remembered by Carlaw Park .patrons. It was an effort which stamped him as a winger the equal of many of those who have preceded him in overseas teams. Goodwin, on the opposite flank, played a much-improved game, and was a very difficult man to bring down. His handling, however, was again faulty at times. Ward, the full-back, was head and shoulders above Hunt. He was cool and deliberate in all his work. The forwards teamed well with the tacks, and moro than held their own in tight and loose. W. Prigg was outstanding, while others who acquitted themselves well were F. Curran and R. Stchr. The Play Doscribod. New Zealand were first to score after having territorially the better Of exchanges. After nine minutes of play the hall shot out to Prentice, who crosskicked with nice judgment. Ward, the visitors' full-back, was caught on the wrong foot, and Kiley, following through fast, gathered in his stride and pranced across. Satherly converted. New Zealand ■5, Australia 0. New Zealand had many narrow escapcs in the play that followed, and their defence finally caved in when Ward initiated a left flank passing bout. Prigg.accepted his pass when it came, and then sent the hall along to Dave Brown. With the defence out of position the centre darted across under the posts. He missed the easiest of kicks. New Zealand 5, Australia 3. After a period of give-and-take play the teams went down to a scrum ten yards out from New Zealands last line. The Australians heeled smartly for Thicknesse to whip a pass to Norman. In a twinkling the five-eighth had darted between Prentice and Riley and planted tile ball beside the posts. Dave Brown goaled. Australia 8. New Zealand 5. .Just before the interval Tetley sent a long pass from the loose out to Kay, who drew Goodwin prettily and sent Riley in for his second try. Fletcher's kick failed, and the half-time score was: Australia 8 New Zealand 8 The Sccond Spell. For some time the teams played on even terms following the change over, but when the New Zealand captain, Lou Brown, was receiving attention the Australians opened up ifi line style. Dave Brown made an opening for Hines, who went away from half-way at top. Lou Brown was accorded a hearty cheer as he reappeared, speeded across the held and tackled the winger as lie grounded the hall for a spectacular try. Dave Brown failed to convert. Australian 11, New Zealand 8. Shortly after, when Fletcher-was endeavouring to break through in the ruck, ho had the ball taken from him by Curran, who scored. Brown goaled. rrom a supporting pass to Prigg, who punted, Australia again scored. The ball went through Riley's legs, and 1 rigg dribbled onward. Lou Brown was outwitted, and McKinnon darted in to score. Brown goaled. Australia 21. Now Zealand 8. After New Zealand had t attacked momentarily, the Australian five-eighth, Norman, burst through from half-way,

pretended to reverse to Thickness, and running on, changed direction inwards to' give to McKinnon, -who cut through the opposition. Dave Brown did the rest Australian 20, Now Zealand 8. Before the end came Trigg started the Australians on another passing rush, the movement culminating in Goodwin scoring. Brown missed, and the game ended: Australia gj New Zealand V.B Mr. P. Rogers was ref&rce. WEDNESDAY'S MATCH. PROVINCIAL TEAM. The following team has been selected to represent the Auckland Province against Australia on Wednesday next at Carlaw Park: — Full-back.—Dempsey (Auckland). rhree-quarters.—A. Mitchell (Auckland), Tittleton (South Auckland), G. littletoa (South Auckland). Five-eighths. — A. Kay (Auckland), B. Kiley (Auckland). Half-back.—E. Fletcher (Auckland). Forwards.—D. Herring (Auckland)', H. I'lannagan (Auckland), ,T. Laird (Auckland), L. ITutt (Auckland), Hollowes vNorth Auckland), H. Tctley (Auckland).

RECORD TOUR.

AUSTRALIANS HONOURED.

GOOD WILL CUP PRESENTED

On Saturday evening in the Lewis Eady Hall the Australian team, managers and visitors and the New Zealand players and various officials were the guests of the New Zealand Council on the occasion of the first presentation of the Courtney Good Will Cup. The trophy was formally accepted on .behalf of the winners by the captain, Dave Brown, who, after a flattering reception, made a happy speech. president of the council of tlip Jvcw Zealand Rugby League, in extending a hearty welcome to the guests of honour, apologised for the absence of the Mayor of Auckland, Air. Ernest Davis, and for Mr. H. Walmslcy, for whom one of thevisiting team managers, Mr. J. "VV. Chaseling, subsequently presented to the council a special trophy which, it was suggested, should be devoted to interprovincial schoolboy competition and be known as the; Carlaw Memorial Cup. In his opening remarks Mr. Snedden said he believed that the success of the tour would impress the Australian authorities and lead to more practical co-operation with New Zealand. It was fortunate that an influential member of the Australian Board and one who had done much for the game in Australia, England and Erance—Mr. Harry Sunderland—was one of the managers of the touring side. "There is going to be no looking back as far as our game is concerned in New Zealand," declared Mr. Sneddon, in proposing the toast of the Australian Board. England Will Be Here. Responding, Mr. Sunderland briefly and lucidly touched upon matters leading from the first Australian tour in 1919 to the formation of the Australian Control Board five years later. In the early period New South Wales was able to send the best of her players to New Zealand and was still able to send a team to Queensland with what remained and beat them, but that was not possible since Rugby League had obtained a strong footing in Queensland, where it was to-day the paramount winter game. (Applause.) The speaker, referring to his broadcast of the last quarter of an hour of the match that dayl said that when the final bell rang the people of Australia would rejoice to know, not only that the Kangaroos had won the "rubber" and the Courtney Good Will Cup, but that the tour was a wonderful success beyond the expectations of the authorities or of any of those associated with tho trip. (Applause.) He was very thankful and proud to be associated with the visit and such a splendid lot of players, all of whom had necessarily played their part. After correcting an opinion given in a cablegram published on Saturday, Mr. Sunderland said he desired to give an assurance that the British team had no desire to avoid New Zealand next year, the message intended being that the Englishmen did not desire to extend their tour in New Zealand. The preposition "to" in front of the Dominion's name altering the meaning. Stressing that lie had observed signs of Rugby League progress in this country since last here in 1925, the speaker said ho believed the present tour marked the starting of a new era for the game, that New Zealand would be seen in Australia at an early date, when recent kindnesses to the 1935 team would be gladly repaid. Australian supporters were shocked to know that New Zealand was able to win even one Test match of the series against a team of the calibre of ■ Dave Brown and his men. The speaker referred to the play of Lou Brown and Cooke, and to incidents in tho games, and pointed out that the building up of teams like tlii Kangaroos, and the development of team play meant a great deal of sacrifice on the part of the boys themselves. Mr. Sunderland concluded by emphasising that the tour had 'been an extraordinary success not dreamed of. Oave Brown Accepts Trophy. "It gives special pleasure to players, officials and supporters that this great 1935 Australian team are first winners of this handsome trophy," said Mr. Snedden, "because the players proved themselves gentlemen both on and off the field and are therefore best fitted to foster tho spirit wished by the donor, Mr. Roy Courtney, to whom all in the game are grateful for this splendid international symbol." Mr. Snedden added "that while New Zealand regretted losing tho cup, it was satisfactory that the trophy was to be played for alternately in the two countries. Dave Brown acknowledged the tributes and paid compliment to his team mates. Alluding to a remark that the Australians were caught on the hop in the first Test, Dave Brown said that was not the case. His side was beaten by a better team on the day. Dominion Progress Noted. Mr. W. J. Chaseling, at whose request those present stood in brief silence in memory of Messrs. A. H. Baskerville, D. W. McLean and J. Carlaw, said that from what he had seen of New Zealand teams in Australia during the past 25 years, the Dominion standard of play had greatly improved. . Mr. G. Grey Campbell, chairman of the Auckland League, joined heartily in the general congratulations to the visitors, who play Rugby League as it should bo played and showed a respect for their opponents after the first Test. The tour was going to do much good for New Zealand. Mr. Vic. Jensen, patron of the Queensland League, in proposing the toast of the New Zealand team, said great credit was due to tho home sides for their performances against this great Australian combination. He congratulated Bert Cooke and Lou Brown on their play. Bert Cooke said lie was proud to play his last match against Dave Brown's marvellous Australians, and lie hoped the Kangaroos would do well against England next year. The toast of the "Referees" was proposed by Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P., and responded to bv Mr. Jack Latta (visiting referee) and Mr. L. Bull, secretary of the New Zealand Referees' Association. The Rev. W. Panapa spoke on behalf of the New Zealand Maori Rugby League Control Board, and led a haka, to which the Australians responded by singing "Advance, Australia Fair." During tho evening entertaining items were given by, two players, Eric Lewis and Frank Curran, and Perce Fairall received a friendly gesture on the occasion birthday—tho third spent in New Zealand on football tours. GRADE GAMES. JUNIOR GRADE.' Ngaruawahia 10, beat City 8. FOURTH GRADE. Semi-final.—Glenora 25, beat City 10. HOUSE MATCHES. Heard's, Ltd., S, beat Woolworths (N.Z.), Ltd., 0.