FAST MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 239, 9 October 1935, Page 9

FAST MATCH.

ALL BLACKS' TOUR. AUSPICIOUS START. "BUT NOT WORLD-BEATERS." forwards must push. (By Air Mail.) (By S. G. NICHOtiLS, "Star" Special Correspondent with the All Blacks.) LONDON, September 20. The All Blacks gave ample evidence at Devoiiport in their opening match against the combined counties of Cornwall anil Devon that their tour will bo a great success. They made a splendid impression on the packed Rectory ground (18,000), and although they themselves are not wholly satisfied with their showing, they convinced me that they can produce the goods that the public want. They play a most attractive game, in a light, fast and breezy manner. They are definitely not world beaters, hut they will assuredly develop into a good healthy combination that will always bo a dangerous scoring side, as they possess that essential zip, sparkle and dash and can snap tip those most valuable of all Rugby trifles, the opportunist tries.

They took quite a fair time to settle down, and it was 25 minutes before they scored their first try, although Gilbert in the first eight minutes had opened New Zealand's scoring account with a nice penalty from the half-way mark, and 12 minutes later had dropped an apparently effortless goal from just inside tho counties' twenty-five line. From then on tho All Blacks had the situation well in hand and were never really extended. All the backs played stylishly. They were quick off the mark, bac-kecl up well and gave the ball plenty of air. The forwards individually also played well, but despite their extra height and weight they were more than held by the counties' energctic but clumsier packmen, who in tho set scrums simply shoved the All Blacks for yovd3 and yards, on far too many occasions. This scrum business: is a poser, anil will cause Manager Morcditli and .'lis merry lads somo deep and serious thinking before long. Devastating In Loose. The Blacks packed 3-4-1, witli McLean as the back row man. He put in the ball. McLean in tho first half never really shoved, in fact lii> was rarely in the scrum, and in these first 40 minutes the counties won the majority of the scrums. In tho second half Corner placed tho ball in a:id McLean put his weight into the pacl:, with the- result that the All Blacks effectively contrived to assist Hadley to slightly shado the counties' hooking. Our forwards will have to scrum and pac'i far better than this. Their line out play was also not convincing, but in the loose they were devastatingly great and were simply all over their opponent?. The ground was in excellent order, well grassed and cut, and although a squally warm rain came on during the gamo it did not affect tho trend of the game to any extent, except that it made the ball somewhat slippery for the backs to handle with accuracy. With any sort of luck the score sheet might have been improved by another three tries at least.

The counties' back play was not rip to Seddon Shield standard. Their inside backs were particularly futile, and there Was a complete absence of constructive play behind the scrum, although two old stager 3 in Knapman (aged 36) and Roy Jennings (who accompanied the 1930 British side to New Zealand) played up in good style. Jennings, by the way, kicked a phenomenal penalty goal from well over the other side of the half-way lino and right out by the touch-line —a beautiful kick. Honest Triers. The counties' eight forwards .deserve full marks for being honest triers. They used their feet well, harassed our backs at times in dribbling rushes, and stood up to their bigger adversaries in heroic style, never getting downhearted. And did they push? This phase of the game was. an object-lesson to the other _ All Blacks sitting in the stand. Tho first half of the game was full of thrillsl and provided plenty of the best Rugby faro possible. Tho score at halftime was 18 to 6. The second half had been no longer than three minutes in progress when Gilbert had kicked two nice penalty goals, arid from then on, with tho score at 24 to 6, it was only a matter of how many points the All Blacks would score. They scored another eleven points, and that they did not record another dozen on top of this is solely due to over-eagerness and trivial mistakes being made when scores were imminent.

On one occasion Malioney, with five others at his side, had only to take an easy pass to score under the posts, but ho knocked on badly. Again Oliver made a great run, only to overdo it near the lino with two men outside him unmarked. Once a forward pass robbed Oliver of a certain try, and so on. Gilbert's Triumph. Gilbert made his mark in this match. Indeed, it was a personal triumph for him. Ho opened the scoring account of tho tour eight minutes after the commencement with a nice penalty, a little later he dropped a pretty field goal, and registered all told 17 points with his boot in his first appearance as a wearer of the silver fern. His fielding and positional play wjis particularly sound, and ho is to be congratulated on a good allround performance. He never reached the heights of a Nepia, for ho docs not possess that flair, but his play was nicely moulded and bore quite a stamp of character, something he did not show tho public at either Christchurcli or Wellington In the trials. And in this game he nearly had the distinction of scoring a try at tho end of the match. I think he would have scored had it not been for another player hanging on too long when right in striking distance. Both wing three-quarters played dashingly. Hart was always looking irr work and will cnoro a whole lot of points on this tour. Ho makes frequent changes of direction, but his run at present is somewhat inclined to be infield and this is liable to cramp his centre. I have no doubt that lie will soon remedy this fault and then make a beeline straight for the line.

Caughey Impressive. Ball, with his dangerous cut-in, dodged about, ran hard, and combined well with his inside player, using the reverse pass several times. Oliver at centre played soundly, handled well and collaborated with and coached Caughey throughout at second five-eighth, a position that was new to him. Caughey's performance was impressive. He often found the pap and always ran hard, and straight. He took the ball and picked up well, and whilst his defence was not actually weak ho must learn to tackle

low and not go for tho top-piece. In this game lie attempted two drops at goal whilst in handy position around the goal-posts, when lie should have forwarded tho ball out to his mates. Passing must not be discarded when forcin S the pace on your opponents' line. lago played a sterling game, varying his attack and passing beautifully. Corner was at all times quick at the base of the scrum and combined effectively with Page. Some of his passes were of good length and all had good direction. He received a fair gruelling from the counties' forwards, but his nimbleness saved him throughout. He has, however, to learn to vary his play more, as it showed too much orthodoxy. I would like to see him give it a go on his own sometimes. Bill Hadley played a great game. He hooked well, and there were times when tho ball came out of the scrum like a shot from a gun. Ho is to be congratulated on his ga.mo performance, for during tho match ho received a severs fracture of the mantilla —the bone under the right eye. Early in the game he got a hard knock, and then later on received another severe crack, but gamely played on (reminiscent of his brother Swin, who, at Johannesburg in tho second Test in 1925, played throughout tho game in tho front row with a fractured collarbone). Hadley collapsed after tho game, and was taken to Plymouth Hospital. At the time of writing it is considered that he will be unablo to play for at least a month. Compact Front Row. Horo and Lainbourn wero a good pair, and wero consistently on tho ball all day. They combined excellently with Hadley, and made a compact and solid front row. Reid and King grafted solidly as locks, and were particularly noticeable in fast following up. Both scored tries by this method. Manchester had a busy day, and played honestly throughout. He exhorted his men to follow his example in the line-out, and altogether his play was solid and convincing. Mahoney played a hard game, and was quite on a par with liis team mates. McLean made a great impression in the first half. Ho was everywhere—but in the scrum. His exhibition would have particularly pleased the New Zealand public, as nobody in the world can play the roving game like McLean, but it is a different mutter over here in England, and the pack will find they will have to push and push and then push some more, otherwise tliey will wake up one afternoon and find that their colours have been sadly trampled in the mud.

Mr. John Hughes, of London, was never a terse referee, and in this match he was a very tolerant man with the whistle indeed, that is when the scrums jrot down and the ball had to be put in time and again.

Lord Bledisloe watched the game, and before play commenced was introduced to both teams. Our haka was not given, and this caused quite a deal of comment from the crowd. They like it and expect it.

The game ended 35 to 6. The All Blacks were never really extended.