ALL BLACKS v. COUNTIES

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 264, 7 November 1935, Page 12

ALL BLACKS v. COUNTIES

BETTER FORM.

LANCASHIRE DOWN.

ALL BLACKS IMPROVE.

FINE FORWARD DISPLAY.

A TASTE OP THEIR BEST.

(By S. G. Nicholls, "Star" Special Correspondent with the All Blacks.) (By Air Mail.) "October 5. The All Blacks were alive to the fact that their encounter with the combined sides of Lancashire (last year's county champions) and Cheshire was going to be one of the hardest, and that their forwards were up against a tough proposition. That they won out to the tune of 21 to 8 after being five points down five minutes after hostilities commenced shows their fighting spirit and resolution, which will be needed in the major games that are ahead.

Their forwards hopped into the fray in real AH Black fashion, and gave a taste of "what' everyone has been long awaiting. The Counties fielded a solid side, including five internationals, Watcyn Thomas, Claude Davey (Welsh), and Fry, Heaton and Leyland (English), besides several others who are knocking at the door, and much was expected of them. In fact, it was freely expressed that they would lower the All Blacks colours, and, to add an extra note to their keenness, the English selection committee was present in full force. New Zealand Form. There were four changes in the All Blacks, Brown, Adkins, McKenzie and Best coming into the side, so it can be seen that the back line was to all intents and purposes the same as played at Bristol so successfully. It appeared from the start that upon the ability of the forwards would hang the fate of the side. The forward duel lasted throughout the day, and honours must be given for the first time on the tour to the Black pack. True, they didn't run away with their opponents, but they always gave a little more than they got and they revealed a pleasing return to their New Zealand form. The backs also did their job in workmanlike manner and showed characteristic penetration and opportunism that is the most successful method of attack.

There were several brilliant movements in the game; but on the whole the match was somewhat, featureless, and more time was spent in the lineouts and useless scrumming than in any other game to date. And there were far too many penalties —the majority being recorded ■ against the Blacks. All Blacks Awake. ..;;'»■< During the second part of the second spell the Blacks sat on their lead and were content to hold their own," but the Counties, realising that it would soon be too late, roused themselves and awoke the AH Blacks from their inertia" •with the result that the Blacks added a further eight points to their tally, making the scores 21 to 5. Shortly before the finish of the match Mycock kicked a penalty goal through Sadler not putting the ball in the scrum correctly. This "putting the ball in" business is an absolute farce over here, even more so than it is in New Zealand —so you can realise what a terribly monotonous affair the whole thing is.

The honours of the day go to Gilbert. He gave an almost perfect exhibition. He handled •well and kicked with good length, and his positional play was sound. In these last two games he has come on a lot and, considering the state of to-day's ground, it must be sa-id that his performance was full of merit. To Oliver one must also hand adequate praise, as he was the mainstay and inspiration of the backs. He showed pace and used the dummy to good effect, and to-day his tackling was of high order. Hart and Brown, on the wings, did not have overmuch to do, but each showed his pace wlien necessary, and did jobs like a tradesman. Griffiths in Form. . Caughey combined well with Oliver and Griffiths, and can only be faulted on his defence, which is not up to his other qualifications. Griffiths did an excellent job of work and looked the part of a first five-eight. His defence was first rate, and he backed up splendidly, Sadler, the übiquitous, was everywhere. This little fellow, with his play has endeared himself to all, and all day he was dodging in and out and bringing them down in great style. His scrum work is good, but on a heavy ground his passes could have more length.

All the forwards played as a side. They packed and shoved with enthusiasm, and they are to be congratulated individually and collectively. Adkins, who scored two good tries, showed a real burst of speed, one of his tries being a typical All Blacker. Hore led the forwards in his usual energetic way, and showed thera how to keep the ball at their toes in many effective .dribbling rushes. Lambourn hooked capably and his pfcxy generally was up to standard. Reid and Best packed on the side of the scrum, whilst Vorrath was the back row man. Reid broke away in great style, and his form to-day showed that he is now in good shape. A powerful player and fast is-he.

Best and Vorrath are a good pair of ■workers and in another game or two should be ready for anything. King and McKenzie locked the scrum and made it bind well—the beet so far to date. Both are fast and impress one that they are going to make names for themselves. They are always in the thick of things and their line-out work is of a high order. Counties Backs Fail. Much was expected of the Counties backs, but they were somewhat let down by the inability of Bowker, at first fiveeighth (or stand-off half), to take his passes from Pank, the scrum half. Bowker stood far too deep, a common fault over here, and hardly ever accepted the ball cleanly. In consequence, both Leyland and Heaton got Tew chances of getting off the mark properly, and Claude Davey (the Welsh international and Swansea captain) was veritably starved on the wing. Indeed, he only touched the ball half a dozen times during the game and on two of these occasions he came up between the scrum and fly halves. Sever, on the other wing, aiso had little to do, but what he did he managed to do well. His try was a splendid effort and must surely have impressed the English selectors. Home, at full-back, was completely outshone by Gilbert. The All Blacks' showed to advantage to-day and are decidedly on the improve.

SCRAMBLED HOME.

EIGHTH MATCH WON.

NORTHUMBERLAND DOWN.

ALL BLACKS FLATTERED,

(Br S. G. NICHOLAS, "Star" special correspondent -with the All Blacks.)

(By Air Mail.) LONDON, October 9. The scene of the eighth match of the tour was laid at Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne. The ground, an excellent one. was enclosed in a greyhound racecourse and this enabled everyr>oc7y bar the players to be under cover. All the circumstances portended that the All Blacks would register some tall scoring nere - * -KT XT. The combined counties of JNortßumberland and Durham, although they included three internationals, Harrison (wing three-quarter), Hodgson (who visited New Zealand in 1930) and McLaren (Scottish), forwards, were reputed to be not up to standard. The All Blacks, flushed with easy victories in their last two games and showing marked improvement in their style and play, were expected to give of their best. The All Blacks made. seven changes, Solomon coming in at full-back, Ball on one wing and Corner at half, while Pepper, McLean, Collins and Wynyard replaced Adkins, Best, King and Vorrath. The forwards, who have all put on considerable weight, averaged over 2021b, and who appeared to be at least a stone heavier all round than the Northerners, maintained their scrummaging improvement, winning 20 set scrums to 24. They held their own in the tight, but on the line-out and in the loose they did not have things all their own way. And, although they successfully hooked the ball, it did not shoot out to assist Comer in getting it away to any extent. The pack must realise that they must push and push and never for a moment relax. Colourless Backs. The backs never at any time gave the impression that they possessed any brilliance. They were fairly sound on defence, but all the same they were decidedly lucky to have come off with the score board reading the right way, for, in fact, they just scrambled home. There was far too much individualism; they all played disjointedly and kicked too much and in all were quite an indifferent combination.

The Counties' forwards stood up to their task in great style; they positively refused to be trampled upon, and at the finish were battling away determinedly and persistently. Their backs were in no whit inferior to the All Blacks, and the best play of the game came from them, but over-eagerness spoiled many of their efforts, and they blundered badly throughout when in handy scoring positions.

The Blacks led at half-time by seven to three. Ball first scored a simple try from a line-out near the line. He picked up the ball, avoided -a half-hearted tackle and scored. Then Griffiths received from Corner and dropped a neat left-footed goal. The Counties' score came from a brilliant scrum movement from inside their own half. The ball went across the chain of backs to Oldroyd, who scored. The game had only restarted a minute when Ball made a run and short-kicked for the line, his speed enabling him to beat Oldroyd for the touchdown.

The final score came from the Counties six minutes before the end. They had the All Blacks penned up, and from a scrum Goldson handed on to McLaren, the stand-off half, and he dived over for a try. The rest of the game was all in favour of the Counties. Going great guns, they made attack after attack, and lost a golden opportunity right under the posts in the last minute of the game. The final whistle, was a great relief to the harassed All Blacks.

Corner was hampered all day by the Counties' breakaways, and, although he showed glimpses of his old form, he is not happy when opposed to fast-break-ing forwards. Griffiths handled nicely, but overdid' kicking. His dropped goal was a niece piece of work. Caughey appeared to be stale, and did not produce his best. Oliver dashed around and was ever resourceful, but even he did not reveal his customary thrust. Brown did not see much of the ball, and the two kicks he made at goal were not successful. Ball showed his worth and notched six very important points. In fact, the two Poneke club mates did well in scoring the whole ten points for their side. In-and-out Play. Solomon played in-and-out football at full-back. His handling was good at times, and he kicked hard and forcefully, but he does not impress or inspire confidence. Hore led the forwards, and exhorted them throughout. Reid, McKenzie and Collins appeared to' the best advantage. The Counties' pack was finely led by Hodgson, who was in great form $nd condition, whilst Nicholson, McLaren and Suddcs ably supported him.

The half-backs, Goldson and McLaren, played with-little understanding, but, considering this was McLaren's initial effort at fly-half, this fault is somewhat excusable, and the Counties have only themselves to blame that it was here that they lost the game. Bland and Bailey at centre were only just as good as their opposltes, but Harrison, on the wing, worked overtime and came out with honours. ~oldroyd, on the other wing, was not given much scope, but accomplished all that was asked of him. Blench, at full-back, appeared nervous and was definitely weak. The referee, Mr. Gadney, of London brother of Gadney, England's international scrum half, kept up-well with the game and was efficient.

The game ended with the score reading ten to six. This flattered the All Blacks.