THRILLS IN ALL BLACKS' MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 265, 8 November 1935, Page 7

THRILLS IN ALL BLACKS' MATCH.

OXFORD BEATEN. One Point Separates Teams In Great Game. SADLER SAVES NEW ZEALAND. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 7. The All Blacks defeated Oxford University by 10 points to 9 after leading 5 —4 at half-time. Best replaced McLean, who was injured. The teams were:— All Blacks. Full-back: Gilbert. Three-quarters: Ball, Oliver, Mitchell. Five-eighths: Caughey, Griffiths. Half-back: Sadler. Front Row: Lambourn, Hadley, Pepper. Middle Row: Reid, McKenzie, Best, Vorrath. Back Row: Mahoney. Oxford University. Full-back: Stuart-Watson. Three-quarters: A. Obolensky, M. Walford, R. Harding, Rees-Jones. Halves: C. Grieve, J. M. S. McShane (New South Wales Rhodes Scholar). Front Row: L. Brett, N. McGratli, J. Pienaar (South Africa). Middle Row: G. Read, G. Roos (South Africa), M. C. G. Cooper (New Zealand), C. Bloxham. Back Row: H. Hughes. Within a few minutes of the start, the All Blacks were on the move, Mitchell looking dangerous, but he was brought down. Gilbert narrowly missed a penalty kick, after which he had to go hard to haul down Obolensky, who, with a great 50 yards dash after snapping up, dropped his pass.

Heavy rain throughout the first half was causing Oxford to drop passes. Cooper, the New. Zealander, captain of Oxford, failed with a penalty. Then came the chance of a try by the All Blacks but Ball knocked on his pas 3 from Oliver. The game was even, the All Blacks getting the ball repeatedly from the scrums.

Grieve cleverly dropped a goal after which McKenzie scored from a forward rush, although he was apparently offside. Gilbert, who goaled, had previously missed an easy penalty.

Oxford scored a sensational try after the resumption. Walford and Harding, securing from a scrum, pierced the defence and passed to Prince Obolensky, whose pace enabled him to score beneath the posts. Brett goaled. McShane was playing a great game, often dummying through and opening up the game, but a blow on the head forced him to retire. He returned with his head bandaged after 15 minutes. The teams fought strenuously. Finally Sadler, who was persistently working the blind side of the scrum, dived over at the corner. Gilbert goaled magnificently. UNLUCKY TO LOSE. English Critics on Form of All Blacks. LIVE OXFORD BACKS. (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, November 7. The critics agree that Oxford were unlucky to lose. Mr. Howard Marshall, in the "Daily Telegraph," says: The All Blacks' forwards are now coming into their own and will for the remainder of the tour carry the team to any victories achieved. The "News-Clironicle" says: Gilbert's fine display pulled the All Blacks through.

The "Daily Sketch" says: The All Blacks were better together in the lineouts and loose, but the 3 —4—1 scrummage was inefficient. The tourists' backs did not compare favourably with the live Oxford three-quarters.