Win Snatched from Kangaroos

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 193, 16 August 1937, Page 14

Win Snatched from Kangaroos

TWO HURT.

FORWARDS GO OFF. AUSTRALIA'S MISFORTUNE. BEATEN 16 POINTS TO 15. i i The X'ew Zealand Rug-by League representatives won the second Test against the Australian touring team by 16 points to 15 at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon. It was a teuse and Interesting encounter, which thrilled the crowd from bell to bell. The Xew Zealanders played grandly, but the run of the luck was all their way, as the Kangaroos' ranks were sadly depleted owing to injuries. At one stage the visitors had three men off the field, while for the greater part of the game they played two men short. Theirs was a great battle against odds, and the story of their valiant efforts is told in the result —a single point margin between the teams. Xew Zealand's \4ctory means that the Trans-Tasman Cup wUI be held for six months by each team. One was left to speculate what the result of the game might have been but for the misfortune* that overtook Australia. Early in the match they lost Pearc-e. one of their best forwards, with a broken leg. and immediately the second half started they lost Gibbs, another of their best forwards, with a rib injury. Later in the same Prigg. their captain, had to go off, but he returned to help his side. Handicap Too Much.

At half-time the Australians were leading by 15 points to 6. They struck a brilliant patch to forge well into the lead, and at that etage it seemed that the fortune of New Zealand might be the same as on some former occasions in League Test matches. But the two vacancies among the forwards wrecked the Australian scrum formation for set work and it proved a handicap that could not be overcome. From that point on Xew Zealand had the better of the game. They were on top. They struggled on and emerged one point in front. Xew Zealand were the victors, but in assessing the merit of their win the fact that almost right through a tori id second half Australia had to make a desperate fight against odde must be taken into account. By rising to the occasion in heroic fashion the touriets kept the issue in doubt right to the final whistle. It was the second of the two Test matches played in Auckland within the of a week. The pla;r Auckland

Without quite rising to the heights that he did in the Maori match Brodrick was the pick of the Xew Zealand van, but he had good support all the way from Glynn, Gault and Cootes. The cares of captaincy appeared to be too much for Tetley. He was not a success as the last man down. How the Play Went.

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. lavage, who attended the match in company with the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Walter Savage, set the game in progress by kicking off, after shaking hands with the members of both teams. The game had not been long in progress when Xew Zealand were penalised, aiid Beaton kicked a good penalty goal. Australia continued to press until driven back by the Xew Zealand forwards. When Xew Zealand were in an attacking position Halloran gathered, cut in and whipped the ball out to Tittleton, to Davison. who scored at the corner. Davison failed to convert. Xew Zealand, 3; Australia, 2.

New Zealand did not hold the lead for long, for when Pearce got the ball out from the ruck. Beaton and Prigg combined to send McLean over as he was tackled from behind by Tittleton. Beaton failed to convert. Australia, 5; New Zealand, 3. At thk statge Pearce broke a leg when tackling Xepia. and although Australia played on with only twelve men they more than held their own in all departments. Smart covering defence, however, crippled an attack by the Kangaroos, and then Brodrick raced away to set the Xew Zealand backs in motion. It was a crisp movement which caught the visitors napping, and culminated in Davison scoring his second try. Davison again failed to convert. Xew Zealand. 6: Australia. 5. After Xorman had cut throush brilliantlv he was

tackled by Xepia. but Gibbs and Nolan backed up quickly for the latter to score near the Beaton missed an easy kick. Australia. 8; Xew Zealand. 6. Just before the interval McLean flashed into a movement to cut right through the Xew Zealand defence, and Williams converted. The half-time score was: — Australia 15 Xew Zealand 6 Soon after resumption another Australian forward in Gibb* had to retire with a rib injury, and this actually proved the turning point in the game lor the visitors. Xew Zealand set about overhauling the Australians' score, and firstly good team work by their forwards resulted in Satherley burstinz over to score under the uprights. Xepia converted. Australia. 15; Xew Zealand, 11. After a period of give-and-take play Xepia kicked a beautiful penalty goal from 40 yard* out to make the score: Australia. 15; Xew Zealand. 13.