All Blacks Defeat Northern Universities On Hard Ground By 17 To 3

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 15057, 18 August 1949, Page 3

All Blacks Defeat Northern Universities On Hard Ground By 17 To 3

Match At Pretoria

TRIES SCORED BY McHUGH, MEATES AND M. P. GODDARD

(Rcc. 8.10 a.m.) London, August 17. At Pretoria before a crowd of ,25,000 people, the All Blacks defeated the Northern Universities by 17 points to 3. New Zealand gained three tries, by M. J. McHugh, W. A. Mcatcs, and M. P. Goddard.

Jack Goddard converted one and kicked two penalties. Northern Universities points canie from a penalty.

The weather was hot and the ground hard. There were two changes in the New Zealand team, K. J. Skinner replaced J. G. Simpson in the front row Simpson had a bout of flu and H. F. Frazer replaced L. R. Harvey in the lock position.

The Universities team was quite a strong one, every one of the 15 having played at one time or another for his province. The team was made up of players from the Universities of Pretoria, Johannesburg, and the Orange Free State. It was a good game from the spectators' point of view, although there was a mixture of sTanpy play and rtood piiv. With R. R. Elvidge playing in his usual position as second

five-eighths, he was able to give the bail to Maurice Goddard at centre, and Goddard was able to use his speed, though, towards the end of the game, he was puffing a great deal. Nevertheless, he gave the necessary speed to the back line, and, at times, they looked really first class. First points came to New Zealand, when Jack Goddard kicked a penalty after 20 minutes of play. Just before that, however, G. W Delamore had nearly scored, after following through, but the ball was forced.

Just on half time with play definitely in New Zealand's favour most of the time there was a lineout 12 or 13 yards from the goal line on the New Zealand right-wing side. The ball was thrown in and McHugh secured it, made a burst and

went over in a tackle about six yards from the corner. The half time score was: New Zealand 6, Northern Universities 0.

Early in the second half, N. H. Thornton took a penalty kick from about seven yards inside half-way. Though he had the distance, the ball went outside the post. The universities, kicked a penalty to make the score 6-3, and both sides started to get down to business. About ten minutes later, Jack Goddard kicked another penalty to give New Zealand the lead by 9 points to three.

At no time could it be said the All Blacks looked as though they would be beaten. The Universities however, saw plenty of the ball.

From a line-out the ball was thrown out to Universities No. 8. Thornton grabbed him, the ball shot out and Delamore took it. He moved across towards the centre —threw a long pass out towards Meates, about the ten yard mark. Meates ran to the half way, and when he was tackled he threw the ball out to Delamore again, and Delamore kicked to the centre. Universities fullback could not field the ball and Thornton was there, picked it up, passed it to W. J. M. Conrad, Conrad moved. a couple of steps, passed to Meates, and Meates ran ten yards to score a nice try. Jack Goddard converted from right by the sideline. Just on. time, Maurice Goddard intercepted the ball 40 yards from the goal line, ran hard and scored about eight yards from the corner, making the final score. New Zealand 17, Northern Universities 3.