DEFEAT OF ALL BLACKS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25226, 3 July 1947, Page 4

DEFEAT OF ALL BLACKS

RUGBY FOOTBALL

Auckland Superior On

WetJField HONOURS TO HOME FORWARDS

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, July 2. With a grand display of wet weatlftr football, the Auckland representative Rugby team beat the All Biecks by 14 points to 3 to-day. The Auckland forwards won the match by keeping the ball at toe.

The All Black pack was comparatively lifeless, while the Auckland pack was full of vigour, and the between the two sets was reflected in Auckland’s winning margin of 11 points. In spite of heavy rain which fell throughout the morning, nearly' 25,000 people watched the match. The ground was more wet than muddy and players of both sides had difficulty in keeping their feet and handling the ball, particularly during the last half-hour, when rain began to fall again. Within three minutes of the start O’Callaghan goaled from a penalty to put Auckland in the lead. A few minutes later O’Callaghan put Auckland further ahead with another penalty goal. Both were good kicks with a greasy ball. For the next 20 minutes Auckland had the better of play, but the All Blacks, with their passing movements were sometimes extremely dangerous Auckland scored the first try just inside the half-hour, when Tregoweth and O’Callaghan were associated in a dribbling movement stopped just on the line. Webster tried to clear, but Christian charged the ball down and followed the rebound to score. O'Callaghan converted At half-time Auckland led 11-0. The All Blacks had much more fire at the start of the second spell than in the first and they made several strong attacks, which mostly were held up close to the line. Kingstone collared Goddard when the latter took a bouncing ball right on the line. Then Allen put a penalty kick into midfield and from a ruck Tetzlaff gave the ball to J. C. Kearney, who Confused the defence with a double dummy and went across in a tackle for a try. The game was - nearly over when Auckland stored again. A ruck near the New Zealand line was dangerous and when the ball came clear, Crowley dived on to It.