RUGBY LEAGUE NEW ZEALAND BEATS FRANCE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26492, 6 August 1951, Page 8

RUGBY LEAGUE NEW ZEALAND BEATS FRANCE

Penalty Goal At Call Of Time FINE DEFENCE BY WINNING TEAM (From Our Own Reporter) AUCKLAND, August 5. In a sensational finish to a sensational game, New Zealand beat France in the Rugby League test at Carlaw Park yesterday. When the bell rang for full time, the New Zealand full-back D. White was placing the ball for a penalty kick, with France leading by 15 points to 14. White kicked a fine goal from four yards inside the touchline and New Zealand won by 16 points to 15. New Zealand played 70 of the 80 minutes with 12 men through an injury to the half-back, J. Haig. In the second spell a French forward, M. Martin, was ordered off the field. The game was watched by a record crowd of almost 30,000, and more than £5OOO was taken at the gate.

The game was full of sensations. The first came after 10 minutes of play when New Zealand lost Haig, who was forced to retire with an Injured face. Left with only 12 men on the field. New Zealand gave a wonderful display of defence which for most of the game comp’etely bottled up the brilliant attack of the Frenchmen. With G. Menzies. T. Baxter, and M. Robertson in the back line and the second-row forward, C. Mcßride, and the prop forward, K. English, setting a magnificent example, the defence rose to great heights.

The play was hard from the start, and the players on both sides went through a gruelling 80 minutes. French Team Erratic The game was one of mixed fortunes, with the Frenchmen playing unpredictable footbaU. At one moment they turned on brilliant football which had the weakened New Zealand side defending desperately, and the next moment they "would slump in their passing and let their opponents get the upper hand. The defence of both sides was the outstanding feature of the game, with New Zealand taking the honours with a magnificent display. The Frenchmen attempted to make a lot of play from their second-row forwards, E. Brousse and E. Ponsinet, two big men with outstanding football ability. No better second-row men have ever been seen on the ground. Time and again they attempted to burst through the defence to set their clever backs in action. It was here that the young West Coast five-eighths, Menzies, came right into his own with a magnificent defensive display. Every tackle he made, and he did not miss one all day. was right round the ankles, a fact which early in the game made him the idol of the crowd. When the play went wider out, there were two other backs to carry on with the good work. Baxter at centre gave agreat display of cover defence, in which he received great support from the second five-eighths and captain, Robertson. New Zealand Forwards In the New Zealand pack, Mcßride was the equal of any Frenchman, and turned on his usual magnificent display in all aspects of forward play. Making play for his backs at every opportunity, and tackling with great vim. he was worth his weight in gold to his side. In his first appearance in an international side, English, the Wellington front-row forward, gave a tireless display. Breaking fast from the scrum, he did a great job harrying the French backs with his very solid tackling. C. Johnson. D. Richards-Jolly, and G. Davidson all played their part nobly and kept going against great odds when the scrum was one man short after T. Hardwick had replaced Haig behind the scrum. Although rather at sea in his unaccustomed position. Hardwick gave nothing away, his covering play being hlgn-class. The pick of the New Zealand wings was B. Hough, whose pace saved several likely French moves. When in possession he put plenty of determination into his running. Although caught out of position at times by Puig-Aubert's clever kicking into gaps. White was a tower of strength on defence, tackling very soundly. His last goal to snatch victory for his side was a munificent effort. The Frenchmen spoiled a brilliant exhibition with outbursts of bad temper and clowning. The one player on which much of the blame for these outbursts must be put was the full-back and captain. PuigAubert. One of the finest full-backs ever to come to this country, it was a great pity that he did not curb his temper and entertain the crowd with his football. Many of the crowd were disapoointed with his goal-kicking. He missed two kicks which everyone expected him to put over, but everyone must have been greatly Impressed with his magnificent kicking to the line or into gaps. Duffort Impressive A lot was expected of the crack centre, G. Comes, but on the day he generally found Baxter’s defence too solid. One French back who impressed greatly was the five-eighths, R. Duffort. A big, strong runner with beautiful hands and constructive ability, he had to be tackled soundly all the time. V. Canton! and R. Constrastin were a pair of fine wings who looked for work all the time, and who could only be stopped by sound tackling. J. Crespo, behind the scrum, and J. Merquay produced all their tricks to break down the strong New Zealand defence, but at most times found it too strong to get far. Among the French forwards, the second row men were outstanding and were ably backed up by L. Mazon and P. Bartoletti, two forwards who play hard football. Much praise must go to the referee, Mr J. Griffin (West Coast), for his control of a most difficult game. Had he lost control for a second, the game could easily have got completely out of hand. THE PLAY The teams were:— France.—Full-back, Puig-Aubert; threequarters, R. Constrastin, G. Comes, J. Merquay, V. Canton!; five-eighth, R. Dutfort; half-back, J. Crespo; forwards, F. Montrucolis, E. Brousse, E. Ponsinet. P. Bartoletti. M. Martin, L. Mazon. New Zealand—Full-back, D. White; three-quarters, W. Hough, T. Baxter, J. Forrest; five-eighths, M. Robertson, G. Menzies; half-back, J. Haig; forwards, T. Hardwick, C. Mcßride, D. Richards. L. Jolly, C. Johnson, G. Davidson, K. English.

New Zealand kicked off in ideal weather on a ground which was rather" heavy in patches After both sides bad had a turn on attack. New Zealand tost Haig, who was heavily tackled just as he sent a pass away from the loose. New Zealand kept up the pressure and worked their wav into France’s territory, where White opened the scoring with a nice penalty from 40 yards out. France equalised soon after when Puig-Aubert kicked a great goal from wide out on an acute angleNew Zealand took the lead with a beautiful try started by English, who cut out two men with a long pass to Robertson Robertson sent the ball on to Baxter when he saw Hough covered, Baxter reversed to Menzies, who had raced up on the inside. Menzies took the pass in his stride and flashed over for a lovely try. The kick failed. France took the lead soon after. When Forrest mulled a loose ball, Crespo was on the spot in a flash. He snapped up and sent Canton! over. Puig-Aubert converted.

New Zealand had somewhat the better of the play for the rest of the spell, but there was no further score.

The second spell started with PuigAubert putting France on the attack with fine kicking, but New Zealand forced play back for White to even the score ■"'th another penalty goal. 'axter then scored a great try for New ind. Picking up a dropped pass, he through a gap, giving no one a ce to catch him in the run for the - from outside the twenty-five. White nverted to put New Zealand further lead, 12-7. France then threw everything into the ■Hack, and Brousse crossed after some orilliant passing. However, the final pass had been forward and the referee brought him back. Then came the Martin episode. and from the resultant penalty White kicked another goal and New Zealand lea by 14-7. France was not to be denied, and threw the ball about in all directions Canlom finished one move with an easy try wide out. The kick failed and New Zealand led by 14 pointa to 10. Keeping up the p, essure. France produced an epic try when Ponsinet swung into the passing and went over for a really brilliant effort. Puig-Aubert goaied to put France in front with only 10 minute' left to play. Two minutes before time New Zealand lost Menzies through an iniurv With time almost up. Hough received the ball, ran hard and kicked for the corner. As raced after the bail he was badiv ob lL ruc ? ed by two Frenchmen. , be " rang as White placed the ball for the penalty kick. The crowd roared H 016 . ball went over the middle of g 2 ve New Zealand a sensational victory by 16 points to I#.