TRIBUTES TO SCOTT

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27192, 9 November 1953, Page 10

TRIBUTES TO SCOTT

BRITISH WRITERS’ PRAISE .

“IMPERTURBABLE IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES ” (Special Correspondent. N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, Nov. 6. "One will treasure memories of a superb # exhibition of full-back play by Scott,” says the “Manchester Guardian,” commenting on the All Blacks* match against Cambridge. “A big, balding man of 32, with a quiet smile almost always on his face, he was imperturable in all circumstances in defence. and yet ' a swift and deadly attacker. “It did not matter whether he had to catch the ball coming straight to him. or going away from, him, in front or behind, always he let it come safely into his arms, wheeled or stepped quietly outside a lonely pursuer or edged calmly between two charging forwards and then banged the ball with resounding thwack 20, 30, or 40 yards to the-best spot on the touchline.

"But. just as Cambridge were getting used to this sort of discomfiture, he did not kick to touch; instead he ran silently up the touchline and booted the ball high and diagonally towards the goal, whither his own forwards were swarming in readiness, and scored.

“Anyone rash enough to kick the ball to him within 40 yards of the Cambridge goal invited him to score a majestic dropkick, and twice he came near his mark.

“When his own side heeled near his own line, he slid* up among the threequarters almost automatically, and ran and passed or kicked the ball away to safety. “Once, deep in the Cambridge half, too, he moved with deadly swiftness into attack and intercepted a pass.” The "Dally Mail” says: “In Jarden the All Blacks have a match-winner possessing tremendous pace and acceleration plus

The “Daily Herald” says Scott is in a class of his own, a superb full-back, and Jarden is the pick of the backs, a sturdy tackler and. a brilliant runner.

The “Daily Express” says Scott is the coolest man seen on the. Rugby fields of England since Nepia. Without his mastery and generalship at Cambridge the New Zealanders could not have cruised home with points to spare.