FIRST BLOOD TO N.Z.

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 232, 27 June 1932, Page 11

FIRST BLOOD TO N.Z.

AU Blacks Win 13—11 NOT MANY THRILLS Late Effort Succeeds* McLEAN BEST FORWARD By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright (Rec. June 26, 5.5 pan.) Sydney, June 26.. New Zealand snatched victory inthe last two minutes in the Rugby j match against New South Wales. Only rarely did they thrill the < crowd of 26,730. Though they were the better sido> practically in attack, they failed to impress as being as I strong as most of their predecessors from New Zealand, and they must ( improve vastly before the Tests. » The most promising feature was the infusion of more life in the second spell, due to a greater share of possession from set scrums. The formation in the first spell was 3-3-2, but their change to 34-1 allowed New South Wales to win only two scrummages in the second half. Moreover, New Zealand were regularly beaten for the ball In the lineout, though 'occasionally they broke through to check New South Wales’ back movements. Their counteracting tactics in the second half were a longer throw in, the tall forwards congregating well outside the five yards line. Few Concerted Movements. Collins was sound, but not. brilliant. Ball and Bullock-Douglas were impressive. Both had limited opportunities. Pollock was enterprising in face of the incessant spoiling of the home breakaways, but the ball came too slowly to Caughey, . resulting in few - concerted back rushes. ...... Kilby was superb in handling, anticipation, and accurate line kicking, and was responsible for many of New Zealand’s inroads. McLean was easily the outstanding ■■ forward. All the front .rankers were capable specialists and tuckers. Lacked All Black Pugnacity.

.The main weakness lay in the lack of combination. First impressions indicate a lack of virility and typical All Black pugnacity. There was no comparison between the form in the first and second spells. The opening was uninspiring and ragged. The teams left the field at the Interval. It was obvious that there had been a team talk for speed and variation of method were more noticeable in the second spelt New Zealand had the wind in the first spell, the only, advantage taken of it being by Kilby kicking, it was half an hour before the first score was registered. This was a try by Campbell, who passed inside, breaking the forwards off their balance.■ They had anticipated a flanking movement. Wanganui Winger Unlucky. Previously Bullock-Douglas was unlucky, a short punt over Ross’s head rolling into touch-in-goat a yard past the corner flag. Malcolm had a feast from the lineout and scrummages, but the New South Wales backs were stereotyped and unable to outflank the visitors. The lighter New South Wales forwards held their own in rucking and opportunism, while the tackling of both sides was excellent. Solomon showed greater anticipation -once when Hosts, coming among the backs, scissor-passed to Malcolm. Several defenders were caught by the change of direction, but Solomon envisaged the whole movement.' : . _ Thrilling Movements. Thrills began immediately after resuming. Metcalfe and Purdue led a forward advance toward the goal, Purdue losing the ball when tackled from behind. Soon a lapse which might have cost the game ended in,a fine movement initiated by Pollock breaking down through- Ball letting the ball slip from his grasp wheu’clear of all defenders with an open goal line in front of him. Tho reward of sustained pressure was a try, Cottrell touching down in a scramble on the Now South Wales line. The solitary New South Wales raid in this period led to them securing a try. Pollock misjudged a bounce, and Loudon seized, gathered it again from Towers from a wild in-pass, and crossed under the bar. Ross converted. New South Wales S, New Zealand 3. As the result of brilliant sustained work by the forwards, and the winning •of the ball in three successive scrums, including a five yards scrum after Martel bad run back to force, Kilby’s and Lllburne’s passes to BullockDouglas, the snappiest of the match, saw the winger cross at the corner. Pollock converted magnificently. New South Wales 8, New Zealand 8. •' The Winning Try. Ross kicked a penalty goal following n dangerous forward rush, giving New South Wales the lead ten minutes before the whistle. New Zealand’s dosing efforts roused intense excitement. Play was opened up on every available chance. The winning try was the result of a weak drop-out. There were no New South Wales forwards near King, who fumbled and Cottrell scooped up the rolling ball and had an open passage. He scored in a nice position; and Pollock converted. New Zealand 13, New South Wales 11. New Zealand were racing into position for another try as the bell went. A feature of the match was that sixteen penalties in the first spell were evenly split and none was of kickable distance. Kilby, the New Zealand captain, in an interview, said, they might easily have lost. Combination would come with match practice. The forwards lacked an understanding of successful scrummaging with the 3-3-2 formation. The New South Wales defence was grand. AUSTRALIAN TEST TEAM To Play New Zealand (Rec. June 26, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, June 26. The team to represent Australia agalns' the AU Blacks In the first test next Saturday Is as follows:— Full-hack: Ross. Three-quarters: Cowper. King. Sturt ridge, Steggall. Five-eighth: Lawton (captain). Half; Malcolm. Forwards: Clarke. White. Bridle, Bland Cook. Love. Bonis, Ceruttl. The team Includes six Queenslanders am two Victorians. Tho remainder aro Net South Wales players.