COMFORTABLE WIN

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 80, 28 December 1935, Page 11

COMFORTABLE WIN

All Blacks Beat London Counties THREE FIELD GOALS Forwards Magnificent In Closing Stages By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright. Loudon, Eicember 26. The New Zealand Rugby football team defeated London Counties at Twickenham by 24 points to 5, after leading 7-0 at half-time. Fierce work by the forwards and individual efforts by the backs distinguished the New Zealanders’ fine win. They demonstrated the value of intensive backing-up and their ability to make the best use of the slightest opening. The teams were New Zealand. —G. Gilbert; N. Ball, N. Mitchell, G. F. Hart; J. L. Griffiths, E. W. Tindill; M. M. Corner, captain; A. Lambourn, W. E Hadley, J. Flore, R, McKenzie, R. K. King, ST. Reid, J. G. Wynyard, F. Vorrath. London Counties.—V. G. Jenkins; E. J. Unwin, R. E. Dick, R. Harding, G. R. Rees-Jones; P. L. Candler; L. Bok; D. A. Kendrew, D. John, H. G. Bailey, S. R. Couchman; W. Allen, C. Young, the Rev. P. W. Brock. E. Hamilton-Hill.

Tindill scored a dropped goal and Gilbert a penalty goal, putting the All Blacks ahead in the first half.

After the interval the game was bright and full of incident. Mitchell fielded a loose kick and, with little room to move, crossed for a try. New Zealand 10-0. A few minutes later when a burst by the All Blacks seemed checked, Ball scored a field goal. New Zealand 14-0. R. Dick scored a try for the Counties. Taking a reverse pass from Chandler be went clean through the middle, kicked over Gilbert’s head, and beat several All Blacks for the touch-down. Jenkins converted. New Zealand 14, London Counties 5. The All Black forwards were magnificent in the closing stages. Tindill scored another field goal, Mitchell crossed for a try, and Gilbert kicked a penalty goal, making the final score: New Zealand 24 London Counties 5 CRITICS CONFOUNDED Meritorious Victory MANY TRICKS EXPLOITED London, December 26. The special correspondent of the United Press Association, commenting on the game, says that the New Zealanders’ win was one of the most meritorious of the tour. They beat the Counties in all departments and showed that their Cardiff defeat had not affected their morale. The tourists might have been excused for the adoption of safety-first tactics by closing up the play and relying upon the forwards to carry the team through. Instead, they opened up the play, exploiting all the tricks they have developed on the tour, thus confounding tlie critics who believed that they would be defeated. The bad luck which the New Zealanders have experienced • since the commencement of the tour is apparently going to continue to the end. Caughey was not played, as his leg is still troublesome, and it is doubtful whether he will play against England. Pepper Unable to Play. Pepper ricked an ankle through stumbling in a gutter on Christmas Day, and Lambourn replaced him. The back line was re-formed, Ball and Hart playing on the wings and Mitchell at centre, with Griffiths at second five-eighths and Tindill at first. The half-back was Corner, who captained the team. There was doubt before the game as to whether Hore’s hand would stand the test. A doctor had previously considered he would be unable to play for five weeks. Mitchell, Ball, Hadley, King and Reid were weary of football. The New Zealanders pleased the crowd from the start with a great back movement, Hart making the extra man after the ball had been heeled from a scrum. Unwin and Dick later left the New Zealand backs standing with fine runs. A minute later Tindill potted a goal. Accurate Passing. .Mitchell's handling had been faulty, and he lost a certain try owing to a knock-on, which was a sad ending to a glorious movement. The team fully deserved its half-time lead, and with a little luck would have scored two more tries. The difference between the tourists and the Counties was that the former team’s passing was accurate. whereas that of the Counties was wild. In the second half the All Blacks seemed capable of working themselves into scoring positions whenever they desired. Tindill was surprisingly good on defence and has an excellent, chance of being half-back in the last international match. Griffiths was content to pass on to Mitchell or make sure of kicking to touch. It was a. great match for Ball, and half the team rushed up to shake his hand when he kicked a spectacular field goal. Ball’s dodging runs nearly resulted in two tries in the second half. Mitchell scored the best try of the game. Reid and Wynyard were the best o. the forwards. Wynyard has learned much on the tour and should be one of New Zealand’s best forwards next seasonPRAISE FOR TINDILL Ability as Drop-kicker London, December 26 "The Times,” ill expressing the view that the score of 24-5 in New Zealand's favour in tlie Rugby match against London Counties flattered the All Blacks as a combination, if not as kickers, describes Tindill as “memorable as the most effective positional drop-kicker seen either in Britain or in the Dominions for many a long day. His two dropped goals were magnificent, while Ball’s, which occurred after Mitchell’s try, was so easily achieved that many thought it was Tindill again.” The “Daily Mail” says: "The visitors were apparently playing well within themselves. There was no question of their superiority in the tight and in the scrums.” The manager of tins New Zealand

team Mr. V. R. Meredith, will send from'lo to 20 of the probable players against England for a week at Brighton. where the sea air will reinvigorate them and assist toward the final work. The "Mail” regrets that England s fifteen cannot be similarly collected and trained instead of drifting in twos "and threes to Twickenham from their respective jobs. Mr. J. W. Faull. Wales, will referee the Test between New Zealand and England. ___________