RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 52, 10 September 1928, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE SECOND TEST WON BY OBSTRUCTION TRY "-" N.S.W. UNLUCKY <By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Bth September. All roads led to Carisbrook on Saturday, and when the teams took the field there were at least IG,OOO people inside the gates. The game, unfortunately, did not rise to international heights, nnd it will be if the New Zealand team is/not subjected to alterations for the third Test. The New South Wales team played breezily out in the open, but in the scrums they were freely penalised for illegalities. Mehrtens, the All Black full-back, mulled the ball a few times, and was badly beaten by Hemingway in the second spell, but he put in some Bplendid line kicks. M'Clymont and Snodgrass, the wings, got very few opportunities, but what they had to do. they did well. Hook, the centre, did not impress, and is not yet up to All Black standard. Naturally much was expected of Cooke, but his chances were limited. Beyond argument, however, he is a class player, and he' frequently found gaps with nice kicks. "Bradanoviteh was not a success, nor was Holden, whoso fumbling led to two of the New South Wales tries. He has also, developed a bad habit ot giving away ground. Of the'forwards, Porter was easily the best, and he was everywhere. He did not get off-side often, and did not do anything to justify the reputation he has in that.respect. Freitas played well in the loose, and made some slashing runs. Palmer and Clark, the front row men, found the 3-2-3 formation of New South Wales too much for them, and they did not get their share of the ball; Ihe New South Wales full-back, Westheld, played a fine game, and he looks sure to develop into a champion. His fielding, kicking, and collaring were splendid. Hemingway, Towers "Burge, and* Sniairl, the threequarters, ■ all played soundly, and Towers was probably the best, showing rare judgment. : Malcolm, the half-back, was the outstanding player on the ground, and the reputation that preceded him was proved to be justified. Loudon, O Connor, and Lamb were outstanding forwards. RUN OFy THE PLAY. New South Wales won the toss and played against a slanting sun, but with a wind .which blew from corner to corner. New Zealand opened well, the forwards surging to the visitors' line, where a scrum! infringement resulted in a penalty to New South Wales. Some solid scrummaging took place iv the centre, where eventually the visitors hooked the ball beautifully and started a nice passing rushy which broke- down at Towers. "Give it:to Cooke," yelled the crowd as the All Blacks broke away and the Wairarapa man made a nice run when he got the ball, being well taken by Towers. Another New Zealand passing rush was started by Holden, and the ball went along the line to Sriodgrass, who kicked over and Westfield forced. Following the drop out Porter broke into the passing, and ran right down to the full-back .and...sent the ball out to Knight, who fumbled. But the All Black forwards surged over the line and Robinson scored wide but. Bradanoviteh missed the kick. New Zealand 3 New South Wales 0 Westfield was kicking beautifully, and a fine lirie.ddck placed New South Wales in a nice position, and Loudon picked ■up well near the. twenty-five and after beating two men sent on to Cerutti, who sent on to O'Connor, who went over in a collar near the .posts. Malcolm missed the kick. ii -.:.;:, ; :; rii| - " ,■. ;•. New'iZeaJftn4-';>'.v.».;.■■'.......;...-.' 3 New'Sputh': Wales 3 New $outh : Wales were - lilaying fine, open football/and George placed a nice punt deep 'into the New Zealand defence, but Cooke cleared with a lofty kick to Westfield, who found the touch just as Cooke collared him. Porter kicked deep into the visitors' territory, but Westfield, who' was playing a rock game, cleared Magnificently in the face of the AH Black' forwards. Snodgnrs had a shot at,, goal from a mark near half-way and just miss.cd with a great kick. Play yik& ■exciting now and Cooke and Burge, intidfr great runs for their respec-' tiye sidefe/';'Towers picked up/from the fringe of- a loose rush and after a great run down the' line was thrown out at the corner. Solid scrummaging took place in front of New Zealand's goal, and in a race for the ball over the line Loudon "dived over a defender to score near the posts, and George kicked an easy goal. New 'South ;Wales 8 . New} Zealand 3 Porter; broke. away a minute afterwnrds aid..|hre,w out wide to Snodgrass, who ran.1 sirongly until well taken by Hemingway.." .From an ensuing scrum New Zealand were given a free kick for Porter being obstructed, and Bradanoyitch kicked' a goal. New South Wales 8 New Zealand '.. 6 Play was swinging up and downfield and from a set scrum near the All Black

line Malcolm slipped along the edge and left the defence bewildered. Towers missed the kick. New South Wales "11 New Zealand <> New South Wales were all over the All Blacks in a loose forward rush, but a penalty stemmed them. Towers and Malcolm potted in quick succession, but each resulted in a force, and the half-time bell went. THE SECOND HALF. The sun had slipped behind heavy clouds before the second spell was started, but the wind had freshened a little. The ball hung badly in the back row of the New Zealand side of the scrum, and when it did trickle out the New South Wales forwards overwhelmed Holden, who was not playing up to form. Meliirtens found touch near the New South. Wales line, and New Zealand looked dangerous until George sent them back with a great kick. The tall visiting forward were beating the All Blacks ont the lino out, and were giving their backs plenty of chances. Mehrtens nearly got his side into trouble through a weak kick, but it just trickled to the touch line. Snodgrass had a long shot from a penalty, but the ball fell just short, and Towers found touch past half-way. The ball had not yet gone out to the New Zealand wings, but the forwards were not getting the ball for them to play with. Hemingway made a great breakaway, and, badly beating Mohrtens, had a clear field in front of him, with two men in support. Snodgrass set after him, and just collared him short of the line. New South Wales were racing through ' New Zealand, and Hemingway raced over at the corner. Towers missed the kick. New South Wales , 1-t . New Zealand 6 A mashing New Zealand rush followed the kick-off, and Knight topped it off nei'.r the posts for Bradanovitch to convert. New South Wales , 14 New Zealand 11 The crowd was on its toes, and play was at times thrilling, although generally not up to international standard. Bradanovitch made an opening for Knight, but Westfield saved well. O'Connor got ofi-side, and gave Bradanovitch a chance iat goal, but the ball wont wide. The play was hard but very clean, and it was still anyone's game, although New South Wales looked the more dangerous. THE WINNING TRY. 1 From the touch New Zealand threw the ball in quickly,' and Freitas went over the line in. a tackle, but the line umpire had his flag up and the play was taken back. O'Connor tried to get up. among the New Zealand backs while a scrum was taking, place, but the referee caught him and "the penalty sent New South Wales back. Then a sensational incident occurred. The All Blacks indulged in one of the finest passing rushes of the day, and after six men had handled the ball Porter was collared before he took it, and the referee gave a try for obstruction. Bradanovitch kicked a goal, and the scores read: New Zealand 16 New South Wales ........ .'.'... 14 The-excitement was intense, and there were only a few minutes to go. :. New Zealand were hammering at the New South Wales line, and Snodgrass was tackled on the line, where a penalty was given to, New South Wales for, playing the ball on the ground. The time bell was sounded immediately after, and the crowd rushed the ground. The referee was Mr. G. M'Kenzie, of Dunedin, who controlled the game well.