BRITAIN WINS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 48, 25 August 1930, Page 14

BRITAIN WINS

BY NINETEEN POINTS

NEW SOUTH WALES MATCH

Ctiitcd l'rcjs Associiilion—l'.y lilrctrli: Tclct'rauli— Copyright. SYDNICV, 24th August. At the Sydney Cricket Ground, before! 30,000 spectators, the Brkish TCngby teanr won the first match of the Australian touv, defeating New South Wales overwhelm-j ingly by 29 points to 10. The weather was cool and cloudy, and after a week's sunshine the ground was excellent but not hard, because of two days' watering. The teams were as follow: — Britain.—Bassett, Aarvold, Novis, Bow-j cott. Reeve, Spong, Murray, O'Neill, Kendrew, Hodgson, Karrell, Black, Prentice, Beamish, and Wilkinson. New South Wales.—Ross, Grossman, To-wers, King, Carlton, Duncan, Malcolm, Palfreyman, Ford, Breekenridge, Finlay, Cerutti, Fergusson, Judd, and Storey. The first half ended 12 points to 10 in the British team's favour. In the second half the visitors monopolised the scoring, gaining four tries in tlip laet fifteen minutes. The scorers for England were Aarvold (two tries), Wilkinson, Novis, .Ueeve, and ITodgson (one try each). Bassett converted two and Black two, and Bassett kicked a penalty goal. For New South Wales, Ford and Towers secured a try each, and Ross converted b«t:h.

days' watering

Only at. one stage, toward the end o

the first spell, did New South Wales seem likely to hold the heavier visitors; then phiy fluctuated from end to end. New South Wales during this period gained the preponderance of the ball from the serum owing to Kendrew, of the British front rank, receiving an injury which twice necessitated ambulance attention. CHARACTERISTIC FINALE. For twenty-live minutes in tlie weond spell there was no score. Then Xew youth Wales was oulilaiikw! right and left, and subsequently crumpled before the penetrative iitl.icki. Before Hie final ivhistle a voice from the hill called, ".Send for Bradman." Britain's master}' was nut. over tlu> Now South Wales' forwards, who held their own in the line-outs, and also in heeliti!! j from the rucks, but in the backs. Bassett I limy not be as great as Ross, who was [ called on for extraordinary defence, but : I lie visitors' full-back's accuracy in linefinding saved (he forwards tremendously. [The wines and five-eighth were New South Wales'* weak links. " The selectors chose an attacking three-quarter line. The featherweight Grossman and the inexperienced Ciirlton, the Olympic sprinter, as flanks were not impressive. Test changes are certain. Grossman was innocuous against Reeve, who refrained from heavy tackling, except when it was necessary in collaring Grossman after giving him two yards start. Consequently, the good work of Towers, King, and Malcolm was valueless. SPONG UP TO FORM. The New South Wales backs throughout were lined for attack, and left Spong room to dance, dodge, and feint. Spong was easily the best back of the day, and fully sustained his New Zealand reputation. Novis, the centre, was an excellent support. Jack Ford dropped back to three-quar-ters m the second half, but was unable to achieve overlapping his man when possession was gained. The play was most exhilarating and close in the first spell, because fluctuating and powerful wings would have given New South Wales the lead. Ford's try was a grand one. Me cut inside Aarvold, and was tackled by Bassett three yards from the line. Qn]v, strength enabled him to cross, caiTvinl'' Bassett with him. The best movements of the match were ' toward the end. One was typical of New! /leaiand, when six British forwards handled straight down the field, beatin" thp! demoralised defence for Hodgson's" try harlier. Reeve had fielded a high cross! punt from Boweott, at full pace civinu I Grossman no chance. The British forwards in this game were all lingish and Irish. Beamish, Parrel!, and Wilkinson particularly impressed. AUSTRALIAN TEAM. The Australian team to play Britain "?** . Saturday is as follows:-Eoss, M Ghie, Towers, King, Grossman, Lawton Malcolm, Thompson, Bonis, Cerutti Fin-' lay. Storey, Breekenridge, ,T. Ford' and J. n/frcyman. ,