SPARKLING PLAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 141, 16 June 1932, Page 6

SPARKLING PLAY

SPECIAL RUGBY MATCH

N.Z. TEAM BEATEN

WELLINGTON'S FINE WIN

A first-class Rugby football fiensation was provided by the playing ■of a special match between a Wellington team and the New Zealand representatives at Athletic Park yesterday afternoon. It was; not so -much the fact that the local players won, for that has been the rule rather than the exception in matches with New Zealand teams about to go on tour, but'in the manner in which the Wellington team rattled on the points for a decisive' vieX^ y" was »°'; only a try-out for mem- =^ o t>u tounng. Party, but a trial-of some of the promising local talent. Trials m'« *IV et-S ri ngi?Ut many s Pectaoular teatuies of iOotoaU, and yesterday's match, r^im display, with the local team supnjywg moß t ot the brilliance, was JSa* R °ef Ef n °? the i>apk 6» some time, borne twelve thousand spectators showed their delight at the/type of football, provided. -Among those present were the;£nme Minister (.the Kight Hon. G. /Ik S- SW* 6 .^ mister of Employment (the KightHon. J. G. Coates), the JVJinisterot Education (the Hon. ii. Masters), and Mr. 8. G. Smith, M.P. (Chairman of Committees of the House of .Representatives), After the game the Prime .Minister took the opportunity of extending best wishes to the New Zealand team on its tour and assuring them that they were capable ot.a much better performance than they had given that day., As an old footballer, he realised the position in which players were placed in playiug a match before going .on tour,. and he knew that there were some "darned good foot bailers" m this team. 'The Prime Minister was given "three cheers by the New : Zealand representatives. -'■■•-. Wellington's youthful and dashing set of players did not take long to: operate as an attractive' combination, though before they actually scored the New Zealand'repreeentatives had put on two tries.As the play progressed the local players' surprised the spectators by the way they commenced to outplay the opposition in all ..departments,,while the New Zealand representatives were-disappointing in their inability to: continue 45 njg.ye, as an All Black combination, as they; had started. A good deal of. allowance had to be made for the New Zealand players, but even so a much better.. showing was expected of them, ■ .To. have had thirty-six points. Scored against' them was something quite unexpected.of ani All :Black side.-and. it coujd not all be put down to the fact that the'tourists were not extending' them-' selves. They were made to; go fast and hard; at times to improve aT position that was looking far- from good from their point-'of-view,', and even then they could not put anything'like an effective check upon the fast-moving local combination^ ■ Tindill, behind the Wellington scrum, gave a high-class half-baok display. He whipped the ball out ;in fine style, and varied his play splendidly. Neal and Killeen played right up to this good service, and Neal gave an outstanding performance of place-kicking." Page, essentially a first five-eighths, was almost perfect as centre, with' the result that Ball (who is in the touring team) and- Macdonald were given opportunities galore, and they used them to the fullrßall scoring four tries. Creaswell was ah efficient last line. The forwards, with Stiver playing a fine winging game, also more than fulfilled expectations. On the New Zealand side there were many disappointments. The-wing-three-quarters were all outplayed, and the five-eighths did not function in a manner making, for good combination. Much of the play of the" forwards' was listless. There was some improvement when Manchester filled ; a vacancy and was-able to make his'presence felt on the line-out, andr also when Cottrell took over the job. of hooking. There is no doubt, however,' that the, team when properly fashioned and on more serious business will be. a greater forces than it showed iteelf .yesterday. =: •■■ q ■.:.;■'■ '■■<;.-, ,| PLAY IN DETAIL. ''"'■* • The teams were:— 1 .-■■;:. New Zealand: FnllTback,' Collins; three--quarters, Williams,- 'Ca<|ghey, BullockDouglas; five-eighthß, Lilburrie.'.lnnesi half-back, Kilby (captain); fonvards, Max; Solomon, Metcalfe^v Clarke, Purduej -Jes: sep, Cottrell, and Hore. , ■/: Wellington:, Fnll-back, Cresswell; three-.: quarters, Macdoriald,: Page, Bali; .fiveeighths, Killeen, Neal; half-back, Tindfll;": forwards, Stiver, ;Reid, Marthi, Wilson," McPherson (captain), -Diederich,; Lambourne, and Quaid. .: ; With no sun or wind; the "winning of the toss gave' no advantage; Eilburne kicking off for the L All Blacks from.-. the southern end. Early give and take'play brought first blood to' New: Zealand When Kilby sent the ball: put from a line-out inside the Wellington twenty-five Innes made a good opening .for Caughey; who went through the gap to touch down' behind the posts. Collins converted. New Zealand 5-0. ■'■■~- iX ': ' "■: ■{.'■': ';:"U;S _It was not long before a"Rugby tit- | bit was provided when "Macdqnald. gave I Williams the slip to. 6et off down the line with Page and Tindill. in support, a snappy piece of passing beiiig pulled up when Tindill was tackled in. possession by Collins.'

Soon aftervaids Collins, placed a good goal for New Zealand. New Zealand 8-0. There was plenty of life in the play and Wellington came into tlio pictuie as the result"'of a splendid piece of combined play by the backs, the ball ti<iveiling fiom Tiiidill along the chain to Macdonald, who completely beat Williams and passed in to Stivei, who cioss-kicked. The Wellington forwards were''ready for the move, and Diederich gained possession and scored behind the posts. Neal converted.. New Zealand 8-5. WELLINGTON PLAY UP. Wellington drew level as the result of another bi'eak-away by Macdonald,- who was temporarily unmarked owing to Williams: having. retired injured. Macdonald evaded a tackle by Collins and passed in to Tiitdiil. who laced ovei with Kilby close on his heels. Neal made a gdod but linsuccesful effort to convert from well out. 8-8. At this btage Proctei came on m place of Williams. Wellington , quickly scored again as the result of a splendid piece :'o£ passing, carried but at top speed. Tindill broke away from a serum and passed to Neul, the.ball being transferred in turn to Stiver, Diederich, and Ball, the last-named going over for a try. Neal converted with a good kick. Wellington 13-8. There was more lively play, some of it in Wellington's territory, where: Kilby i\as repeatedly piomment. The attack bore fruit when the ball came out fiom a sciuin and Caughey cut through to score.in a handy position. Collins converted. 13-13. BALL IN SCORING MOOD. Wellington replied inynediately with another fine movement in which backs and forwards co-operated. Macdonald started the move with some tricky work on one flank, and then thiew infield a long P&SB was snapped up by Tindill. The ball was then handled in succession by Neal,' Stiver, Diederich, and Ball> the winger scoring just before being thrown into touch-in-goal. Neal converted with a gieat kick from the side line. Wellington 18-13. Play 6}\ung up and down field at a fast clip until Wellington again settled down on the New Zealand line, a toiies of seiums taking place neai the pot>ts. A spatkhng first spell, in which Wellington showed to good advantage,' was finished after the bell had/gone by a try by Ball, who side-stepped and swerved Jus way through to go over for the third 'timei It was a fine individual effoit. Neal again showed that his display against Petone ,was n6 true indication of his place-kick-ing ability by goalinj; from a foot in from the touch-line, i The teams,: together with hundreds of small boys, remained on the field at the interval, which came with the score: 23-13. THE SECOND SPELLi A good run by LUburne, followed by a sweeping forward rush which placed Wellington on the attack, inaiked the opening of the second spell.. Within two or three minutes the Wellington backs;had given a further taste of their bcormg qualities. The ball tiaielled along the line to Page, who lost possession, and Pioctor endeavoured to break away, bufrßall took the ball off him iand. side-stepped his way through, to provide a good opening. Meeting Collins, he pasbed in to Page, who sent the leather back, and Ball galloped over for his fourth try. Neal's boot was again accuiate, and Wellington led, 28-13. Hole then letned with an injured ankle, and Manchestei came on Tluowmg the ball about with delightful abandon, Wellington continued to liold the upper handi Tindill repeatedly. 6howcd cleverness in getting his backs away, and they were not lacking in turning the oppoitunities to account. Wellington advanced! their score further when the Blacks were penalised, and Neal kicked.another good goal from well out in front of the posts. 31-13. The New Zealand backs weie fed by Kilby from a scrum near the' Wellington twenty-five, but Innes .was up-ended: when lie tried to cut through,'and Page, Diederich, and Tindill figured in another sparkling passing bout which ended with Tindill being tackled neai the line. Play was held up owing to tin injury to Killeen, but he carried on after receiving attention. The New Zealand forwards took play into Wellington territory, but weie quickly shifted back when an attempt was made to use the backs, Macdonald clearing from a kick by Lilbmne. Page and Stiver 6tditcd t thc next Wellington scoiing movement. When Stnei was Hackled and lost possession, McPhfison earned on, slaiting a diibblmg lush which ended with Eeid scoring. Neal converted. 36-13. 1 ALL BLACKS SCORE AGAIN.

New Zealand then made then first serious attack for the spell, good vvoik by the forwaids paving the wav for the backs, who weio kept out on the ught wing by bohd tackling, and then tned the other side. A long pj.sb wa-> sent infield ,from a line-out by Manchester and PiocI tor secured, making a strong bid foi the llmejwhich was suceesstul aftci beveial attempts had been made to tackle him. V good, kick by Collins hit an uptight and bounced inside the posts. 3618. | Wellington weie placed on the attack by a splendid line-kick by Cicy,»eH, which went into touch neai the coinci flag. A keen struggle took place on the line, but the Wellington forwaids weie unable to bieak through, and when the ball was let i out to the backs Killeen tned unsuccessfully to pot, the ball going into touch in goal. Free-kicks vere awarded to both sides, and from one of these Neal had a gQod but nnsuccessrul shot at goal. The J\ew Zealand foiuaidb staged'an attack which was- turned by good v/oik on the pait of Wellington, but they came again, and a &tiong mn by Cottrell, caiued on by Max, ended with. Manchester breaking through to score. Collins oonverted. 36-23. *

In seaich of further points, the Black1 foiwards again played up piominently, i and Lilburne made a big eftoifc to pi ess i the attack home, but a foLward pass check- ' ed tlie move. The last few minutes of the , game were spent m the All Blagks' terutoiy, the bell ringing after Macdonald had I been forced into touch after an endeavour to work the blind* side of a scrum near the line. The final score wasWELLINGTON ... 36 NEW ZEALAND 2 3 Mr. A. de Chfton was the refeiee.