RIVAL RUGBY PACKS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 49, 27 August 1934, Page 9

RIVAL RUGBY PACKS

FEATURE OF SYDNEY TEST

COMMENT OF CRITICS

United Press AsiocUUon—Bj- Electric Tele

cr»ph Copj-ncfct (.Received August 27, 11 a.m.)

SYDNEY, This Day

Commenting on the Test, tho "Herald''' says that tho heroic battles between the two sets of forwards were the foaturo of the game. In the second half tho persistent battering by tho fiery New Zealand vanguard appeared likely to break the plucky defenco shown by the Australian eight, but tho homo side, finishing strongly, steadied tho vimful New Zealandors.

Kilby, receiving the ball from the scrums, regularly opened up play well, but his supports did not respond with tho aid that was expected.

During the second spell, when the tourists seemed likely to take the match, the persistent failures of the New Zealand backs stopped the goalward march of tho New Zealanders. These continued errors must have been heartbreaking to the forwards, who were doing their work well, both in the scrums and line-outs.

Lilburne was an undoubted improvement on Collins. Page did some bright individual pieces of work, but ho also jarred tho combination. His passes were not clean. Griffiths, as second live-eighth, did not give as good an exhibition as Oliver. The three-quarters were below form, . but the forwards were well up to the standard shown by preceding teams.

Stuart Perkins, in the "Telegraph," says: A draw was a fair result, for had either had a points margin there would have been little glory in it. One would have thought that the points we're awarded for lack of initiative, the number of times the ball was kicked and the- regularity with which possession was shunned. The New Zealand inside backs were unimaginative, tho policy of kicking being pursued almost to the death, when each side was fighting 'desperately for winning points. In was a case of nothing attempted, a lot undone.

Tho "Labour Daily" says that, although tho game was devoid of brilliance, much was seen to ticklo the palate of the connoisseur who appreciates full-blooded forward play. The vanguard work of tho visitors in the second half was reminiscent of the best All Blacks' standard.