RUGBY TALENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 53, 31 August 1934, Page 5

RUGBY TALENT

SPECIAL DISPIAY

NEW ZEALAND V. THE REST

SPIRITED PLAY

To'see a New Zealand Bugby team in action immediately on its return from overseas-is a rarity, and to see it opposed to a team representative of those players who had been left behind iv setting out on the tour is something unique so far as the game iv this country is concerned. Yesterday the double presentation was made at Athletic Park, and so greatly did it appeal to Eugby^s strtmg following that upwards of 16,000 pedplo assembled at the Park for what was expected to bo a Bugby treat. The stage was well set for an exhilarating display—players of rank, teams of good calibre, a ground in splendid order, and fair weather, with the only disturbing influence a strong northerly wind.

The players entered into the spirit of. the occasion as was expected of them; there was no resting on their, oars by the tourists—laurels would hardly ~be the right term, since the Bledisloe Cup had been wrested from the tourists by Australia's representatives. Hard and fast was the order from start to finish, the returned men playing as though their reputation was at stake nnd their opponents striving —though handicapped by the_ lack of opportunity of acquiring combination— to their utmost' to show that there are plums just as sweet in this season's Rugby basket as those which had been picked out originally. More impressive than anything else was the calibre of tho forwards —not oh the one side but on both. Of varying types and sizes, mostly big and weighty, they presented a, really fiu'e array, not only in appearance but also in performance. The backs were •not so impressive; yet, looking at them individually there were somo who bore no signs of flattery in being placed in international class. The spectacle on the whole was not unpleasant to the keen Bugby eye; it had colour in plenty, and it had dull and disappointing patches- Giving rise to much enthusiasm was the persistent manner in which' the Best (that was the name given the team which met the tourists) rallied in .reply to every thrust by the New Zealand side and ultimately—with the wind behind them in tho second spell—r-made '■ more sustained efforts to overtake a long lead (25-8) gained by the tourists.' They had a big section of the crowd behind them, so much so that from tho western bank voices of dissension were loud when a decision by the referee went against the Rest. This all added to tho enjoyment of the dayy and even the counting out .of the official in charge of the game was moro good-natured than anything else. It aid happen that on ono occasion the referee was right, and the ' counters-out wrong—a penalty against tho Best almost on tho New Zealand line was for an off-sido breach which could not be seen from tho bank. On numerous occasions in the second spell the Best had hard luck in not scoring, but their hurriedly-assembled side came through'with credit, though it was down in points by a fair margin, New ■Zealand, naturally a better combined force, winning by 25 points to 17. rORM OF THE BACKS. It. was apparent, as was the caso in Australia, that the New Zealand team couia be improved. There were players among, the Best who outplayed their oppositea in. tho New Zealand team. '••Smith,'the strong HawWs-Bay wing-. . three-quarter, became • with"the crowd'after he.liacl^flattened Bullock-Douglas with talpo^erful fend when'v in his stride. > lie wa;s;;,a.y hard man to stop, and he topped-argood day in making his mark Kp'rospeetive New Zealand representative-, by. easily shaking off both BullocKfiouglas and Collins to score a flne: r try.'.'..'BullockDouglas showed plenty"fli* pace, though no doubt -he was unstea*dl'ed in his general play by the jarring'rhe received in. r coming into contact; jpth Smith. Hart}" gave : * better account of himself~than on any previbu£%ceasion in Wellington,' the Canterbury wing-three-quarter showing determination with specd'aud employing.a neat swerve effectively. One of the': outstanding backs on the ground was'Caughey, the N Tew Zealand centre, who invariably went straight ahead on attack, though 'not .neglecting a change .of direction when'occasion demanded. He kicked with judgment, iind did much/effective work on defence. Stringfellow, f the other-centre, was restricted,on attack, but gave very useful service on; defence. Tho full-backs, Collins ,and Davies, were a good pair. Davies was certainly not overshadowed by'the cool Taranaki man, who must hold the record for the number of times he has sent the ball.against an upright in attempts at goal (he added another such unsuccessful attempt to .his string,yesterday). ' *In the .play of the five-eighths there was* nothing very exceptional. Oliver was the best of tho bunch on the day, being 'more successful than the others in penetration and generally carrying out his duties capably. Page was somewhat off his game, evidence of., his ability being revealed in patches. One of his well-judged kicks—made when ho noticed that Caugheyand BullockDouglas were going at top—led to a try. The Fookes brothers were an energetic pair and kept the opposition busy, though quite often the ball was not let out by H! Fookes to the threequarters. There was no mistaking Kilby's value to the New Zealand team, not only in his play as half-back but in his directing of operations. The other half, Simon, however, gave a good account of himself .also. STEELING TORWARDS. Yesterday's showing by the forwards served to emphasise the fact that there is not room in a New Zealand team for all who deserve such recognition. Players like Frascr-Smith, Best, Adkins, Orman (a hooker), can bo counted very unlucky, but they havo chances ahead. Fraser-Smith and Best in particular showed up conspicuously in all tho good work carried out by the forwards yesterday. Then, too, among the Rest there were Steere, Cqttrell, and Clarke who have previously received recognition and who are evidently as good as ever. Horo, one of New Zealand's best' on tho recent tour, was right on the job yesterday, Manchester, Barry, McLean (not quite so robust and- possibly still feeling the effects of his bad spin in Australia), Lambourn, King, .Hadley (though affected by an injured wrist, and eventually having to retire), and McKenzie all playing with vim. It was good to see, too, a revival of the short-passing game amongst tho forwards. One passing bout—Hadley 'to Hore, to Barry, to McLean, in to Hore again, a,ud then on to a back (Oliver) for tho finishing touch—was a tit-bit of the afternoon's proceedings. Prior to the start of tho match the members, of the teams were presented to tho Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) by Mr. S. ■S. Dean (chairman of tho New Zealand Bugby Union). Tho teams gave a round of cheers for his' Excellency, "ancl, after thfi usual exchange of cheers, the New Zealand team, led by IL'nven Mataira, gave the haka which proved popular in Australia, their encore for tho special benefit, of those on the western bank making a big hit. With tho GovernorGeneral.at the match were Lady Bled-

isloe and party from Government House. Others present included the Prime Minister, (the Et. Hon. G. W. Forbes), Ministers of tho Crown, and other members of .the Legislature. THE TEAMS. The following were the- teams: — - NEW ZEALAND. Full-back: A. Collins (Taranaki). - Three-quarters: G. A, Bullock-Doug-las (Wanganui), T. 11. C. Caughey (Auckland), G. F. Hart (Canterbury). Five-eighths: C. J. Oliver (Canter--1 bury), J. B. Page (Wellington). 1 Half-back: F. D. Kilby (Wellington). Forwards: A. Lambourn (Welling- ; ton), W. E. Hadley (Auckland), J. ! Hore (Otago), J. E. Manchester (Canterbury), E. F. Barry (Wellington), ' B. B. King (West Coast), B. McC. Mc- " Kenzie (Manawatu), and H. F." Me- ) Lean (Auckland). :'" THE BEST. > Full-back: M. P. H. Davies (Wai--3 kato). : Three-quarters: C. Smith (Hawke's , Bay), C. Stringfollow (Wairarapa), L. Edwards (Taranaki). Five-eighths: H. .Fookes (Otago), X [ Fookes (Taranaki). i Half-back: H. J. Simon (Otago). . ', Forwards: G. T. Adkins (South Canterbury), G. A. Orman (West Coast), ' A. I. Cottrell (Canterbury), J. J. Best ■ (Marlborough), -E. B. G. Steere ■» (Hawke's Bay) captain, B. L. Clarke I (Taranaki), B. E- McCracken (North '■ Auckland), and F. H. Fraser-Smith 1 (Wairarapa). '. THE RUN OF THE PLAY. * L The crowd gave the Whites their j moral support from the outset, and ; there were cheers when K. Fookes put lin a useful run soon after play started. . Fookes, however, was well taken by i Page. Tho Black backs, were set in i motion from the first line-out, but the ■ ball travelled along the lino without much ground being gained,; and the i movement stopped when Caughey's ; pass was knocked, on by Hart. The Whites were playing up in spirited ; fashion, but they lost ground when ■ Kilby took' advantage of a penalty ; kick to send the ball into touch well i down the line. From another penalty : Collins attempted unsuccessfully to : kick a goal. , The Blacks were camped in their, opi ponents' territory, but although the i backs were given a good supply of the • ball they did not use it to the best advantage, faulty handling being much in evidence. Among the many -infringe-. 1 ments were a number warranting pen- : alty kicks, most of which were against the Whites. From one Collins attempted to goal from near the touchline, but the ball hit an upright and.bounced in- . field. A Whit© forward was penalised ' for holding on to the ball when ■ the ' Blacks gathered round and Collins was given another chance. This time his kick, from straight in front, sent the ; ball under the bar. . The pressure on the White line was sustained, however, ■■ and in a proper All Black movement ' which developed from a ruck, Hadley, ; Hore, Barry, McLean, and again Hore, handled in turn, making the way clear ; for a try near the posts by Oliver. Collins converted. ! New Zealand 5 The Rest .. 0 . The opposing forwards were having a keen tussle, but a variation was introduced when the White backs opened iupin a passing movement. A.bad pass by String'fellow spoilt the effort, but i tho players backed up well arid a loose ' rush swept the ball towards the Black ■ line. Though temporarily turned back by a clearing kick, the Whites came again, Best taking the ball through at toe to the Black lino where Edwards dived on it for a try. Davies's kick was turned back by the wind. 5-3. TOURISTS FORGE AHEAD. Play had been in progress for a littlo over a quarter of an hour. Failure on the part of the inside men to draw their opposite numbers, was responsible for only ai little, ground being gained when the Black backs opened up in a passing rush in midfield. More progress was made with &, subsequent .movement, and, when one of the defenders attempted to clear by kicking, the ball was taken by Collins, who kicked a field goal. /. : '.- .-■ ; ' ■■'■•' ..,: New Zealand ........... 9 . The Best. ' .......... 3 McCracken headed a White forward rush which promised well, but after a back movement had; failed to drive the advantage home,- tho Blacks launched a counter-attack. Page cut through; 1 ana, with Caughey and Bullock-Douglas in support, he kicked. The ball bounced into Bullock-Douglas's Imnds as ho reached the lino and ho scored without opposition. Collins failed to couvcrt and the All Blacks led l' 2-3. Tho Whites retaliated-.strongly, and an attempt by Davies to lcidk'^a penalty goal failed narrowly. Smith, the big Maori winger, came into the picture when he fielded a clearing^ kick by McLean and made for the line.'- BullockDouglas attempted to stop him, but was l«ft flat on the ground. .The: winger, however,' was crowded into touch before he could go much further. A penalty kick helped tho Blacks to clear from their territory, and McLean nearly .earned .the reward for following up when.he went down; fast after-an-other"' big,..kick, ■ but Best gained possession and' foundtouch. ~.y: ' A fast 'pace was being maintained and .the Whites 5 stocks » soared; when Smith .'started :a,great movement in 1 which McCraeken, Best, ana Fraser--1 Smith, were prominent. LThe attack was driven' rig'hf, to the line and a man went :over,'but the -referee ordered a five-yards scrum. K. Fookes then made an unsuccessful bid for the line - ana the pressure was eased when Col- ; lins found touch outside half-way with a kick from a. mark.,, . . SOME RAPID SCORING. ', Bad passing by the All Blacks allowed ' the Whites. to break in on a movement,-. and. the Fookes brothers turned the 'attack back, finally sending the ball into a.line of forwards. Best capped the 'effort with a try and Davies ' converted. ' < New Zealand ........... 12 The Best 8 The Blacks were stung to-immediate retaliation, Oliver cutting through brilliantly in the course •of a back movement and returning the ball infield to McKenzie, who scored near the posts. Collins converted. 17-8. The spell was now in its final, stages, but there was no letting up by either side, the Blacks being keen to, improve their position before losing the advantage 'of the wind. When the-Whites were penalised in a scrum Collins easily kicked a goal. Immediately afterwards the Whites were' almost on the point of scoring, but the chance was lost when Stringfellow passed to a player in a worse position than himself. Thero was little of consequence until the spell was actually finished, but the ball was kept in play and a last dash by tho Blacks saw Hart break away down tho line. He ws 'brought dowu, but managed to return tho ball infield where Oliver snapped it up and scored. Collins converted, making the half-time score: ' .-.; New Zealand 25 The Best :........... 8 THE SECOND SPELL. The tourists 'were . the aggressors early in tho second spell, and scoringj opportunities -, presented themselves when they won, the, ball from a succession of scrums;, but either it. was prevented from reaching- the backs or was dropped during,, passing rushes. Penalty' kicks continued to bo awarded with regularity. Clarke and FraserSmith opened up play for the Whites and sent their backs off' on a run, but

H. Fookes kicked and tho bull was safely taken by Collins, who found touch.- Clarke, Cottrell, -Eraser-Smith, and Best took the ball through in a dribbling rush, but a man got off-side when a try seemed imminent. The Whites were not to be denied, however, and the desiifed results came from a passing rush, in which Smith's forcefulness made it necessary for two men to stop him. Ho sent the ball on to H. Fookes, who had com© round on the outside, and the five-eighth went over. Davies failed to convert from an angle. New Zealand .......... 25 . The Best 11 The Blacks then exerted themselves, and, after Page had been stopped in attempting to cut through, Kilby made judicious use of a penalty kick. Davies fielded the ball, but was caught in pos- ■ session, and, from the ruck which developed, the Blacks heeled. Kilby sent the ball out to Page and Oliver, both of whom made a grab at it, but only succeeded in knocking it on. - ALL BLACKS DEFENDING. The attack was driven back, and, when Kilby was penalised for not putting the ball in a. scrum properly, Davies endeavoured to find touch near tho corner, "but tho ball was taken by Collins, who forced down. Good play by the White forwards kept the All Blacks penned up, and, when a lineout took place on the line, Clarke took the ball. He was not quick enough in getting down for a try, however, and Simon was also hold up when he attempted to dive over from the following ruck. ■ . . : A succession of scrums took place on the line before the Blacks finally broke clear, Oliver putting in a valuable dash which took play to midfleld. The respite proved to be only temporary, as a piece of play in which Simou and Adkins figured was halted right on the Black line. A penalty kick gave the Blacks relief, .but did 4iot please the 'crowd on the Western Bank, who proceeded to count the referee out. Twenty minutes before the,finish Hadley's injured hand gave him trouble arid he left tho field, Leeson replacing him., THE LEEWAY REDUCED. The Blacks won the ball from a lineout, but Kilby did not get it away smartly enough and Fraser-Smith and Clarke dribbled downfield. The latter kicked through and showed considerable pace in following up, but the ball rolled into touch-in-goal before he could reach it. A dash down the line by Barry was one of the features of the subsequent play, but his kick infield was taken by Stringfellow, who founa touch.' Page and Caughey_ then indulged in a bright piece of scissors passing down the centre of the field, the ball being sent on to McKenzie, but tho forward's transfer went astray. When the Whites returned- to the attack they were awarded a penalty well out and Davies kicked a splendid goal. New Zealand .' 25 The Best • 14 Caughey and Hart were responsible for a nico piece of play.shortly afterwards, tho winger tricking Edwards with a change of pace, and then swerving infleld. He passed to Manchester, but the latter's pass was smothered. The Whites lost a golden opportunity when Best and Cottrell smashed their way through to make an opening for Simon. The latter had no one outside him when he gained possession, and consequently turned his attention infield. By the time it was necessary for: him :to, pass, however, Smith was up with him and had the ball been sent on, instead iof being returned infield, a try would almost certainly have eventuated. The;-1 Whites finished strongly, ana eventually Smith received the, opportunity he had been waiting for. He was given the ball at tho twenty-five, and in a powerful dash, ho smashed his way past Bullock-Douglas and- Collins ] before scoring a fine try near the corner Davies failed to convert arid the game ended almost.. immediately with ■tile-.score: ..:■:"'. ■'~ >: '". ,-■ ■ '; New-Zealand': :.v.V.;...".. 25^ - -. -The^Eest!-.;■'..■..>■.;.:.,;..'••'• 17, Mr. R. J.Paton was the'referee.