RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 19416, 26 November 1926, Page 14

RUGBY LEAGUE

MEW ZEALAND TEAM'S TOUR MATCH AGAINST YORK CLUB [From Our Correspondent.] HARROuATE, October 7. The All Blacks yesterday journeyed to the historic City of York, and defeated tho York Club by 19 points to 11. As the game was played on a Wednesday, there was an attendance of only about 4,000. The gate receipts were £270. Henry (Christchurch), who had played for York before going to New Zealand a few years ago. received an ovation as he went on the held. Only Hall and Gregory, of the backs, and Henry, Carroll. Avery, and Herring, of the forwards, who had played in the test on the previous Saturday took the field against York. Though w® won, York had a good share of the run of play, and at no stage was it a walk over. In this game the goal-kick-ing abilities of Gardiner were revealed, and he kicked three goals from tries and two from penalties. In addition, he got across for a try, thus bringing his total to 13 of the 19 points scored by the team. A feature of the game was the large number of penalties awarded on both sides. Tho referee was Mr B. R. Ennion, of Wigan. He handled the game well, but failed in this respect that he permitted the York half great latitude m his method of placing the ball into the scrum Invariably the ball was put undei the feet of the York forwards. This, no doubt, accounted for the fact that New Zealand seldom obtained the ball from the scrum. FIRST SPELL.

A New Zealand rush led by Kirwan, who came up from the backs and gained a great many vards by dribbling, put the visitors on the attack in York’s twenty-five, and the pressure was only relieved by a fine long kick by the York full-back. York hotly attacked, and a series of scrums on the line had New Zealand in danger. At this stage a penalty for off-side gave Murfield a chance for York, but the kick, from in front of the posts, went wide. Up-and-down play followed for a long time, with the New’ Zealand backs showing flashes of bright play throughout. Webb ; at second five-eight, was playing h'is first game of the tour, and his side-stepping and straight, penetrating runs had the York backs thinking furiously. Hall opened up play by picking up and sending on to Kirwan, who transferred to Herring to Avery, but the last pass went astray, and a sure try was lost, as Avery had but to vyalk over' to score. Soon after, from bright play on the York line, Webb handed to Parkes, but the pass was ruled forward, and an almost-certain try was lost to New Zealand. Owens, York’s usual and brilliant full-back, who m this game was playing at centre, secured from a scramble and raced for the wing. Our Iving made the fatal error or attempting to tackle high, and Owens went over for a try, which was not converted. New Zealand 0. York 3.

Stung by this reverse, the New Zealand forwards came down the field in a sweeping, irresistible rush, and Herring picket! up and forced his way icross and grounded the ball, but was called back for an infringement that was not evident from the Press stand. New Zealand kept up the pressure, and was having the better of the run of play. Henry was playing a good game, and was proving very popular with the spectators, who frequently applauded his play. He and Avery were next associated in an assault on the York line, and Avery went over, only to be called back for-a forward pass. Immediately after Peterson gathered the ball in his stride, and went over for a typical try, using every ounce of his 14st weight. Gardiner converted with . good kick. New Zealand 5, York 3. From the kick off play went to the New Zealand line, where some hot forward work occurred. Mills, at standoff half, obtained, and with a drilling burst of speed that bewildered the New Zealand backs, he got across. The kick failed. New Zealand 5, York 6. Sanders, at centre in this game, was playing well up to his Christchurch form, though strange to the position. Gregory, at full, was tackling everything that came his way with great heart. Owing to an injury, Kirwan changed to the second five-eight position, Webb going to first five-eight. Gardiner had a difficult chance with a penalty kick, and failed. Immediately after he had another penalty kick frynn exactly the same spot and this time piloted the ball between the posts. New Zealand 7, York 6. Half-time came without change in the scores.

SECOND HALF. From the kick-off Avery, came clown the field in fine style with the ball at toe, going to within a few yards of York’s line. Here he picked up and gave a long pass to the wing, but the pass -went astray, and a sure try was lost to New Zealand. The forwards were finding it very! hard to secure the ball in the scrums, as has been the ease in nearly all the games here. Their task was made considerably more hopeless by the York half’s method of placing the ball under the feet of his men. Towards the finish of the game this Was observed by the referee, who penalised him frequently for the offence. Thomas (Dunedin), who was playing his first game of the tour, was next prominent in the hard play that followed, two or three jerseys having to be replaced at this stage, Murfield had a shot at goal, but failed, and New Zealand returned to the attack, but were driven back, and a series of scrums took place on the line. Kirwan then made a good run, but the York full-back refused to take the “dummy,” and Kirwan was grassed within an ace of a try. However, Webb secured from a scrum, and passed to Parkes _to Kinyan in perhaps the most brilliant piece of work of the game, and Kirwan got over for a try, which Gardiner easily converted. New Zealand 12, York 6. The next piece of play had the crowd on its feet, as Petersen picked up and made a run of many yards before passing t oGardincr, who brushed past all opposition to score in the corner. He converted his own try. New Zealand 17, York 6. York then strove desperately to overtake the big lead, and from a great passing rush that left Gregory no chance, Hook got over in the corner, and Keats made no mistake with the kick. New Zealand 17, York 11. Some changes had now been made in the team. Owing to an injury Kirwan went to the wing. Parkes came in to the' first five-eighth portion, and Sanders went to second five-eighth, Webb going to centre. The AH Blacks applied the pressure, and kept York well on the defensive, but somehow New Zealand could not finish off the attacking movements. A penalty to New Zealand gave Gardiner a difficult chance, and he pul the ball over, his effort being heartily cheered by the crowd. New Zealand 19, York 11. The game ended soon after without change in the scores, and New 'Zealand had won the eighth game of the tour.

WIN FOR WARRINGTON On Saturday morning we made the fifty-eight-mile train journey to Warrington from Harrogate, in Yorkshire. Warrington is a town the size of Christchurch, not far from Liverpool, < is the centre of the wire rope-making industry of England, and is one of the most important 'towns of Lancashire. From daybreak the weather had been as bad as it could be, and at the kickoff it was raining heavily, a state of things that continued throughout the game. Added to that was a bitter, blustering wind, which had the effect of making the play,of both teams someyvhat ragged at times. •

The League code in Lancashire has achieved great and unbounded popularity, and nowhere is this more plainly shown than in Warrington, where everyone talks and thinks of League. The visit of the “All Blacks” liad aroused the townspeople to a high pitch of enthusiasm, and long before the kick-off at 3.30 p.m. a very large crowd had assembled despite the inclemency of the weather. Soaked as it was with ram, the ground compared very favorably with the ones the team had previously played on in England. The appointments, as in all the League grounds, revealed that the player is well catered for. Large tiled baths are installed -wherein the players can have a warm bath after the game. Rubbing-do-wn tables are also in every dressing room. Again, Hot tea is served after the game to the players. By the time the game started well over 9,000 spectators had assembled, and this despite the fou! weather, the like of which I have seldom experienced in New Zealand. The gate receipts amounted toThe referee was Mr G. Rees, of Leeds. The teams lined out as follows:

Warrington (yellow and black). —A. Frowen, Roberts, Catterall, Green, Parry, Flynn. Ryder ” (captain), Cunliffe, Peacock, Harrop, Williams, T. Cunliffe, and Tranter. New Zealand.—Gregory (full-back), Brown, Brisbane, and Gardiner (threequarters), Cole (second five-eighth), Davidson (first five-eighth), Webb (halfback), Carroll, Herring, Wright, Mason, Menzies, and Avery (captain, forwards). FIRST SPELL.

The openina phases of the game were highlv sensational, for right from the commencement the Warrington pack asserted a superiority ■ that they maintained throughout the game. An “ up-and-under” kick, a rush, a pass, a lightning-liko burst, and, in a twinkling, Flvnn was over for Warrington. The kick went wide. New Zealand 0, Warrington 3. The rain had made the ground very slippery, and the ball was very difficult to handle. Warrington attacked hotly, per medium of a forward rush, and Webb hastily found touch well down field, thus relieving pressure for New Zealand. Gardiner next secured, and in a fine burst of speed took play to the line before passing to Brown, who was well tackled when lie looked like getting over. At this stage, just four minutes after the commencement of the game, Davidson (Auckland), who had been playing at first five-eighth, retired from Die field with an injured finger. New_ Zealand was deprived of his great services until ten minutes before the close of the half. In other words, be was off tb© field for over thirty minutes of the first half. This was a greater hanclicao than can be realised. Some idea, of the loss can be gained when I state that Warrington scored 11 _ points whilst he was off And their total score of the first half was 11 points. Avery cams out of the forwards, and went to centre three-quarter, the other backs moving up. From lively forward work under the Warrington posts Brown made an opening, and sent Mason over for a try, which Gardiner had no difficulty in converting. New Zealand 5, Warrington 8. Warrington, however, soon asserted their superiority, and took play to the New Zealand twenty-five. New Zealand was being penalised a good deal for knock-ons, and from such a penalty Catterall put over a penalty. Now Zealand 5, Warrintgon 5. Menzies was prominent in a desperate New Zealand forward rush. He created great merriment when he heavily upended an opposing forward and then slipped, and slid several yards on his back. The Warrington forwards were displaying more skill than the All Blacks. They kept together all the time, both in -the loose and in the tight. The manner in which they flung themselves into the tight work nonplussed our men somewhat. They showed exceptional cleverness in screwing the scrum, and to my mind this allowed them to get the ball very frequently. With the Warrington forwards obtaining possession and then making determined onslaughts the New Zealand backs were sorely tried in defence,, and eventually gave way under the strain. Gregory had a great deal to do, and, as in all his games so far, he never failed to do well, even more than his share, especially in defence. His picking up and fielding were a treat to watch. Warrington carried a scrum on the line, and again Flynn _ dashed over for a try on the blind side this time. The try went unconverted, New Zealand 5, Warrington 8. _ Play then hovered in mid-field for a considerable time, and then Tranter secured, and, evading the high tackling of the/New Zealand backs, went over for an easy try, which Catterall failed to convert! New Zealand 5, Warrington 11. At this stage Davidson returned pluokily, and went to the wing position, where he did his best with his one good hand to stem the tide against New Zealand. Brown now went to centre, Avery returning to the pack. Gardiner was next prominent in a rush that carried play to Warrington’s territory and gave their backs a sample of hard, determined play. But their defence held. Play of a scrappy nature followed in mid-field, owing to the greasy state of the ball, untfl Brown brilliantly saved from a long kick that had our men in danger. Herring, Carroll, and Menzies now asserted themselves to good advantage, and play was transferred down field. Then in quick succession Mason made a great tackle, to skate many yards in the mud with his victim, and then Menzies was tackled in possession and brought to the ground with considerable force. Halftime cam© soon after, with the scores New Zealand 5, Warrington 11.

SECOND HALF

In the face of a wind that had increased in violence, and in the teeth of rain that frequently changed to hail, New Zealand set out to overtake and pass the big lead put up by the Warringtonians. But the opposing forwards, assisted by the wind in their “ up-and-under ” methods, dashed aside all opposition. A series of scrums on our line, in which Wright, Herring, and Carroll were conspicuous in the hard play that resulted, had our men on the defensive. Davidson and Brown relieved with a magnificent dribbling rush the full length of tho field, only to see New Zealand robbed of a glorious try when Davidson, handicapped by his injured hand, failed to ground the ball when he got over the line. The Warrington full-back forced instead. New Zealand were now having the better of the run of play, and on several occasions, owing to bad handling, just failed to finish off the play with a try. Following a Warrington man slipping in front of our goal and losing a try thereby, Warrington kept up the pressure, and Parry took a good pass from Tranter and went over in the corner after a forcing run. Catterall again failed to add the points. New Zealand 5, Warrington 14. This was twentythree minutes after the opening of the second half. ■ Off-side play and failure to place the ball into the scrum to the satisfaction of the referee on the part of the Warrington half-back gave New Zealand many penalties, but the wind proved too strong for all attempts. In a fast and thrilling dribbling rush Webb, Brown, and Davidson took play to the Warrington twenty-five, where Brown was collared and thrown out. New Zealand, with the exception of Brown and Gregory, seemed to be tiring, and their play became very ragged indeed. Webb, who is new to the position of half, and had not played there before on the tour, was not impressive. But it must be said he did not see much of the ball. From a movement that started on the touch-line at the 25yds flag Green made a zig-zag run and got” over in the opposite corner for a try that was not converted. New Zealand 5, Warrington 17. A really exciting run by Gregory when he was hard pressed saw Brown placed in possession, but Tranter tackled the Aucklander well, .and the move*