ALL BLACKS -SOME BLUE
HARD MATCH WON REFEREE’S WARNING [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, December 14. The New Zealanders defeated Neath and Aberavon by 13 points to 3 the half-time score being 8 points to 3. Corner played at half-back. Eighteen thousand were present. New Zealand immediately attacked, Oliver completing a passing rush ami going over in the corner. Gilbert did not convert. New Zealand 3 Aberavon 0. , ~ Both teams were keen and tneie were some vigorous exchanges among the forwards. The home side attacked for a long period, after which Ball, securing from the loose in his own twenty-live, ran fifty yards and passed to McLean. Three others handled before the leather came back to McLean, who sent on to Griffiths, who scored twenty yards out from the posts. Gilbert converted. New Zealand S—Aberavon 0. Hot work followed', - the referee speaking ;to a New Zealander, and James goaled from a penalty from a scrum infringement. New Zealand 8—; Aberavon 3. . The home forwards opened in great style, after the resumption, and made many fiery rushes, but they were unable to break the defence. McLean picked up from the scrum and bullocked his way over by sheer strength. Gilbert converted. New Zealand 13 Aberavon 3. The packs clashed repeatedly, and blows were often exchanged. The referee twice spoke to players. The game concluded 1 with both sides keeping the ball tight, the All Blacks apparently being content to hold their lead. „ , , Critics declare that New Zealand has not experienced a harder game than that against Neath and Aberavon, who attacked for long periods, and did not exert themselves in scrummages, using their efforts chiefly in the loose.
NOTES ON THE PLAY “WREATH” FOR REFEREE LONDON, December 14. The special correspondent of United Press Association, commenting on the match, says: The weather was fine and the ground was dry. New Zealand began much more keenly than against the Mid-Districts, the forward's using their weight and pushing their opponents in the scrums. McKenzie and McLean who were” fighting for a place in the Welsh International game, being particularly virile. Their opponents bringing off several fine scissors movements, pressed the tourists’ backs hard for the first ten minutes, but eventually a real forward battle developed. The crowd several times hooted the New Zealanders, but the local men were often guilty of illegalities. The home team were individually brilliant, but as has repeatedly been the case with teams that the tourists have played, the Welshmen were unable to finish off their movements. An unusual incident occurred at half-time, a small boy, amid cheering, presenting a wreath to the referee, Mr. Hiddlestone, who was unpopular with the spectators. Hiddlestone kicked the flowers away as the youngster raced back to the side line.
Play in the second half was mostly confined to the forwards. Occasionally tempers were frayed, and twice blows w r ere exchanged. The home team did not fulfil expectations, as Welsh forwards usually do much better.
Griffiths and Tindill, considering J they were playing together for the 1 first time, combined well, Griffiths seeming perfectly at home at second five-eighths, although he was apt to overdo the kicking to the sideline. However, he was doubtless playing to instructions, and was one star of the match. He tried hard, and made numerous long runs, piercing the de- < fence, and also defending soundly. ■ McLean was good, but McKenzie was superior, and it will be surprising if the former is preferred against Wales, especially in the event of wet weather. McKenzie was one of the hardest workers in the pack, and was ably supported' by Mahoney, Lambourn and Hadley. Taking a line on to-day’s play against a pack supposed to be one of the best in Wales, everything points to a New Zealand victory against Wales. Caughey’s leg is swollen and he is limping, but he is receiving massage and hopes to be fit for the Cardiff match. CRITICS CENSURE WELSH. “WRESTLING }VITHOUT RULES.” (Recd. December 16, 2 p.m.) LONDON, December 15. “The Times” severely condemns “the crude rough and tumble efforts of the Neath-Aberavon forwards, reducing the match to a low level of wrestling without rules” although it admits that the All Blacks occasionally retaliated. It adds: “It would be a grave disservice to the finer side of Rugby to gloss over unpleasant facts regarding most of the forward play, and laxity of control about the scrummage. If they occurred in a Welsh international, which is unlikely, it would be a visitors especially from the Dominions, are entitled to something better than scrapping, ungovernable mauling, offsides and illegal insertions of the ball, which proceeded almost unchecked.” Howard Marshall, in “The Telegraph." similarly criticises the players wasting their energies by whirling fists in private vendettas. He says: “The referee might have had a word to say regarding the matter, and should also have been firmer regarding the serum laws, especially in view of the tact, when the scrum half puts the ball in to his own second row, the game becomes a farce.” Both writers applaud the New Zealanders' play in the loose, and also the ; magnificent scoring movements. ' “The Times” pays a tribute to the imperturbable efficiency of Hadley, ’ which was an example to everybody.
WELSH TEAM SELECTED PROSPECTS DISCUSSED. (Recd. December IG. 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 15. The Welsh team against the New Zealanders (on Saturday next) will be: — V.- G. J. Jenkins (London Welsh), W. Woolier (Cambridge University), Idwal Rees (Swansea), E. C. Davey
(Swansea), G. R. Hees Jones (Oxford University), C. vV< Jones (Cambridge University), H. Tanner (Swansea), A. M. Rees (London Welsh), J. I. B. Lang (Llanelly), G. Prosser (Neath), T. Williams (Crosskeys). T. Rees (Newport). E. Watkins (Cardiff). D. J. Tarr (Navy and Swansea), H. Payne (Swansea l. . All but Tanner. Williams, Watkins, Tarr and Payne are old internationals. “The Times” expresses the opinion that in view of the superfluity of midfield backs, except the serum half, and the quantity rather than quality forward, the selectors might have gone farther and fared worse. Probably Tarr was chosen as hooker, but the selectors might have better results if they picked the whole Swansea front row. Jenkins is liable to have serious off days. Idwal Rees is preferable to Woolier as centre, especially as Wooller’s speed is better on the wing. Davey is an excellent, tackler. Rees-Jones is slow from the mark, but the best available. The other winger, Cliff Jones’s experience and robustness caused him to be preferred to Tanner’s clubmate, Davies. His knowledge of Wooller’s play is valuable, but it is the forwards on which great responsibility rests. The “Mail” doubts whether the forwards are capable of defeating the All Black pack, but Lang is in a class by himself for binding the scrum, and in ! the line outs.
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Greymouth Evening Star, 16 December 1935, Page 7
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1,130ALL BLACKS -SOME BLUE Greymouth Evening Star, 16 December 1935, Page 7
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