ALL BLACKS' EASY WIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22363, 23 June 1947, Page 3

ALL BLACKS' EASY WIN

NEW SOUTH WALES TROUNCED 36-3 SCOTT’S GREAT GOAL-KICKING TOURISTS’ FORWARDS DOMINATE GAME (9.40 a. 111.) SYDNEY, June 23. Exacting full vengeance for their defeat a fortnight ago, the All Blacks overwhelmed New South "Wales by 3(i points to 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday afternoon. This was the greatest margin in a clash between New Zealand and New South Wales since the beginning of the long series of contests in 1884. Of the 54 matches placed since then. New Zealand has won 41 and New South Wales 11, two being drawn. In reply to a solitary penalty by Piper, scored in the first 10 minutes, the New Zealanders piled up six trios. In this Scott added 18 points by converting all six tries and kicking two penalties. Goddard and Thornton registered two tries each, and Catley and Kearney one each.

The crowd of under 30,000 was electrified by the earlier play and by the persistent attempts by the New South Wales backs and forwards to break through the New Zealand defence in the second half, but many began to leave the field when a New Zealand win was plainly in sight 15 minutes before full time. The teams were as follows: New Zealand.—Fullback, R. Scott; threequarters, D. F. Mason, M. P. Goddard, W. Argus; five-eighths, F. Allen, J. Kearney; halfback, P. Tetzlaff; forwards, N. Thornton, K. Arnold, R. White, F. Hobbs, C. Willocks, J. Simpson, H. Catley, L. Conolly. New South Wales. —Fullback, B. Piper: threequarters, C. Eastes, M. Howell, T. Macßride. T. Allan; fiveeighth, J. Cremin; halfback, C. Burke; forwards, A. Buchan, R. Cornforth, C. Windon, D. Kraefft, P. Hardcastle, D. Keller, D. Furness, F. Tweedale. The referee was Mr. H. A. Tolhurst. N.S.W.’s Early Fireworks Playing conditions were nearly perfect when the teams took the field. Despite two curtain-raisers, the ground showed no signs of being cut up, though there were several bare patches at halfway where the Bulli soil of the cricket pitches showed. The breeze was light and the sky clear. The All Blacks won the toss and opened with their backs to the sun which, however, was not bright enough to make things difficult for New South Wales. New South Wales swung into action from the whistle, first Cornforth and then the backs penetrating deeply into New' Zealand territory. The backs in particular, with Howell and Eastes showing prominently, were dangerous. Macßride was pulled down inches from the line and Windon actually crossed but was recalled for a forward pass. In the resultant scrum in front of the posts, the All Blacks were penalised and Piper kicked an easy goal. New' South Wales .. .. 3 New Zealand 0 Scott cleared another attack and Kearney and Tetzlaff took the ball downfield with shrewd kicks. From a lineout, Catley crashed through for a try in the corner. From the sideline Scott made a perfect conversion. New Zealand 5 New' South Wales .. .. 3 N.Z. Forwards Get Into Stride Up to this time, the All Blacks seemed hard pressed and were losing both the scrums and a fair proportion of the lineouts. The team w r as visibily shaking down, however, and soon was breaking better than ever with Thornton and

Arnold constantly menacing the New South Wales back line. T. Allan staved, off one All Black threat and returned play to halfway, where New South Wales were penalised just inside the line. Scott raised the flags again. New Zealand 8 New South Wales 3 The All Blacks were now holding New South Wales on defence, chiefly byline kicking. Allen sent the backs away several times and once Kearney was dumped by Buchan just short of the goal line. The New Zealand forwards were settling into their stride and were gradually bettering the opposing pack in all departments. Halfway through the spell Allen dummied through, drew a man and passed to Goddard, who doubled through MacBride and Howell and scored cleanly in the corner. Scott’s unerring boot added the conversion. New Zealand 13 New South Wales 3 Splendid Backing Up By no means outclassed. New South Wales threatened continually. Howell was grassed near the New Zealand 25. But splendid backing up play by the New Zealand backs and forwards slowly forced the home team back into its own 25. With the . defence stretched almost to breaking point, it seemed certin that New Zealand would score again. Scott went through and short punted, but the ball rolled over the dead ball line. Allen was brought down by MacBride inches short of the goal line. Then Allen tried a field goal and failed. Scott kicked and the bounce beat Piper, but Kearney knocked on when all he had to do was fall over the line. Just before half-time, Scott dummied through and passed to Allen, but the referee ruled that the pass was forward. For half the spell. New South Wales had been fighting desperately to hold the fort. Cremin and Windon had tried to get back on the attack, but the All Blacks showed uncanny anticipation of every New South Wales move. At half-time scrums were even, but the All Blacks were well ahead in lineouts. Allen’s Shrewd Tactics On the resumption the All Blacks went back to the offensive, with Allen prominent in shrewd play. This time they made no mistake. When Burke tried to clear, he was charged down by Argus, who passed out to Goddard. The South Canterbury centre ducked round the blind side and went over for his second try. Scott converted. New Zealand 18 New South Wales 3 Nearly half an hour passed before the score changed. In that time play was agan even, with New South Wales taking the fight time and again to All Black territory. The All Blacks kept throwing the ball about and keeping play open, despite the fact that the home backs were always triers. In the forwards, play became even more willing. Play was held up when Willocks received a bad cut over the eye. He was off the field about 10 minutes while an ambulance man stemmed the flow of blood. Allen was laid flat after stopping a forward rush, but resumed little the worse. Burke. Cremin and Macßride made strong atempts to break through, but at this stage the New Zealand cover defence was superb. Simpson received a cut on the face and during the hold-up, Argus changed his boot. N.S.W. Never Let Up The All Blacks weathered the full force of the New South Wales attack and then went back for more. The forwards went over the line but MacBride saved. Then Allen dummied his way right through to Piper and whipped the ball to Thornton, who scored. Scott converted. New Zealand 23 New South Wales 3 With a crushing defeat in sight. New South Wales never let up. Cremin ancl Eastes figured in several game movements which finished in a group of All Black jerseys. Piper held them for a while with excellent kicking, but the result could be foreseen. Hobbs. Allen and Mason handled in a neat movement Then Tetzlaff broke through and passed to Connolly, who sent Thornton over for his second try. Scott made easy work of (he conversion. New Zealand 28 New South Wales 3 Whole Team on Attack The game remained open and New South Wales kept pegging away, but for once the All Blacks appeared to be finishing fresher than they started. _ A penalty well out towards the sideline gave Scott another chance to demonstrate his calibre. He made a difficult kick look simple. New Zealand 31 New South Wales 3 In the final minutes of the game, the whole All Black team seemd to be running and passing on attack. Kearney went over for a try which Scott converted. New Zealand 36 Now South Wales 3 The final whistle went after the All Blacks had thrown the ball all round the New South Wales’ 25 in an amazing combined offori.