ALL BLACKS’ GOOD PRACTICE AGAINST WEST AUSTRALIA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22931, 27 April 1949, Page 12

ALL BLACKS’ GOOD PRACTICE AGAINST WEST AUSTRALIA

(TYom a Press Assn. Correspondent A i(li tlK 1 All Clacks) (10 am.) PERTH, April 27. Ideal weather prevailed for the last few days before reaching Perth, where the All Blacks were greeted with a temperature of 86 degrees.

All members of the team are now 100* per cent, though Savage anrl J. W. God- 1 dard took the longest to recover from i early seasickness and missed some of | the training sessions. With the exception of Mentos, who injured an ankle during training on the boat, all the team had a run in the match against Western Australia. Allen’s team ran up 17 points to three in the first spell of SO minutes and Dalton's team ran up 17 points to nil in the second spell. Western Australia put up good opposition, particularly in rucking and tackling. As a result the match proved a really useful test as the All Blacks badly needed a stiff workout. Many Penalties for Infringments

By the special request of Fred Allen, the referee was severe on the slighest infringement by the All Blacks who were penalised 15 times to one by their opponents. From one of these penalties Hondros dropkicked a sp’endid goal from near halfway for Western Australia. New Zealand scored 10 trie" —Rotting (51. Henderson (21, Fog"s (21. Wilson. Grant and M. P Goddard one each. Only two shots were taken at goal alter tries. Scott end J. W. Goddard each being successful. Scott's conversion was from the sideline. The crowd of 2000 had heard of his goal-kicking prowess and gave a big cheer when the bad sailed clean over the centre of the bar. Though the team has indulged in steady training since finding their sea legs, it is apparent that many of the players will need all of of the period available after their arrival in South Africa to throw o(T their surplus weight. OTi-nl weights, in football gear after the selection of the team last September showed onlv one over 15~t. That was Fraa'T. with Harvey. McHugh. Crowley and Simpson only a few pounds away Many Forwards Overweight At the weighing in Wellington in or dinary clothes prior to departure, rm fewer than nine forwards were well over lost, with three over l(ist. The heaviest, forwards were Harvey Fra7,er and Sifnpson There is at present plenty of surplus poundage to be worked off most of the nlavcrs. though several appear to be '■apab'e of carrying extra weight without affecting their physical fitness. The onlv forwards practically at normal weights are McNab and Johnstone.

Training each clay has consisted o( one hour of physical exercises and football. In addition, all the front row forwards spend further tm n e in mastering the art of hooking and the forwards generally are practising interchanging positions. Three birthdays have been celebrated on tlie voyage to Fremantle, those of Henderson. F raze” and the assistant manager, Mr. McDonald. Frazer re ceived a huge floral bouquet to the great amusement of the passengers. The team has nnurally been the centre of interest on the Tnmaroa and has also become very popular.