LEAGUE TEST

Grey River Argus, 27 August 1928, Page 6

LEAGUE TEST

ENGLAND WIN ASHES. BY ONE POINT. A Fast Clean Game. CLi RIST CHUK CH. August 25. The Bi.gby eague Test match, the final ganK ol the ■ liu!'b> wa.played to-day a Eug-.i-di ' ll ' Soccer code ground, in presence of a “capacity” crowd. England von by six' points to five. It is stated that the attendance- totalled twenty tftcusajiu people. The police stoppea *tho ticket sates live minutes before the game began, and consequently t .tree thousand pioplc

had to "be refused admission. reports of rough play from the West oCast au’d Dunedin, many of the crowd went to the match in the fear or the hope tint the game would be played with extreme fe-roci’y, with manifestations of illegal roughness bv both sides. This fear or hope proved quite groundless., although the gain', was fought throughout with exceeding grimnos. Although the margin o f ‘ points was very narrow, and although the rubber depended on the resu-t, there was not singly nas.y Accident in the whole game. The referee, Mr .A. Marlock, controlled the game very strictly. Many of the spectators declared that he 'did not miss a single infringement. At any rate ho awarded a very large numb l r of penalties. Probably, if iie had been a little less strict the game would have been a better spectacle for as it happened, the match as a spectacle was disappointing ,as the dtfence was too strong, too resclute, and too effective on both sides to allow either side to develop attack movements. It must be admitted, However, that the score scarcely represents the margin of difference between the teams. The forwards were about evenly matched. The Englishmen handled tho( ball th ; > belter, and they opened the game up with their backs better than the All Blacks, but the New Zealanders wer e superior in the loose bustling rushes- The real superiority of the Englishmen was behind the crum. .Parkin and Rees were very

much superior to 'the New Zealand inside "backs, and the combination of the Englishmen on the few occasions when it was allowed to develop, was definitely boter than that of the New Zealanders. One* outstanding feature of the match was the almost continuous lin<kicking duel between the opposing full-backs, Dufty and Sullivan. Both gave a remarkably fine display, an.’, they finished the game with the honours easv. THE TEAMS. New Zealand: —C. Dufty. R Ilatdgraves, H. Brisbane, L. Scott, S. Prentice, M. Wetli er ill (Capt), G. Peckham, L. Hutt, A. Townsend. C. Hall. V. Goodall, M. O’Brien, B. Eekhoff. England:—J. Sullivan, P. E. Gwynne, L. Fairclough, C. Askin, A. Frodsham. J. Parkin (Capt), B. Bees, H. Bowman, N. Bentham J. Thompson, A. Fildes. B. Bowen, W. Horton. THE PLAY. The Englishmen won the toss k and set the Nt w Zealanders to play against a very troublesome sun in the first half The opening five minutes of play made it clear to the players and the spectators, that no infringmemts'would be passed over. Several free kicks awarded, to gain them a decided territorial advantage, but the visitors were penalised, and play went to the English twentyfive. where Sulivan was tackled with the ball. New Zealand were awarded a penalty when Peckham was collared ami Dufty landed a magnificent goal NEW ZEALAND 2, ENGLAND 3. A brilliant movement was started by Hardgrave in the English twentyfive. Prentice carried on and let out to Wetherill. When he? was well tackled from behind, the elusive captain transferred to Brisbane, who narrowly failed in a dash for t he line. By ragged rushus, England took play beyond half way, where Sulli-van kicked well for a goal, but just failed. New Zealand was winning most of the scrums, buc Parkin, after the English pack had won a scrum clearly lot Askin and Fairc lough awoy to near the line, where Eckhoff tackled the latter well. On their wing, Parkin staged a clever piece of passing with Bees, whose pass to Sullivan, however, was forward. The Englishmen tried the ‘other wing with more luck. Gwynne took the ball twenty yards from the line, dodged three New Zealanders, and dived as three opponents landed on his back. Fairclough following past, ground'd the ball. Sullivan failed with the kick. ENGLAND 3, NEW ZEALAND 2. Peckham opened up the next bright movement from his own twenty fi v e. He cut in to pass three opponents and passed tc Scott when he met Sullivan, but Scott'’was smothered. Fairclough failed to hold a nippy pass from Parkin, and then the crowd called for Dufty when a penalty was awarded New Zealand. The tall Aucklander’s kick just failed. Soon afterwards Sullivan had a like ill fortune in missing a shot from near half-way. Nothing of moment happened until half-time. SECOND HALF. Not long after the resumption the Englishmen showed their real qual’ty In.’ a brilliant piece of passing—the best of the whole match. From a scrum, Pavkin and Rees scissor-passed and the ball went to A'dan, to RjC3, to Parkin, and to Askin, who snowed good speed in a dash for the line, with a 'clear field. Sullivan’s kick missed. ENGLAND 6, NEW ZEALAND 2. The black forwards, with a scrambling rush along the touchline, took play to England’s lino, Goodall and O’Brien being prominent. O’Brien being the actual player to tou<‘h down, and score a try Dufty missed the goal. ENGLAND fl, NEW ZEALAND ?•. The play became faster on Che. resumption. Often New* Zealand had the territorial advantage. Indeed they had it for most of th«?i remainder of the grufib, but they lacked the ability to round off their attacks. The Englishmen always seemed the more dangerous. Thor© was ro further score. D'ETAILED ACCOUNT (By 1 ' Half-blank. ”) England won the toss and Wetherill set the game going. Both teams

Were frequently penalised in the fiist few minutes. England pressed to the New Zealand 25, where they were penalised m the scrum, Dufty'a Kick being received by Sullivan, who sent it back and the home full , back received to Hue with a beautiful kick., the bounce of the ball beating Sullivan Another scrum endede witj.i England being again peu.atisid for illegal tactics, Dufty finding file Hue with a beautiful fifty yards kick. Play seesawed, then England came away will, an attack which took them to near the home 25. Hiro Fildes was caught off-side and Dufty placed a be-iuiiiui goal, the ball soaring high up uuU over midway between the po.-.ts.

Now Zealand England. u (’pun resuming, a scrum at half wav was ordered ai.d i’cckha-'u

secured, to send New Zeaiuiid away oi» attack. Wetherill cut through .the opposing line and then sent uii to Brisbane, who was not held until near thu line. England relieved the and worked back tr quartc’.-v»ay where New Zealand wire penalisuc, and Sullivan put the- bail out i.u Un home territory. -Play w:us fast unu opei.. with tliei visiting backs tow binning in repeated attacks, but the New Zealand tack I .ing was dead-/,, anu the were well hevi. Wetherill was caught offside, viz Sullivan had a shot from just inside 1 half-ssUy, the effort being a ♦qfieEdid but fruitless one. Ou exchange oi kicks between th. e opposing fun-backn ended in Dul.ty putting tne ball ou' from his own quarter to EiiglafU’u 25. The Englishmen came upfield again, and it rented with Dufty to case the position. He secured ta** ball, and shot a puss to Wetherill, bin an Englishman was wtaiting oil-side anil New Zealand gained a free kick. Dufty lined at half-way. From the bc.rum Peckham shot the ieaiiier t<> Prentice who sent out to Wetherill, only to sc® Askin intercept and send on to Fildes, the latter Lnocking on. Scott next became prominent tor a good save nr.ar his own line, hew Zealand then secured a free kick, Fildes not allowing Scott to play l,h? bail. A nian in front nullified Oc advantage however, but Peckham received from the scrum, and booted. The visiting backs shot away, and Fairclough cut in butiiutifully and handed a. quiet dummy to Brisbane before sending on to AskTn, who received fhe pass forward. Out to score however, England kept iip lie) pressure, and Fairclough again bec-yme conspimlous and skipped his way through New Zealand. h«tided on i-o Gwynne "and then received again to

go over for a splendid try at the cevner. Sullivans Kick fell 'ikort. England . . - . < • • • •> New Zealand 3 The re-start saw Peckham receive and make, a clear run, beating thre< Englishmen before sen-’ing out Hall, who continued on to bo pushed out a yard from the Hue. Wetherill secured from P. ckham and cross kicked to ’the English goal, but Sullivan cased the: pressure with the first “mark” of the game. New Zealand came back to the atack and exciting play took place near England’s T.iu 1 . Hutt snapped up the ball and sent out to' Scott, who short punted, but thti leather beat the pu’•suers, aac bounced over the dead line. Eng l an 1 were again penalised in th e scrum, and Dufty had a long shot at goal, the ball going just outside the posts. England now attacked strongly and carried play right to the Ne<w Zealand line, where a passing rush saw Frodsham gO' over, only to be recalled for a knock on. England were once niGfa penalised in. the scrum, ami Du/Vy sent down a powerful line kick to

half-way. Following play resulted in Eekhoff being off-side, and from three yards within half way. Sullivan just missed goaling. New Zealand force*; the ball. Play was still fast and open, both teams attacking and defending, with, great determination. Dufty and Sullivan wer e kicking with great judgment, and each penalty resulted in! the full backs sending the offending on "each occasion for fully fifty yards. England we*~ heing penalised for lifting their *-,->< - in 2very oh‘6 out of two of the scrums set. Just before half time Eng’and were penalised for off-side play and Dufty es-ayed another shot from near half-way, the ball falling , just under ,the cross-bar. Half-time score: England! 3 New ZealanTT 2 SECOND HALE. Parkin restarted the game, and England immediately pressed to the N.Z. 25. There Peckham secured and making a tricky run, beat two of the opposition, before passing out. The ball went to O’Brien, who dribbled cleanly through the English pack to halfway Hutt was then caught offside and Sullivan took a kick at goal from two feet inside the halfway mark, straigh! in line with the posts. It was a grau-1 effort, the ball falling very little short of the goal. Wetherell received, to run forward and transfer to Pron|ice, who booted the leather down to Sullivan for the opposing full back to send it upfield with a beautiful kick that cans ed it to bounce out at the N.Z. 25. .England were once again penalised for lifting in the scrum, and Dufty transferred play to halfway. O’Brien ami Eekhoff then became prominent in a determined dash through the English forwards, but Rees snapped the ball from their feet and sent his backs away only to see them run straight across the field and Frodsham overrun the pass from Askin. England again set out in a back movement, but Askin failed to gather in a Igw pass from Rees, and the N.Z. forwards came away in a strong rush which carried the ball to England’s quarter-way. Peckham received from a scrum, had sent out to Prentice, who short-punted to G Wynne. The blacks stormed the English three-quarter, who swung a long pass infield. It failed to be- col looted, and N.Z. pressed hotly to the line, where the bail was booted into dead territory by England. New Zealand kept up the pressure, and th e forwards quickly worked back to near Englund’s goal line. A scrum was ordered ten yards out, but N.Z. wore penalised for lifting in it. enabling Sullivan to send them back to halfway with his kick. Play ran along evenly for a spell, during which Peckham showed out in a clever run, hut Sullivan secured and sent N.Z. back. England set up a back advance which carried them up near the home 25. Again the visitors were penalised in the scrum, ami Dufty sent the ball out. with a beautiful kick to England’s quarter-way. The serum gave Parkin th e ball, and immediately followed as pretty a piece of football as could be wished for. The English captain shot the leather to Rees, and the whole

white back line moved off. Rees sent to Askin, to Parkin (who had raced round), and a beautiful reverse pass from the captain back to Askin completely outwitted the defence, and the speedy English three-quarter shot through to race clear away at a terrific speed for the line, with half of N.Z. in vain pursuit. Askin won easily, and scored a great try, which capped a really clever piece of combined plav. Sullivan, to the surprise of all, missed what should have been to him, «an easy kick. England : ..fl New Zealand 2 Now Zealand restarted in determined manner, and Fildes was penalised for not allowing Hall to play the ball Even play followed until England secured a free kick fifteen yards inside Now Zealand’s halfway. » Sullivan had a shot, but the ball hit the upright. England were then penalised and Dufty sent the ball well, downfield. Askin ran l ack to receive it, and was applauded for a beautiful gather in. Eng land worked to the home line, hut again the visitors were penalised in the

scrum, and Dufty sent the ball from within five yards of his own line down to England’s 25. with a magnificent kick. Play now opened up in lively passing, both teams swinging the ball about in fine style. went up and down the field, till Parkin intercepted a pass from Wcthercll to Scott and set off. carrying play to the N.Z. quarter-way. The visitors were once again pulled up in the scrum, and Dufty kicked down to the opposing full back sending it back to Dufty, who returned it. for Sullivan to place another great kick from his ovn 25, to within three yards of New w Zealand’s line. Again tin* referee penalised the visitors in the scrum, and Dufty lined to past halfway.

Wet he roll showed out in a splendid dodging run, which penetrated to England’s 25. Here Goodall came away ar.d completely beat the opposition with a splendid dribbling run. He then lost control of it as it wont over the lino nt the corner, but O’Brien was at hand and dived to touch down, with four Englishmen with him. O’Brien just beat them to the touch and Dufty then made a splendid effort to goal from a difficult angle. It was a grea' effort, the ball falling just tw 0 feel short under the crossbar. New Zealands England 6 Immediate play found the opposing full backs exhibiting splendid kicking, the duel between them ending in Sulli van sending out at Ih e N.Z. quarter The home side cleared, and then mad- 1 a piercing attack right down to England’s line. Askin snapped up the ball, but then knocked on under his own goal. Peckham received from the scrum, and th P home backs were near ly over, but a forward pass gave relief to England, and Sullivan sent N.Z. back with a powerful line kick. England Then pressed, and Bowman broke clear away, but kicked the ball too hard with nobody in front of him, and the leather became dead. With but a single point separating tin* teams, play was speeding along, with incident after incident keeping the big crowd keyed up. Horton was caught offside. and spoilt a visiting attack. Then the home team moved away, the* backs throwing the* ball about with delightful snappy passing. It came out to Hardgreaves who sped for the line, and got within two feet of it before being heavid oui by Frodsham. England cleared from I he scrum, and dashed away, headed by Parkin, who punted to Dufty. and the second “mark” of the game was called. A piece of tight play followed, and then Parkin was glaringly offside, but amused tho crowd when he, in all sincerity, appealed from a free kick against a New Zealander for an infringement against him. Dufty took Ihe free kick, and Sullivan allowed the bail to bounce dead. England now strove hard to add to their score, and Sullivan attempted a drop kick from well back, the ball flying close to a

goal. Frodsham was hurt immediately after, and Horton filled his place. Time was near and nothing further of importance occurred before the call of full time. Final score: . ENGLANDG NEW ZEALANDS Both teams received an ovation upon leaving the field. GBEY DEFEA.T RUNANGA. At Cobden y, sterday afternoon Grey seniors inflicted defeat upon Runanga, the final score being Grey 10; Runanga Hardie secured a try for Runanga, and Harrison drop-kicked a goal. For Grey, Petri 1 and Thompson scored, Lynch converting Thompson’s try, and Wright kicked a penalty goal. The play was not up to >tandard. Tallentyre was ordered off the field by .the referee, Mr A. Feilding. NELSON CREEK DEFEAT MARIST. Playing at Nelson Creek ye-'t 'rday, the home team defeated Marisit by 18 points to 10, after a splendid exposition of football.. A large crowd watched the match, and were tr. ated to a hard and fast game. Nelson Creek attacked soon after the starjt, and worked towards the green line, where th? defenders were penalised. Greer had a shot from a penalty from a fairly difficult angle, and landed a goal. N. Creek 2; Marist 0.

After some even play Marist rush'll forward and an infringement by Creek gave E. Quinn a shot which he turned to scoring account. Marist 2; N. Creek 2.

Following play found the Creek forwards dominating the game, and from a serambl •, Brownlie went over the Hap. The kick a;t goal missed. N. Creek 5; 'Marist 2. The greens now took a hand and swept to near the opposing line, where Kennedy secured to rac. • over. E. Quinn missed the kick. Marist 5; N C.eek 5. Half-time sounded without further score. The game r. started with Creek forwards on the attack. Up and down fie’d play followed, then Morrisey was successful in gc.iting across for CreekGreer kicked a good goal. N. Creek 10: Marist 5. Marist retaliated and an infringement by the home team gave.E. Quinn his chance, and he kicked a penalty. Marist 7; N. Creek 10. The home forwards then pressed to th green 25, where Greer picked up and sent on to Tibbles to Bennett to Tobin for the latter to Tun in at the I

corner. The kick at goal failed N Creek 13; Marist 7. Tl team ra j]i od , nnd a ]o • kick beat the Cre, k defence, for Delaney to run down and score. Quinn missed the kick at goal. Marist 10N. Creek 13. Creek forwards were now playing splendidly, and. with time up, but* the ball still in play, Greer s.?cured and sent the backs away for Tobin to again cross near ::he corner. Brownlie p aced a s[ lendid goal, and the game ended: Nelson Creek 18; Marist 10. JUNIOR. GRADE. Runanga juniors defeated Blackball by 5 points to 3‘. R. Muncaster scored for Runanga, and J. O’Neill kicked a penalty goal. Clarke scored for Blackball. J. Kerr, a Blackball player, was ordered off the field during play, foi’ questioning the decisions of the referee, Mr G. Topp.