DOUR PLAY

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1934, Page 5

DOUR PLAY

BY ALL BLACKS GAINS A VICTORY Australian Backs Well Watched HOLDER DOES WELL. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received August 18 at 6.30 p.m.) BRISBANE, August 19. The All Blacks have tamed Australia’s Test backs. That is what close students of the game thought as they left the Exhibition Ground after seeing New Zealand beat a strong Australian fifteen by 11 to 6 yesterday. The weather was fine and there was a little breeze. The ground was fast.

The match was disappointing to a crowd of fifteen thousand, but those who know their Rugby found plenty to interest them. The factors in the first. Test were reversed. The Australian backs were not the speedy greyhounds that, they were in Sydney. The New Zealand forwards saw to that, but, in doing so, they neglected real forward play to the extent that the Australian eight were slightly superior on the day. When it is considered that Bonis gave Malcolm ami his men another feast of the ball, and that Australia failed to cross the New Zealand line, the extent of the effective stopping is fully realised. These tactics also had the effect of slowing the game up, and it was a pity that such a large crowd were not treated to a better spectacle in a centre where the League game is so strong. Still, the All Blacks felt it incumbent on them to win, and they set about it in the way which they thought, most effective. The result proved their tactics t<» be sound. Looking round for star players on the New Zealand side, it would be hard to go past Manchester as the best forward. He was in every bit of play. He tackled demoniacally and rucked solidly. Next to him was McLean, who worked like a Trojan throughout, although he was not. as fit as he would like to be. Tn the New Zealand backs, the winners were best served by Lilburne again. Tie never made a mistake in kicking, handling or tackling, and he was content not to run with the backs to-day as he did on Wednesday, for her realised that these tactics would not pay as the play was swinging. Griffiths again showed he is developing into one of New Zealand’s best backs, although to-day saw the backs get very little opportunity for attack. Bridle was easily Australia’s best, player. He broke from the serums with amazing speed, and some of his solo clashes were delightful. Had he been supported, Australia would have had at least one try. Most of the Australian forwards, except Hodgson, who was a passenger, owing to an injured leg. did well, however, on account of finding the New Zealand pack with their attentions divided. Bonis out hooked Tmmbourne 37 times to 22. • Tt must, have been heartbreaking to him to sec the Australian backs fail to make use of the opportunities presented to them. Vincent, who is regarded as the successor of Ross at. full-back, started shakily, and again and again looked as though he would repeat his Wednesday’s exhibition, but the young Queenslander rallied splendidly, and he played brilliant football in the second spell. The only other Australian back who played true to form was Kelaher, but, like McLean, he received very limited chances.

HOLDER’S CLEVER TRY. New Zealand scored in the first ten minutes as the result of a neat individual effort by Holder, who must now be running Bullock-Douglas close for his place in the test team. The ball came to Holder ten yards from the line, and, though he had little room to move, he made no mistake. Lilburne sent New Zealand further ahead with an accurate penalty goal from a reasonably easy position, and the crowd then began to yell, “Come on Aussies!” as though the greens were a beaten lot. Certainly the All Blacks dominated the early stages of the match. Even play followed, with Bridle’s individual brilliance giving Australia a chance to make up the leeway. Ho always was unsupported, however. Doneley, the Queensland forward, who was placed in the team largely for his kicking, was then given his first chance at a goal. Kicking from near half-way, he made no mistake, and Australia were only three points down. At the interval the scores remained: N.Z. 6; Australia 3. SECOND SPELL. It was the same rugged type of play in the second spell. The Australian backs tried short punting, but the bounce never once favoured them. Then there was tremendous excitement when Doneley made the scores equal with another penalty goal.—Australia 6; N.Z. 6. The New Zealanders, however, did not leave much doubt about their ability to win when they came back with persistent attacks, launched mainly through mistakes on the part of the Australian backs. This was how they scored the winning margin. Page high-punted from a penalty, and Towers called for the ball, only to drop it badly. The New Zealand forwards kicked ahead, both Vincent and Kelaher failing to keep out McLean, who forced his way over to score. Lilburne converted. —N.Z. 11; Australia 6. The dying stages of the game saw

New Zealand in the ascendancy again, and only a technical knock-on saved a certain try. New Zealand made a last-minute alteration in the team, Barry playing instead of Max, who had originally been chosen instead of Mataira. New’ Zealand’s test prospects certainly have been enhanced as the result of this success, but the form of the Australian backs was too poor to be true. The Sydney cricket ground should hold a great crowd for the final test, and it certainly looks to be anybody’s game, with the odds favouring New Zealand. All Blacks Criticised

BY QUEENSLAND PRESS. BRISBANE, August 19. The All Blacks have come in for a “roasting” from the sensational section of the w’eek-end press in Queensland. “New Zealand won a match that never once reached the international standard, and that was a big disappointment to the crowd that paid for thrills, but that hardly once raised a cheer. The Australian backs gave a woeful exhibition of futility and ineptitude, and if the New Zealand side had been even a shadow of the former All Blacks, their total would have assumed cricket proportions,” said one paper. The foregoing attack loses a lot of its sting when it is known that the same paper has been boosting an improvement in the Australian standard. The general opinion is that the All Blacks would be slightly better than the 1932 side with Purdue and Solomon in. The tourists spent Sunday on the •glorious waters of Moreton Bay in the palatial yacht “Cambria.” SYDNEY, August 19. The Australian team for the second Rugby Test will be the same as for the first Test. SECOND TEST. (Received August 18 at 5 5 p.m.) BRISBANE, August 18. The Australian Rugby selectors have decided to maintain the first test team for the second test next Saturday, viz: FuT-back—A. W. Ross (captain) • three-quarters, J. D. Kelaher, C. H. Towers, E. Hayes, D. McLean; fiveeighth, L. Lewis; half-ba< k. S. G. Malcolm,; forwards, W. A. Mackney, A. J. Hodgsen, O L. Bridle, R. Duulop. W. G. White, V. Berm'ingham. E. Bonis. EL A. Jessep'. Reserves: —D. L. Cow’per, J. White, K. Storey, V. Richards, R. J. Walden and R. B. Louden.