N.Z. LEAGUE TEAM.

Grey River Argus, 16 August 1937, Page 7

N.Z. LEAGUE TEAM.

WIN TEST MATCH AUSTRALIANS UNLUCKY Two Men Injured WINNERS’ FORM EXCELLENT. AUCKLAND, August 14. A brilliant exhibition of the League code was witnessed by a crowd of 20,000 people at Carlaw Park to-day, when New Zealand and Australia played’a test match. New Zealand team, which was easily defeated in the first test,- showed a surprising improvement to-day to take the decision from the visiting Australian side by 16 points to 15. The game was played on a firm ground, and in fine weather. Prior to the commencement of the play, the Prime Minister, Rt. Hoh. M. J. Savage, and the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, addressed the crowd, through amplifiers, both . receiving a splendid reception from the spectators. Speaking from the middle ground, the Prime Minister, welcomed the Australians as an Australian who had made New Zealand his home, where he had learned to love the Dominion and its people. He wished the Australians success on their tour. The Minister of Finance and the managers of the Australian team, also spoke. Mr Savage kicked off for New Zealand amid applause. Australia attacked and Beaton kicked a penalty goal. Australia 2, New Zealand nil. The New Zealand backs opened a brilliant passing run and Davison scored at the flag. His shot was wide. New Zealand 3, Australia 2.

Passing between A. Rigg, Pearson and Reardon sent the latter in to score. Australia 5, New Zealand 3. S. Pearce (Australia) retired with a fractured left leg and was taken to hospital. Australia had added ten more points and New Zealand three at half-time, when Australia led by 15 to 6. New Zealand added ten points in the second half, while Australia did' not increase their score.

Although the game was dominated by New Zealand, whose pack played forceful, intelligent football, the glamour of victory was lessened by the fact that the Australians for the greater part of the time were playing two men short. At one stage the visitors had three men off the field with injuries. ' In attempting to tackle Nepia, the New Zeaand full-back, in the first spell, Pearce, one of the most brilliant Australian forwards, was thrown heavily, and he suffered a broken leg. Gibbs also had to retire with a severe injury to his thigh. Both of these players were taken aboard the Arawa, and they will continue the tour with the team. , New Zealand owed its victory to the superlative play of the forwards, wno had the measure of the opposing pack from the start. The firm conditions should have suited the visitors, but fast raiding on the part of New Zealand forwards, their initiative and their good handling threw the visitors off their balance.

An outstanding feature of the game was a brilliant display by George Nepia, the famous full-back of the 1924 All Black Rugby team in England. Not an Australian passed him throughout the game, while his subtle tactical moves were of great assistance, both to his forwards and , his backs. Although he tired a trifle in the second half, he proved himself such a rock on defence that the Australians would rather pass than attempt to beat him. His splendid linekicking got his side out of difficulties on many occasions. Playing a typical Australian game, the visiting backs threw the ball about in a fashion which delighted the crowd, but the fast raiding of the opposing forwards upset their moves at crucial moments. Pearce, Gibbs and Norman were outstanding forwards for' Australia, and when tne first two had to leave the field, the visitors’ pack lacked devil. One of the finest exhibitions of half-back play ever seen on Carlaw Park was given by Williams, the diminutive Australian player, who stood up to the onslaughts of the fast-mov-ing and resourceful New Zealand forwards in a resolute manner, and was responsible fox - most of the visitors attacking movements. Norman and McLean were hard workers, but they were forced to submit to line tackling. New Zealand turned out the finest League combination that has represented the country for many years. The presence of Nepia at full-back gave the remainder of the New Zealand side a. confidence which it has lacked in previous international fixtures.

Brodrick, the bulky and speedy forward, practically dominated the scrummage. A hard worker in the scrum, and brilliant in the loose, he carried an advantage over any opposing forward. It was difficulty to discriminate in the New Zealand vanguard, however,, as all players justified themselves.

Cootes, Glynn and Gault wgre particularly impressive. Davison, the New Zealand wing-three-quarter, proved a resolute attacker, and Tittleton, Chase and Bickerton were outstanding , for solid tackling. Tries were scored for New Zealand by Davison (2), Satherley and Bickerton. Nepia converted one try and kicked a brilliant penalty goal. McLean (2), and Nolan scored tries for the visitors, Williams converting one, and Beaton and Williams each kicked a penalty goal. THE INJURED PLAYERS. SAIL ON ARAWA. AUCKLAND, August 15. Prompt medical attention ensured the continuance of the tour to England by two of the Australian Rugby League representative forwards, Sydney H. Pearce, and James Gibbs, both aged 26. who suffered fractures of the leg and ribs respectively in the Test match against the New Zealand team at Carlaw Park on Saturday. Rushed to the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in ambulances, the injured players were able to leave with their team mates on the Arawa for England

While running dqw the sideline to tackle the New Zealand full-back, George Nepia, Pearce fell heavily, be ing thrown over Nepia’s head, as this player turned his back, and sank quickly to the ground. As a result Peace suffered a compound fracture of the left leg which had to be set and placed in plaster-of-Paris. Only four hours elapsed between the time of the accident and his being driven back to the ship in an ambulance which had also supplied him with crutches.

Gibbs suffered his injuries during heavy rucking, and only an hour or less was available in which he could receive treatment. Nevertheless, after being securely bandaged, he was driven to the ship in a private motor car.