RUGBY FOOTBALL ALL BLACKS HAVE BACKS TO THE WALL

Grey River Argus, 18 August 1949, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL ALL BLACKS HAVE BACKS TO THE WALL

PRETORIA, Aug. 17

The Gombined Universities’ team to meet the All Blacks to-day is:— Full-back: Oberholzer; three-quar-ters: Leeb, Stewart, Brink, Lawton: halves: Basson, Musto; 1 front row: Macdonald, Dinkelmann, Steinhobel, Botha; back row: Small. Stewart, Brink, Bekker, and Dinkelmann have already played against the All Blacks.

Scott’s injured ankle is mending well, but it is expected that he will stand down for a couple of games. After the Northern Transvaal match it was found that N. H. Black was suffering from a back injury which has troubled him fox’ the- greater part of the tour. He' has been receiving medical attention. Black and Gudsell are expected to rejoin team practices within a week. Both looked likely test candidates, but these halts to theix’ training may prejudice theix’ prospects. Before the All Blacks left here, th e manager and captain called for an all-out effort in remaining games. Mr Parker said: “We have our backs to the wall. I have seen All Black teams in that position before and yet win through. So let us emulate them. The 1928 side had to win the last test to square the rubber and did so. We have two matches to win. If you can accomplish that, you will finish the tour with flying colours, Only those with an intimate knowledge of a country such as this, with its tiring travel, its varying altitudes and hot climate, can appreciate the strange fluctuations m form of any travelling team. We know that, if the conditions approximate any thing like those to which we are accumstomed, we can beat . the Springboks. So let us set oux’ minds more than ever to the task ahead.” The team realises that people at ( home must be bitterly disappointed that theix- cherished hopes have not been realised. This disappointment has been tempered by a number of encouraging messages, notably from Mr A. St C. Belcher, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and by the fact that the team’s tour has been an outstanding financial success and has also helped to raise the standard of rugby in South Africa.

NORTH OTAGO BEAT MARLBOROUGH

BLENHEIM, Aug. 17. North Otago touring rugby side defeated Marlborough today by elevexi points to six in the first game of their tour of tlxe Seddon Shield districts , j The game was played on a ground that was heavy after rain, and there were few opportunities for good penetrating movements. The scoring opened early, with lyixgour (the North Otago centre) going ovex - fox' a good ti - y, which was converted by Halvorsen. The first spell ended with Noi’th Otago leading by eight points to six, Halvorsen having kicked a penalty goal lox- the tourists, and Kearney two penalties for Marlborough. In the second spell, North Otago again went quickly away, Ross scoring a try. But, thereafter, the game developed into a forward struggle. The outstanding player was Halvorsen, the visiting lull back, formexly of Wellington, who, incidentally, brought his tally of points tox the season to a century. North Otago will play Golden Bay at Motueka on Saturday.

OTago Too Good For Waikato

PA DUNEDIN, August 17. Otago still holds the Ranfurly Shield, after beating Waikato by 2/ points to five in the fourth challenge match of the season, played on Carisbrook Park this afternoon. For Otago, W. I. Perriam scored a try and kicked two goals from tries, and a penalty goal; G. J. Moore scored two tries, W. Lunn one, and R. F. Waldron one, and R. H. Bell kicked a goal from a try, and a penalty goal. For Waikato, Rex Hinton scored a try, and G. Brunsjill converted it. Otago led by eight to nil after five minutes, and by 14 to nil at halitime. „ Waikato endeavoured to throw the ball about at all times, but the backs did not handle crisply. Waikato fielded some excellent forwards, but their type of loose play was not effective. „ . The Otago backs went well in passing movements, and ran up to their men well on defence. The Otago forwards played characteristically in the first half, but they were inclined to open out too much in the second spell. The tackling by both sides was good. Otago won the scrums by 24 to 17; and the line-outs by 30 to 24, and heeled well in the rucks to win these by 17 to seven. Otago received six penalties, and Waikato seventeen. B. Cowley, second five-eight, was the outstanding Waikato back, and A. Bain (half-back) did his best to open up play, and to feed his backs. Prominent Waikato forwards, who showed plenty of dash in the loose, were A. Rowan, C. Vowles, V. Ensor and K. Elliott, who shone in the lineouts. For Otago, W. Lunn was outstanding in the line-outs, ably supported by W. McNab. C. Garden made some quick breaks. C. Todd was conspicuous in the loose, and H. Wilson led his forwards admirably. L. S. Woodhouse played his best game of the season at half-back, and Perriam, Moore,- and Bell in the back line were a constant threat to the opposition. R. W. Orr, at fullback, was not called on a great deal in the first half, but in the second spell gained much territory with beautiful long line kicks. A crowd of twenty thousand attended.