ALL BLACKS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 11 June 1928, Page 7

ALL BLACKS

The ‘team* wore:— ALL BLACKS. Lindsay Grcnside Carle ton Robilliard Johnson Nicholls Kilby. Forward's: Ward, 'Swain, '.Burrows. M. and C. Brownlie,. Finlayson, McWilliams, -Stewart. TRANSVAAL. ' Richter Brins! oo Dobie Raafh Lio.benberg Devine Kotzc Forwards: lvruger, Mortimer, Gcere, Oliver, Pretorius, Van Druton Botha, Nykamp. THE GAME DESCRIBED. 'Starting a strong offensive early. Transvaal liad New Zealand on the de : fence, ‘but Die New Zealand forwards retaliated with ia fine sortie and went almost the length of the field. A succession of 'scrums followed, from which the Trhnsva'al backs got going in a series -of ineffective runs. Lind Say (the New Zealand fullback) with a fine -kick put his men

within five yards of the line, but the Transvaal defence was like >a rock, and eventually (the home side cleared their quarters.

For the first 'twenty minutes the Transvahl backs were continually getting the hall from the serums, hut they made little use of it, as their attacking movements Tacked sting. .The New Zealander's were, up against things for the next ten minutes. The Transvaal forwards dominated play in 'both scrum® and line-outs, and the All Black's got very little of the 'ball.

Punting 'high, the opposing backs rushed Lindsay and bustled him. While attempting 'to clear unfortunately Eobilliard humped into Lindsay, which allowed Itaatli to race up and dive over the line to score for Transvaal. Devine’s kick missed. Transvaal - i 3 All Blacks 0 In the. last five minutes New Zealand had had the better of the play, but taking the spell as a whole the play was deplorable. There Was not one. fragment of good fo'ot’bal] by either side in forty minutes, find the All Blacks gave the worst display of the tain - so far.

CHANGE IN FORMATION. Transvaal started the second spell with an electric dash among the backs which ended in Prisloo dropping a pass when in fi scoring position. New Zealand in this half revetted to the two-three-t'wo scrum formation instead of three-four as in the first spell, McWilliams acting as lock. A few minutes after starting again Pin lads on was ordered off for punching a player on the ground in front of the main stand. The New Zealander walked slowly from the ground with (bowed head, amid the hoots and jeers from the crowd, which caused him to receive police protection. Just after this incident the Transvaal forwards heeled the ball from 'the scrum to Kofze, who sent Devine fi.Way. lie passed to Liebenberg and the winger dashed over at the corner with Lindsay and Carle ton hanging on to him. The kick at goal was mis'sed. Transvaal 6 All Blacks 0 The Now Zealand forward's pulled themselves together for a while find started on the task of recovery, but their efforts were useless, as the. Africans were still getting possession from the scrums and kept ’their opponents continually on the run. Lindsay had a kick at goal from a penalty, but the ball hit the upright. The New Zealand forwards then did obtain the ascendancy for a short time,

DEFEATED BY SIX TO NIL TRANSVAAL TEAM TOO GOOD A DISAPPOINTING DISPLAY FINLAYSON ORDERED OFF

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION -BY El.W'llf TELEGRAPH—COPYRUJIII (AUSTRALIAN-PRESS ASSOCIATION.) JOHANNESBURG, June 9. _ M- great crowd of thirty thousand saw the All Blacks beaten by Transvaal by six points (two tries) to nil on Ellis Park to-day The ground was in good order and condition and brilliant sunshine favoured the players. For Now Zealand the match was all tragedy. The team could do no ling right. The forwards were beaten in the scrums and could only hold their own in the line-outs. When the backs were sriven a chance they usually mulled it badly. It was the old story of a team that cannot win unless it gets possession of the ball. The match was marred by much unnecessary hard plav FinlavAf North Auckland forward, was ordered off for punching a South African on the jaw. The crowd saw Geere with a head lock on Finlayson, who freed lumself and struck the Africander. The referee plined nly latter part of the incident and only one mam was disci-

Ward, McWilliams and Swain putting in 'some rattling work, while the defence and touch finding were accurate. The Transvaal inside backs finally drove the attackers back again, and the home side three-quarters set off for the line, but 'Lindsay saved. The All Blacks made one more effort, the backs ‘and forwards combining in a sustained rush lip the field, but there was no result, and the final whistle sounded with, the scores:—Transvaal ... q All Blacks ;.; o It was not the high altitude thlat beat the All Blacks, for only two of them complained that thev felt a burning sensation in the throat. New Zealand could not get the ball, so they wore forced to play a 'defensive game for the greater part of the match. The Transvaal forwards were too good for our men; in fact, New Zealand was beaten fore and aft. In the whole eighty minutes of the game t’here was not even a suggestion of class football, and it is doubtful whether an All Black ever played such •distract ingly poor Rugby.

FINLAYSON INCIDENT. The Finlayson incident dame as a bombshell to the New Zealanders, for the big North Aucklander has a big reputation las a great sport. He was seen lying on the ground With Geere, a 'Transvaal. forward, on -top of (him, having a 'head lock on the New Zealander and screwing his neck unmercifully. When freed Finlayson. made one solid punch at Geere’s jaw which connected. The whistle went and Finllayson was ordered ,off. The whole incident happened in front of the main stand.

Up to tills stage the game had been unnecessarily willing, and some unsavoury work had ‘been going ron in the serums on 'both sides. .' These, tactics were continued till ‘the end of the match.

-Seen after the game Finlayson said he had nothing against anybody. He took all the blame to himself. . The game had been very hotly contested. It was unfortunate that the Whistle went just at. that moment. : He Was sorry the incident had occurred.

Mr. Hornig, the manager, said: “There is no question that Geere was trying to screw Finlayson’s 'head off. If the referee had seen that part of the incident both players, would have been ordered off. Tt whs a hard fought game, ftom start to finish.” The Johannesburg “iStar” said: “The Transvaal forwards played the traditional game. They outclassed the opposing pack and, with Devine as scrum half, won their, way to victory. The All Blacks ’ play has certainly improved.”

Mr. G. L. Finlay, an ex-Scottish, player, was referee.

MATCHES PLAYED AND TO PLAY'. Following are the matches of the All Blacks’ tour:— Played. v. Combined Western Province, wan 11—3. v. Combi he'd Capetown ' Clubs, lost 7—3. ' . v. Griqualand West, won 19—10. v. Transvaal, lost 6—o. 'To be 'Played. ' , . .I. June 13 —-v. Orange Free State (coun- . ’ try) at Kroonstad. June 16—v, ; .. Transvaal, at Johannesburg. . June 2,0 —v, ' Western Transvaal, at . Potshefstrom. June 23 —v. Natal, at Mtaritzfburg. June 30 : —v. South Africa (first test) at Durban.