BY FIVE TO NIL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 18 June 1928, Page 5

BY FIVE TO NIL

TRANSVAAL DEFEATED

ALL BLACKS WIN AFTER HARD GAME

VISITORS SHOW IMPROVED FORM

The feeling of the team on the victory can. be judged from Maurice Brownlie's remark® after the match. Hei said: ‘‘l feel that the team are more or less coming into their own, and playing the football we expect them to play. 1 feel confident of the team’s ultimate success.” Although the honours were even in the first' spell, New Zealand had, tenritoria'iy ,70 per cent& of the advantage, and in the second spell should have scored at least another fivfi points. Vealesi replaced Geero in the Transvaal side of the prevou® Saturday. The match was played before a crowd of 20,000 in brilliant sunshine and, on a hard and fast ground. New Zealand, immediately following the kick-off, initiated a passing rush which, however,. broke down when Scrimshaw sent a poor pass to Johnson. The Transvaal forwards made the most of the mistake, sweeping play downfie'id into a position dangerous to New Zealand, but gradually the All Black forwards worked play back to half-way. The South African forward®, screwing the serum effectively, again carried all before them to the New Zealand line, but a succession of vigorous attacks by the visitors, backs and forwards, turned the tables, and the Transvaal men were hemmed in their own end until great line-kicking by Kotze and Devine put them, in position for a hot attack, which necessitated fine defensive work on the part of the All Blacks to keep their citadel, safe. PLAY FLUCTUATES RAPIDLY.

Off-side play by Scrimshaw gave DeVine a chance at goal, but he failed to lift the ball. The visitors’ forwards then overwhelmed Transvaal in a fine dribbling rush which ended at half-way, where a penalty came to New Zealand, Strang’s kick falling short. Grenstde broke- away from the ruck at half-way and beat two men, but Scrimshaw missed his pass and Kruger, flashing out from the loose, gained a lot of ground for Transvaal. Three serums followed on New Zealand’s line, a force relieving an awkward position. A beautiful combined movement by the All Blacks’ forward® _ made things merry, hut they were driven, back by never-faying touch-finding kicks. A dazzling attack by the New Zealand backs next tripd the defence-, but a series of long line-kicks put Transvaal in -a position to retaliate, and play hovered on the New Zealand line. Sound work -by Dailey and Johnson, together with a clever lino kitek by the latter, altered the complexion of the game, and then half-time came- without score. Transvaal had won possession from two -scrums to each one that went to thp visitors. ‘ A lino-nut at the commencement ot the second -spell placed the visitors in a good position, but a penalty to Transvaal followed. New Zealand -came again, hut Johnson dropped a wild pass from Strang and Dobie broke through, t-bp forwards' carrying: play to the- New Zealand- twenty-five, where Dailey saved from the ruck. G ten side sailed for the line and Lilhurne raced up to take a pa,from the wiper, man. but it was forward and spoiled a- likely try. D-nllpv sent his backs away from the line-out. and Robilliard centred with afine kick. Raatli carried the ball over hi® own line, and -from the scrum that followed Dailey .sent Strang away, but the five-eighth was held .up on the line. A minute- later Robilliard was sent awav hv Dailey, but he lost possession after he was over the line. The province men, with clever play and .a series of runs from the scrums by their backs, took the game to half-way. Devine found the corner with a strong kick Kruger was penalised following the iine-out and Strang cleared. Swam improving the position with another fine kick. , . The All Blacks’ blacks not going m a deadly movement, only desperate tackling saving the home side. Brownlie, Findlay son, Hazlett. Swain and

(Special to Press Association.) JOHANNESBURG, June 16. The greatest victory that so far has been achieved in the New Zealanders’ tour of South Africa was scored to-day, when the All Blacks defeated Transvaal in the return -match at Johannesburg by 5 points (a converted try) to nil. Johnson scored a magnificent try which was converted by Strang. The All Blacks showed improved form, particularly in the forwards. Although Transvaal still dominated the scrums, their superiority in that respect was not so marked as formerly.

Stewart were, next seen in a fine torward movement, but a knock-on saved Transvaal. Tne New Zealanders were now getting .the better of their opponents, telling loose rushes rattling the provincial bficlcs. Lilburne -had a, pot at goal from half-way, the kick failing. Finlay-son, getting possession from the lime-out, fended off two wo-uld-bo tackier.® and passed to Brownlie. Swain took the -next pass, -setting sail for the eornpr, hut lie was pushed out a foot from- the line. Again, when New Zealand were pressing -hard, Dobie kicked through and-, keeping the ball at his f-eet, went to the All Black twenty-five-, where Strang saved when in a position that was becoming desperate. At this -stage three Transvaal men, were knocked out and carried off the ground, which looked like a- battlefield with the- wounded lying prostrated. All three went on again -after a couple'of minutes.

With a brilliant movement the Transvaal forwards took play close to the New Zealand line, from where Dobie had a pot at goal which wpnt wide. Again the All Blacks started -a bright tackling movement, which ended- at half-wav where the Transvaal men were penalised and Straps had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Later -another penalty came to New Zealand, but Ca-rleton missed with his kick.

SHATTERING ALL BLAOK DRIVE

A shattering run by the All Blacks’ tot-wards put New Zealand within striking distance. Shooting the ball from the' scrum, Dailey .sent Strang away. The South Canterbury _ man transferred to Johnson, who, with a brilliant cut in, shook off two tackfer-s and scored' a magnificent try underneath the posts. Strang converted. New Zealand 5 Transvaal 0 There were only five minutes to go now and New Zealand was- having easily the better of the play. When the vi whistle went there wais a fine cheer from the crowd and comment on the i-mproveinent _in the All Black earn. It was mainly an improvement in the forwards, who played a_hard, fast game- throughout, scrummaging to better effect and' showing more skill and pace- in the loose. Transvaal again dominated' the scrum, however, gaining possession -on two out of each three occasions. The New Zealand backs played with more confidence and better finish than in the previous week. The inside men, Dally, Strang and Johnson, worked effectively in both attack and defence, while the three-quarters made the most of their few- attacking, opportunities and were sound in -defence. Da-lley was always illusive. his twinkling brilliance being a puzzle to Transvaal. Lilburne had a great- deal to do in the first half, and, •i I though he got away without letting the opposition through, he did not inspire confidence, and at times ho mulled badly. To-day the AH Black forwards work-

’• with beautiful combination, the outstanding members of the pack being Hazlett, Brownlie, Stewart, Finlayson and Swain, with Hore- a-lwavs eager! Alley locked the scrum well. Scrimshaw gave his best display to- date, bustling the Transvaal backs badly. The outstanding player on tlie home side was Devine, who is a master in attack and 'defence. He is easily the best player the All Blacks have met on the tour. Kotze, at five-eighth, was always dangerous. Dobie, the centre three-quarter, was brilliant at times, while Prinsloo and Liebenbe-rg led the New Zealanders a merry dance whpn in possession. Kruger and Van Druten were the shining lights among the forward 1 -®, while Pre tortus always kept the visitors thinking.

There is no doubt that the better side won to-day, and tlie general opinion is that it should have- -ni won by at least another five points.