ALL BLACKS’ EASY WIN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 25 June 1928, Page 7

ALL BLACKS’ EASY WIN

NATAL BEATEN BY 31 TO 3 WHIRLWIND TACTICS ADOPTED VISITORS’ BRILLIANT DISPLAY

Territorially, in the first half, Natal had the 'better of the game, but the All Blacks took advantage of the slightest opportunity to go through. It was a different story in the second spell, 'the' New Zealanders dazzling their opponents and delighting the crowd with brilliant thrusts by the backs. After the match, George Devenish,' ono Of the South African selectors, j said that after the trials this week he j was not too pleased with the South i African blacks ,and after seeing the \ All Blacks’ performance in the last j twenty minutes to-day theirc was a j doubt left in his mind as to the ability j of .South Africa to hold the New Zea- i landers. He was emphatic that the South African forwards would more than hold their own. Twentv-fivc minutes of little but rag- . ged play had passed before anything approaching good football was seen in the match to-day. Then, with a series of systematic attacks, the All Blacks worked play into the Natal twentyfive, where .Kilby sent his backs away from a scrum. When the ball came to Strang he sold a dummy and beautifully cut infield; then out to the wing, and’ sent Qr offside over after a firm run, Lindsay converted from the touch, line. New Zealand 5 Natal 0 A penalty for a scrum infringement followed the kick-off, Lindsay landing , another great goal, this time from ten yards inside half-way. New Zealand 8 Natal 0 A spell of dull f orward play f 01-1 lowed until Johnson flashed down the blind side of the scrum and sent iSerimshaw over, but the rover was called back for a knock-on. Half-tlime was then called. Two minutes after resuming the game, Brownlie was penalised for hanging on to the ball and Barlow kicked a magnificent, goal against the wind from half-way. New Zealand 8 Natal 3 Given heart by the fact that they were onlv five points down, the Natal forwards’played with mere vim and decision, and the backs started to move with more freedom. Both sides then fell into slipshod ways until hie Williams sent to Kilby from the ruck. The ball was then handled by Johnson, Carleton and Itobilliard, the last-named racing haTd down the line to store a fine try which Lindsay converted. New Zealand I ,y Natal ? > , Plainly the Natal men were almostparalysed now, and the New Zealand backs were working with more precision. iCla-rkson, the Natal, centre, came to light with one brilliant run and a try was slaved only by an equally brilliant tackle by Lindsay. Then, with three fine attacks .by the backs, New Zealand had Natal in a tangle. Another sortie saw Strong send Carleton away in fine style. The centre cut in smartly, transferring to Scrimshaw, who scored under the posts. Lindsay . converted. New Zealand IS Natal * • • • • A fine opening by Johnson resulted , in a serum on the line, and from the melee which followed .Stewart dived , over. Lind'sav again converted. New Zealand -3 Natal 3

(Special to Press Association.) Maritzburg, June 23. With eight points up in the first half against a slight wind, New Zealand overwhelmed Natal in the second spell of the match played at Maritzburg to-day, -winning by 31 (five converted tries, one try and one penalty goal) to 3 (one penalty goal). A quarter of an hotir after the start of the second spell the All Blacks started to play brilliant football, and right through the last (half hour they adopted whirlwind tactics. The backs found gaping holes in the defence through which the threequarters pranced in .sparkling style.

Natal then set. up a hot attack, tout it was rendered ineffective when the New Zealand backs broke away, the ball coming from a scrum through the hands of Kilby, Johnson and Carlo ton to Grenside, who beat two men and passed infield to Scrimshaw, who raced ,over and scored an excellent try. Unsay's kick was again successful. New Zealand 28 Natal 3 It was an easy matter for New Zealand .now. The next try came when Kilby made an opening from the ruck, sending Johnson away. Oarleton added his. share and sent JJotoilliard over for a fine try in the corner. Unsay .just missed with the kick, and when time came the score board read: N Z cal an d 31 Natal 1 3 In the first half the game was one of shreds and patches, but in the second spell the New Zealanders played bright football, the handling of the back's and the combination of the forwards being perfect. Kilby and Carleton outshone the rest of the ba'ek division, with Johnson alwayis sound, j Cure!ton for the first time on the tour showed his true form. Both wings, Kobilliard and Grenside, sshowed flashes of brilliance, but Grenside’s tackling ■was not altogether reliable. Lindsay's display was sufficient, to inspire confidence, though he was not called upon for much serious work. Strang for the most part whs only a good connecting link, and his defence was erratic. Klil-by played another strong .game, feeding his backs in lightning style and combining with Johnson beautifully. On his play in the la sit two matches Kilby should toe certain to bo the first test half. All the forwards showed fine form, gaining possession from 28 serums against their opponents’ 31, and capturing the ball twice out of every three line-outs. McWilliams and Hadley were the best forwards of the day It is very doubtful whether one Natal man will .get- in the iSpriniglbok side. The All Blacks team was:— Lindsay Kobilliiard Carle, ton Grenside Strang Johnson Kilby Scrimshaw (rover) Stewart Hazlett M. Brownlie Alley McWilliams Swain Hadley MATCHES PLAYED, v. Combined Western Province; won 11—3. v. Combined. Capetown Club's; lost 3 —7. v. Griqualand West; won 19—10. v. Transvaal; lost o—6.0 —6. v. Orange Free State; won 20—0. v. Transvaal; won s—o.5 —0. v. Western Transvaal; won 19 —S. v. Natal; won 31—3. NEXT MONTH’S MATCHES. June 30, v. South Africa (first Test), at Durban. July 7, v. Northern Districts (Transvaal, Free State, and others), at Kimberley. July 14, v. Bho&esian fifteen, at Bulawayo. July 21, v. South Africa (second Test), at Johannesburg. July 25, v. Pretoria districts, at Pretoria. 1 July 28, v. Orange Free State, at I Bloemfontein.