NARROW WIN

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 8 November 1935, Page 7

NARROW WIN

ALL BLACKS PRESSED

Oxford Beaten by Ten Points to Nine in Exciting Match ’VARSITY TRIFLE UNLUCKY SADLER SAVES TOURISTS (Ualtert Frew Awociation —By Electric Telegraph Copyright). Received 11.30 p.m. to-day. LONDON, Nov. 7. The All Blacks defeated Oxford by 10 points to 9 after leading 5—4 at half-time. Best replaced McLean, who tvas injured. It was predicted before the game that the All Blacks would not have matters all their own way against Oxford. Some judges, who were not impressed with the tourists at Twickenham, expressed the opinion that Oxford would win. The Iffley Road ground was crowded and all tickets were sold out in two hours.

Oxford lost the season’s opening match, but won the next four with an aggregate of 82 points for and 14 against. The New Zealanders were not sanguine of winning, fearing that the London hospitality would affect their play. Cooper introduced the All Blacks before the game. He knew several, including Mahoney, McLean, Hadley and Caughey. He laughingly apologised for playing against New Zealand, adding, “I am still out to do my best for Oxford.” The All Blacks were given a great reception on coming out, giving evidence of an appreciation of the fact that they always try to play bright football. The teams were: ALL BLACKS.

OXFORD. Stuart, Watson, A. Obolensky, M. Walford, R. Harding, Rees-Jones, C. Grieve, J. M. S. McShane (of Sydney), L. Brett, N. McGrath, J. Pienaar (of South Africa), G. Read, G. Roos (of Smith Africa), M. G. C. Cooper (of New Zealand), G. Bloxam and H. Hughes., Within a few minutes of the start the All Blacks were moving, Mitchell looking dangerous until he was brought down. Gilbert then narrowly missed a penalty kick, after which he had to go hard to haul down Obolensky, who made a great fifty-yard dash after snapping up tho ball from a dropped pass. Heavy rain throughout tho first half caused Oxford to drop passes. Cooper, the New Zealander who is captain of Oxiord, failed with a penalty kick, after which the All

Blacks had a chance of a try, but the ball was knocked on. The game was even, but the All Blacks were getting the ball repeatedly from the scrums. Then Grieve cleverly drop-kicked a goal, after which McKenzie scored from a forward rush, although he was apparently offside. Gilbert converted. New r Zealand < r >—Oxford 4. Gilbert had previously missed an easy penalty.

Oxford scored a sensational try after the resumption. Watford and Harding, securing from the scrum, pierced the defence and passed to Obolensky, whose pace enabled him to score a try beneath the posts. Brett converted. Oxford 9—New Zealand 5. McShane was playing a great game, often dummying through and opening up the game, but a blow on the head forced him to retire and he returned with his head bandaged after fifteen minutes, in which the teams fought strenuously. Finally Sadler, who was persistently working the blind side- of the scrum, dived over at the corner and Gilbert converted with a magnificent kick. New Zealand 10—Oxford 9. GOOD HANDLING. Hadley led the pack and the All Blacks in the opening stages adopted rushing tactics, showing devil, packing low, and pushing Oxford back and gaining ground, backs’ clean handling in an early movement was notable, and the All Slacks stormed the Oxford line for a long period.. The ball was very greasy, owing to rain. Nevertheless, considering the conditions„ the handling was satisfactory. The Oxford forwards played the right game, kicking through the rucks. Mitchell and Sadler initiated a great reverse passing movement which broke down owing to a forward pass when the defence was beaten. Gilbert knocked on on a number of occasions in the first half, but this was excusable. The All Black forwards were 50 per cent, bettor during the first half than at Twickenham, playing together and often overwhelming Oxford with dribbling rushes. The visitors were not used to the English climate and it was noted that steam was rising from the backs of the players ivhen they packed down in the scrums, due to the coldness of the atmosphere.

McShane, the clever Australian half, who knows the New Zealand game, was playing excellent football. Grieve similarly was a tower of strength. He was a stout defender and seldom failed to find the line when he kicked. Grieve’s field goal precisely imitated Tindill’s at Newport, the ball passing straight from a scrum to the kicker. OXFORD LUCKY. The early load heartened the Oxford forwards, who, although out-weighed, were not out-matched, hub Oxford was fortunate on a number of occasions. The All Blacks often over-ran the hall when there was a chance of opening up the game. The tackling on both sides was very keen, and the Oxford inside backs kept very close watch on Sadler and Griffiths.

The All Black forwards developed a fine movement leading to McKenzie's fry. Keeping shoulder to shoulder, they toed the ball through the defence for over 30 yards, which has seldom been done throughout the tour. It looked anyone’s game after the

resumption, as the Oxford backs were clever and always likely to score. Nevertheless the All Blacks deserved the half-time lead, as territorially, and also in the play generally, they were superior, showing more combination between the hacks and forwards than Oxford. .... , The All Blacks’ defence was riddled when Obolensky scored. McShane was now finding loopholes in the All Blacks’ defence and the Oxford backs were always willing to take risks, even in their own territory, throwing the ball about, eager to increase the lead. ALL BLACKS OFF-SIDE. The visitors’ forwards were often off-side and were also penalised for forward passes. They continued to hold their own in the scrums and tight rucks, hut did not take advantage of opportunities. During a long period, when the New Zealand linekicking was faulty, the hall going cross-field, Oliver and Caughey were desperately attempting to make openings, but Grieve, Walford and Harding, with fiercely swift tackling, defeated them. McShane’s retirement with the top of his head bleeding necessitated withdrawing Hughes from the pack, resulting in Oxford concentrating on line kicking, in which they were effective.

With the minutes slipping away the tourists tried every device to score, but the defence held. The excitement, which had been high throughout the match, was now terrific. Sadler once burst through, but was pulled down. Caughey dropped a pass when Oxford were penned on the line, and here scrum followed serm until finally Sadler, in a sixth attempt, dashed round the scrum and scored. It was one of the most enjoyable games of the tour. The All Blacks’ win was no fluke, but a draw might have .been fairer. Sadler saved the tourists. He is improving with every game and is developing, into a halfhack equal to the best. Caughey was scrum followed scrum until finally Sadtcr, but he held the backs together. Gilbert sustained a knock on the head, but continued. FORWARDS STRIKING FORM. WILL PULL TEAM THROUGH. Received 2 p.m. to-cTay. LONDON, Nov. 7. Critics agree that Oxford were unlucky to lose. The "Daily Telegraph” says the New Zealand forwards are coming into their own and will for the remainder of the tour carry the team to any victories achieved. The "Chronicle” snjys that Gilbert’s fine display pulled the New Zealanders through. The "Daily Sketch” says Now Zealand were hotter in the line-outs than in the loose, hut the 3-4-1 scrummage was inefficient. The tourists’ (backs compared unfavourably with the live Oxford three-quarters.

Gilbert, Ball, Oliver, Mitchell, Caughey, Griffiths, Sadler, Lambourn. Hadley, Pepper, Beid, McKenzie Best, Vorrath, Mahoney.