FIRST GAME WON

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 196, 2 August 1934, Page 3

FIRST GAME WON

AH Blacks’ Easy Victory FIFTY-ONE POINTS TO TEN ORANGE (N.S.W.), August 1. On a dry ground, in bitterly cold, dull weather and before 3000 spectators, the All Blacks defeated Western Districts by 51 points to 10. The New Zealanders opened the scoring from the first line-out with an unconverted try. Page scored a few minutes later, and from then until the end of the first half the New Zealand backs scored at regular intervals. The half-time score was: All Blacks 21 Western Provinces .. .. 0 Both the home team's scores wero tries secured through taking advantage of uncertain passes among the New Zealand five-eighths. There was no score during the first 20 minutes of the second spell, Western Districts temporarily holding the visitors at bay and adding four points when Mau potted a fine goal. Thereafter the New Zealand forwards opened out and dominated the play until the final whistle. A feature of the game was Hadley's hooking, New Zealand winning all but three set scrums. The visitors also won most of the line-outs. In loose forward rushes the visitors were obviously puzzled by the interpretation of a forward pass, which was given as off-side, and wero penalised almost exclusively for this. Otherwise all the forwards played well in their departments and in thu second spell relieved the hacks, who wero tired after their long journey across the mountainsThe backs showed great possibilities, and when a better combination and understanding developed as a result of actual play they should constitute a formidable attacking force, with good defensive ability. Although the Western Districts side included good men in the backs and forwards, there were weaknesses, particularly in defence, so that to-day’s high score cannot be taken as a genuine indication of the prospects against New South Wales. Collins converted six tries and kicked a penalty, Hart scored three tries, Bullock-Douglas, Griffith and Page two each and Caughey, Knight and McLean one each.