All Blacks Beat Scotland

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1935, Page 5

All Blacks Beat Scotland

VISITORS’ BRILLIANT DISPLAY

N.Z. FORWARDS VINDICATED

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

LONDON, November 23

tries, but for dropped passes, showing that no team can afford to make mistakes against the New Zealanders, who began some of their best movements from their opponents’ wild passes.

The All Blacks defeated Scotland hy 18 points to 8. The half-time score was 13—3 in the visitors’ favour. The Scottish team was as follows: Kerr, Forest, Dick, Murdoch, Fyfc, U. W. Shaw', Logan, Grieve, Gray, G. D. Shaw, Beattie, Burnett, Lambie, Waters and Thom. The Ail Blacks, team .was as follows —Gilbert, Hai*t, Oliver, Mitchell, Caughey, Griffiths, Sadler, Hoie, Hadley, Lambourn,'Reid,. King, McKenzie, Manchester and Mahoney. A week of bad weather resulted in the ground being on the soft side. Otherwise conditions were ideal. ■Plaiy started exfitingly, the Scots dashing down the field from a scrum •at midfield, and an All Blacks defender was forced to race his hardest rto touch down. Scotland continued the pressure, Dick cut through brilliantly, enabling Fyfc to outpace the defence and obtain a try, which l’yfe was unable to convert. Scotland 3 New Zealand 0

The match was intensely interesting throughout, and superior combination won.

BRILLIANT, CONVINCING WIN

CRITICS RESERVE OPINIONS

LONDON, November 23

The special correspondent of the United Press Assn., commenting on the match, says: The New Zealanders’ convincing win against Scotland

at Murray field, proved that they are really a good all round side, compar-

able with any the Dominion has produced. Critics who declared the team would not raise to great heights niusv now eat their words. Scotland was not overwhelmed, but on the whole the toursts were much too good for their opponents, and carried over many guns in hacking up, combination and tactics. There was a period in the second half when victory appeared possible for (Scotland, but in the final ten minutes the tourists had matters their own way, bewildering the Scots with swift and sure passing and remarkable anticipation.

The Scottish, forwards were more than holding their own in the scrums, and were also breaking away well, preventing the Ail Blacks from developing attacks. Murdoch was injured and retired, depleting the home pack. The All Blacks-, invaded Scottish -territory, but Thom, tackling magnificently, ended a dangerous period. The New Zealand backs, kicking finly, regained territorial advantage. Then a magnificent ali-in passing movement yielded, the first score. Griffiths and Caughey giving the final touches, Caughey scoring. Gilbert converted.

Moreover, the All Blacks never kicked unless forced, the inside men always aiming to work the ball to the wings or attempt reverse movements at which they are now most adept as the result of intensive training. On the contrary the -Scottish centres often relied on kicks, presenting the ball to the visitors, who were enabled to initiate passing movements, even from then own goal line, particularly on one occasion when Caughey, Oliver, Griffiths. and Sadler cleared pb’v the full length of the field, immediately following a crisis when the Sco .s’ backs seemed certain to.score.

New Zealand Scotland

Murdoch returned, hut the All Blacks were dominant, and some hard scrummaging in Scotland’s 25 enabled another try. Hadley touching downy and . Gilbert again converted. New Zealand 'Scotland 3

.Scotland rallied magnificently,- but a great effort by Logan was spoilt bv Dick failing to pass. The Scottish forwards forced back their opponents to their line, but failed to score. From a free kick, the'All Blacks made a brilliant dash downfield, which Kerr and Forrest, tackling grimly, stopped. Caughey got over when the defence wavered. New Zealand 13 • Scotland •••• 3 .The All Blacks deserved their halftime lead. , They were snapping up opportunities near their opponents line, and were wasting few passes, but their, weakness on defence was shown when Dick cut through again, and when Logan, dashed round Hie scrum. Both packs were playing well. The Scottish pack was very virile and packing tightly, but in the last quarter of an hour the All Blacks were winning two scrums to one. lhe combination and backing up between the All. Blacks’ backs and the forwards Was excellent, and the inside backs cleverly found the line when danger threatened. Sadler was most outstanding and was most dangerous when near the line.

Critics who have been to international games for twenty to t.hiifv years declared after the final whistle that it had been one of the most spectacular and thrilling expositions of open Rugby ever witnessed.

Tlie Scottish backs several tunes showed ability to beat the defence, bat backing MP, which was 0 feature of the tourists’ play, was missing. If the New Zealanders renroduce the same class of football, there is no reason why they should not "in all the international matches. It is hard to visualise any team outside an international one troubling them. Mr Meredith was greatly pleasec with the men’s showing, and be ieves that the scrummaging troubles ait over.

Teams Warmly Applauded

The teams were warmly applauded as they came out into the winter sunshine.' and Maori exhortations -were heard from the stand. New Zealam immediately showed that they meant business, the forwards rucking fieicelv. It was apparent that a few players on both sides were slightly nervous, and over anxious. All Blacks were the first to settle down, and tried several tricks. Hart and More were working a smart throw-in from tbe line, but were, pulled up by Referee C. H. Gadney, brother of tbe English international captain, and himself a fine player before be was injured. Then Sadler, going round the blind side of the scrum, tried a. reverse pass, the ball going forward at this stage. Like most big games, when the. players are at high vmsion, it was marked bv frequent infringements, knoek-ons, and lorvaid passes. Scotland’s first try came as the result of a clean cut through the defence, Dick tricking Oliver and Caughey. The litter made a poor attempt to tackle Fvfe, who beat S idler with his pace. Thus a beautiful movement led to a well-earned try, and Dick temporarily dispelled his reputation for hanging-on overlong.

Resuming after half-time, me Scots’ backs' made a brief attack, but play soon settled down in tbe Scottish territory, and the visitors appeared likely to increase their lead until a free kick relieved the pressure, Shaw led a good attack, which Griffiths beat off, but fine passing between Logan, Shaw .and Dick enabled the last-named to go over between the posts. Murdoch converted. New Zealand Scotland 3

Both sides were playing their hardest, and the Scots, who were the defenders, forced. There were several rushes, bnt neither ride could get to close quarters, while keen tackling prevented any attack from developing. Nevertheless, the Scots were finding touch excellently, and reached the New 1 Zealand line, whence they were driven back to midfield. The Scots again invaded the New Zealand ‘25, but were driven cut, after which a long dribble hv Gaughey and Oliver was checked in the nick of time by Forrest. The All Blacks maintained a relentless attack, and Mitchell was nearly in before a great dash by Murdoch took play to the New Zealand end.

Gilbert Kept Busy

Gilbert was busy during the first quarter of an hour, but was very safe, and judged his line kicks well.

The All Blacks participated in few back movements during the opening twenty minutes, Griffiths being content to go around the blind side and. find tbe line. On the contrary, the Scottish three-quarters were making strenuous efforts to open up the game. Caughey lost a chance when he dropped the ball following a cut through. Then Griffiths made a magnificent opening, leading to Caughey’s first, try, the latter forcing his way over after receiving the ball ten yards from the lino. Owing to TlVcTley’s quick heeling, Shaw and Dick could not roach their positions. Murdoch returned limping, and played on the wing. Griffiths, at this period, was finding the lino splendidly, often sending the ball into

The All Blacks forwards, with a rush, swept back to the: Scots’ territory, and Sadler with a clever breakaway, supported by Mitchell and Onuediev, made the issue, sure, when Caughey went over, Gilbert converting. New Zealand Scotland 3

Scotland made a final desperate effort, hut failed with .a kick a yard from the line. Play was proceeding in midfield at the finish.

After looking well beaten, Scotland pDved si magnificently that either side, until the last ten minutes, might have won. The Scots’ forwards equalled these of the All Blacks, and Jed by Beattie, Thom, "Waters and Lambic often swept through the opposition with tbe ball at their toes. Scotland might have scored several

touch a few yards from the corner flag. Dick lost a certain try by hanging-on after Logan lmd passed Griffiths and Sadler, despite the fact flint the latter

was in his best form, taking the hard* esfc tackles imperturbauTy. Scotland attempted to make openings by kicking through, but Gilbert let nothing pass him.

Scottish Backs Faults

On resumption after half-time, the Scottish backs were guilty of much bad handling and wild passing, inexcusable in an international match, the players suggesting that they were ■rattled but this, probably, was not the case. However, the impressions did not last long, Shaw completely defeating the defence and running between Griffiths and Caughey in a perfect movement, in which be demonstrated his intelligence and quick thinking.

Hard Forward Play

Thereafter came a prefix! of terrifically hard forward play, both packs rucking vigorously to secure possession of the ball, which, as towards tile end of the first half, was still coming more to the All Blacks.

Hore Injures Arm

Here, after twenty minutes, left the field to have his left arm bandaged. It had been badly injured, and was thereafter usless, being carried at bis side for the remainder of the game.

N.Z. Forwards Outplay Scotland

Tbon followed a period of fifteen minutes when there was a possibility of a Scottish win. The forwards were irresistably sweeping down the tieia with the hall at too, and storming, the tourist’ line with magnificent rushes. Scotland had a chance when they won a series of serums, but somebody always did the wrong thing at the moor critical moment.

The New Zealand pack, which had been racing round the field through the match rallied, outplaying Scotland, and amazing the spectators by the manner in which they lmined out to receive reverse passes and infield kicks from the wingers.

Brilliant Scoring Movement,

It was impossible to imagine a more brilliant inovement than that which led to Caugliev’s last try, for which the credit goes to Sadler, who skirted the wing with only a foot in which to move. He beat four opponents before sending to Caughey, who sensing an opportunity, raced towards the centre of the field.

Gilbert at His Best

Gilbert was at bis best, and did not make a serious mistake. His tackling was deadly, and his line kicking faultless; while towards the close be rushed up with the threequarters to open up. play. Mitchell and Hart were dashing and determined, and made numerous fine runs.

Praise for N.Z. Backs

Sadler was outstanding, his magnificent dodging runs, on either side of the serum starting most of the tourists’ best movements.

Caughey several times failed in tackling, but made amends by wonderful attacking. New Zealand could not have done without him.

Griffiths was sound, and made several surprising penetrating runs, while Oliver was again the 'brains of the backs. He was always in position, and was most unselfish.

Forwards’ Fine Work

Reid, Mahoney, Hadley and Hole were in great form, and were most prominent in the loose. Manchester King, McKenzie, and Lambourn did great work in the tight, meaning everything to New Zealand, who opposed an intelligent and virile pack. Mr Meredith’s coaching and tactical instructions played a big part in the victory. Manchester says it was a good, hard game, against thorough sportsmen, and

he hoped the onlookers enjoyed it as much as the players did.

Public Interest.

There was enormous interest in the reappearance ol the New Zealandcis alter thirty years. This was proved by the fact that the majority of the hotels in Edinburgh were boobed up tor the week-end, the people including wellknown New Zealanders coming from throughout Britain. Every important newspaper was represented, and theie were sixty journalists in tbe press box. The Scottish “Daily Express” published a two-page special supplement featuring the fixture. The Scottish fifteen were reported to be in first class condition, and fully prepared for a very strenuous stiuggk. Experts estimated the chain es as olt/dO. many judging the tourists solely on the games' at Hawick and Glasgow, and anticipated a Scottish victory; but the critics-who witnessed recent games wore aware that the tourists had made vast improvement since tlicir first appeal - ance in Scotland, were more doubtful about the result.

The “Sunday Graphic” says: The score flatters the winners as the second goal should nj>t have been allowed. Tile All Blacks' marred the game by overmuch obstruction.

The “Ohesrver” says: New Zealand handsomelv vindicated their claim to he rated of International calibre. Their tactics showed much more initiative than the mere opportunism exhibited in earlier games. It was a pity that one or two defaced their performance hv hanging on to the jerseys of players dribhliiur the ball

Press Criticisms.

The critics applaud the brilliance of the All Blacks, their team work, their speed on the ball, and their sure hand-

ling; but they point out that Murdoch was dazed for a long period and that the game might have been closer if lie had been fit.

The “Dispatch” says: It was Now Zealand’s best display of the tour, hut their luck, which has been evident thronydioiit the tour still hold*