THE ALL BLACKS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 211, 6 August 1934, Page 7

THE ALL BLACKS

TRIBUTES TO BRILLIANCY. CAUGHEY, PAGE AND GRIFFITHS. REASONS FOR SUCCESS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received August 6, 10.30 a.m. SYDNEY, Aug. 6. Commenting on Saturday’s game between the All Blacks and New South Wales, Mr W. S. Hamilton, in the Sun, says that no fancy-free pen in novelette vein could have written a better ending to the 50th clash between New Zealand and New South Wales. * ’As the blotter was coming down on the last word of grim realism, the -All Blacks beat it to win 18—16. Not so dangerous individually, but better as a team, I think New Zealand did merit the last favour of fortune. They made the game, kept their word, and made it open,” he says. The Sydney Morning Herald says the visitors undoubtedly deserved to succeed. They knocked continuously at the door in the closing stages, and it was remarkable how they were kept out. In the wing three-quarter positions the side appeared just below the general standard on the day. “In Caughey New Zealand has a centre of brilliance. Page and Griffiths are a pair of sparkling stand-off halves and Hadley is the best hooker seen for some time,” the paper adds. Mr Stuart Perkins, in the Daily Telegraph, says the All Blacks deserved tlieir win. “On Saturday’s showing they will develop into a combination superior to the 1932 side. The reasons for New Zealand’s success were: Firstly, the ability of the forwards to win the ball from the scrums and rucks; secondly, the union between Kilby and Page, who formed the spearhead of an unswerving attack; thirdly, the appreciation in full of the value of possession; and, fourthly the indomitable spirit so typically All Black.” The Labour Daily says the preponderance of possession from the scrums and line-outs was a big factor in favour of New Zealand, and Kilby, by clever variation of play, was a continual menace.

A description of the match appears on page 10.