Twice the Sting

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6632, 11 June 1928, Page 7

Twice the Sting

All Blacks Downed hy Transvaal, 6—o Finlayson Ordered Off at Beginning of Second Spell; Provocating Opponent Escapes WORST GAME ALL BLACKS’ TEAM HAS EVER PLAYED, .United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m. JOHANNESBURY, June 9. A great crowd of 30,000 watched the All Blacks beaten by Transvaal by two tries (six points) to nil on Ellis Park to-day. The ground was in good order. Conditions and brilliant sunshine favoured the players, A few minutes after starting the second spell Finlayson was ordered off for punching a player on the ground, and walked slowly off with bowed head amid hoots and jeers. Just before the incident Finlayson was seen lying on the ground with Geere, a Transvaal forward, on top of him having a head lock on the New Zealander and screwing his neck unmercifully. When freed Finlayson made one solid punch at Geere’s jaw which connected. The whistle went and Finlayson was ordered off. , Mr. W. F. Hornig commented: “There is no question that Geere was trying to screw Finlayson’s head off. If the referee had seen that part of the incident both players would have been ordered off.” The game all through was unnecessarily willing, but for all . that it is doubtful whether an All Blacks’ team ever played such distractingly poor Rugby.

Transvaalers Favourites.' The teams were as follow: NEW ZEALAND. Full-hack: - D. Lindsay Three-quarters: A. C. Eobilliard S. E. Carleton B. Greneide Five-eighths: M. F. Nicholls L. M. Johnson Half-back: F. D. Kilby Forwards: P. Ward J. Swain J. Burrows, M. Brownlie C. Brownlie I. Finlayson E. M‘ Williams E. Stowaiv.. Nicholls played as first five-eighth and Johnson as second. TEANSVAAL. Full-back: Eichter Three-quarters: Prinsloo Dibio Eaath Licbcnbcrg Halves: Devine Kotze Forwards: Kruger Mortimer Geero Oliver Pretorius van Drutcn Botha Nykamp Public feeling and the opinion of the newspapers before the match was that Transvaal would win. Starting a strong offensive early Transvaal had the New Zealanders on the defence, but the New Zealand forwards retaliated with a fine sortie, and went almost the length of the field. A succession of scrums followed from which the Transvaal backs got going in a scries of ineffective runs. Lindsay, the full-back, with a fine kick, put his men within five yards of the line, but the Transvaal defence was like a rock, and eventually the home side cleared their quarters. For the first 20 minutes, Transvaal backs were continually getting the ball from the scrums, but made little use of it, as their attacking movements lacked sting. Home Forwards Dominate. The New Zcalaiders were up against things for the next ten minutes. The local forwards dominated play in both scrums and line-out?, and the All Blacks got very little of the ball. Punting high, the opposing backs rushed Lindsay and bustled him while attempting to clear. Unfortunately, Eobilliard bumped into Lindsay, which allowed Eaath to race up and dive over the lino. Devine’s kick missed. Transvaal 3 All Blacks 0 In the last five minutes New Zealand had the best of play, but taking the spell as a whole, play was deplorable. There was not one fragment of good football by either side in the 40 minutes, and the All Blacks gave the worst display of the tour so far. The Second Spell. Transvaal started the second spell with electric dash among the which ended in Prinsloo dropping a pass when in a scoring position. New Zealand in this half reverted to the two —three —two scrum formation instead of three—four as in the first spell, M‘Williams acting as lock. Finlayson Ordered Off. A few minutes after starting again, Finlayson was ordered off for punching a player on the ground in front of the main stand, and walked slowly from the ground with bowed head, amid hoots and jeers from the crowd, which caused him to receive police protection. Just after this incident, the Transvaal forwards kicked the ball from a scrum to Kotze, who sent Devine awjiy. The latter passed to Liebcnberg, and the winger dashed down the line, and ran over at the corner with Lindsay and Carleton hanging on to him. The kick at goal missed. Transvaal .. .. .. C> All Blacks . .. .. 0 The New Zealand forwards pulled themselves together for a while, and 1 started on the task of recovery. But

their efforts were useless, as the Africans were still getting possession from the scrums, and kept their opponents’ continually on the run. Lindsay had a kick at goal from a penalty, but the ball hit the upright.

The New Zealand forwards then -did obtain the ascendancy for the first time, Ward, M‘Williams, and Swain putting in some rattling work, while the defence and touch finding were accurate. Tho Transvaal inside backs ftaally drove the attacks back again, and tho home side three-quarters sot off for the line, but Lindsay savedThe All Blacks made one more effort, backs and forwards combining in a sustained dash up field, but there was no result, and the final whistle sounded—- , Transvaal 6 All Blacks 0 Game of Tragedies.

For New Zealand the match was all tragedy. The team could do nothing right. The forwards were beaten in the scrums, and could only hold their own in the line-outs. When the backs were given a chance, they usually mulled it badly. It was the old story—a team cannot win unless it gets possession of the ball.

It was not tho high altitude that beat the All Blacks, for only two complained that they felt a burning sensation in the throat. New Zealand could not get the ball, so they were forced to play a defensive game. For the greater part of the match the Transvaal forwards were too good for our men. In fact, New Zealand was beaten fore and aft. In tho whole 80 minutes of the game there was not even a suggestion of class football, and it is doubtful whether an All. Black team ever played such distractingly poor Eugby. What Referee Missed. Finlayson incident came as a bombshell to tho New Zealanders, for tho North Aucklander has a big reputation as a great sport. He was seen lying on the ground with Gcere, a Transvaal forward, on top of him having a heao lock on the New Zealander, and screw ing his neck unmercifully. When freed. Finlayson made one solid punch at Gecre ’s jaw, which connected. The whistle went, and Finlayson was ordered off. Tho whole incident happened in front of tho main stand. Up to this stage the gamo had been unnecessarily willing Some unsavoury worjc had been going on in the scrums on both sides, and these tactics were continued till tho end of tho match. “Nothing Against Anybody.” Seen after tho game, Finlayson said he had nothing against anybody. He took all the blame to himself. 'Jhd gamo had been very hotly contested Unfortunately the whistle went just at that moment. He was sorry the incident had occurred. Referee’s Myopia. Mr. W. F. Hornig, manager of the All i Blacks, said: “There is no question that Geere was trying to screw Finlayson’s head off. if the referee had seen that part of the incident both players would have been ordered off. It was a hard fought game from start to finish.” , The Johannesburg Star said: “The Transvaal forwards played their traditional game. They outclassed the opposing pack, and with Devine as scrum, half won their way to victory. Tho All Blacks’ play has certainly improved.” G. L. Ainlay, an c.x-Scottish player, | was referee. RUMOURED ALL BLACK WIN. A new broadcaster at 2¥A Wellington yesterday afternoon raised false hopes in the hearts of Rugby enthusiasts throughout the Dominion by announcing “Transvaal 6, Now Zealand 9’ ’ instead of nil. Rumour was soon rife throughout New Zealand that the All Blacks had won after all. Though the report was contradicted later on ;ia tho afternoon and in the evening

by tho official announcer from 2TA, it was well on towards midnight before anxious inquirers ceased to ring the “Times” office for confirmation.