All Black Trial At Whangarei

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1948, Page 6

All Black Trial At Whangarei

Polish, Possession Give Auckland Win

AN enthusiastic crowd of 6000 at Kensington Park, Whangarei, on Saturday saw the Auckland Rugby representatives beat Northland by 25 points to 11.

The home side revealed its best form this season but lacked the polish of the metropolitans, particularly in the forwards. The Aucklanders won more of the ball, and this, coupled with the smartness of the inside backs, was primarily responsible for their clear-cut victory.

As an All Black trial, the game was not particularly impressive, particularly to Northlanders who saw the Otago team in action last year. The Aucklanders certainly displayed greater polish than the locals, but apart from Simpson, the All Black front row man, it is doubtful if any of the forwards could be placed on the same plane as the eight who throttle Ranjfurly Shield challenges from all over the country. They lacked the fierceness, the toughness, the devil, the ability tc give maximum effort for 80 minutes, the cohesion in backing up on attack and covering the field on defence. Except for an occasional spasm, the rucking could not be compared with that seen at Carisbrook 12 months ago. In this phase, however, the Aucklanders outclassed the locals

During that 20 minutes, Beazley had thrice shown up Allen's defence with sudden swerves.

It was easily his best showing this season, and his effort thoroughly justified selector Griffin’s perseverance.

It was most unfortunate that Beazley had to leave the field.

Adolph, who replaced him. played a good game but he did not have the speed to stifle Allen before the Aucklander had gathered momentum and was in side-stepping mood. Desperate for the ball. Smith occasionally tried to intercept, but Gilmour was awake to this and profited by Smith’s reluctance to tackle.

Smith paid him more attention later and the Aucklander failed to show up.

Their scrumming and line-out work was good, but their slight superiority on Saturday was due chiefly to the failure of the Northlanders to function as a unit.

Boggs was more impressive on the wing than McLean, who found Cherrington a tough man to mark.

CHERRINGTON BEST WING

With the forwards giving them more than a 50-50 share of the ball, the Auckland inside backs impressed with their smartness, but, as a line, the rearguard did not reach great heights. Chief reason for this was the individualism of Allen and Gilmour, at second five-eighth and centre respectively. It was reflected in the almost total neglect of wingers Boggs and McLean.

Actually Cherrington was the best winger on the ground. His weight, speed and determination carried him through several McLean tackles and. towards the end of the game, earned him a splendid try. His tackling was an effective counter to McLean's speed. The Aucklander was rather disappointing. considering his reputation with the All Blacks in Australia last season.

SCOTT MAGNIFICENT

Boggs was the next best winger. He received few chances, but showed speed and determination.

Fullback Scott was magnificent. His was the brightest plumage among the magpies. His wonderful football brain, beautiful hands, powerful kicking and deceptive turn of speed place him in Ihe top class. He did not bite off spectacular chunks of ground with liners, but he always made sure of saving his forwards those wearing 40-yard sprints.

As usual, the Northland backs suffered from want of ball. When the forwards did win it, their delivery was sluggish and the inside backs usually iiad to start form behind scratch.

Richardson played quite well at half, but lacked the experience and polish of Dovell.

He joined in with his backs, and even sold dummies. Campbell twice came into the Northland line, and on each occasion Scott showed something of his genius. The ball emerged on the Auckland side of the ruck and immediately Scott moved into the five-eighths. On receipt of the ball he punted high and long straight down the centre of the deserted field and Ihe fast threequarters sailed after it.

Fortunately for Northland, Stan Young was on the alert for these tactics, and each time was all that stood between Auckland and five points. Most impressive Auckland backs, apart from Scott, were Black at first five-eighth, Allen at second and Boggs on the wing. Black handled and tackled well, ran straight and not too far, and once or twice accepted Joe Murray's invitation to slip through the gap.

Murray was good in patches. Adolph lacked the nip required of a second five-eighth and this made Smith’s task all the more difficult. The centre, more often than not, broke through Gilmour’s tackle, but the slow service from the inside gave him little chance of overcoming Scott and the cover defence, in which Dovell and Crowley were always prominent. Auckland's try-getters were Crowley (2). Black. Christian. Gilmour and McLean. Scott converted two and kicked a penalty goal. Cherrington scored for Northland. Campbell landed two penalties and the conversion.

Campbell played a much improved game at fullback, and is more confident with each appearance. His boot yielded eight of Northland's 11 points. Actually one of the penalties was very doubtful, the ball appearing to sail' some feet outside the right post.

One touch-judge signalled a goal, however, and referee Somerville concurred.

THREE GOOD FORWARDS

The best Auckland forwards were Simpson, Christian and Crowley. Simpson and Christian were the spearhead in the tight and Crowley played a grand game as breakaway.

Te Haara was Northland's No. 1 forward, with Fraser and Mcßae the next best. The manner in which Te Haara and Fraser out jumped the Aucklanders for the ball in the line-outs was most impressive, but it was distressing to see the failure of their comrades to bind quickly in the ensuing ruck and heel the ball back to Richardson.

Mcßae played a grand all-round game as breakaway. Pausina had plenty of fire in the open.

Young’s cover defence was worth at least 10 points to his side. Auckland scored six tries to Northland’s one. The half-time score was 11—0. and at one stage the visitors led 22—3.

ALLEN’S PENETRATION

Allen, as usual, displayed tremendous penetrative powers with his speed and side-step, but more often than not he disrupted the back line.

Often his twinkling feet would carry him right away from his supports and leave him prey for the remnants of the cover defence.

His football had a distinct trial flavour and was not particularly constructive.

A highlight of the' match from a Northland point of view was the fine display of Beazley during the 20 minutes he was on the field.

Fie djd a grand jot in marking Allen

Moving up smartly as scon as Dovell received the ball from the forwards, Beazley was on top of Allen as he took his pass and only once failed to floor him with flying tackles. His aggressiveness proved his undoing. however, as he received a nasty bump on the head and had to leave the field at the end of the first quarter.