TRUE FORM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 6 August 1928, Page 5

TRUE FORM

ALL BLACKS DEFEAT BORDER TYPICAL NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL NICHOLLS PLAYS A FINE GAME (Special to Press Association) EAST LONDON, 4th August. With an exhibition of true New Zealand football, the All Blacks beat Border by two converted tries, three tries and one penalty goal (22 points) to one penalty goal (3 points) at East London to-day.. It was easily the best exhibition the All Blacks have given on the tour, the forwards playing with fine combination and the backs giving a dazzling display. Unfortunately, the play degenerated somewhat in the second spell. There was some unsavoury mixing ip the tight and the referee, after warning players on both sides, told Brownlie that if the rough play did not stop, ho would order off the first man he caught. > ' Finlayson Ka£ influenza. Hisplace on the side was taken _ by McWilliams, Stewart coming back into the scrum. The Border team was—Lecorbeur, Hoare, Duffy, Southwood, Klemp, Cheshire, Daniels, Painton, Strutter, Jenkins, J. Landman, H.: Landman, Schnell, Seymour and Pretbrius. There were 10,000 people present and the ground was one of the best on which the All Blacks have played in South Africa, while tho day was fine with a grey overcast sky.

DETAILS OF THE PLAY After an exchange of kicks from the kick off, tlip New Zealand backs opened out in a movement but faltered. A run by the Border backs saw Duffy dazzle the opposition with a ‘ brilliant run which was stopped by Lindsay. Three clever kicks by Daniels put Border on the attack at the corner where there were some fireworks among the forwards, but the New Zealand defence could not be penetrated. Securing the ball from a scrum at half way, away went the New Zealand backs. The leather travelled out to Grenside who put in a great run before his path was blocked. Carleton came Pp for the pass but lost the ball ; when over the line. Scrimshaw and Lecordeur had a race for it, but the New Zealander was beaten by a dive. There was a spell of fluctuating play, in which the New Zealanders had the best of things. Then Lilbume cut in smartly, sent the ball to Nicholls _to Carleton who raced over. Lindsay missed with the kick. New Zealand 3 Border 0

The New Zealand forwards attacked, then Strang sent his backs away. The ball was handled by Lilburne and Nicholls, the last-named bewildering the defence with a nippy cut in to send Hazlett over. Nicholls missed with the kick. New Zealand : 6 Border 0

The All Blacks hacks started to give an exhibition of fine football at this stage, and took play back to the Border twenty-five where Nicholls landed a goal from a penalty. New Zealand 9 Border ’ 0 .

Then Nicholls engineered another brilliant movement from halfway. Cutting clean through the defence he sent the ball back to Lilburne to Strang who raced over near the posts. Nicholls converted. .• * '

New Zealand ...:. 14 Border 0 A penalty came to Border a minute later, Dani.els kicking a good goal. ■ Border 3 s New Zealand 14

The next try . came when Brownlie picked up'in the loose and ran under the posts. Nicholls goaled. New Zealand 19

Border 3 The All Blacks went to the attack again from tho kick off. The forwards wheeled the scrum'cleverly, and let Hazlett score his second try: Nicholls missed with the kick. New Zealand .........i 22 Border 3 The final whistle went with the All Blacks still holding’ the upper hand. NOTES ON THE PLAY It was a match full of spectacular play, particularly by 1 * the New Zealanders. ' y Time after time they moved up into perfect alignment, their clever attacks being a pretty puzzle for the Border backs. The, game revealed the New Zealanders’ football at its best. NICHOLLS’S COMEBACK The biggest feature of the match was the fact that Mark Nicholls staged a spectacular comeback. It was his finest exhibition of the tour, and he gave'a taste of his own true form.

All the New Zealand backs played up to standard.

Strang gave a useful display and Lilburne proved himself to be a very effective first five-eighths. The three-quarter line was deadly both in attack and defence.

Lindsay made his usual, sound showing. The forwards worked with beautiful combination, perhaps the shining lights being Hazlett, McWilliams, Hore and Stewart.

The outstanding Border. players were Duffy, Southwood and Cheshire among the backs, and Painton, Strutter and Jenkins among the forwards.