DEFEAT OF QUEENSLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19116, 7 September 1925, Page 11

DEFEAT OF QUEENSLAND.

• LEAGUE TEAM'S SUCCESS. AN EXCITING CONTEST. VICTORY BY ONE POINT. PENALTY COAL JUST ON TIME. A dramatic finish to a game full of thrills was witnessed at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when tho New Zealand Piughy Leagua representatives defeated Queensland by the narrow margin of one point. Excitement was added to the occasion by tho fact that the deciding score, a penalty goal by Delgrosso, was obtained in tho last moment, of play. It was a fairly lengthy kick and the crowd of 18,000 spectators that packed the ground realising that on tho fate of the shot depended the issue of the game waited in strained silence as tho ball was placed. When Delgrosso sent it over tho crossbar with a fi.no effort, tumultuous applause broko out and continued for some minutes. Tho scores were: New Zealand 25 points, Queensland 24. From this it will bo recognised that thero was plenty of jvctior. during tho game and that victory might havo gone to either sido. That it did not go to Queensland may be attributed to the fact that infringements by their forwards frequently lost them much ground. Tho penalties against them uanally occurred in the scrums, and except for the final breach, which occurred near midfield, and led to New Zealand's win, they had little bearing on the game. Occasionally the visitors were penalised noar tho New Zealand line, but most of the infringements were in neutral territory and littlo advantage was gained from them. On tho other hand, tho referee was not allowing infringements by New Zealand to go unheeded, and Craig put over threo fine goals for the visitors from penalty kicks. New Zealand's Forwards.

It was in the second spell, during the stress of tho game, when New Zealand ■was pressing hard that the majority of the penalties were awarded, the overanxiety of the visiting forwards being responsible. Time and time again as the ball was scrummed the Queensland breakaway men ware ahead of tho ball and were penalised. The New Zealanders as a rule did not attempt to merely win ground by kicking into touch The ball Went up into the air in the open field, and both sides had the chance of getting it. At this stage and all through the second spell the New Zealand forwards were dominating the game, their fast following up and deadly tackling disconcerting the attack of the visitors.

The game was not fast in the opening ftages, but after the first few minutes the visitors showed some snappy passing that foreshadowed trouble for New Zealand if the slightest weakness in defence occurred. Gorman, the brilliant centre-threequarter, missed a couple of chances through overeagerness in breaking away before settling down. He played great football thereafter and was always dangerous. In company with Craig and Aynsley he worked Borne brilliant movements, drawing the and making fine openings £or the fast wing-threequarter. Aynsley a Great Back. Aynsley demonstrated in convincing etyle that his reputation for pace .a::d Bcoring ability had not been exaggerated. He gathered his' passes in great style when going at top speed and showed hi 3 cleverness when ho cut across three opponents and left them standing to watch him score a soft try. ■ Craig was always working hard and initiaf-'d many fine movements, His defence was exceptionally good. Moores and Connell, the other inside backs, were good, clean workers and took full advantage of this fact that they were getting the ball from the scrmn much oftener than the opposing backs. Paten, on the right wing of the threequarter line, got few opportunities. Frauenfelder showed fine form at. fullback, his fielding, kicking and tackling being all that could be desired.

The New Zealand players stuck grimly to their task, but tnoir team work was not equal to that of their opponents. The lirst score to the blacks came quite early in the game. Delgrosso missed the goal, but subsequently made no mistake "with, a shot from a penalty. Another fine kick by the same player sent the ball over the crossbar, but tho goal was not allowed as a black forward in his eagerness to follow up the kick bad got in front of tha ball before it was kicked. That mistake was costly, and meant that the side had to struggle strenuously for victory when it should have had the advantage of the lead instead of a deficit of a point. It was a dramatic coincidence that a last moment kick by Delgrosso should snatch a victor? that should already have been obtained. Time was just up when the visitors were penalised and Delgrosso kicked the goal that will bo long remembered in tho history of League football. To the New Zealand forwards must be P r , ais f for tho manner in which they harried the opposition, narti.n'r in 6 secon d spell, teams were:—

QUEENSLAND, fullback: Frauenfelder. # Threequarters: Paten, Gorman, Craig, Aynsley. ' b ' Forwards: Potter, Henderson, Bennett, Btoinohrt, Purcell, Armbraster. , . NEW ZEALAND. Fullback: Gregory. Threequarters: Parkes, Kirwan, Delgroi^o, ■l'ive-eighths: Wetherall, Saunders. Half: Wilson-Hall. Forwards: O'Brien, St. George, Herrmg, Peterson, Singe, Avery. • Queensland won from the first scrum and Connoll sent his backs away for Craig to short-punt, giving Paten a <'hance to display a fine turn of speed, hut Gregory nipped in and saved well, sending play back to midfjeld. Offside play by Steinohrt saw Singe put New, Zealand in a good position with a fine line-kick. In a clever movement round the blind side Craig badly beat the blacks' inside backs as ho passed to Potter, who sent the ball into a bunch of Queensland forwards, and Henderson ran through, but his pass to Gorman was over-run, and New Zealand were lucky in saving. A Rood dash by O'Brien raised the hopes •'f New Zealand's supporters as Kirwan, in support, rushed the ball to Fauenfelder, whose great line-kick was well applauded. Tho visiting backs were getting plenty of opportunities, arid showed more dash and combination than the Dominion team. From a scrum on the half-way lino Connell passed to Craig, and Gorman showed if 'n some brilliant play as ho raced behind Craig to cleverly receive (the reverse Pass. Running strongly and straight, Gorman carried the ball to New Zealand's twenty-five, where ho whipped it to Aynsley,, who ran over to scoro. Craig was successful with tho kick at goal. Queensland 5 New Zealand 0 —'.Almost immediately afterwards tho * .nion team were penalised and Craig sent the ball fairly between the uprights. Queensland " New Zealand . . • . 0 Tho New Zealand, backs were plainly by c i e verness of Moores anu whose tricky movements wcro

delightful to witness. Coming away in dashing stylo Steinohrt, Potter and Armbruster swept the ball past New Zealand's backs, and Aynsley just missed a pass from Bennett, and Wetherall sent them back with a good kick, ior the first time in a succession of scrums the home side received the ball and Wilson-Hall sent it on to Wetberall, who ran straight through the opposition. When confronted by Paten, Wethorall whipped it on to Kirwan, then to Delgrosso, but Frauenfelder stopped his man in splendid style. Keeping up the pressure Delgrosso raised a great shout from the huge crowd as ho ran along the touch-line. Nearing the twenty-five he whipped in on to Herring, who passed to Saunders, and the crowd cheered again as the New Zealander rar. on to score. Delgrosso made a great attempt to convert, but the ball just missed the post. Queensland . . . . . . 7 New Zealand . . . . 3 The ball had just been kicked off when tho visitors' backs lined out in a brilliant movement, showing great speed and accurate handling. Gorman snowed up as the pivot of attack, and ran Aynsley into a scoring position. The speedy winger raced on to score again. Craig added the goal points. Queensland 12 New Zealand . . . . 3 Good play by Kirwan was carried on by Peterson, and Delgijsso in support dribbled the ball over Queensland's line, and Paten was lucky to force. Queensland were then penalised and Delgrosso kicked a good goal. Queensland . . . . . . 12 N.ew Zealand . . . . 5 Tho New Zealand backs then essayed a pretty passing movement in which Wetherall, Saunders and Kirwan were prominent. Di-Jiing p' a y by Avery was well supported Dy Herring and St. Georgo, and Frauenfelder got his sido out of a difficult position by speedy running. Awarded a penalty for shepherding, Delgrosso kicked a great goal from 50yds. out, but it was disallowed owing to a black forward being in front of the ball. The crowd was delighted as the home backs rose to the occasion and gave tho visitors some of their own high-class play. The homo backs now stood up closer to their opponents, and the game was in consequence kept close. Tlv? visitors were awarded a free and Craig added the goal points with a fine kick. Queensland . . . * . . 14 New Zealand . , . » . . 5 A dropped pass from Kirwan to Saunders, saw Gorman secure, and quick as a flash he was through the defence, sending Aynsley away to score his third try. Craig again goaled. Queensland 19 New Zealand 5 When the Dominion team opened the second spell the wind was still blowing strongly and the home forwards attacked with great dash. Within two minutes of play O'Brien broke through and dribbled the ball toward the red's goal line where Avery dashed up to support and dived over to score. Delgrosso missed the kick at goal. Queensland 19 New Zealand 8

The strong sun was plainly bothering tho visitors' backs, and more than once Singe kicked high for the forwards to charge down. Then followed a most sensational incident. Right under Queensland's goal posts, New Zealand were awarded a penalty and quick as a flash Wetherall, ever watching a chance, short kicked and secured to score before Queensland had even realised what had happened. Delgrosso easily added the goal points. Queensland . * .. .. 19 New Zealand . . . . .. 13

Good play by Connell was further improved by Moores, who sent the flying winger Aynsley away, but Davidson got his man in good style. It was left to Craig to extricate the visiters from a tight corner and with his best pace on he ran to Gorman, who-im-proved the position with a dodgy run. Tho visitors' backs still continued to open up the game, but the homo team's defence was wonderful and every movement was quickly stemmed. For offside play O'Brien was penalised and Craig sent the ball over the bar with a great kick.

Queensland ~ , . . . 21 New Zealand . . . . .. 13 Fast following up by Avery forced Frauenfelder to run out of bounds, and from a penalty Singe missed a kick at goal. The Queensland forwards were often penalised for obstruction, and from one of these Delgrosso kicked a goal. Queensland . . . , . . 21 New Zealand . . . . .. 15 Connell, by good p!ay at half, badly beat tho home team and his pass to Potter was sent on to Craig, who, when blocked short kicked over the line, but Davidson beat Aynsley for the touch down. The New Zealand forwards were playing like men inspired, and biwaking quickly from the scrum O'Brien beat Mqores for the ball and with Peterson and Avery in support, toed it past Frauenfelder, where Singe came fast and dived on the ball to score a great try. Delgrosso added the goal. Queensland . . . . i... 21 New Zealand 20 The visitors were now up against a tough proposition to avert defeat, and Craig and Gorman tried everything possible to get the ball out to Aynsley. The tackling, however, was splendid. A clever run by Moores was improved by Gorman, but Davidson came in fast and effectually checked his progress. A brilliant opening was made by Wetherall, who electrified the crowd as he beat man after man and passed to Saunders, who threw a wretched pass to Davidson, and Aynsley, quickly seizing the opportunity, intercepted and, beating Gregory with a perfect side-step, scored a nice try. Craig missed the goal points. Queensland 24 New Zealand .. .. 20 It n6w looked as though the game would finish with the scores unaltered, but a change came over the scene as Delgrosso broke through, and running strongly ' he passed to Wetherall, who clapped on the pace and finally passed to Avery, who dived over near the corner. " Delgrosso failed to improve the scores. Queensland r«« >• • 24 New Zealand .. .. ..23 The New Zealanders were making a great effort to win, and with the ball in play and time up Queensland were penalised and amid great excitement Delgrosso kicked the goal that gave New Zealand a victory. The game thus ended: — Nfcw Zealand .. .. .. 25 Queensland .. . ■ ■». 24 THE NEXT CONTEST.

AUCKLAND V. QUEENSLAND. LOCAL THIRTEEN SELECTED. The Queensland touring team will play the second gnme of their tour at Carlaw Park on Wednesday, when the visitors will meet, tho Auckland representatives. The following team has- been selected to represent Auckland:— Fullback : Gregory. Threequarters: Delgrosso, Brown, Littlewood. Five-eighths: Wetherall, Kirwan. Half: Webb. Forwards: O'Brien (Devonport), St. George, O'Brien (Marist), Herring, Singe, Avery. The Auckland players will continue their training each day at Victoria Park. The Queensland and New Zealand representatives were entertained at a smoke concert at tlje Chamber of Commerce on Saturday evening. Tho visiting team will be the guests of the Harbour Board on Thursday in a trip round ths harbour.