AN EASY VICTORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20594, 19 June 1930, Page 13

AN EASY VICTORY.

ALL BLACKS AT OAMAKTT#

FINAL TRIAL OF PLAYERSr

PORTER ALWAYS PROMINENT*

NEPIA KICKS FIVE GOALS-

* [BY TELEGRAM. —I'RESS ASSOCIATION".]

OAMARU, Wednesday,

The match between the team and North Otp.go was played in fine weather and on, a. rather hard ground. The game was watched by about 3000 people.

The New Zealand team in tlic first spell was:—Fullback, Nepia; threequarters, Hart, Lucas. Cooke; five-eighths, Oliver, Johnson; halfback, Mill; forwards, Cottrell, Irvine, Steere, Finlayson, MoWilliams, Batty, llazlett, Porter. The North Otago team was: —Fullback, Grainger; threequarters, Ross, Grant, Mcintosh; five-eighths, Hollow, Trevathan; halfback, Ga.ffaney; forwards, Simpson, McCallum, Sim, Cameron, Wills, Clark, Campbell, Direen. A dust storm blew over the ground at tho start. From loose play, Porter showed out and Hart dribbled through to the North Otago line. Bad passing let the local players back and they wero given a free kick at halfway. Cooka gained ground with a line kick, and then Hart was collared at the end of a passing rush. The ball' again went across to Hart on the right wing, but his pass infield was forward. This All Blacks backs then got going in a good movement, and Hart got over between the posts. Nepia converted.

Nepia Caught With the Ball.

Hard kicking by Cameron and Direen saw Nepia collared on the line with the ball and North Otago was given a penalty wide out, Gaffaney kicking a fine goal.

The North Otago forwards were tackling well,- but the' All Blacks pressed the attack and the home team forced. The All Blacks were quickly back, but Hunter intercepted a pass from Mill and found the line at halfv.-ay. The New Zealand backs were throwing the ball about, but their passing was erratic. Ross brought Hart down with a good tackle and the ball was thrown to Johnson, who cut in and gave Cooke a try between the posts. Nepia converted. New Zealand, 10; North Otago, 3. Nepia was doing some fine kicking, but ho was getting plenty of time. Mill was not shaping very well behind the scrums. Hart and Finlayson joined in a passing movement, but Finlayson tried to go too far and was tackled. The local players, however, were thrown out of position, and Oliver finished off another passing rush with a try, Nepia kicking a fine goal.

Another Penalty Goal. Finlayson broke away from a line-out and passed to Porter, who gained ground, and Mill was then caught with the ball, and play went to the All Black twentyfive. A spectacular bit of passing started by Nepia had North Otago in trouble, but hard kicking carried play right back. Nepia went, down to stop a rush, but was penalised in front of his goal and Gaffaney sent the ball over. All Blacks, 15; North Otago, 6. From a scrum the ball went across to Hart, who was playing a very fine game, and, running 40 yards with the greatest determination, he went over at th e corner flag as he was tackled by Grainger. Nepia failed with the kick.

The scrum work of the All Blacks was ■ not impressive. Oliver just failed to gefc across the line at the end of a passing bout, but the New Zealand backs kept up the pressure and Mill went over from a scrum. Nepia kicked a fine goal. North Otago was still tackling well and Gaffaney got the line at the All Blacks' comer flag. The play of Lucas, Johnston and Mill lacked finish, and they were hesitating before passing. Half-time came with the scores:— All Blacks , 23 North Otago [ 6 Changes in New Zealand Team. There were several changes.in the New Zealand team for the second spell.. Nicholls and Lilburne were played at fiveeighths instead of Johnston and Cooke, the latter going to centre, and Lucas replacing Oliver on the wing. Hore replaced Coltrell in the forwards. Stewart did nob play. Frame replaced Simpson in tho local team.

Nicholls was quickly prominent, but the All Black backs tried to go too much on their own. Grant cut off a pass, ran to Nepia, and then; kicked out. at the corner. North Otago-had the advantage of the wind, which had become bitterly cold, but they were playing mostly on the defensive and relying on hard kicking. Grant stopped a dribbling rush by the All Black forwards in fine style, but Mill then broke through with a pretty run and Hart scored at the posts. Nepia converted. Porter was making play for his backs and Lilburne was doing some straight running, but fumbling by the backs let North Otago backs through. Play was now rather ragged, but it was not long before Hart, who continued to play fine football, raced over the line again from a good passing bout. Nepia missed the goal. All Blacks, 31; North Otago, 6. Scrum Work Not Impressive. The scrum work of the New Zealand pack was still not impressive, the ball not coming out cleanly, but Porter was doing good work in feeding his backs. The best passing of the day was witnessed ab this stage. Cooke cut in well and Lucas finished off the movement. Nepia failed to convert. North Otago had a turn at attack, but time was called with the scores:—

All Blacks 34 North Otago 6 Features of the Game. The game was rather ragged at limes and the All Black backs will require to show better combination and run each other into line with more finish. The scrumming of the New Zealand team will also have to show much improve- , ment. At one stage in the second spell North Otago hooked the ball clean twice in succession.

Nepia, and Hart were the only backs to shape like All Blacks, but Cooke showed up with some pretty runs. _ Cooke "had one knee bandaged and was limping beforG the game was over. Porter was always in the picture, and Finlayson was prominent in the forward play. Finlayson, however, had a teadcncy to get offsido in the line-outs. Mr. J. 1. Smith • was referee.