MAGNIFICENT PACK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20621, 21 July 1930, Page 11

MAGNIFICENT PACK.

TRIUMPH FOR FORWARDS. VISITORS OUTPLAYED. SOLID AUCKLAND BACKS. CORNER AGAIN PROMINENT. The Auckland representative team maintained its good record against overseas sides by inflicting a sound defeat on tho British fifteen. There was no room for doubt as to which was the better side, as Auckland scored four tries against the visitors' one, and each team succeeded with a penalty kick at goal. There was a large number of enthusiasts who were very doubtful about the match producing much in the way of the spectacular element, as it is well known that Auckland plays its club football under different rules from those of other provinces in New Zealand. However, tho display clearly proved that the game under international rules can prove just as attractive as any match under the amended rules. There was plenty of bright, open play, especially in the second spell. Britain was represented by practically the best team it could have fielded, with Hie exception of the halfbacks, and it must be said that Knowlcs, fly-half, and Poole, scrum-half, did (heir work with credit. Auckland enthusiasts have not yet bad the pleasure of seeing the best inside formation the visitors can produce, so it is hard to judge what difference Murray anil Spong would have made. At the same time the match comes down to tho old and true theory that when a team is beaten in the forwards, no matter how good the rearguard may be, the opposing side holds the advantage providing its backs give reasonable support. This is what actually happened in the game, and more than that the Auckland rearguard really played above itself and thus gave the men in front of it great support. Sound Defensive Line. There is not the slightest doubt that Auckland in tho first place won the day through the magnificent game played by its pack. Britain was beaten in the scrums and line-outs, and although mistakes were made by tho Auckland backs, possession of tho ball meant all the difference

Notwithstanding Auckland's superiority in the forward lino, the British backs received numerous opportunities but were always met by a sound and solid defence. Tn fact, it can be said that the Auckland backs, as far as defence was concerned, far exceeded expectations. They made no mistake about getting their man and generally this was accomplished with smothering tackles. It. was clearly evident that although it possessed a very formidable forward line the British team relied on its backs to win (lie day. The rearguard was fed from scrums and line-outs at every opportunity, and although it succeeded in penetrating on several occasions it never bad the defence demoralised. The inside men attempted to break through once or twice when the attack per medium of the threequarters failed, but Auckland was not to be caught this way. The British backs were always dangerous, and a great feature of their play was the manner in which they supported a player in difficulties. When a passing rush broke down or a man was caught in possession, tl ere was always one player and sometimes three or four to lend assistance. A Good Commencement.

The British backs set off in a manner which suggested that Auckland was in for a, hard day on defence. They were seen in very attractive and accurate passing movements, and each individual took passes low down or high with the greatest ease. Whether on defenco or attack the British team adopted the same positions, and when Auckland hooked the hall, this allowed the inside man plenty of loom. In this respect tho playing of the match under international rules made little difference to the type of gamo to which the inside backs are accustomed in club football in Auckland. Throwing the ball about in its own twenty-five against a good defence will sooner or later get a team into trouble, and by doing this Britain gave Auckland a try. The ball went out to P,eeve on the wing after all the backs had handled. Hook made a flying tackle at the thrcequarter, who lost possession and Lucas took advantage of the chance by gathering the ball and sending Ifaslam over. Enthusiasts who had waited for two months to see the visitors in action must have been disappointed with their e.xhibi-

tion as an international.fifteen. Practically throughout the match they adopted the same method of attack and when defeated in their object nothing iti the way of a change in tactics was attempted. Britain' just played orthodox football and many passing movements wero a delight to watch, although there were times when wild and lob passes were given. There was a luck of penetrative power in (lie back line, Bowcott alone displaying ability in this respect. Reeve and Novis showed speed on the wings which would make them u source of danger to any team. They were opposed by two fast wings in Hook and Minns and could not make much headway. Auckland had (lie rearguard troubled by playing inside their men and driving thoni out. This caused the threequartcr line to become more or less crowded, thus making (he defence work easier while at the same time preventing (bo Britishers from gaining much ground. There were occasions when pas.vng movements went straight across the field and ground was lost. A great deal of credit is therefore due. to the Auckland backs, who made such a solid defensive line that Britain only broke through to register a tiy on one occasion, and tnat was when Auckland was a mart short in the forwards.

Territorially Auckland had much flic better of tho play. In the first spell especially the forwards took full advantage of mistakes in the. line-outs and keeping together well they would burst through and gain yards of ground by clover footwork. Once on the move (lie pack (ook a power of stopping, and Poole and Kriowles wero called on to go down time and again. The halfbacKs never flinched from their duty, but were not always successful in stemming the attack. The British forwards wero tapping the ball back in (he lineouts, and it was surprising to sec this persisted in as (he ball often went astray and allowed Auckland, with A. Knight very prominent, to come through. fn the early stages tho British inside backs ran straighter than the Auckland insides, but once the latter had settled down (here was a great improvement. A Magnificent Try.

The second spell was all in Auckland's favour, tho visitors rarely penetrating as far as the local twenty-five. No one is ever likely to forget tho magnificent piece of play which led to the try by McWilliams. Corner, with the Britishers attacking strongly, came away with the ball from the loose. Eluding some of 1110 defence Corner sent 011 to Solomon, who further improved the position. A. Knight was next in the picture, then McWilliams, who finished off the work by scoring between the posts with five players outside him. Another fine try was mado by Lucas, who just before tho match ended completely fooled the defence. by stopping and swerving infield lo send Solomon over. Looking for the same method of attack as they had been using the British defence was concentrating 011 Minns 011 the wing. Everyone, was looking for the British fireworks in the last 10 minutes. This time, however, it was Auckland which came with the strong finishing ran. Playing without tho two back row men in the scrum Auckland still hooked tho ball several times, and thus tho backs were given opportunities. There was far more thrust and method in the Auckland attack than that of the visitors. Poole, the British scrum half, was allowed a good deal of latitude by the refereo with regard to placing the ball in the scrum. Frequently it never went in at all, the half getting possession from the foot of the front row man and setting his backs awav. Palmer and Hadley proved more than a match for the British hookers, who got possession sometimes when tho pack pushed Auckland back over the ball after it was hooked. Corner's Great Game.

Rutler had little to do at fullback for Auckland, but played .1 sound game, and mado no mistake about, getting I von Jones when the latter had broken clean away. The outstanding player 011 the. ground was Corner, the diminutive halfback, who gave one of the best, exhibitions ever seen at Eden Park. His cleverness 011 attack and gamencss on defenco made hi in a prominent figure throughout as he was always up with the play. Lucas was in fine form at centre, and always kept the opposition guessing as to his tactics. Hook stood out, for some fine defence and was also prominent 011 attack. The other backs all rose to the occasion well. There was a good deal of interest centred in Ifaslani at second five-eighths. It was his first big match and he played a fine game, his splendid defence and tackling frustrating many attacking movements.

The Auckland forwards all played great football, and on tho day it is doubtful if a better pack could bave been produced in the Dominion. Hatty was in great form and perhaps the best forward, but the others were not much his inferior. Falmcr came right into his own again by pi avi tig a fine game. Bassett, at fullback for' Britain, was good in the first spell, his strong kicking with either foot and clean handling being a feature. He fell away in Hie second half, mishandling and not getting the same accuracy with his kicking. Boweott was the most impressive of the threequarters and showed ability in changing the method of attack, Anrvold 1 plained possession too long on many occasions. The halves handled well' and set the backs off quickly, but attempted little in the way of cutting through themselves. The British forwards used every endeavour to gain the ascendancy over tho Auckland vanguard. Tho Auckland line never let up, and was clearly superior in all-round piny. Beamish, Hodgson, Black and O'Keill were the outstanding players. Tvor Jones was inclined to look too much for tho open play.