ALL BLACKS WIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21883, 20 August 1934, Page 10

ALL BLACKS WIN

MATCH IN BRISBANE AUSTRALIANS BEATEN ELEVEN POINTS TO SIX SLOW GAME PLAYED VISITORS' SUPERIORITY By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received August 19, 6.35 p.m.) BRISBANE. August 19 // The All Blacks have tamed Australia's test backs. That is what close students of the game thought as they left the Exhibition ground yesterday after seeing New Zealand beat a strong Australian fifteen by 11 points to six. The weather was fine and the ground fast, and there was little breeze. The match was disappointing to the 15,000 people, but thone who know their Rugby found plenty to interest them. The main factors of the first test match were reversed. The Australian backs were not the speedy greyhounds they were in Sydney. The New Zealand forwards saw to that, but in doing so they neglected real forward play to such an extent that the Australian eight •were slightly superior on the day. When it is considered that Bonis gave Malcolm and his men another feast of tho ball, and that Australia failed to cross the New Zealand line, the extent of the effective "spotting" is to be fully realised. These tactics also had the effect of slowing up the game, and it was a pity that such a large crowd ' was 'not treated to a better spectacle in a centre where the League game is so strong. New Zealand's Best Performers Still, the All Blacks felt it incumbent upon them to win, and they set about it in the way they thought most effective. The result proves that their tactics were sound. Looking around the star players on the New Zealand side, it would be hard to go past Manchester as the best forward. He was up with every play, tackled demoniacally and rucked solidly. Next to him was McLean, wher worked like a Trojan throughout, although he is not yet as fit as he would like to be. In the backs, the winners were best served . by. Lilburn. Again, he never made a mistake in kicking, handling or tackling. He was content not to run up with the backs to-day, as he did on Wednesday, for he realised that those tactics would not pay as the play was swinging.

Griffiths again showed that he is developing into one of New Zealand's best backs, although to-day saw the backs get very little opportunity on attack. Australian Backs' Failure Bridle was easily Australia's best player. He broke from the scrums with ama;:ing speed, and some of his solo dashes were delightful. Had he been supported, Australia would have had at least one try. Most of the Australian forwards, except Hodgson, who was a "passenger" owing to an injured leg, did well, however, on account of finding the New Zealand pack with its attentions divided. Bonis out-hooked Lambourne by 37 scrums to 22. It must have been heartbreaking to him to see the Australian backs fail to make use of the opportunities Jbe presented to them. Vincent, who ia regarded as a successor to Ross, started shakily again, and looked as though he would repeat Wednesday's exhibition, but the yoiing Queenslander rallied splendidly and played brilliant football in' the second spell. The only other Australian back who played up to true form was Kelaher, but, like McLean, he received very limited chances. All Blacks-Lead at Interval The All Blacks scored in the first ten minutes as the result of a neat individual effort by Holder, who must be running Bullock-Douglas close for a j test place. The ball came to him ten yards from the line, and, although he had little -room in which to move, he made no mistake. Lilburne sent New Zealand further ahead with an accurate penalty goal from a reasonably easy position, and the crowd began to cry, "Come on, Aussie," as though the Greens were beaten by a lot. Certainly, the All Blacks dominated the early stages. Even play followed with Bridle's individual brilliance giving Australia a chance to make up the leeway. He was always unsupported, however. Doneley,/the Queensland forward who was placed in the team largely for his kickiing, was given his first chance at goai from near half-way. He made no mistake,, and Australia was only three points down at the interval.

Visitors Gain the Ascendancy It was the same ragged typo of play in the second spell. The Australian backs tried short punting, but the bounce never once favoured them. There was tremendous excitement when Doneley made the scores equal with another penalty goal, but the New Zealanders did not leave much doubt about their ability to win when they came back with persistent attacks, launched mainly through the mistakes of the Australian backs. This was how they scored the winning margin. Page high punted from a penalty and Towers called for the ball, only to drop it badly. The New Zealand forwards kicked ahead. Both Vincent and Kelaher failed to keep out McLean, who forced his way over. Lilburne converted. The dying stages saw New Zealand in the ascendancy again, and only a technical knock-on saved a certain try. New Zealand made a last-minute alteration to the team, Barry playing in place of Max, who was originally chosen instead of Mataira. New Zealand's test prospects are certainly enhanced as the result of to-day's success, but the form of the Australian ''backs was too poor to be true. The Sydney Cricket Ground should hold a gres.t crowd at the final test, and it certainly looks to be anybody's game, with tho odds slightly favouring New Zealand.