SIGHS OF RELIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22260, 7 November 1935, Page 20

SIGHS OF RELIEF

POSSIBLE TRY MISSED BRILLIANT SCOTTISH BACK PEPPER'S SPLENDID TACKLING BY E. N. GREATOREX By Air Mnil GLASGOW, Oct. 16 Once again the All Blacks managed to scrape their way to victory. Just as at Hawick and Newcastle-on-Tyne, the result of the match against Edinburgh and Glasgow at Old Anniesland Ground was in doubt right up to the last minute, indeed, with about one minute to go, it looked as if Now Zealand would conclude the first series of matches in Scotland with a second defeat on the record. There were no more than 60 seconds left to plav when R. W. Shaw, the hero of the game, made one of his typical bursts and left the defence wondering where he had gone. It looked like a certain try, but, as was often tho case with many spectacular movements by the Cities' backs, something or other went wrong. You could hear tho sijihs of relief that went up from tho New Zealand enthusiasts looking on!

Football history repeated itself. Gilbert saved the side with a penalty at Hawick, and he did the same tiling yestehlay. Gilbert has his weaknesses as a fullback, but he can rise to the occasion. II<? is at his best in moments of crisis. New Zealand scored a try and Gilbert kicked two penalty goals. Beaten lor Possession Again the New Zealanders were beaten for possession in the scrums, but this afternoon they at least looked as if they were playing earnestly and taking things seriously. The forwards were decidedly smarter to-dav in packing down, and all of them pushed. Theresa still something radically wrong with the scrum, and it seems that, even when they use their weight, the forwards do not apply it in the right direction. Nearly all of the best All Black rushes had their genesis in the acceptance of- openings brought about by faulty handling or the bad positional play of the Scots. Solomon's try came from a ridiculous reverse pass. Forrest, one of the Cities' wingers, had made a fine run, but he spoilt it all by pimply throwing the ball infield yards away from a comrade who had gone inside him. The opportunity was too good for Solomon to miss.

Individually, the Cities' back ;jien Mere better than the All Blacks. Shaw, ■for instance, beat practically all the New Zealand threequarters at some time or other during the game, and, in scoring his try, he went round Solomon, Griffiths and Gilbert in • turn.' Griffiths is one of the soundest defenders in the side, but he was not in the hunt against Shaw to-day.

Shaw beat Griffiths not because Griffiths was not doing his job, but because the sturdy Scot is a player good enough to beat anyone. Shaw was closely watched by the All Black forwards, but they were unable to stop him. When Griffiths came off the field he looked like a man who was very disappointed in himself. Ho had no reason to be. No other five-eighths in the team could have stopped Shaw. The Scottish fiveeighths is one of those players often heard about but seldom seen—a football genius. Form ol New Zeal&nders I Gilbert began shakily and showed bad judgment with his line kicks, although he quickly improved, and did some great work in covering the'short punts of the Cities' centres. The game did not go to Hart, hut his pace in defensive work was a great asset. Nothing went right for Brown. His tackling was poor. Solomon was good and poor in turns. His try was a nice piece of work, but his handling was erratic. Sometimes he took the most difficult passes with ease, but there were too many times when he dropped the ball after it had been almost put into his hands. I thought that Corner played a good game. He gave quick passes and was generally on the spot when he was needed. Taken all round, the forwards showed mnch more devil and vim than in recent games. McLean played his best game of the tour. He made some great dasher with the ball, and was always feeding the backs. McLean looked as if he was out to show that lie is not a back number, as many were beginning to think.

Manchester worked hard, and he got great support from Pepper and Hore. Pepper played one of his best games. There was nobody on the field who followed on so keenly, and his tackling of the backs was one of the features of the game. Collins has put on a lot of weight, and he is rot in good condition.