RUGBY TEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22517, 7 September 1936, Page 11

RUGBY TEST

NEW ZEALAND WINS DEFEAT OF AUSTRALIA eleven points to six gbeat interest in game [BT TELEGRAPH —ATHLETIC REPORTER] \A ELLINGTON. Sunday The first test match between the touring Australian Rugby team and fteV Zealand, played at Athletic Park yesterday, resulted in a win for the All Blades by 11 points to G. New Zealand 6 cored three tries, one converted, against its opponents' unconverted try and a penalty goal. The 'contest attracted widespread interest, in spite of tho visitors' poor reconl to date. Special trains arrived from Auckland. Hawko's Bay, Tarnnaki and other centres. There was a crowd at the 'match estimated at over 30.000. The weather was beautifully fine, with bright sunshine, and scarcely any wind. The ground was in splendid order, except for a few sticky patches after several days' rain.

y The Governor-General, Ixird Galway, shook hands with the players of both teams as soon as they lined out. The Australians fully upheld their reputation of being a dry-ground team. Their forwards held their own well with tho Xew Zcalanders, while the backs always showed enterprise, and frequently nad the spectators on their toes. Thcro was not a great ileal between the teauis on the day, and a draw would have been a fair indication of the play. Bledisloe Oup

Territorially Australia had the better of the first half, but the reverse was the case in the second spell. As Australia have to win only one test to retain the Bledisloe Cup, the closeness of the first match has greatly increased interest in the second, which will be played at Dunedin next Saturday. With its best.team in the field, Australia will be very difficult to beat.' The teams were as follows: AUSTRALIA Fullback. —Rankin. Threequarters. Kelaher, Pauling, Richards. Five-eighths.!—McLean, Lewis. Halfback. —Gibbons. Forwards. —Walden, Bonis, Malone, Bridle. Hutchinson, White, Hodgson, Kelly. NEW ZEALAND Fullback.—Pollock. Threequarters.—Hart, Caughey, Watt Five-eighths.—Killeen, Griffiths. Halfback^—Sadler. Forwards? —Jackson, Hadley, Dalton, Wells, King, Reid, McKenzie, Rankin. Visitors Win Ball Australia won the toss and played with the sun. It Avon the ball from the early scrums. Pollock was applauded for a great defensive kick from inside his own twenty-five to well beyond halfway. The Australians attempted to open up play, and Rankin, New Zealand, was caught well offside. Hodgson missed the shot from just inside halfway. Australia was having the better of the ula.v territorially. Rankin was again offiside and his namesake kicked a penalty goal from 10yds. inside halfway. Australia .... . . . . 3 New Zealand .... . . 0 Australia w;as doing all the attacking, its open style of play greatly pleasing the spectators. Hodgson was getting the ball well in the lineouts and endeavoured to set his backs going, but the tackling was sound. New Zealand attacked on the left wing, when Caughcv and Watt raced away, the latter being forced into touch inside the twenty-five. In a long lineout the ball was thrown to a hack, enabling Australia to clear. Bridle broke away finely and, kicked over the fullback's head. He followed fast, but Caughey saved by kicking the ball dead. In an endeavour to make the most of the sun the Australian inside backs were kicking too much, Pollock being very safe. McLean narrowly missed a try when he kicked the ball over the line, Pollock being compelled to kick it dead. Hard Forward Play

Play among the forwards was hard, the Australians holding their own well. Then a lively rush by the New Zealand forwards placed the home side on attack. The hall was gathered in the loose and passed to Hart, who sidestepped and swerved past two opponents before being brought down short of the line, Australia forcing. Then followed -a brilliant try by McLaughlin. Gibbons fielded the ball from a mark kick by Pollock and set his hacks going. Bridle joined in and McLaughlin oeat the opposition with a beautiful swerve and sicle-step. Rankin missed at goal. Australia • 6 New Zealand 0 Almost immediately Caughev handled twice in a passing rush. He was tackled short of the line, but managed to pass to Hart, who fell over. Pollock converted, making the half-time score:— Australia . . . . . . • • 6 New Zealand 5 Shortly after resuming Caughev made a strong dash, failing to reach the line by a few yards. New Zealand attacked strongly in the first 10 minutes, Pauling making a splendid save with a Ipng kick. McKenzie joined - in a passing rush, but sent, the ball low to Killeen and a good opportunity w .as lost. McLean broke away and kicked over Pollock's bead, but was robbed of an opportunity through a flagrant obstruction which went undetected. By employing centre kicks New Zealand caught "the Australian backs °ut of position. Reid appeared to knock-on, but the rush continued, Hadley scoring between the posts. Pollock * missed the kick. New Zealand 8 Australia 6 Splendid Defence

A long f grubber-kick by Pollock placed New Zealand on the attack again, Richards clearing magnificently, yfeat defence by Richards and Paulas was keeping New Zealand in check. Pollock made a jinky run from mid- / p .t" so t' the forwards going, McKenzie being pulled down just short 9' the line. -Australia started passing in its own twentv-five and Ke'laher kicked past Pollock. He and Hodgson oad a clear field ahead. The latter kioked thi) biill on, but unluckily.it rolled into touch five yards short and B certain fry was lost. v was solid among the forwards, ihe New Zealand backs were trying to ®peu up the game and were now getting ball freely from the scrums and rucks. McLean was tackled in possession and passing between Killeen, and Watt saw the last-named •core wide out. Pollock missed the kick, Zealand . . . . . 11 Australia 6 A little feeling crept into the forward Piav toward the finish, there being Hung exchanges. Australia tried hard rau ' level, but the game ended with we scorer—- . New Zealand . . . . . . . 11 Australia 6 feree Wellington, was re-