AUSTRALIA'S WIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22802, 9 August 1937, Page 11

AUSTRALIA'S WIN

NEW ZEALAND BEATEN

MATCH AT CARLAW PARK TWELVE POINTS TO EIGHT HEAVY GROUND CONDITIONS The Australian 1937 Rugby League team opened its overseas tour at Carlaw Patk 011 Saturday by defeating a New Zealand team by 12 points to 8. Although the score was 6-all at halftime, the visitors always appeared to have better combination and surer passing ability than the New Zealanders, whose forwards were called upon to bear the brunt of the work of keeping the big Australian forwards in check. ' However, the New Zealand pack put up a great fight and it was only in the scrums that the disparity was obvious. Australia secured the ball in 26 of the decisive scrums, and New Zealand held the advantage only on seven occasions. In the matter of penalties, mostly awarded for scrum breaches, the visitors fared badly, New Zealand getting 27 free kicks to Australia's 12. The Australian backs proved a nippy and fast combination. Tho attendance was estimated at 19,000 and the gate takings amounted to £1339. Visitors Secure Ball Securing the ball from the outset, the Australian backs severely tested the New Zealand defence, Tittleton being noticeable for solid tackling. Scrum infringements by the visitors brought several penalties, but Davison's line-kickiug gained little ground and he had no success with his shots at goal. Davison secured the ball, after passing among the Australian backs _ had broken down. He transferred to Tittleton, Bickerton and Chase, and then Bickerton came in again to record the first try after 11 minutes' play. It was a bright movement by the New Zealand backs. Davison failed at goal. New Zealand .- 3 Australia 0

New Zealand was combining well and, when Beaton attempted to run across in front of his own goal he was promptly smothered. Glynn sent the ball out to Riley, Tittleton and Davison and the speedy winger registered the second try amid intense enthusiasm. He missed with the kick at goal, and with only 15 minutes of play gone the score was: New Zealand 6 Australia 0 Visitors' First Try

Williams, Norman and McLean combined in some neat blind-side play, Watene saving with a very lucky speculator. Gibbs, Lewis, Pearce and Stehr participated in hard rucking and short, snappy passing near New Zealand's line and Stehr finally forced his way over. Beaton's shot went wide. New Zealand 6 Australia 3 Williams broke .away from a scrum to beat Bickerton "completely, but Tetley saved by intercepting the pass. Tittleton followed through smartly to catch Ward in possession and Australia was defending until Prigg twice relieved with good runs after fending off weak tackling attempts. Right on half-time the visitors got going again in one of their characteristic movements to equalise the score. Pearce and Lewis combined with their close in-and-out passing and the ball came to Beaton and McLean, who dashed over wide out. Beaton failed at goal, and the bell sounded with the score: — Australia 6 New Zealand 6 Penalty Goal Kicked Tetley and Glynn headed a loose rush by the New Zealand forwards immediately play was resumed and Davison had another ineffective shot from a penalty. From another penalty, however, Davison kicked a good goal from beyond the twenty-five to make the score: — New Zealand 8 Australia 6 Norman figured in a promising attack and Tetley, McLeod and Glynn retaliated for New Zealand. Follow-"* ing a drop-out Gibbs secured, broke through, bumped off some opponents, and transferred to Beaton, to Hazelton, who evaded tackles by Watene and Davison, to score at the corner. Beaton's shot went wide. Australia 9 New Zealand 8 The Australian forwards appeared to be tiring. However, Pearce and Stehr came through once more with short passing, Williams, Prigg and Hazelton joining in a bright movement for the last-named to score, although it appeared that the final pass was forward. Beaton again missed the shot at goal, and time was called with the score:— Australia 12 New Zealand 8 Mr. M. Wetherill was referee.