QUEENSLAND GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23111, 9 August 1938, Page 13

QUEENSLAND GAME

WIDE SCORING MARGIN BRILLIANT PLAY BY BACKS FORWARDS* HIGH TACKLING BY SYD. MALCOLM, (Former Australian and N.S.W. Representative) BRISBANE, August 3 The All -Blacks won their opening match at Brisbane against Queensland in the presence of 8000 people who had gathered at the Exhibition Ground —a fine piece of turf for a Hugb.v match. After a keen first half New Zealand led by 10 points to 6, Saxton having crossed the goal line twice for Taylor to convert each try. Queensland's vigour and ultra defensive measures kept the All Blacks comparatively quiet, but, after the interval, Lambourn obtained a veritable feast of the ball and Saxton set his back line moving with the greatest regularity. As in all preceding games, the barrage of high-class attack broke down the defences and permitted many successful invasions of the Queensland goal lines. The ball was seldom out ot the home twenty-five and Queensland became bewildered by the human avalanches which flung themselves into the breaches jso relentlessly. It. was a highly creditable victory, since Queensland was at full strength and its coach. K. Renwick, had given it- an adequate preparation. | New Zealand scored live tries, Taylor i converting four of them and landing a penalty goal as well. Mitchell also kicked a field goal. Queensland cored one try and two penalty goals. Fast and Open Play The match was fast and open, the forward play of both teams being brilliant. In fact, that New Zealand manager, Dr. J. G. Adams, was oulogi.-tic of the excellence of the home vanguard, whose form won four of them places in the Australian scrummage £or the second test. It was the sustained speed of the New Zealand inside backs which told tho same story as in each previous contest, wearing down the sturdy opposition and eventually finding gaps for the flying threequarters. Saxton was again brilliant and profoundly impressed Queensland critics with the manner in which be opened the 1)1 ay to .Berghan, in spite of the zealous attentions of Oxlade and McDonald, two hard-tackling Hankers. Berghan did his part in manoeuvring his supports, Sullivan and Mitchell, into position to use their speed and skill. Sullivan made one brilliant individual burst, crossing the line after a solo run of 80 yards. Morrison, too. was in happy mood and twice crossed the goal line. He also landed a field goal, while Wright scored a try and was generally useful. Taylor, as usual, was safe and cool as fullback. He has been utterly dependable in every crisis to date. The forwards were rather disappointing and in the first half gave a poor showing with weak tackling—too much collar-stud collecting—in evidence. Mr. Alex McDonald rectified this at the interval and a marked difference was noted on resumption. Leading Forwards Bowman was again in the spotlight and his athletic figure led many of the attacks. Dalton's bald head was also seen where the fight was thickest. Lambourn was a great success as hooker and outpointed Bonis, an old rival. McKenzie was another always prominent, but the whole pack rose to the occasion when needed for greater individual and collective effort. Among the Queenslanders, Walker, a fullback akin to Steggall, gave an attractive display. Shulte, the halfback. was also quite a success, while Hayes showed snatches of brilliance on attack, as well as his usual rock-like defence. It was a fine effort by New Zealand to keep Queensland's scoring so low, as the latter had one or two inspired spasms when the almost irresistible attack nearly overcame keen opposition. One pleasing feature of the tour so far has been the freedom from any injury of a serious nature. All the players are fit and the team spirit and camaraderie cannot be improved. They are living right up to their aim to be the reputation restorers for New Zealand Rugby and each man is contributing his bit in the general efforts to attain a record of which New Zealand will be justly proud.