AT TWICKENHAM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22719, 4 November 1935, Page 9

AT TWICKENHAM

ALL BLACKS BEAT COUNTIES A DISAPPOINTING GAME (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, November 2. (Received Nov. 3, at 8 p.m.) The All Blacks defeated London Counties by 11 to 0. At half time there was no score. Brown and Mahoney replaced Ball and M'Kenzie, who are suffering from leg injuries. Twenty-five thousand watched a vigorous game. The All Blacks immediately began to force the pace, winning the majority of the scrums. Solomon’s long kicks into touch kept the Counties defending, and only fierce tackling prevented the All Black wingers from scoring. Tindill failed in an attempt to drop kick a goal from 10 yards out. The Counties’ pack, although sometimes pushed back several yards, frequently enabled the centres to set the wings in motion, but they were not sufficiently fast to evade the All Blacks’ deadly tackling. Caughey, Hart and Mitchell made a magnificent effort, which nearly ended in a try. Candler saved, but was injured in a tackle. 1 Candler, who is the half-back, did not return on resumption after half time and the Counties rearranged their team and played seven forwards. Nevertheless, they pressed strongly, Dick nearly scoring with a long penalty kick. Unwin once pierced the defence, but dropped the ball as he flung himself down on the line, and the All Blacks kicked the ball into the dead ball area. The All Blacks crowded on the pressure, and following up resulted in Pepper scoring a try, which Corner did not convert. New Zealand .. .. .. 3 Counties .. .. .. .. 0 The Counties fought dourly, but the All Blacks’ defence was always triumphant. Caughey seized an opportunity in a defensive slip to score, Corner ingNew Zealand .... .. 8 Counties 0 Mitchell near time slipped through for a score, but Corner failed to convert from an easy position. New Zealand .. ~ ..11 Counties .. .. .. .. 0 The special correspondent of the United Press Association states: “Despite morning showers, the Twickenham turf was in fine condition. The tourists, playing for the first time on the historic field, were greatly impressed by the bowling green surface. Wynyard expressed the opinion that it was a pity to spoil it by playing football. Considering the publicity the All Blacks enjoyed, the attendance, of 25,000 was disappointing and a bigger crowd was expected, especially in view of their fine displays at Llanelly, Cardiff and Newport. “ The critics have been saying that the team is 50 per cent, better than it was early in the tour, but the Twickenham display will probably reverse this opinion. The London selectors had a bigger field of choice than any organisation except international ones, resulting in the Counties’ team being particularly strong on paper.

“Mr S. S. Dean, who had just arrived from New Zealand, was present. Three autogyros hovered over the ground before the start of play. New Zealand followers were surprised to see Reid kick off. Mahoney was early prominent in lineouts. The play was not exciting in the opening stages, which mainly comprised an interchange of kicks. The Counties provided the first good movement, Thom, a great forward, bursting down the centre of the field, dummying Solomon. The Counties’ forwards made several loose rushes but were forced back by the All Blacks. Candler and Hudson were tackling grimly and upset many attacks. Tindill made a number of fine recoveries, often getting in his kick after being collared. The Counties pressed for a period, after which the tourists attacked repeatedly. An excellent opportunity was lost when Tiadill attempted to kick a field goal instead of passing to Hart, who raced round, making an overlap. The spectators shouted, “ Como on British Isles,” referring to the fact that all the counties were represented in the Counties fifteen. Reid achieved one of the best movements in the first half, dashing through a ruck and brushing off five men.

“When the game was resumed after half time voices were heard, ‘ Come on New Zealand, give us some football.’ Unwin gave the team the luckiest escape of the tour when he dived over the line but appeared to throw put his hands, losing the ball. This woke up the All Black forwards. It was high time the visitors did something, with an extra forward, as Thom dropped back to wing, Dick replacing Candler at stand-off half. Nevertheless, the fact that seven forwards were able to hold up New Zealand’s eight indicated the poorness of the tourists’ play. Pepper’s try was due to keen following up, typical of his play throughout the tour. Caughey’s try followed a mistake by the Counties’ hacks during a promising rush. Mitchell, who is an expert at profiting from mistakes, made an opening, after which hundreds left the ground realising that the Counties were beaten. They were apparently disappointed at the football. “ The game, despite the margin of victory, was one of the poorest the New Zealanders have played, which was inexcusable and difficult to understand. They are certain to be branded as an unreliable team. The Counties’ backs individually were superior and took more chances and opened up the game. Except for the final ten minutes, when the All Blacks were spectacular, the game was generally lifeless. Hart played well despite the fact that he was marked by Faevell, a determined tackier. Solomon made amends for a shaky beginning with great line kicks. He once gained 00 yards, Caughey and Brown were not on form and were weak in defence. Tindill was not the player seen at Newport. The forwards were ragged and lethargic and again displayed a weakness in packing, which it was believed had been remedied. Reid, Hadley, Pepper and Here were the most prominent. Reid played a great game in the loose and made many determined runs.” PRESS COMMENT ON MATCH LONDON, November 3. (Received Nov. 3, at II p.m.) The Dispatch regards the All Blacks’ display as unconvincing, although it admits that New Zealand was handicapped due to injuries. It adds: “Although they defended grandly, their weakness on attack disappointed the crow’d. The Counties, despite the fact that they were a man short in the second half, battered New Zealand’s pride in a manner auguring well for the home Side’s coming internationals. The All Blacks did not depart from orthodoxy in their efforts to break through players whose tackling was as good as theirs.” The Observer points out that the All Blacks did not show evidence of plan-

Tiing scoring movements. They seemed td* prefer snapping up opportunities from their opponents’ mistakes. GUESTS AT MANSION HOUSE LONDON, November 1. (Received Nov. 3, at 5.5 p.m.) The All Blacks were entertained the Lord Mayor at Mansion House.