THE ALL BLACKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22743, 2 December 1935, Page 9

THE ALL BLACKS

FIRST MATCH IN IRELAND DRAW AGAINST ULSTER (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) BELFAST, November 30. (Received Dec. 1, at 8 p.m.) New Zealand and Ulster drew 3—3. The half-time score was 3—3. The New Zealanders looked grim as they took the field after both teams had been presented to Lord Abercorn in the presence of 9000 people. They expected to be up against things as the heavy going suited the Ulstermen. They were also handicapped by the loss of Page and Oliver owing to injuries. Tindill replaced the former, while Mitchell replaced Oliver, Ball filling Mitchell’s place on the wing. The New Zealanders speedily tested the Irish forward play. The Ulstermen, wheeling the scrum, forced the visitors back. The cold affected the handling and play was dull, with too many scrums due to infringements by both sides. The advantage lay with the Ulster forwards, who were giving the visitors few chances. Eventually Tindill kicked over the. fallback’s head and Hart scored. Gilbert made a poor attempt at kicking a goal. New Zealand .. .. ■.. 3 Ulster 0 The Ulster forwards retorted by carrying play to the New Zealanders’ linn in vigorous Irish fashion. They kept up the pressure and Gunn scored. Alexander missed the goal. New Zealand .. .. . . •* LHster 3 At half time the score was unaltered. The Ulstermen played with great devil in the second half. The New Zealanders were often obliged to find the line. Gilbert missed an easy penalty. Both teams fought strengonsly to gain the lead, but the Ulster forwards were repeatedly dominant, hammering away at the All Black line. Tindill attempted to drop kick a goal. The ball apparently went over the bar, but a goal was not awarded. The teams were as follows: — NEW ZEALAND. Full-back—G. Gilbert. Three-quarters—Ball, N. A. Mitchell G. F. Hart. Five-eighths—E. H. C. Caughcy, J. Tindill. ~ Half-back—B. S. Sadler. Forwards —C, S. Pepper, A. Larnbourn, D. Dalton, J. E. Manchester, g. Reid. R. R. King, H. F. ATLonn, F. H. Vorrath. ULSTER. Full-back—R. Davey. Three-quarters—S. Dobbin, J. Cole, L. Maicolmson, V. Lyttle. Halves—V. Hewitt, A. Turner. Forwards —S. Neill, D. A. Kendrew, T. Dunn, S. Walker, C. E. Beamish, W. Ross, J. Siggins, and R. Alexander. HIGH PRAISE FOR VORRATH BELFAST, November 30. (Received Dec. 1, at 8 p.m.) The special correspondent of, the United Press Association, commenting on the Ulster match, says: The New Zealanders expected to be fully tested in view of meeting a new type of forwards, who arc notably strong and vigorous. Moreover, the tourists had a high opinion of Kendrew and Ross, whom they had previously encountered. They also had doubt regarding the reconstructed back lino, while several players had colds, although not serious. The All Blacks had not previously played on such a cold day, which, with rain, affected the backs, while the heavy going favoured the Ulster forwards.

S. Neill replaced Kennedy in the Ulster forwards. Lord Abercorn, who is a keen follower of Rugby, remarked that the tourists looked a capable, athletic lot The game was dull for the first 20 minutes, consisting mostly of scrums and rucks, with the forward honours even. The tourists were heeling quickly. The first half was slightly in favour of Ulster, whose forwards took advantage of the downfield'wind. In the last 15 minutes they were going at top speed, swarming over Sadler, who was often unable to pass. Caughey and Tindill were closely watched and well tackled, although Tindill on several occasions broke through. The game was resumed at a fast pace and developed into an intensely interesting struggle between the two packs. Ulster adopted tear-away tactics, which repeatedly resulted in their dashing through their opponents, whose welljudged line kicking averted trouble. With 20 minutes to go a draw seemed certain. The visitors appeared to be incapable of breaking through owing to the forwards, except rarely, being unable to master the Ulster pack, which throughout the second half played remarkably well, being too good for the visitors iij practically all departments. The forwards taught the New Zealanders a lesson in scrummaging, wheeling and dribbling, and gave the tourists’ backs no quarter. There was one stage when it seemed Ulster would take complete control, but towards the finish New Zealand woke up. No blame attaches to Tindill, who was one of the safest of the visiting backs. Mitchell and Hart made desperate efforts to score in the last 10 minutes, but the tourists were up against the best pack yet encountered. They must do inuch better to hold Ireland, which will field far stronger backs. The tourists were amazed at the referee not awarding Tindill’s .field goal from in front of the posts. The ball appeared from the touchline to pass over the bar, and the New Zealanders behind Tindill jumped with glee, indicating that it was successful. Vorrath was one of the most outstanding forwards on the field. He played an intelligent game, stopping many dangerous rushes. The crowd was delighted at the unexpectedly good showing of Ulster. Boys rushed 'the field at the final whistle, attempting to chair the players, whose white jerseys, with the famous red hand of Ulster, were now unrecognisable owing to the mud. EARLIER MESSAGES AN EPIDEMIC OF COLDS LONDON, November 29. Although tired and weary after a 10 hours’ trip from Aberdeen to Belfast via Glasgow, the New Zealanders trained for an hour after their arrival there. Another epidemic of colds has broken put, the sufferers including Mr Meredith, Oliver, Pepper, Corner, Collins and Wynyard, while Griffiths has a badly bruised leg and Oliver a leg injury, although he is expected to play against Ulster. Tlte team this afternoon visited the famous linen mills. _ The players are awaiting with interest the result of the discussion regarding the Canadian tour. Many prefer to return home via the Suez. The team solidly supports the cable message sent by Manchester and Oliver to New Zealand protesting against the unwarranted attacks on Mr Meredith by a section of the New Zealand press.

PAGE’S INJURY RECURS LONDON, November 29. (Received Dec. 1, at 5.5 p.m.) Page had a recurrence of his leg trouble and has been medically treated. It is doubtful whether he will play against Ulster. The Daily Herald says a 30-year-old secret will be revealed in the Empirewide broadcast from Cardiff on the eve of the All Blacks’ match against Wales. Old Welsh internationals will recall how Wales scored the winning try against New Zealand in 1905 by a reverse pass, disclosing that the manoeuvre was practised behind locked gates before the game, Gwynn Nicholls arranging that it should be used when a suitable scrum took place near the All Blacks’ line. REFEREE’S DECISION CORRECT LONDON, December 1. (Received Dec. 1, at 10 p.m.) Several of the tourists who were near Tindill say the referee was correct in not awarding a dropped goal. Although the ball went over the bar, an opponent touched it, which Tindill himself admits. The New Zealanders were not disappointed and not disturbed at the result, which was not due to the All Blacks’ weakness but to the great display by the Ulster pack in conditions unquestionably favouring them. Newspaper critics agree that the Ulster forwards triumphed in a battle in the mud. The Observer expresses the .opinion that on a dry day the faster New Zealanders would have won, hut were beaten by forwards in one of the hardest games they have ever had. NEPIA OR GILBERT? REMARKABLE COMMENT The following comment by “Harlequin ” in the Tatler of September 25 will be road with incredulity by followers of the game who have seen both Nepia and Gilbert in action:— “ The visitors have brought only one regular full-back with them —G. Gilbert —but he looks like proving more than equal to the occasion. He is well built, cool and collected, and seems to know the game from A to Z. Inevitably, he was compared to Nepia by those who hold that hero of 10 years ago to he the best of all full-backs, hut Gilbert is of higher class than Nepia. He is a bettsfi-kick, and showed a sounder knowledge of tactics, besides keeping a closer look out for drops at goal.” Commenting on the game between the All Blacks and Devon and Cornwall, “Harlequin” says: — “ Probably the New Zealand forwards were not seen at their best, for they seemed worried over their formation. Perhaps they were right, for certainly the home pack had much the better of the deal. But surely it would have been better if they had troubled less about their formation and more about what they were to do when they had formed down. I should think they heard a few pointed remarks from Air Meredith when they got back to Newton. They began in their old style, H. P. M'Lean, their loose forward, putting the ball in the scrum, and, of course, automatically becoming offside when his own pack secured possession. Air Hughes was,very kind to him, but heavens help him when more particular referees get hold of him! M'Lean docs not like his job; no more did Parker of the last side, and it is very much to be hoped that the tourists do not stick to this plan of campaign, for if they do there is sure to be trouble.”

It may be remarked that the football writer of the Otago Daily Times has never been an admirer of the style of play featured by M‘Lcan, and it is foolish of “ Harlequin ” to say that M'Lean does not like his job. M'Lean is simply a forward-scouter quire and simple, and so far as I can remember he has never tried to play any other type of football. Often he gets in the way of his backs. There is no room for M'Leans in a true football pack, and Mr V. G. Cavanagh, the well-known Otago coach, also has definite opinions on this point. AN EARLY CHALLENGE. The Otago Rugby Union has received a challenge from the Whangarei Union for a Ranfurly Shield match, but, of course, it is a little too early for the Otago Union to deal with challenges. These will presumably have to be considered in the first place by the New Zealand Union.