POOR DISPLAY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13086, 21 October 1935, Page 5

POOR DISPLAY.

ALL BLACKS LUCKY TO WIN.

ONE POINT MARGIN. United Press Assn.—Bj Electric Telegraph— Copyright. LONDOX, October 19. The All Blacks beat Combined Services by 6 points to 5, the half-time score being Q <>. McKenzie replaced McLean, who was slightly burned during electrical treatment for his injured shoulder during the morning. Best replaced Reid. ith Hadley playing his first game since the opening match, as was expected New Zealand’s scrum work was better, but the Services won the first and continued to beat the All Blacks in the tight owing to the New Zealanders not packing well, although they were more effective when dribbling. The All Blacks had the advantage of a strong wind, nevertheless the Services attacked more in the opening stages. Gilbert missed a penalty. Then Mitchell securing, beat ten men with a swerving run of twenty yards, and scored. Gilbert did not convert. New Zealand 3 Combined Services 0 Unwin was prominent in two runs but- the attack fizzled out. Caughey with a typical dodging run secured the second try and again Gilbert failed to convert. New Zealand 6 Combined Services 0 Play was dull and the All Black backs were not fulfilling expectations. The Services early in the second half penned the tourists on their line until Gilbert relieved from a penalty. Hadley’s hooking began to secure the ball, but as in the other games the All Blacks were fighting to retain the lead. The backs were mostly content to find touch. The Services’ three-quarters were dangerous when they got the ball, which was not often.’ The All Blacks had a fine chance when Oliver and Mitchell raced through, but the pass wa s dropped. Then Unwin, receiving from Dean, raced over between the posts and Knapman converted, the game ending: New Zealand 6 Combined Services 5 NOT CONVINCING. LONDON, October 20. The special correspondent of the United Press Association says that many prominent people, including well-known Army officers and hundreds of Rugby enthusiasts, also New Zealanders travelling from London, gathered at the Aldershot Command central ground, which was firm and dry, with a billiardtable surface. Services had a strong side which included Tarr, who hooked with great success against the All Blacks at Swansea and played in the 4 same position, replacing Beamish, who was injured. Other members of the team’ had previously played against the New Zealanders.

The weather was fine and sunny with a. strong wind. Oliver and Caughey had not completely recovered. Hadley was reported to be in good condition, though it would probably have been wiser to wait another week before playing him. The All Blacks, perturbed at their recent narrow escapes, are anxious to build up a combination in view of the approaching international match. Tindill played first and Caughey second five-eighths. There were changes in the forwards, due to McLean’s withdrawal. Vorrath and King played in the middle of the second row, with Mahoney as back man. GILBERT SAVES SIDE. The opening stages of the match were dull and most uninteresting, with frequent hold-ups and a series of scrums. The wind was upsetting the passes and kicks. Leyland was early prominent with a brilliant run through the defence, in which he almost beat Gilbert, but was tackled in the nick of time. The All Black forwards were doing good work and were always dangerous in loose rushes with close passing, Pepper and Hadley being in the forefront; but there were few combined movements by the tourists’ backs, the wingers seldom receiving clean passes. Unwin made a fine individual run, receiving from the ruck, and he beat three All Blacks before he was pulled down. As. on other occasions he did not pass at the right moment.

Mitchell’s try came as a result of an extraordinary run,, bis opponents not laying a hand on him. Oliver, who did not show signs of his injury, made penetrating runs, but there was a sad weakness in the All Blacks’ defence. Walker and Leyland on several occasions going through to Gilbert, who was called on to save the side.

The All Blacks should have had a bigger lead in the first half considering the advantage of the wind. Tindill was prominent for fine* judgment with his line kicks. The wind was still blowing strongly down field on resumption after half-time and the sun was also against the New Zealanders who, nevertheless, in the first quarter of an hour won practically every scrum, the tall coming out quickly and cleanly. Hadley was apparently making a big difference. King knocked his face and his nose was bleeding profusely, the game being delayed while first aid was rendered.

The strong wind helped to spoil the game as a spectacle, yet that was not altogether the* reason for the poor handling on both sides. Services fried wheeling the scrum and succeeded several times in gaining ground Sci vices’ backs repeatedly broke through but were anxious and were pulled up through forward passes. They also took

every advantage of the wind, gaining territory with raking line kicks. REAL FORM AT LAST.

With a quarter of an hour, left to play, the tourists unwound a real New Zealand movement, Oliver and Mitchell making a great opening and Mitchell beating four men with a swerving run. The forwards lined out in the centre of the field joined in, but the ball went astray. It was one of the really good pieces of football of the match by the visitors, for which they were generously applauded by the crowd of 8000. Once again the All Blacks faced defeat. Following Unwin's great try the Services’ forwards attacked fiercely. One rush swept the visitors thirty yards downfield, but they managed to stave off the attacks. LUCKY TO WIN. The game must go down as another lucky one for the All Blacks, who seldom looked formidable. Their best attacking movements were individual efforts. Much better things were expected of the backs, who did not impress the spectators, while the lack of combination in the forwards surprised the small army of London newspapers’ critics ; although the previous fault of slow packing was somewhat remedied in the second half. The team owes a lot to Hadley .for getting so much of the ball in the second half, but spectacularly the game was one one of the poorest of the series. Play generally was ragged and loose, with a frequent absence of thrust in the combined back movements, while one weakness in the forwards was that the All Black pack were over-quick in breaking after winning the ball, thus allowing the opposition to pour through and overwhelm Corner. The same failing was noticeable in previous games, due to the forwards endeavouring to fan out in readiness to attack.

Oliver did his utmost to keep the backs on the job, but often the men were out of position, which was inexcusable. Gilbert was generally sound and brought off some great line kicks. He was called on for much defensive work. Tindill was unconvincing and Caughey only a shadow of his former self, although his tackling was sounder. Pepper, King and Hadley were the best of the forwards. Kcndrew, Webb and Watkins were outstanding in the Combined Services, which missed many chances through wild passing. CAUSTIC CRITICISM. The Sunday newspaper critics generally regard the All Blacks’ display as unimpressive. The Observer expresses the opinion that considering that the All Blacks were now acclimatised and were fielding approximately the best team, they were disappointing. Although safer in giving and taking passes than the Services, they only attempted obvious movements. The forwards heeled over slowly and their line-out work for such tall forwards was primitive. The Dispatch says the All Blacks still do not pack sufficiently low. They wheel crudely. Compared with the Springboks they are children in knowledge, employing the 3-4-1 formation, which should l»e dropped. The Sunday Grayihic says so far from being a great side the All Blacks have never showed distinction.