BAGGED RUGBY

Southland Times, Issue 22729, 4 November 1935, Page 7

BAGGED RUGBY

ALL BLACKS WIN ELEVEN TO NIL LONDON COUNTIES MATCH MITCHELL AGAIN SCORES (United Press Assn. —Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) London, November 2. The All Blacks defeated London Counties by 11 points to nil. At halftime there w r as no score. The game was watched by 25,000 spectators. The teams were as follows: — NEW ZEALAND. Full-back.—D. Solomon Three-quarters. —G. F. Hart, N. A. Mitchell, H. Brown. Five-eighths.—T. H. C. Caughey, E. W. Tindill. Half-back.—M. M. Corner. Forwards.—J. Hore, W. E. Hadley, C. S. Pepper, S. T. Reid, R. R. King, J. E. Manchester, J. G. Wynyard, A. Mahoney. LONDON COUNTIES. Full-back.—Jenkins. Three-quarters.—Unwin, Hudson, Dick, Favell. Half-backs—Candler, Bok. Forwards. —Gordon, John, Kendrew, Gratten, Reidy, Thom, Brook, Swayne. In the New Zealand team Brown and Mahoney replaced Ball and McKenzie, who were suffering from leg injuries. First Game At Twickenham. The special correspondent of the United Press Association states that aespite morning showers the Twickenham , turf was in fine condition. . The touiists playing for the first time on the ' historic field, were greatly impressed by . its bowling green surface. _ Wynyard expressed the opinion that it was a pity to spoil it 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 the fine displays at Llanelly, Cardiff and Newport. The critics have been saying the team is 50 per cent, better than early in the tour, but the Twickenham display will probably reverse tills opinion. The London selectors had a bigger field of choice than any organization except international ones, resulting in the Counties team being particularly strong on paper, containing seven internationals. 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 line-outs. The play was not exciting in the opening stages which were comprised mainly of ! an interchange of kicks. I The Counties provided the first good movement, Thom, a great forward, bursting down the middle of the field and dummying Solomon. The Counties forwards made several loose rushes, but were forced back by the All Blacks. Candler and Hudson were tackling grimly aqd upset many attacks. Tindill made a number of fine recoveries, often getting in his kick after being tackled. The Counties pressed for a period, after which New Zealand attacked repeatedly. An excellent opportunity was lost when Tindill attempted a field goal instead of passing to Hart, who had raced round making the overlap. The spectators shouted: “Come on British Isles!” referripg to the fact that all the counties of Britain 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. “Give Us Some Football!” When the game resumed after halftime voices were heard calling: “Come on New Zealand, give us some football!” , . Unwin gave the All Blacks their luckiest escape of the tour when he dived over their line; he appeared to throw out his hands, losing the ball. This woke up the All Black forwards; it was high time. Thom dropped back to the Counties wing, Dick replacing Candler as standoff half. Nevertheless, the fact that seven forwards were able to hold 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 backs during a promising rush, a man failing to reach a position to accept a perfect pass. Mitchell, who is an expert at profiting from mistakes, made the opening. Hundreds then left the grpund, realizing 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 played, which is inexcusable and difficult to understand. They are certain to be branded as an unreliable team. The Counties backs individually were superior—they took more chances and opened up the game—except for the final ten minutes, when the All Blacks were spectacular. The 'game was, nevertheless generally lifeless, except for the work of Hart despite the fact that he was marked by Favell, a determined tackler. Solomon made amends for a shaky beginning with great line kicks; he once gained 60 yards. Caughey and Brown were not on form and were weak in defence. Tindill was not the player seen at Newport. Loose, Ragged and Lethargic. The forwards were loose, ragged and lethargic, and again displayed that

weakness in packing which it was believed had been remedied.

Reid, Hadley, Pepper and Hore were the most prominent. Reid played a great game in the loose and made many determined runs. ANOTHER*VERSION SOLOMON’S IMPROVED DISPLAY. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) London, November 2. 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 wings from scoring. Tindill failed in an attempt to drop-kick a goal from ten yards out. The Counties’ pack, although sometimes pushed back several yards, frequently enabled its centre-threequart-ers to set their wings in motion, but the flanks 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, the Counties’ halfback, saved, but was injured in a tackle, and did not return on resumption. After half-time 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 Comer did not convert. New Zealand 3, Counties nil. The Counties fought dourly, but the All Blacks’ defence was always triumphant. Caughey seized an opportunity in a defensive slip by the Counties to score, Corner converting. New Zealand 8, Counties nil. Near time Mitchell slipped through for a try. Corner failed to convert from an easy position. New Zealand 11, Counties nil. PRESS COMMENT UNCONVINCING DISPLAY. ' (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) London, Nov. 2. The Dispatch regards the All Blacks’ display as unconvincing, although it admits New Zealand were handicapped due to injuries. It adds that although they defended grandly, their weakness on attack disappointed the crowd. 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 sides in the coming internationals. The All Blacks did not depart from the 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 planning scoring movements. They seemed to prefer snapping up opportunities from their opponents’ mistakes. UNIVERSITY TOUR OF JAPAN. CAPTAIN AND VICE-CAPTAIN APPOINTED. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, November 2. G. A. Parsons, of Canterbury College, has been appointed captain, and R. G. Bush, of Auckland College, vicecaptain, of the New Zealand University Rugby team to tour Japan.