WHIRLWIND TACTICS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 75, 25 June 1928, Page 5

WHIRLWIND TACTICS

ALL BLACKS? VICTORY. sterling game against NATAL. BACKS’ BRILLIANT PLAY IN SECOND. SPELL. t) ; ~’ ' Press Assn, —By Electric Telegraph Copyright. MARITZBURG, June 23. With eight points up in the first half against a sliglit wind, New Zealand’ overwhelmed Natal in the second spell of the match played at Maritzburg to-day, winning by 31 (five converted tries, one try and one penalty goal) to 3 (one penalty goal). A quarter of an hour after tn® start of the second spell the All Blacks started to play brilliant foot-. hall, and right through the last half hour they adopted whirlwind tactics. The backs found gaping holes in thei defence through which the threequarters pranced in sparkling style.

THE TEAM.

' The All Blacks team was: — Lindsay Robilliard Carleton Grenside Strang , Johnston Kilby Scrimshaw (rover) Stewart : Hazlett M. Brownlie Alley McWilliams Swain Hadley ■ \ . f Territorially, in the first hall, (Natal had the better of the game, but the All Blacks took advantage of the slighest opportunity to gb through- It was a different story in the second spell, the New Zealanders 1 dazzling their opponents ami delighting the crowd with brilliant thrusts by the backs. DISfIGBASErr WltTI AFRICAN b BACKS. After the match, George Devenish, one of the South African selectors, said ! that after the * trials this week; ha was not too pleased with the South African backs, and after seeing the AIL/Blacks* performance in the last twenty minutes to-day there was a’ doubt left in his mind as to the ability of South Africa to hold the New 1 Zealanders. He was emphatic that the South V African forwards would more than hold their Own. Twenty-five minutes of little bun ragged play had passed before anything approaching.good football was seen in the, match to-day. Then, with a sends of systematic attacks, the All worked play into the Natal i where Kilby sent his hacks away from a scrum. When tho ball camd to Strang he sdd a dummy and beautifully cut infield; then out to the wing, and , sent Grenside over after! a fine run. Lindsay converted from the touchline. New Zealand S it Natal 0

’A penalty for a scrum infringement'followed the kick-off, Lindsay landing another great goal, this time from ten yards inside half-way. New Zealand ............ 8 Natal 0 A ppeTT of dull forward play followed until Johnson flashed down the blind side of the scrum and sent Bcrimshaw over, but the rover was called back for a knock-on. Halftime was then called. Two minuteg after resuming the game, Brownlie wa s penalised for hanging on to the ball and Barlowi kicked a “magnificent goal against the wind from half-way. New Zealand 8 Natal 3 Given heart by the fact that they were only five points down, the Natal forwards played with more vim and decision, and the backs started to move with more freedom. Both Bides then fell into slipshod, ways until McWilliams sent to Kilby from the ruck. The ball .was then handled.by, Johnston, Carleton and Bobilliard, the last-named racing hard down the line to score a fine try which Lindsay converted. New Zealand 13 Natal 3 Plainly flhe Natal men were almost paralysed now, and the New Zealand backs were working with tocre precision. Clarkson, tho Natal centre, came to light with one brilliant ran and a try was saved only by an equally brilliant tackle by Lindsay, Then, with three fine attacks by the backs, New Zealand had Natal in a tangle. Another sortie saw Strang send Carleton away in fine style. The centre cut in smartly, transferring to Scrimshaw, who scored under tho posts. Lindsay converted. New Zealand Natal 3 A fine opening by Johnston resulted in a scrum on tho line, and from the melee which followed Stewart dived over. Lindsay again converted. New Zealand 23 Natal a Natal then set up a hot attack, but it was rendered ineffective when the New Zealand hacks broke away, the ball coming from a scrum through, the hands of Kilby, Johnston and Oaleton to Grenside, who beat two men and passed infield * to Scrimshaw who raced over and scored an excellent try. Lindsay’s kick was again successful 1 . New Zealand 28

resit ! " ' ' I - } ~'7T u Natal ......... 3 It was an easy matter for New Zealand - now. The next "try came when Kilby made an opening from i the ruck sending Johnson away. Oarleton added his share and sent Robilliard over for a fine try in the corner. Lindsay just missed with the kick, and when time came the score board read: New Zealand 31 1 Natal 3 SHRED,S AND PATCHES. In the first half’tho game was one of shreds and patches, but in the second spell the New Zealanders played bright football, tae handling of tho backs and the combination of the forwards being perfect. Kilby and Carleton outshone the rest of tho back division, with Johnson always sound. . Carleton for the first time op, the tour showed his true form. Both wings, Robilliard and Grenside, showed flashes of brilliance, hut) Grcnsitlo’s tackling was not altogether reliable. Lindsays display, was sufficient to inspire confidence, though he was not called upon for much serious workStrang for the most part was only a 1 good connecting link, and his defence was erratic. Kilby played another strong, game, feeding his backs! in lightning style and combining with Johnson’ beautifully. On his play in the last two matches Kilby should bo certain to be the first tesfl half.

ATI tho 'forwards showed fine form, gaining possession from 28 scrums* against their opponents’ 3) 1 ., and capturing the ball twice out of every three line-outs. McWiTliam s and Hadley wore the best forwards of the day. * jft is very doubtful whether one Natal man will get in the Springbok 'side. !