BOTH TEAMS ON METTLE.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 71, 29 July 1929, Page 5

BOTH TEAMS ON METTLE.

Both teams were thoroughly on their mettle. The ' Australians territorially had much advantage for a time, hut the All Blacks secure.it rc' lief and invaded the bom e side’s quarters, where Lilburne attempted unsuccessfully to goal from a. penalty. Australia then made a marvellous King in mid-lield gathered the ball and ran all his supports into, position. After many exchanges King again secured possession to score at the corner. Lawton’s tttempt to add the major points missed narrowly, but Australia were in the lead by lu toi 13, The. crowd applauded" continuously. Porter secured from tliet kick-off and the All Blacks commenced a lively attack, only to be driven back momentarily, however, by a long kick. ’Hie All Blacks were again to. assume the offensive and for some time penned l Australia within their own twtenty-'five. The New Zealanders’! movements lacked finish alnd) their various dashes ended fruitlessly against the Australians’ solid defence. Play Increased in intensity and the- final stage saw Australia making a tremendous effort to add ’further to their lead, E. Ford and Malcolm almost scored, but when time was called no. change had! been registered and Australia bad done the bat trick in the testa. FITTER TEAM WON. On the day the better team won although the final issue hung closely in the balance. It Took 35 minutes of the second half to give Australia ■‘heir inverted lead. New Zealand showed much iumroved form and enterprise! in the firs'* 1 smell which greattv upset the Anstrahan cohesion. This, however, was not sustained in the tsenond balk a tic the Australian back division worked in a,morq ?sys-

them t ; u snatch the victory. incw Ztiilautti lose me match for want of rename ituuerous opportunities were ottered wuum striKing distance, a inucn greater uu nicer ut penalties was reooro.cn, against Australia in tne first. speu r.im.n against tueir opponents, an analysis snowing tliat Australia were, penalised 13 times against JNew Zealand; s seven. Australia gained possession from a majority of me scrums. Maicoim at iscrum half played magnificently, feeding his, outside backs liberally. King and Lawton were both superb in attack. Porter wits at his best. His example andj leadership were invaluable to New Zealand. The All Blacks’ forwards to a man worked hard,, although raggedly, but finesse was lacking in the back movements. Tuck at full-back was not reliable, and Hook was somewhat weak. The general standard! of play was excellent, especially in the later stages the pace actually increasing as the game, went, on, presenting the spectators with a fast open and spectacular display. The two Australian efforts leading to scores, were probably the finest evolutions made in the whole series of tests and they amused tremendous and almost continuous cheering. The spirit throughout was excellent, as was the referee’s control of the gijiue. _ Stringfellow, Grenside and Lilburue were the best of the New Zealand bacics, while Sou n tag, MoWilHam and Snow were the most prominent forwards, Kivelh Reid, Cotterell and RTka all ably contributing. Levs was not a strong connecting