Free State Beaten

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 419, 30 July 1928, Page 11

Free State Beaten

ALL BLACKS’ 15-11 WIN

Hard and Ragged Struggle

SHEEN ADDED TO CASUALTY LIST

(United- I*.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Special to Tress Association.) BLOEMFONTEIN, Saturday. AT Bloemfontein to-day, before a crowd of 7,000, in brilliant sunshine, the All Blacks beat Orange Free State by Ihree converted tries, lo points, to one converted try, one try and one penalty goal, 11 points.

Although hard-fought it was a ragged match. The game was played on the Bloemfontein cricket ground, which I)ad been ploughed and watered for the occasion, and was not recognisable as a cricket ground. The side was regarded as stronger than that which last played against the AH Blacks. The New Zealand backs opened up the game from the start with a succession of effective ” un s which took play to the Free State line. They were driven back l,v Du Plessis' good kicking. Lucas and Sheen then went down the line in a pretty passing movement, and from the resulting scrum the Free State backs started a dangerous movement which ended in Tromp being pushed cut past the half-way taking the ball near his own goal line, raced down the sideline, and a clever passing movement followed, in which both backs and forwards handled the ball. This carried play to the local side’s goal line, where the New Zealand backs opened out, but found the tackling of the opposing backs sound. The State forwards got going and went down the field in a fast, combined attack, play settling in the New Zealand twentyfive for a time. Both sides were making many mistakes and losing opportunities at this stage. For the first time in the match the All Black forwards showed cohesion and swept the ball the length of the field. From a line-out Dailey cut clean through the backs in front of him and scored near the posts. Strang converted. All Blacks 5 Orange Free State 0 After this there was a spell of appallingly ragged play, the backs on

both sides continually dropping passes. The Free State backs at last were sent away by Potgieter from the ruck. Tromp put in a fine run and went over the line, but lost possession of the ball. Sheen was temporarily laid out, but kept on after attention. A scrum followed a kick to the twenty-five yards line, and from loose play an African forward kicked the ball over the line. Potgieter, racing up, secured it and also kicked a goal. All Blacks 5 Orange Free State 5 At half-time the All Blacks were attacking hotly. Sheen was carried off at’the interval, but appeared again when play was resumed. The first time he touched the ball he had to be helped off again, his knee giving out once more. New Zealand was thus a man short for the rest of the game and a rearrangement of the backs had to be made. Lucas took Sheen’s place at centre and Scrimshaw was moved from wing-forward to threequarter. The Free State backs attacked from the first scrum, Tromp being soundly pulled down by Lilburne within inches of the line. The Free State players, however, were first to score again, Potgieter landing a goal from a penalty.

Orange Free State ...... 8 All Blacks .. .. 5 The New Zealand forwards then started serious packing. Cyril Brownlie and Ward led off with a clever dribbling movement and a scrum followed. Dailey worked the blind side and the ball was handled in turn by Johnson, Strang and Scrimshaw. The last-named fell over as he scored a

good try. Strang kicked a fine goal from a difficult angle. All Blacks 10 Orange Free State .. .. 8 A minute later the All Black backs were again sent away by Dailey from a scrum. Lucas side-stepped his man and Strang came round for the pass and handed on to Scrimshaw, who got over near the posts. It was a pretty piece of combination, which deserved success. Strang again converted. All Blacks 15 Orange Free State .... 8 The Free State forwards worked hard for a recovery. The backs made several good runs, Coetzer cutting in on one occasion and reaching Lilburne, at fullback, before he was tackled. The New Zealand backs, however, were not idle and made thrust after thrust on their own account. They were showing improvement with Lucas at centre and took play to the Free State twenty-five, but a penalty stopped their advance. .0 A good break by the Free State forwards, led by Basson, Potgieter, and Visser, removed play to the New Zealand twenty-five. There Maurice Brownlie was penalised for offside in front of the posts, but Potgieter missed the easy kick. A minute or two before time the Free State backs opened out with a beautiful movement, which ended in Tromp scoring the best try of the match. Potgieter again missed the kick. AH Blacks 15 Orange Free State .... 11

There was one fine run by the All Black backs before the end, in which Scrimshaw was within an inch of the line. Lucas picked up the ball and sent Strang over, only to be penalised for using his hands in a scrum, and the game then ended, the final scores being: All Blacks 15 Orange Free State .... 11

TEAM NOT EXTENDED

FORWARDS CAN SCRUM WHEN NECESSARY CONSERVING TEST MEN Taking into consideration the fact that the All Blacks did not field a strong side against the Orange Free State, and that they played the second half with fourteen men, their victory by three converted tries to two tries (one converted) and a penalty, can be considered as satisfactory. In the New Zealand side only three test backs and three test forwards were utilised. It is also significant to note that after Orange Free State had established a three-point lead after halftime, “the New Zealand forwards started serious packing,” and a try was Immediately scared from a scrum. Reading the reports of the last two games it would appear that the team is not extending itself unless necessary. As a result of Sheen’s knee injury, the All Blacks were compelled to play the second half with fourteen men, Scrimshaw going from the wingforward position to wing-threeguatter. Although this would seriously weaken the forwards the pack appeared to hold its own in the scrums. In the absence of, Stewart the All Blacks evidently reverted to their regular formation. It would appear that Sheen’s injury is fairly serious, and it is unlikely that he will be of much servico for the remainder of the tour. To a touring side the South African arrangement whereby no men can bo replaced during a game comes particularly hard. The All-Blacks now have a number of men on the injured list, and if they play any of them before they are absolutely sound again they run a serious risk of having to play short-handed. The main difficulty now confronting the team is to keep its test men sound and well for the two big engagements ahead. It would be desirable to run the risk of losing a minor match or two than run undue risks of losing mep who will be wanted for the tests on which interest is now mainly centred.