WHERE ALL BLACKS FAILED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1005, 23 June 1930, Page 11

WHERE ALL BLACKS FAILED

WEAKNESS AMONG THE BACKS THRILLS OF RUGBY TEST DESCRIBED BRITAIN WAS UNDOUBTEDLY THE BETTER SIDE !' SUX Special Representative — Copyright)

WTTII a startling try in the la ’ won the first Rugby Test, first British side to defeat New Prentice, the British captai proud man—proud not only established a record, but also risen to the occasion magnifie tions which seriously liampere As touch judge, Prentice must have had many anxious moments in that gruelling second halL\ when the play swayed from one end to the other, and New Zealand repeatedly gathered on the British line, only to be swept back by the British pack, which backed its extra weight with unexpected fire and tenacity. If today’s ground was the graveyard of the New Zealand hopes, it was also the graveyard of some New Zealand reputations. Between now anti the second test, the New Zealand selectors will have to do some hard thinking, as some replacements will be needed among the backs, while the forwards must be strengthened if they are to master the improving British pack. The principal failures among the New Zealand backs were Mill and Lucas, neither of whom justified his reputation or his selection. Mill was not a shadow of the brilliant, deceptive Mill of old, whose passes sent his backs away crisply, and whose dummy pass has won match after match. Though tlie ball was often hooked to him cleanly, Mill was only moderate in getting it away, while he showed nothing by way of variety, and his one attempt to go solo near the British line disclosed no hint of his former powers. Lucas was another declining star, lie contributed no thrust whatever to the New Zealand attacking movements, which were virtually confined

to the second spell, the backs in the first spell making no serious attempt to attack, but confining their activities to kicking and spoiling. Lilburne showed a very resolute defence. Even if as an attacking factor lie was inconspicuous, his value today lay in his capacity for going down repeatedly to the British rushes. Had A lark Nicholls been the first liveeighth today, it is questionable whether he would have withstood the British onslaughts with similar determination. Nevertheless, something will have to be done about the iiveeight.li position, unless New Zealand is to submit meekly to the doctrine of spoiling rather than attacking. BRITAIN ON THE ATTACK In the first spell Britain almost monopolised the attacking, the astonished spectators viewing with mixed feelings the unusual spectacle of a New Zealand team being penned in its twenty-five for 30 minutes at a time. During this period, whenever the New Zealand backs obtained possession, they found touch: but in this department they fell far short of the standard set by the British backs, particularly Bowcott, whose screw-kicking was frequently brilliant. Bowcott is a left-footer only, but It is ability to angle liis kicks is invaluable in defence. As a left-footer, he took all tlie free kicks today when touch was to be found on the right-hand line, and never once missed. Murray, taking tlie kicks to the left-hand touch-line, enjoyed almost equal success. After concentrating on defence and spoiling for the first spell, the All Blacks changed their policy to one of attack. They opened the second spell with the obvious purpose of getting the lead at once, and the forwards for 30 minutes played with most amazing vigour. During this period the British pack and the inside backs were at times simply brushed aside. Had the All Blacks been able to maintain their predominance, the game could have ended only one way; but though during this stage Hart scored a nice try, the British tightened up, and for nearly all the remainder of the spell their pack met the All Blacks on equal terms. ALL BLACKS’ FINAL EFFORT New Zealand’s final effort was made in the last 30 minutes, when some shattering onslaughts were launched against the British line. Bassett was penalised for handing the ball into touch after failing to gather a difficult rolling ball; but Nepia’s kick, which might have won the match, sailed tw*o feet outside. The All Blacks got back again, assisted by a rebound, when a clearing kick by Aar void hit an onrushing New Zealand forward. When a scrum- formed on the line the ball was hooked by the British, but hung in the back row. Porter made a daring dive between the legs of the British back-rankers to secure possession and endeavour to wriggle over, but ho just failed to get there. A few minutes later he made a similar effort, but Bassett hold him up actually over the line, and the British forwards, exerting every oLinee, were able to struggle clear. Porter gave his best during the first spell, being not nearly so prominent in the second. As usual, he paid particular attention to Spong, but today he was allowed less latitude than in the Wellington match, though he delighted in the schoolboy trick of inching ground behind the referee’s back whenever that alert official wasn’t looking. Up to the last 15 minutes, all the free kicks to New Zealand had been taken by Nepia. who with amazing touch-finders gained great distances. As the game wore on, however. Porter took a kick himself, putting the ball up and under; but this praiseworthy effort only resulted in the British gaining advantage. According to the style of play now being adopted. Porter is indispensable to the All Blacks, but his weight in the scrum might have been of even greater value than his services outside it. Sixteen stone is a great handicap for even an All Black pack to play against, and this margin in its favour helped Britain to weather the storm when the All Black forwards were pressing on its line. INTENSE FORWARD PLAY Though it was for the most part an intense forward struggle, with the backs playing a minor part, the game was never without its thrills. The closeness of the score always held the excitement of the spectators to the highest pitch, even making them forget their frozen feet. No match could have opened more inauspiciously, as the rain which had fallen all morning gave way after lunch to light snow oC increasing intensity. People had been gathering at the Carisbrook ground

DUXEDIX, Saturday, ist minute of the game, Britain , and the honour of being the - Zealand on its own ground, in. after the game was a justly of leading a side that had of the side itself, which had eentlv, despite adverse cor.diid its natural style of play. since before breakfast, waiting for the gates to open at 13 o'clock, but even the hardiest could not endure such conditions and toward lunch time hundreds returned to the city to get some internal fortification before braving the rigours of the afternoon. From 1.30 onward the snowfall thickened till by 2 o’clock it was whirling everywhere, the teams taking the field in a blizzard which defied even the Press photographers. In these circumstances good football was hardly to be expected: but within a few minutes the British backs were throwing the ball about with almost dry day certainty. To defeat this enterprise. the New Zealand backs lined out almost level with the scrum. Spong. attempting to drive them back, short-punted, but the ball screwed off his foot, allowing Reeve to come up fast, gather cleanly and race past Nepia to score in the corner. As if elated by this success, the British continued to attack, New Zealand being rarely across the half-way line. Great line-kicking, in which Spong and Bowcott were chiefly prominent, allowed Britain to maintain its position. Occasional sallies in which first Batty, then McWilliams and Steere figured, were met by sound, resourceful defence. One great thrill occurred when Hodgson, racing down the touch-line to the New Zealand twenty-five, threw a pass infield. This startling spectacular effort had the defence sorely tried, till a dropped pass allowed the defenders to clear. Thus the first spell wore on, with the All Black forwards showing improvement toward the close, and having more of the play, so that when the half-time whistle actually blew, they were attacking in the British corner. WHIRLWIND TACTICS New Zealand began the second spell with whirlwind tactics, which had the effect of quickly evening the score, Hart going over from chain passing, after Reeve had held him and then let go. Hart gave the impression during the game that with any sort of opportunities he would be tremendously dangerous. Both he and Oliver impressed as promising young players, who, with good inside men. will make good use of their opportunities. Nepia’s attempted conversion from Hart’s try was a grand effort, but the ball rebounded back into the field. The New Zealand forwards continued their bustling methods, Finlayson frequently coming into the limelight. Those who suspected that the game was all but over, however, were answered when the British pack, wherein Beamish, Rew and Hodgson were playing particularly fine football, gradually recovered its grip. SENSATIONAL VICTORY The final score of the match came sensationally when Britain, after a period on the attack midway through the second spell, was enduring intense pressure. With the hands of the clock slowly creeping round toward time, there was every livelihood of a draw, when suddenly Ivor Jones, intercepting a lob poss between Mill and Lilburne, got clear away. Inside him were several forwards, while outside was Morley unmarked. Cleverly setting back pursuit with a half-dummv. which caused the New Zealand backs to hesitate, Jones ran right into Nepia’s arms before sending a perfect pass to Morley, who began his match-winning run exactly at half-way, and a foot inside touch. Cooke was coming across very fast in an endeavour to save the desperate situation, which had so suddenly developed, but Morley’s pace was too much. Thus in an open field these two raced almost side by side for fifty yards in a spectacular dash, which those who saw will never forget. Every other New Zealand back was out of it. It was Cooke

and Morley, and Morley won. It was a brilliant piece of work, brilliantly conceived by Jones, and as brilliantly finished off by Morley. Black's kick fell short, but it did not matter, as the match was won, the whistle going immediately Prentice, who had run along the line as Morley finished his dash, threw away liis touch-Mag in his excitement, and did not recover it. much as he would have liked it as a souvenir. Another souvenir of the epic finish was the corner flag at which Morley scored. This was presented to Dr. Adams, president of the Xew Zealand Rugby Union, and autographed by the players. PLAY SUMMED UP The better side undoubtedly won. as Britain had enjoyed distinct territorial advantage. Nevertheless, Britain was lucky to be given the opportunity of changing defence to attack with such paralysing swiftness. Much improvement was noticeable in the British forwards, while the backs, with careful play, answered those who had feared that their indiscriminate pa.ssing might lead to disaster. It was only in the line-outs and in bursting away therefrom that the New Zealand forwards had a definite edge on the British. Jn hooking, the advantage was slightly with the British, but the line-outs were muen in favour of New Zealand. Cooke got some shocking passes from Lilburne, and the stern defence never allowed him to cut in; hut righ t t through he was dangerous in following up or anticipating the play. The real hero among the New Zealand backs, however, was Nepia. Bassett was almost equally safe, but did not have Nepia’s length with his kicks. Pleven free kicks were awarded each side, the British being penalised often for scrum infringements, while Parker was twice caught yards offside in loose play, though on one occasion he appeared to be dazed, and did not know what to do. Parker figured in one or two exchanges with Irvine, but the i game on the whole was conducted in ! an admirable spirit. j By coming in with their two heads i together, the New Zealand hookers ! attempted to split the British front j row. but by keeping low the British i hookers managed to counter this move.

sever;; I mil;or inju r; s w ero s.;ffcred during the geme. McWilliams actuallv leaving the field, though he returned a few minutes later. Spong got a nasty kick on the head, while Cooke, charging into Bassett after the British fullback had kicked, got badly shaken. SECOND TEST TEAM NICHOLLS AND STEWART TO PLAY CORNER REPLACES MILL Press Association DUNEDIN. Sunday. The team for the second test against Britain is the same as yesterday, with the exception that Corner replaces Mill at half. M. Nicholls replaces Lilburne at first five-eighths, and R. Stewart replaces Battv. who is not available. The takings for yesterday’s game were approximately £4.200. At a dinner accorded the teams. Dr. Adams, president of the New Zealand Rugby L'nion. said the All Blacks on the day met a superior team. He would like to see the three remaining tests played in the same spirit as the first. Britain showed that the best defence was attack. Mr. James Baxter, manager of the British team, paid a tribute to the most magnificent fullback it had ever been his privilege to see—George Nepia. Aarvold. the British captain, said he thought the British team should consider itself fortunate to win. just as the New Zealand team was unfortunate to lose. Mr. E. McKenzie, New Zealand selector and manager of the New Zealand team, said he thought that a draw would have indicated the merits of the play of the teams. C. G. Porter, the New Zealand captain, said the British side deserved its win, although there was not much between ton ms.