RUGBY RE-ESTABLISHED

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1929, Page 11

RUGBY RE-ESTABLISHED

STORY TOLD BY WIRELESS HUGE CROWD WITNESS THE GAME. RECORD IN PAST TWENTY YEARS. Before fifty thousand thrilled, spectators in the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday the Australian first fifteen defeated the All Blacks in the first test match by nine points to eight. The description, broadcast on short wave by 2ME, Sydney, was “picked up” by 2YB, New Plymouth, and re-broadcast for the delectation of football enthusiasis throughout Taranaki. The crowd was, so the announcer said, the largest that has been seen on the ground for almost 20 years, while thousands of spectators were assembled on Scot's Hill, “where you get a free view.” The weather was ideal, being in marked contrast to that for the opening match of the tour when the New Zealand team met the New South Welshmen in a drawn game (no score) in pouring rain. The game was hard and fast and, although numerous players were injured, it was clean and roused the huge crowd to an intense pitch of excitement. The All Blacks marched out to the strains of “God Save the King” and lined up in front of the Vice-Regal box, where tho players were presented to the Governor. The team then gave its famous haka, which was much appreciated by the crowd. At half-time the New Zealand captain, H. Lilburne, went to the microphone and broadcast tho following message: “Hullo, New Zealand! The ground, is very hard, but it is a wonderful game. I think we shall win and am very pleased to be able to speak to you. Good-bye.” The game opened sensationally ?ad the crowd was soon on its toes with excitement. Lilburne “headed’ 'the coin and elected to play with an increasing southerly wind. A scramble resulted from the kick-off and Malcolm picked up and attempted to set his backs going, but the New Zealand captain intercepted. and raced for the line with Oliver, who was running offside, in support. Lilburne, when tackled, threw an offside pass to Oliver, and from the free kick Loss found touch at half-way. MISTAKES SPOIL CHANCES. Snow, McWilliams and Sonntag worried the Australian pack back to within striking distance when Malcolm, observing an opportunity, snapped up, danced between Oliver and Lilburne and, with JJcpia to pass, threw forward to Ford. An infringement in the scrum gave Nepia an opportunity of relieving but Snow got in front and the play was brought right back. Then an All Black forward infringed and Lawton landed a great goal between the posts from a difficult angle. “It appears as if this is going to bo an intense struggle,” said the announcer as both packs commenced to liven up and force the game. Nepia made a very poor attempt to kick a penalty goal from half-way and then the announcer said: “Nepia/who is considered one of the finest full-backs in the world to-day, shows little, if. any, superiority over Ross, who is playing particularly well.” A bright, snappy movement was initiated by Lawton* who penetrated the defence and carried play to New Zealand’s 25, where Nepia tackled him before ho could pass out. Nepia picked up, ran straight through and passed to Lilburn, who sent on to his winger. Hook participated in the rush and would have scored had not a New Zealander obstructed Ross. The Australian full-back punted into the arms of Nepia, who unsuccessfully attempted, a field goal. Nepia was again responsible for initiating a passing movement which carried play to within seven yards of the Australian goal line. A free kick to New Zealand on the side line saw Nepia miss by a yard. However, he secured another opportunity a few yards from the side line. “It’s a beautiful kick,” the announcer said. “Didn’t it go over?” he pathetically asked an onlooked. “Yes! It’s over, all right,” he continued. The New Zealand forwards from the kick-off rushed downfield in a phalanx and heeled back to Tuck, who transferred to Lilburne, but the All Black captain knocked on. Hook broke away from the scrum, penetrated the defence and passed to Lilburne for the fiveeighth to gam ground and transfer to Oliver. Travelling at top speed Oliver made a flying dive for the line. Ross just touched him and. the New Zealander was deflected in his flight to strike the posts with terrific force, roll over the line and lie motionless. It was a great try and when the All Black struggled to his feet after receiving attention the crowd cheered tremendously. Nepia had no trouble adding the major points and New Zealand led by 8 to 3. LAWTON KICKS A GOAL.

“There is a yellow aeroplane flying overhead; I tilin’: it must belong to the Orange Lodge,” floated the voice through the loud speaker. Then—“ That ’plane is circling round the ground getting a fine view of the match. It must be owned by a Scot.” Apparently while the announcer was viewing the aeroplane Australia was setting up a strong attack, and when a New Zealand forward infringed in front of the goal Lawton added a further three points. “Incidentally I don’t feel much like football to-day,” said the announcer. “Last Saturday I was drenched to the skin when at the All Blacks’ first match and, in consequence, have been in bed ever since. However, I knew thousands of New- Zealanders would want to hear the description so I struggled out of bed to do it for you. I hope it is coming through well.” Ford, the huge Australian forward; broke away from a line-out and set his backs moving. In a beautiful rush the ball passed swiftly from hand to hand until* it. reached Ford, who mulled it badly. Lawton again made a rapierlike thrust through the New Zealand five-eighths, beat Carleton, but, in attempting to dodgo Nepia, allowed the Maori to grab the ball from his hands and punt upfield. Ross set his backs going in a passing rush that looked dangerous until Gordon mulled. The game was then temporarily hung up while some of the Australians received attention from the ambulance men. “There is no doubt,” the announcer said, “that these intercolonial games and the visits of the All Blacks were reestablishing the good old Rugby code in public favour, as the crowd indicates. I well remember a visit of the All Blacks about 1906 when they played on this giound. On that day a brilliant All Black scored the most sensational try I. have ever seen. He received a wonderful ovation and there is no doubt that

this team also has made itself very I popular. Nepia is quite a hero with I every boy in Sydney.” i From a line-out the All Black forwards worked the play down the field, but Ford picked up off the toes of the forwards and kicked high and hard. The Australian forwards got underneath and Sonntag infringed, giving Lawton another good opportunity at goal, but the , ball fell short. In some hard play | Towers was injured and left the field, I Thorpe replacing him. Australia again brought play to Nev.Zealand’s 25, where Snow secured and passed long and low to Waterman, who gained 20 yards and in-passed to Lilburne for the All Black captain to beat everybody except Ross. “Lilburne and Nepia are playing a most spectacular name,” said the announcer at this stage. However, another sharp thrust by Lawton placed New Zealand on the defensive. FINGER IN HIS EYE. The players were given a short respite while Malcolm, who had had a big New Zealand forward's finger poked in his eve, received medical attention. Then Hamalainen got oilside and Nepia removed play to half-way with a splendid line kick. Ford and Hamalainen were responsible for again placing New Zealand on the defensive, and in some ruck play near the goal line Snow infringed. Lawton’s kick missed by a foot from a very difficult angle. The* All Blacks forwards commenced to use their weight to advantage and Tuck kicked high and hard upfield with his forwards underneath. Ross threw himself on the ball and saved a try, but tho returning players were offside and Nepia had a chance near the 25. His kick was a pcor one. Australia were beating New Zealand in the majority of scrums and from one Australia secured and passed back to Ross, who raced up the field with his backs strung out. Waterman saved tho position with a lucky speculator and half-time sounded with the score 8 to 6 in New Zealand’s favour. Tho wind had dropped a little and was not much advantage to Australia when the second spell commenced. Nepia had retired at half-time owing to an injury to his back and he was replaced by Stringfellow. A line-out near the Australian 25 resulted from the kick-off, and New Zealand secured the advantage, Tuck sending his backs to the attack. Ross returned play and Stringfellow kicked out. Tuck again set his backs moving and tho ball passed snappily from Lilburne to Oliver, to Carleton and to Geddes who, unopposed, for Ross -was on the ground after tackling Carleton, knocked his pass on and into touch about seven yards from the thin white line. Keeping up the pressure tho New Zealand forwards tried to force their way across, but Australia, with their backs to the wall, fought back equally as well and gradually eased tho position. Ford, tho burly Australian forward, dribbled through tnd kocked out at half-way. < FORTUNES FLUCTUATE. Play see-sawed up and down the field at a tremendously fast pace, both packs working like Trojans. Lawton sent his backs moving but Gordon overran the ball. Ho managed to again secure it, however, and, dodging Waterman, made a bold bid to score, but Hook saved the position. New Zealand were decidedly on tho defensive and Stringfellow was twice compelled to force, being once roundly hooted for doing so. Malcolm provided a sensation wnen he dashed, between Lilburne and Oliver and passed to E. Ford for the winger to run round the opposing backs, beat Stringfellow and then fall over about five yards from tho posts. Stringfellow secured and punted for the Imo but missed it and the forward Ford got away with the ball at toe to be stopped by Waterman, whose brilliant spurt carried the game to beyond the half-way line Play was for a period m neutral territory until Stringfellow punted up the field for his forwards to get under. Tuck secured from a scramble and kicked over Ross’ head but the full-back beat Lilburne to tho ball and returned it to Carleton, who threw a bad passl to Geddes. Ross again obtained the ball and punted it out. “He nearly knocked the ‘mike’ over that time,” said the announcer. “That’s the second time he s none that, and if it occurs again 111 have to speak to him.” Malcolm obtained possession from the line-out and kicked over the heads of the pack to Carleton who travelled up the field ana passed to Rika, when an infringement gave Lilburne a kick at goal that missed. HOT ATTACKS REPULSED. New Zealand attempted to pick up in the ruck and Ross found the line at half-way. Rika broke away from the line-out and the All Black vanguard swept down on the defence in mass formation and got to within a yard.of the goal line. Tho crowd roared with excitement as tho Australian rearguard repulsed attack after attack. A scrum five yards out favoured New Zealand, Tuck nasain" to Lilburne, who beat Malcolm and transferred to Oliver. The All Black five-eighth was elusive but did not <nain ground and threw a forward pass to Lilburne. Another passing rush was commenced but Ross broke up play and forced. A sigh of relief was audible as the Australians kicked off but almost immediately the crowd was on its toes again when Carleton kicked high and Hook and Sonntag were on Ross before he got his kick in. Ross hung on like grim death while Sonntag attempted to haul him and the ball across the line. However, the Australian “got away with it” and kicked into touch. “Sonntag and Hook are often offside but if they can get away with it good luck to them,” somewhat inconsistently came through the loud speaker. Australia gradually worked play into neutral territory, where Gordon penetrated the defence until he reached Stringfellow, who threw him into touch. From° the line-out Malcolm threw the ball back to Lawton and the Australian unsuccessfully attempted a field goal. Stringfellow *forced and was again hooted by the crowd. The AH Black forwards, led by Snow, McWilliams and Rika, battled through the defence but Lawton picked up, fended off. Lilburne and eluded Oliver to be well tackled by Stringfellow. Malcolm obtained possession and passed to Lawton, who transferred to King for the centre to make a pretty side-step round Stringfellow. The New Zealand fullback, however, swung round and grabbed the Australian’s leg just as he was going to throw himself across the line. King knocked on and from the resulting serum Australia secured. Malcom cleverly drew tho defence and passed to Lawton, the ball going to King and to Gordon, who literally threw himself across the comer to score amidst tremendous cheering. Lawton’s kick was unsuccessful. Australian led by 9 points to 8. AUSTRALIANS HOLD OWN. Spurred by the reverse the All Blacks made strenuous endeavours to again as- . '..'l . , i -.'J t' u' - . I'-i .-ii t--ids. I z-.-iRf Jwn 8 I& .'J' ..

sumo the ascendancy, but the Australians more than held their own and staged several brilliant attacks from which only a dogged determination on the part of tho New Zealand rearguard prevented additional scores. A free kick to New Zealand saw Lilburne find the line at half-way. Tho Australian forwards again broke through but McWilliams stemmed the tide by picking up and dashing downfield with Snow in support. Rika got off-side and Ross again transferred play to neutral territory. Stringfellow was once more hooted for forcing as the crowd did not appreciate tho fact that he was a good tactician. Forcing, so the announcer said, is not much practised in Australia. Malcolm caught the ball and went away with his backs strung out in line. He passed to Lawton, who had three men outside him and only Stringfellow to pass, but he foolishly preferred to make a solo attempt and was well tackled by the full-back. Had he passed a try was certain.

Oliver turned th© tide of play by a magnificent lone dash. Ho secured from the ruck, stepped round Lawton, sold the dummy to Wing and raced for the posts. Ross tackled him eight yards from the line and King got up in time to find the line. The sun had set below the horizon and visibility was poor.' An Australian left tho field and a short rest -was much appreciated by the tired players. From a line-out McWilliams tapped back to Tuck and the half-back punted low over the forwards’ heads to Malcolm, who was tackled by McWilliams when the latter player was off-side. Ross kicked into touch near New Zealand’s 25 and New Zealand secured a free kick from the line-out. The AU Black forwards forged through tho opposition but Ross was not found wanting. Lilburne made a brilliant dash through the pack and started a passing bout in whicn McWilliams participated and knocked on at tho critical moment.

Play was fast and furious when New Zealand were within a few yards of tho line. Tuck threw a wild pass to Lilburne but the All Black captain grabbed it, drew the defence, beat it, and transferred to Oliver, who in-passed to Tuck again. The half-back, with Waterman on one side and Lilburn© on the other and only Ross in front, tried to beat th© Australian and was tackled in possession.

A scrum about 15 yards from tho Australian goal line went to the advantage of Australia. Ross kicked out past the 25. Hamalainen broke through the lineout and took play to half way, where Oliver secured and made another piercing thrust at the almost impenetrable defence. Ho reached tho three-quarter line and passed to Hook, who was thrown out by Ross near the corner. It was a very close call but tho coolness of the Australian full-back saved the day and, while Hook was out at the corner time was called with the score still: Australia 9, New Zealand 8.