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Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1935, Page 7

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ALL BLACKS JUST WIN f IMPROVED FORM SHOWN STRONG SCOTTISH TEAM SPECTACULAR FOOTBALL McLEAN’S DISPLAY BETTER By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Oct. 16. The All Blacks defeated Glasgow and Edinburgh at Glasgow by 9 points to 8 after leading by- 6 points to 3 at halftime. For New Zealand Solomon scored a try and Gilbert kicked two penalty goals. For the home team Shaw scored jr’ a try and Murdoch kicked a penalty goal and converted a try. The attendance was 10,000 and the weather was fine. The special correspondent of the United Press Association states that the crowd assembled at old Anniesland in ■ nigh spirits confident of victory over the New Zealanders, who theoretically were not strong, especially as Griffiths and Solomon were off form in recent games. The weather was cloudy but fine and the ground fast and in good condition despite recent rain. The Scotsmen were really good and it is doubtful whether the All Blacks will encounter a better team outside the internationals. The referee was keen and did not miss the slightest breaches. The New Zealanders did not meet the home team by throwing the ball about to the same extent as the Scotsmen, whose backs were not afraid to take risks. Nevertheless the backs were a happier combination despite lapses on- defence. The New Zealanders packed down and used their weight in the scrums, apparently as the result of a long talk behind closed doors yesterday by Mr. V. R. Meredith, the manager. SOLOMON’S FINE WORK. Solomon did fine work, especially in attack, but he was not sound on defence. Brown was weak and occasionally missed tackles. He handled badly. A change in the scrum, McLean packing at the side and Mahoney at the back, proved successful. The New Zealanders were getting a lot of the ball in the scrums towards the finish and they were backing up better than in many games. McLean played excellently, though he was treated for. an injured shoulder. Solomon reached great heights at the finish. The All Blacks showed more fire and dash in the opening stages, the forwards concentrating on Shaw, the stand-off half. Shaw was dangerous. He was off the mark like a flash, and gained ground with well contolled kicks. Play went from one end of the field to the other and was really sparkling. The home team threw the ball about with great abandon, exploiting the reverse pass. Shaw was very clever and had good partners in Murdoch and Hunter. I The home forwards were flagrantly off-side in a number of scrums and were often penalised. The play was furious in the second lialf. Shaw went twice through the defence and played grandly. The crowd, thinking he was meeting with interferi ence, hooted the New Zealanders, causing play to be held up. Small; boys . rushed' the field at halftime to secure the New Zealanders’ auto--1 graphs, but were sent off by the referee. TEAM’S CHANGE OF HEART. The Times, commenting on the match, says: “The New Zealand forwards displayed not only changes in personnel but a change of heart. The weakness in scrummaging was remedied to some extent behind dosed doors. The return of McLean to his earlier form seemed .to encourage the others to show greater liveliness in breaking up and supporting the backs. Though often beaten for the ball, their harassing tactics largely contributed to hold an attack which was as combative as their own. , “The Scots also displayed a keener sense of offensive back play. New Zealanders are bom interceptors and their try provided another object-lesson of the folly of blind passing.’’ The teams were:— All Blacks. Full-back: Gilbert. Three-quarters: Hart, Mitchell, Brown. Five-eighths: Solomon, Griffiths. Half-back: Comer. ' Forwards: Pepper, Hore', Lambourn, Manchester, Collins, King, Mahoney, McLean. Glasgow and Edinburgh. Full-back: Kerr. Three-quarters: Forest, Murdoch, Hunter, Robertson. Stand-off half: Shaw. Scrum-half: Logan. Forwards: Johnson, Peck, Hill, Lowe, Oxley, Lambie, Duff, McLaughlan. Hill replaced Burnett in the home side. The All Blacks’ forwards started off with a rush, gaining 20 yards. Gilbert tried for a penalty goal from half-way, but kicked poorly. He tried again a minute later, however, from 30 yards out and the ball went straight over. Thus New Zealand was three points up in three minutes. Glasgow and Edinburgh lost a certain score through Murdoch failing to pass at the right time. A few seconds later he tried a reverse pass, but Mitchell intercepted and staged a great passing rush with Solomon, who took the last pass and scored. Gilbert’s attempt to convert was poor. The combined team’s backs were brilliant, but they failed at critical moments, their passes going wild. Murdoch kicked a fine penalty goal, but the home side deserved more points. It was entertaining football. The spell ended:— All Blacks 6 Combined 3 A high wind favoured Glasgow and Edinburgh in the second half, but the New Zealand forwards burst through. The home forwards preferred scrums to line-outs. They dribbled the ball nearly the length of the field and should have scored. The Scotsmen were giving the New Zealanders a lesson in ball control. 7 The crowd barracked when Shaw was held after kicking, Murdoch missed ap easy penalty shot. / The New Zealanders were again jeered at when Shaw was knocked down after kicking. Shaw- then received the ball from a scrum and went clean through the defence, beating three men before scoring under the posts. Nothing better was seen during the tour. The try was converted by Murdoch. Glasgow and Edinburgh did not retain the lead long, as Gilbert kicked a fine penalty against the wind. The home team should not have lost. All Blacks 9 Combined 8