ALL BLACKS’ CLOSE CALL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20261, 9 November 1935, Page 22

ALL BLACKS’ CLOSE CALL

POINT VICTORY IN BIG STRUGGLE MUCH IMPROVED FORM OF FORWARDS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 7. The All Blacks defeated Oxford University by 10 points to 9, after leading by 5 points to 4 at half-time. The Teams The teams lined out as under: NEW ZEALAND. Full-back: G. Gilbert. Three-quarters: N. Ball, C. J. Oliver, N. Mitchell. Five-eighths: T. H. C. Caughey, J. L. Griffiths. Half-back—B. S. Sadler. Forwards: A. Lambourne, W. E. Hadley, C. Pepper, T. S. Reid, R. McKenzie, J. Best, F. Vorrath, A. Mahoney. OXFORD. Full-back: Stuart. Three-quarters: Watson, d'Obolensky, M. Walford, R. Harding. Halves: Rees-Jones, C. Grieve. Forwards: J. M. S. McShane (Sydney), L. Brett, N. McGrath, J. Pienaer (South Africa), G. Roos (South Africa), M. C. G. Cooper (New Zealand), G. Bloxham, Hughes. The Play Within a few minutes of the start, the All Blacks were moving, and Mitchell was looking dangerous until he was brought down. Gilbert then narrowly missed a penalty kick after which he had to go hard to haul down Obolensky who made a great fifty yard dash after snapping up the ball from a dropped pass. Heavy rain throughout the first half was causing Oxford to drop passes. Cooper, the New' Zealander, who was captain of Oxford, failed with a penalty kick after which the All Blacks had a chance of a but Ball knocked on a pass from Oliver. The game was even but the All Blacks were getting the ball repeatedly from the scrums. Then Grieve cleverly drop-kicked a goal after Which McKenzie scored from a forward rush although he was apparently off-side. Gilbert converted. New Zealand 5 Oxford .4 Gilbert had previously missed an easy penalty kick and Oxford scored a sensational try after the resumption, when Walford and Harding, securing the ball from the scrum, pierced the defence and passed to Obolensky, whose pace enabled him to score a. try beneath the posts. Brett converted. Oxford 9 New Zealand .. 5 McShane was playing a great game, often dummying through and opening up the game, but a blow on the head forced him to retire but he returned with his head bandaged after fifteen minutes in which the teams fought strenuously. Finally Sadler, who was persistently working the blind side of the scrum, dived over at the corner and Gilbert converted with a magnificent kick. The final scores were: NEW ZEALAND 10 OXFORD 9

BIG STRUGGLE FOR VICTORY HARD PLAY IN UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS United Press Association—By Electrlo Telearaph —Copvrlebt LONDON, November 7. The special correspondent of the United Press Association, commenting on the match against Oxford University, says that it was predicted before the game that the All Blacks would not have matters their own way. Some judges who were not impressed with the tourists at Twickenham, expressed the opinion that Oxford would win. Popular Interest The Iffley, Road ground was crowded and tickets sold for only two hours after they were made available. Oxford lost the season’s opening match but won the next four with an aggregate of eighty-two points for and fourteen against. The New ZeSlanders were not sanguine of winning, fearing that the London hospitality had affected their play. M. C. G. Copper, the Oxford captain introduced the All Blacks before the game as he knew several including Mahoney, McLean, Hadley and

Caughey. Cooper laughingly apologised for playing against New Zealand adding “I am still out to do my best for Oxford.” H. Hughes replaced Davies. The All Blacks were given a great reception coming out, as evidence of appreciation of the fact that they always try to play bright football. Hadley led the All Blacks forwards and in the opening stages adopted rushing tactics, showing much devil and packing low, pushing back Oxford and gaining much ground. The backs’ clean handling in early movements was notable and the All Blacks stormed the Oxford line for a long period and the ball was very greasy owing to rain. Nevertheless, considering the conditions the handling was satisfactory. The Oxford forwards played right up to the game, kicking through the rucks. Mitchell and Sadler initiated a great reverse passing movement, which broke down owing to a forward pass when

the defence was beaten. Gilbert knocked on on a number of occasions in the first half but this was excusable. Improved Forward Flay The All Blades forwards were 50 per cent better during the first half than at Twickenham and, playing together, often overwhelmed Oxford with dribbling rushes. Visitors not used to the English climate noted steam rising from the backs of the players when packed down in scrums. This was due to the coldness of the atmosphere. I McShane, the clever Australian half, knows the New Zealand game and was playing excellent football. Grieve similarly was a tower of strength and a stout defender, seldom failing to find the line when he kicked. • Grieve’s field goal precisely imitated that of Tindill at Newport, the ball passing straight from the scrum to the kicker. This early lead heartened the Oxford forwards who were outweighted but not outmatched. Oxford was fortunate on a number of occasions when the All Blacks over-ran the ball when there was a chance of opening the game. Tackling on both sides was very keen and the Oxford inside backs kept a very close watch on Sadler and Griffiths. The All Blacks forwards developed a fine movement leading to McKenzie’s try and keeping shoulder to shoulder they toed the ball through the de-

fence for over thirty yards, which has seldom been done throughout the tour.

Ebb and Flow of Fortunes It looked anyone’s game after the resumption as the Oxford backs were clever and always likely to score. Nevertheless the All Blacks deserved their half-time lead as territorially and also in play generally they were superior, showing more combination between the backs and forwards than the Varsity team. The All Blacks defence was riddled when Obolensky scored. McShane was now finding loopholes in the All Blacks’ defence and the Oxford backs were always willing to take risks ever in their own territory, throwing the ball about, eager to increase the lead. The visitors forwards were aften offside and were also penalised for forward passes. They continued to hold their own in scrums and tight rucks, but did not take advantage of all opportunities. Last Minute Victory During long periods, the New Zealand line-kicking was faulty. The ball went crossfield to Oliver and Caughey who desperately attempted to make an opening, but Grieve, Walford and Harding, with fiery and ; swift tackling defeated them. McShane’s retirement with the top of his head bleeding, necessitated withdrawing Hughes from the pack, resulting in Oxford’s concentrating on line kicking in which they were effective. With the minutes slipping away, the tourists tried every device to score but the defence held and the excitement, which had been high throughout the match, was now terrific. Sadler once burst through but was pulled down. Caughey dropped a pass when Oxford was penned on the line and here scrum followed scrum until finally Sadler in his sixth attempt, dashed round the scrum and scored. It was one of the most enjoyable games of the tour and the All Blacks’ win was no fluke. A draw might have been ' fairer but Sadler saved the tourists. He is improving every game and developing into a half-back equalling : the best. Caughey was off his game : and Oliver has played better, but they held the backs together. Gilbert sustained a knock on the head but continued. Comments by tliet Critics The critics agree that Oxford was unlucky to lose. "The Daily Telegraph” says that the New Zealand forwards are coming on to their own and will, during the remainder of the torn-, carry the team to any victories achieved. “The News-Chronicle” says: "Gilbert's fine display pulled the New Zealanders through.” “The Sketch” considers that New Zealand was better in the line-outs and the loose but the 3-4-1 scrummage was inefficient. The tourists backs also compared unfavourably with the live Oxford three-quarters. CRICKET PLUNKET SHIELD FIXTURES Bv Telegraph Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, November 8. Representatives of the four major cricket associations who conferred today before the annual meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Council decided that there should be no curtailment of the programme of Plunket Shield matches this season. Dates of matches were arranged as follows: December 24, 25, 26 and 27—Otago v. Auckland at Auckland. December 27, 28, 30 and 31—Canterbury v. Wellington at Wellington. January 2,3, 4 and 6—Canterbury v. Auckland at Auckland. January 24, 25, 27 and 28—Wellington v. Otago at Dunedin. February 7,8, 10 and 11—Auckland v. Wellington at Wellington. February 14, 15, 17 and 18—Otago v. Canterbury at Christchurch.

A POINT OF LAW DECISION LEFT TO APPEAL COURT By Telegraph —Press Association AUCKLAND, November 8. In the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Fair agreed to refer to the Court of Appeal a question of law involved in the conviction of Reginald Merton Semb. Semb’s three accomplices, two women and one man, were convicted of conspiring to defraud “Mr X” of £75, and also convicted on a second count of false pretences. Semb was convicted on the first charge and found not guilty on the second. His counsel, Mr Slipper, contended that the verdict was ambiguous and inconsistent, which contention his Honour upheld.