FIERCE FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 493, 30 June 1932, Page 11

FIERCE FOOTBALL.

No Quarter in League Test. MANY PLAYERS HURT. (Special to the “ Star.”) SYDNEY, June 19. The second League test in Brisbane yesterday was one of the fiercest football affairs in international history. Australia won, 15-6, but only after unparalleled exertion. The great fight for the Ashes of Rugby League will now be at Sydney on July 16, when the de-ciding-match is to be played. The test at Brisbane was a test of big men. Of men who neither gave nor asked quarter. In the lightning onslaughts and mad rushes that swept the play from corner to corner only the fittest survived. Many men were brought to earth; quite a number suffered injury. A test of fractured bones—a test of bruised bodies, damaged eyes and torn lips (says one writer. Claude Corbett, in the ” S} r dney Sun”). A test that so stirred the emotions of a huge crowd that it cheered friend and foe alike throughout a day that will live in memory. Glance at the casualty list, *the bulletin after the battle had been won and lost:— D. Dempsey—Fractured right arm. H. Gee—Contused lower lip; stitched. E. Weissel —Fractured fibula (ankle bone). E. Norman—Slight concussion, subsequently recovered. F. O’Conner—Stitch over right eye. L. White (English hooker)—Two stitches in scalp. M. Hodgscn (English forward)—Restitched right eye; fractured toe. Nearly all men in both teams —Black eyes, bruises, abrasions, etc. In Weissel rests the epic of the match —an epic that had the crowd of 26,500 crazy with excitement as Weissel sped from near his own goal-line right down into the shadow of the English goal, where his brave spirit gave out and he was “ buried ” into the earth by two Englishmen. The points were 10-6 in Australia’s favour in the closing stages. England had gone close to scoring, but was driven back yard by yard, when the ball came across to Adams. For some reason he stopped—evidently under the impression that the whistle had gone. A Race for a Try. In a moment the ball was knocked from his hands, and Weissel had it. He, too, stopepd, but then went on, beating three men. Finding himself in the open, ten yards clear of any pursuer, Wei. Il! looked about him, but there was no comrade in support. Back went the Temora man’s head, and out he strode for that thin white line, so far away. Inch by inch, Pollard and another Englishman gained on him. Time was nearly up. England had looked like snatching the game from the fire, and now it had turned Australia’s way. Rocking on its feet, the packed throng yelled and screamed incoherently as that green-clad figure streaked on. Ten yards to go, and Weissel was faltering. He fell, with the two relentless pursuers on top of him. The ball was played, Weissel collapsed, but a mighty roar, a hurling of those famous Brisbane cushions, told those who could not see from behind that Australia had scored, and that there was still a chance for the Ashes. Hec Gee had scored. Pearce converted and Australia won 15-6. It looked in that last ten minutes as if Australia’s hour of doom had been reached, for it was then that England played its greatest against eleven men, thrusting home with terrible force every advantage. Only superhuman defence kept them out. Australia was playing with three forwards in the scrums, being naturally beaten for the ball, standing up to see it go streaming along that English line of attack. Into them crashed the defenders, with body tackles and around the legs. But'still the ball went on to the Australian line. Then came that last dramatic episode of all, and the game w’as over.