ALL BLACKS PLAY FIRST TEST OF 1932 RUGBY TOUR

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 495, 2 July 1932, Page 10

ALL BLACKS PLAY FIRST TEST OF 1932 RUGBY TOUR

AUSTRALIA TRIUMPH. Fast and Exciting Movements in Second Spell. LAWTON KICKS BRILLIANT GOALS. (By Radio.) SYDNEY, July 2. FROM THE START play was vigorous and exciting in the first Rugby test, New Zealand v. Australia. A huge crowd had assembled at Sydney Cricket Ground, and conditions were ideal for fast football. Australia won. It was a thrilling game. The All Blacks led 8-5 at half-time, but soon after the interval a penalty by Lawton put Australia level. Ten minutes or so later Lawton kicked another penalty and Australia led 11-8. Australia forged further ahead to 16-8. Then Page kicked-a field goal. Fortunes fluctuated till the finish, but Australia remained on top. Australia won 22-17. The All Blacks had their strongest combination in the field, with Lilburnc at full-back, and a fast and elusive three-quarter line. The forwards had been re-arranged with lire inclusion of Manchester and Bore, in order to pack a compact scrum and infuse extra dash into the linc-outs and loose play. Australia were slightly weakened because of an injury to A. NY. Ross, the famous NYaratah full-back. In his stead, .1. Steggall, the young Queensland star, acted as full-back, and NY. NYhite went into the three-quarter line. Tommy Lawton, who has played in many international games, was captain, still a dangerous man in spite of his thirty-five years of age. The forwards averaged 13 stone 6 pounds.

An unusual feature of the composition of the Australian side was that New South Wales supplied only six representatives, where in former years this State had been the bulwark of Rugby in the Commonwealth. Queensland supplied six and Victoria three of to-day’s team. On their last tour, in 1929, the All Blacks lost the three tests, so they were keen to turn the tables and play, in consequence, was lively all through. The teams were: New Zealand. F ull-back: H. T. Lilburnc. Three-quarters: C. Proctor, T. C. Caughey, F. BullockDouglas. Five-eighths: H. R. Pollock, J. R. Page. Half-back: F. D. Kilby. Forwards: E. A. Jessep, A. I. Cottrell, J. liore, E. R. C. Steere. H. F. M’Lean, J. E. Manchester, G. W. Purdue, T. C. Metcalfe. Australia. F ull-back: Steggall. Three-quarters. Cowper, King, Sturtridge, and W. White. Half-backs: Lawton (captain), Malcolm. Forwards: Clarke, M. White, Bridle, Bland, Cook, * Love, Bonis, Cerutti. The Play. “ If they play as well as they haka they will be good,’’ was the comment of the announcer when the All Blacks gave their traditional war cry. He also mentioned that a special radio receiver had been installed in hospital for Don Max, the Xew Zealand forward, whose

dilute V% iia LI I Llix til ill me I.UMJC The Australian side won the toss and defended the southern end, having the advantage of a slight following wind. Pollock kicked off, and after a line-out the Australian forwards drove down to the New Zealand line, only to be driven back by solid play, and, after clever w’ork by Kilby, New Zealand penetrated to the Australian twenty-five, a penalty sending them back to half-way. Solid Tackling. Malcolm sent his backs away from

a set scrum, the ' New Zealand backs tackling solidly and arresting the rush. Play was very fast, the New Zealanders getting in with a smart rush, in Yrhich Kilby and Bu 11 o c k-D ouglas shone: but Malcolm and Cerutti drove back to the halfwav. Steggall sent t back a rush led by Purdue. The de-

fence of both sides was apparently excellent, for several rushes made no ground, till Lawton and the Australian three-quarter. While, started a movement that looked dangerous. White was taken solidK, and a dangerous situation averted, and an interchange of kicks saw Lilburnc find the line at the Australian t wen tv five. Australia attempted to initiate a rush from a scrum on their own twenty-five, but Bullock-Douglas intercepted and short-punted. The ball went into touch-in-goal. Another New Zealand attempt was frustrated by offside play.'. Magnificent Defence. The New Zealand backs were getting their full share of the ball, and both Pollock and Caughey used th£ir boots well, and kept the Australians on the defensive, till Cerutti led a splendid rush which went past Lilbv.rne; only magnificent defensive work by Bullock-Douglas kept the Australians out. The Australian forwards were rucking well and repeatedly worked the New Zealanders back, their fine work being to a large extent nullified by the precise kicking of Lilburne and the other New Zealand backs.

Caughey tried a pot at goal. It went wide, but Steggall’s kick found touch

only ten yards [from Australia’s line. There, the Australian backs worlci ed brilliantly, Sturtj ridge cutting well | and running to half ; way, then sending on a pass which Cowper did not accept, and New Zealand recovered. Pollock received a blow in the face, but resumed. vSturtridge saved in the face of the New Zealand forwards, but Kilby

i sent his backs away, and it appeared that a try was certain when Pollock’s | P as s went astray. In the rucking Aus- ! tralia infringed, but a chance at goal was missed, Pollock’s kick went wide. | M’Lean led the New Zealand forwards j ;• back to the Australian twenty-five, • meeting determined opposition in which Bland and Cerutti shone. A mistake by Lawton let the New Zealand inside backs away, but again Steggall came to the rescue and clear|ed with a great kick. Another New j Zealand onslaught broke down when j Caughey did not take his pass, and a free kick let Malcolm clear to half way, where from a scrummage New' Zealand were penalised. All Blacks Attacking, c, Bridle and Cerutti led an offensive j that looked dangerous till Pollock ’ cleared with a long kick to the line, and Australia were on the defensive a j once again. 1 A flashing attack by the Australian 1 j backs, in which Lawton and King were ° ! prominent, had Lilburne in trouble, but r j that player recovered well, and a freen | kick let New Zealand clear. Sturtridge C: ‘ tried a pot at goal, which failed, but

; cerutti, Liiand and Bonis crashed back j on the ball again, and sent the backs | away. Lilburne was again passed by ; the ball, and Malcolm and his men made a determined effort to beat him ; when it went over the line, but the Xew Zealand custodian was equal to the occasion again, and from the dropout New Zealand worked back to neutral territory. Bullock-Douglas Scores. > M’Lean shone with a brilliant rush at the head of the New Zealand fori wards. He picked up and sent to Metj calfe. Then the ball went to Bullock - i Douglas. The winger swerved round i Cowper and went over for a brilliant ! try, for which M’Lean’s fine work was j largely responsible. Pollock kicked a ! good goal, and the score was:— New Zealand 5, Australia 0. “ There is some great rucking going on,” said the announcer. “ The New Zealanders are working finely from i the line-outs.”

! Both sides endeavoured to open up i the game, but determined work on | defence kept the play in neutral ! territory. Then the Australian forwards went away with a rush and, backed up well up the rearguard, penetrated right to the New Zealand line, a knock-on spoiling an almost certain try. Australia secured from the scrum and the ball flashed along their backs, who met an opposition that let them make no ground. Hard Rush Stopped. Another Australian rush seemed a certainty, but Cow-

per slipped as Bul-lock-Douglas tackled him, and the ball went into touch, and Lilburne j cleared. The Australians were getting most of the ball and were showing dangero_.j form, Pollock being called on for a smart save and answering well. Lawton topk a kick at* goal, from the twenty-

five from a penalty. but the kick went wide, and Lilburne found the line outside the twenty-five. Pollock secured when an Australian rush broke down, and New Zealand again worked into Australian territory. “ The crowd are counting them out

for using the line so often,” the announcer said. Malcolm fielded beautifully at the half-way line and put in a brilliant rush, and his backs followed up in deadly fashion, first King then Cowper failing by' a fraction. New Zealand were having a hard job to keep their line intact. Cowper failed to take a pass, and Bullock-Douglas saved again. “ Australia have been playing all over the other side for the last ten minutes,” was the comment.

Another combined effort in which Malcolm, King and Cowper stood out, failed when the half-back failed to take his return pass, but the Australians kept up the attack, and the forwards took the ball away at their toes. Relentless tackling kept the score as it was, and the All Black forwards broke back at last to half-way. Pollock was hurt again, but resumed after attention. Hore Secures a Try. “ New Zealand are in again, a beautiful movement. Steere lead a rush at the twenty-five, then picked up and sent out to Here, who went over wide out. A beautiful movement. Ilore’s try was not converted. Pollock’s kick missed. New Zealand 8. Australia 0. Australia retaliated immediately. An irresistible forward rush swept down to the New Zealand twenty-five, where Malcolm picked up and sent to Lawton, to King, to Sturtridge, to Cowper, who threw back to Bridle, who scored by the posts for Lawton to convert. Halftime came with the score: New Zealand 8, Australia 5. Kilby came to the microphone and gave a message to Max, in hospital: “ I hope you are enjoying it. Sorry you are not here,” said the little New Zealand skipper. The teams stayed on the field at half-time, for the benefit of the English Rugby Union. Second Spell. New Zealand were pressed from the kick-off, and a penalty made the position worse, till Proctor found the line. Sturtridge had a splendid but unsuccessful attempt at a field goal, and New Zealand cleared again. A brilliant combined movement in

which all the Australian backs and several of the forwards handled was barely staved oft by Pollock. Two further attacks were staved oft' by a fraction. Lilburne saved brilliantly when Cook seemed sure to go over, finding the line at the twenty-five. It sounded often over the air as if Australia were the better side, mainly in their ability to get the ball, but that the New Zealand backs were defending magnificently. Caughey Hurt. Caughey was hurt and had to take a spell on the side line, having a cut on his head bandaged. The crowd howled for the game to go on, and play resumed v ithout Caughey. Cerutti sent the backs away, and the ball flashed to Cowper, but his in-pass was not accepted and the New Zealand-

ers fought back to the half-way. There was another hold up. and the crowd grew restive. “ The game has been attractive at times,” the announcer commented,

“ but at others it has been slowed up by undue use of the touchline.”

Australia Equalise. Offside play by Cottrell spoiled a great chance after a fine forward rush

and still another penalty drove the All Blacks back. W. White followed up a kick, and had not the bounce beaten him he might have gone over. Another penalty gave Lawton a chance, and the Australian fly-half goaled magnificently from the half-way line, to equalise the scores. New Zealand S, Australia S. Steere and Proctor led New Zealand back, only to meet perfect defence by Lawton and Steggall. Australia were having a little turn on the defence, Malcolm shining with a neat line-finder from a ruck. Page dodged over the Australian twenty-five line but threw forward. From the scrum Lawton found the line at the New j Zealand twenty-five with an enormous! kick. A Brilliant Movement. The Australian backs, fed plentifully, kept New Zealand on the defensive. Sturtridge was playing a great game. Cottrell and M’Lean lead a rush that j was repulsed by one of the most bril- \ liant movements of the day. Steggall

i and Sturtridge turned defence into at- ! lack and found touch at the New 1 Zealand twenty-five. | Steggall was hurt and limped when he carried on. Lilburne intercepted | and in-pass from White rather luckily, i and saved. Caughey, who had evidently resumed, sent back to Steggall. who again found the line well inside j New Zealand’s territory. Lawton had • another chance from a penalty from a j hard angle and distance. Lawton Goals Again. He kicked another splendid goal, giving Australia the lead, the score being— Australia 11, New Zealand 8. Pollock staved off another rush cleverly, and Cottrell cleared to halfway. Another New’ Zealand chance was lost through an infringement. Page was hurt, but carried on. New Zealand Under Pressure. New Zealand were being penalised frequently, and another breach enabled Australia to clear to half-way. Cerutti drove back a New Zealand rush and the backs went away, Cowper getting well inside the New Zealand twenty-five before being pulled down. W. White was almost over twice, and a scrum formed on the New Zealand line, in a corner. Malcolm secured ; and was almost over. The pressure was intense. “ x\ustralia scores again!” the announcer rejoiced, but it turned out that ■ Cowper had been held up. , Lilburne, Caughey and Pollock saved brilliantly, and the announcer described the play as magnificent. Steggall, with a well-judged line kick, sent back an enterprising attack by Proctor. The I. New Zealand backs went away splen- - didlv, and Bullock-Douglas penetrated -j to the Australian line. Another light- - : ning rush saw Proctor staved off just • \ in time. Swift Movements. The ball flashed from end to end •! of the ground in swift movements j which made the crowd roar, but New : , Zealand's efforts were once more

spoiled by infringements, and Australia took the offensive. Lilburne clearing well, while Steere and Metcalfe carried on into neutral territory. Cerutti Scores. Sturtridge intercepted brilliantly and • ran right through to the New Zealand line from just outside his own twentyfive. lie was brought down by Lil- ■ burne, but Cerutti was there to go : over, and Lawton added the extra ! points. Australia 16, New Zealand 8. Page retaliated with a beautiful dropped goal from just outside the twenty-five. Australia 16, New Zealand 12. New Zealand penetrated again to the Australian line, but a free-kick against them allowed Lawton to find touch at half-way, and the Australian backs attacked again. Pollock and M’Lean broke through, and only a fine ; tackle by Steggall kept Cottrell out. ! Cerutti Over Again. Cerutti broke away and for a while j the announcer's joy made him inco- j

It appeared afterwards that Cerutti had initiated a brilliant movement and backed up by Love and M. White, had picked up, beaten Lilburne for speed, and scored a notable try. Lawton’s kick failed, and the scorer was— Australia 19, New Zealand 12. Purdue Scores. New Zealand went back again to the attack, and soon the announcer cried that they had scored. Purdue picked up from a ruck and went across. Pollock converted, and the score was: Australia 19, New Zealand 17. Lawton intercepted, and he and W. White took play to the New Zealand i line. Another Try. I ” Australia have scored and the crowd I have gone mad,” screamed the ani nouncer. Lawton <fcntred, and the ball i was snapped up by Cerutti, who scored. ' Lawton’s kick failed. Australia 22, New Zealand 17. “ The game is getting, well, not rough, but strenuous,” said the announcer. An interception by Australia sent a New Zealand attack back, and the fulltime whistle went shortly, with the score:— AUSTRALIA 22 NEW ZEALAND 17 Kilby came to the microphone, where he said that the game was one of the best and hardest he had ever played “ Australia played a fine game and deserved congratulations,” said Kilby.