SEVEN POINTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 176, 27 July 1928, Page 8

SEVEN POINTS

ALL BLACKS WINNING MARGIN PRETORIA DISTRICTS BRILLIANTLY' defeated BEST EXHIBITION OF TOUR. I fcFurtiier evidence, if such were I needed, that the All Blacks’ improvement. as shown in the second Test, was not a flash in the pan was given when the tourists played the thirteenth match of their tour against Pretoria Districts yesterday. It was considered that this was to be one of the hardest matches and almost up to test standard. Yet the AU Blacks had a margin of seven points in their favour when the final whistle went, and the opinion is offered that they should have won by much more than that margin. That the New Zealand team must be at the top of their form is apparent, and it wiU be hoped by all Bugby enthusiasts that this will be reflected in the matches still to be played. (Special io Press Association) PRETORIA, July 25. Overwhelmed in the first spell by the New Zealand backs and forwards, Pretoria Districts came to light with a eomplcte reversal of form in the second half in the match played at Pretoria to<ay. The display of the All Blacks in ti»3 first spell when they dominated scrums was brilliant, and the best exhibition of the tcur. In the second spell the New Zealand forwards slackened up and thn game deteriorated. The New Zealanders should have won by more than 13 to 6. A large crowd watched the match, which was played on a parched turf ground. Sir William Solomon was introduced to the New Zealand team, who delighted the crowd with their famous fcaka. The teams were as follows: — New Zealand Lindsay Lucas Carleton Grenside Nicholls Johnson Stewart Ward McWilliams AL Brownlie Alley C. Brownlie Hore Swain Pretoria Districts Gush De Wit Mclntyre Dobie Liebenberg Kotze Chapman G4athnar Strachan Geyser Mortimer Geere Kruger Van Druten Nykamp Visitors Assume Offensive The match opened with a passing rush from a iine-out by the Breton;* backs, but the movement broke down among the three-quarters, the New Zealand forwards, led by C. Brownlie, breaking through. Dailey whipped the ball awav from the ruck on the blind side to Grenside, who raced down the touchline with a shattering, swerving run and scored far out. Lindsay’s kick just missed. —New Zealand 3, Pretoria Districts 0. From a line-out following the kick-off Chapman sent the Pretoria backs away. Kotze punted beautifully, and the backs kicked over the line and in the rare for the ball Kotze b< at Lindsay and scored. The kick at goal missed New Zealand 3, Pretoria Districts o.

The New Zealanders w.re on their toes to-day, throwing the ball about in open, telling fashion, and making the game fast and open, while their backs combined in pretty movements. .Swain next started a dribbling rush from the line-out. McWilliams carried I on and, picking up, got over, Lindsay j goaling.—New Zealand 8, Pretoria Dis- | tricts 3. r j A succession of runs by the New Zea ' land backs had Pretoria puzzled, but | their tackling was sound, and th. y managed to keep the attackers at bay. In attempting to clear Gusli, the full- J back, miskicked into the hand* of Grenside, who passed to Swain. and the forward scored an easy try under the pests. Lindsay converted. —New Zea- 1 land 13. Pretoria Die id* 3. Kotze and Liebenberg had the <rvwd on their feet with a beautiful in and out movement down th? hue. Liebenberg kicked past Lindsay and the position looked dangerous but Carleton came hard across and saved. Away w. nt the New Zealand forwaids again in •-* fast attack with McWilliams, Hoie, ?nd Swain in the lead. They combined in several interesting movements before half-time and were twice almost ovpi, but the Pretoria forwards, led by Kruger. Van Druten, andNykamp. eventua? : v work. <1 plav downfit Id. Pretoria Get Going From the kick-off in the second spell the Pretoria backs got going in a passing rush, but Dobie stumbled and Lindsay cleared with a great kick past half-way. Play was more even than in the first spell, the local forwards holding their own. They set about, the big task of recovery with a vengeance, but the All Blacks’ defence, as usual, was sound. The New Zealand forwards then got moving again. McWilliams and Swain went racing down th. line in a brilliant in-and-out passing rush from a line-out but a forward pass at the critical moment spoiled a moral try. The Pretoria backs gained a lot of ground with a clever passing movement from a serum at half-way, and their forwards made a determined effort to get over, hammering away at the New Zealand line for a few minutes till Ward shot out with the ball at his feet and went away on a beautiful solo effort. Home Side Notches Another The Pretoria forwards next started a fine attack in which the backs joined in. It was a pretty movement, which ended in Geyser scoring at the corner. Gush missed the kick at goa l .—New Zealand 13, Pretoria Districts ♦». Pretoria was getting th- b?il from the scrums at this stage and their backs were consistently instituting movements which were consistently smashed by the New Zealand backs. There was

a spell of scrappy play until the New Zealand forwards started a hot. attack, which went from half-way to the cornci, where an infringement spoiled a r<.val chance. Pretoria cleared their quarters. Hr.mt ng the ball away from tin. scrum UiKiomau started them away Dobie short pur. ted and Carleton and Lindsay 1.-rtwi-i-n them pulled the side out of a dangerous position. Th,. last few minutes of the game stii’. saw Pretoria making desperate efforts win, and the final whistle came with the New Zealand backs still holding u? a lively attack, and the score:— A LL BLACKS 13 PRETORIA 6 Winning the ball from the scrums 19 times against 18 in the first spell the New Zealanders Wore all ovor the Pretoria backs showing excellent form. The only thing that saved a larger scone was the fine defence. All Blacks’ Fine I> fence. The home side in the second spell would not be recognised as the same players. The Now Z. a and forwards slackened up and Pretoria got the same percentage of the ball from the scrums as their opponents did in the first spell. Their backs were continuously on the attack, Dobie, Kotze and Chapman standing out. All their efforts, however. were effectively and consistently spoiled. All the New Zealand backs played a fine game. Nicholls. Carleton and Dailey at times being brilliant. Grenside got more of the bti’l than Lucas, but the Aucklander made rhe most of every chance. Lindsay’s kicking and defence wore first-class. McWilliams, Swain an<l Ward were easily the best forwards. Kruger. Van Druten, Nykamp and Geere w. tp the outstanding Pretoria forwards. It was a fine triumph for the New Zealanders, for the Pretoria Districts match was regarded as one of the hardest matches of th- tour and looked upon as a minor test.