ALL BLACK’S TOUR

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 225, 25 June 1928, Page 7

ALL BLACK’S TOUR

& BIGGEST WIN TO DATE

NATAL OVERWHELMED.

By Telegraph—Copyright—Press Assn. MARITZBURG, June 23. With eight points up in the first half, against a slight wind, New Zealand. overwhelmed Natal in the second .spell of a match played at Martizburg to-day winning by five converted tries, one try and one penalty goal to one penalty goal. A quarter of an hour after the start of the second spell the All Blacks .started to play brilliant football, and right through the last half hour they .adopted'whirlwind tactics. The backs found a gaping hole in the defence, through which the three-quarters in spariding style. Territorially, in the first half Natal had the better of the game, but the All Blacks took advantage, of the slightest opportunity to go through. It was a differ•ent story in the second spell, the New .Zealanders dazzling their opponents .and delighting the crowd with brilliant thrusts by the backs. After the match, George Davenish, ■ones of the South African selectors, .said that after the trials this week he was not too pleased with the South African backs, and after seeing the All Blacks’ performance in the last 20 minutes to-day there was a doubt left in his mind as to the ability of South .Africa to hold the New Zealanders. He was emphatic that the South African forwards would more than hold their -own.

Twenty-five minutes of a little bit of ragged play had passed before anything approaching good football was .seen in the, match to-day. Then, with .3. series of systematic attacks, the All .Blacks worked play into the Natal .twenty-five, where Kilby sent his backs .away from a scrum. When the ball ■came to Strang he sold a dummy beautifully, cut infield, then out to th© •wing, and sent Grensido over after a ■fine imn. Lindsay converted from the touchline. New Zealand 5 Natal nil A penalty for a scrum infringement jfollowed the kick-off, Lindsay landing another great goal, this time from ten yards inside the half-way. New Zealand 8 Natal nil A spell of dull forward play followed., until 'Johnson flashed down the blind side of the scrum and sent Scrimshaw over, but the rover was called "back for a knock-on. Half-time was then called. Two minutes after resuming the game, Brownlie was penalised for. hanging on to the ball, and Barlow kicked :a magnificent goal against the wind from half-way. New Zealand 8 Natal 3 Given heart by the fact that they were only five points down, the Natal -forwards played with more vim and decision, and the backs started to more with more freedom. Bot-h sides then fell into slipshod ways, until McWil’liams sent to Kilby from the ruck. The ball was then handled by Johnson, •Carleton and Robilliard, the last-named racing hard down the line to score a .fine try which Lindsay converted. New Zealand 13 Natal 3 Plainly Natal was paralysed now, -and the New Zealand backs were working with more precision. Clarkson, the Natal centre, came to light with one brilliant run, and a try was saved only by an equally brilliant tackle by Lindsay. Then, -with three fine attacks by the backs, New Zealand had Natal in a tangle. Another sortie saw Strang send Carleton away in fine style, and thq centre cut in .smartly, transferring to Scrimshaw, ■who scored under the posts. Lindsay -converted. New Zealand 18 Natal . ” 3 A fine opening by Johnson resulted .in a scrum on the line, and from a melee which followed Stewart dived -over.. Lindsay- again converted. New Zealand 23 Natal 3 Natal now set up a hot attack, but it was rendered ineffective when the New Zealand backs broke away, the ball coming from the scrum through the hands of Kilby, Johnson and Carledon to Grenside, who beat two men rand passed infield to Scrimshaw, who raced over and scored an excellent try. Lindsay-s kick was again successful. New Zealand 28 Natal 3

It was an easy matter for New Zealand now. The next try e-ame when Kilby made an opening from the ruck, sending Pohnson away. Carleton added liis share and sent Eobilliard over for a fine try in the corner. Lindsay just missed with the kick, and when time came the score board read:

New Zealand 31 Natal 3 COMMENT ON PLAYERS. KILBY AND CARLETON SHINE. In the first half the game was one of shreds and patches, but in the second spell the New Zealanders played big football, the handling of the backs and the combination of the forwards being perfect.

Kilby and Carletone outshone the rest of the back division, with Johnston always sound. Carleton, for the first time on the tour, showed his true form.

Both wings, Robilliard and Grenside, showed flashes of brilliance, but Grenside’s tackling was not altogether reliable. Lindsay’s display was sufficient to inspire confidence, though he was not called upon for much serious work. Strang, for the most part, was a good connecting link, but his defence was erratic.

Kilby played another strong game, feeding his backs in lightning style and combining with Johnston beautifully. On his playjn the last two matches Kilby should be certain to be the first test half. All the forwards showed fine for gaining possession from 28 scrums, against their opponents’ 31, and capturing the ball twice out of every three line-outs. McWilliams and Hadley were the best forwards of the day. It is very doubtful whether any of the Natal men will get in the Springboks’ side. RECORD TO DATE. Pts. Pts. Played Won Lost For Against .8 6 2 108 37 ITINERARY OF THE TEAM. MATCHES PLAYED. May 30. —v. Western Province Country Clubs, won 11 to 3. June 2. —v. Western Province Town Clubs, lost 3 to 7. June 6. —v. Griqualand, won 19 to 10. Juno 9. —v. Transvaal, lost 0 to 6. June 13. —v. Orange Free State, won 20 to nil. June 16. —v. Transvaal, won 5 to 0. June 20. —v. Western Transvaal, won 19 to 8. June 23. —v. Natal, won 31 to 3. PROGRAMME OF MATCHES June 30 —First Test, Durban. July 7—Kimberley . July 11 —Visit Victoria Falls. July 14—Bulawayo. July 21 —Second Test, Johannesburg. July 25 —Pretoria. July 28 —Bloemfontein. August I—Burghersdorp. August 4—East London. August B—King Williamstown. August 11 —Port Elizabeth. August 18 —Third Test, Port Eliza-

beth. August 22 —Oudtshoorn. . August 25 —Capetown. September I—Fourth1 —Fourth Test, Cape-

town. September 4 —Sail from Capetown.

THE HONOURS BOARD. Player Games Pts. Tries Goals D. Lindsay 4 23 — 11 M. Nicholls .. ' 4 12 1 5 A. Strang 5 10 2 2 A. Robilliard 6 9 3 — F. Lucas 3 9 o — B. Grenside . . 6 6 2 — G. Scrimshaw 5 6 2 — C. Rushbrook 2 6 2 — R. Stewart 7 3 1 — I. Finlayson . . 6 3 1 — J. Swain 6 3 1 — M. Brownlie .. 6 3 1 — L, Johnson 5 3 1 — G. Alley 5 3 1 — W. Dailey 4 3 1 — R. McWilliams 4 3 1 — J. Hore . 3 3 1 — S. Carleton 5 — — ■— H. Lilburne .. 5 — — — P. Ward 4 — — C. Brownlie .. 4 — — — W. Hazlett 4 • — — — F. Kilby 4 — — — S. Hadley 4 — — — J. Burrows .. 2 — — — N. McGregor 2 — — — R. Sheen 2 — — — E. Snow 2 —> — ■“— I. Harvey 1 .— — —