CLEAR-CUT VICTORY

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 274, 25 November 1935, Page 2

CLEAR-CUT VICTORY

All Blacks Beat Scotland

SCORE 18 POINTS TO 8

CAUGHEY GETS THREE TRIES

By Telegraph—Copyright—Press Ass a. LONDON, Nov. 24. On the famous Murrayfield area, Edinburgh, headquarters of Rugby in Scotland, the All Blacks secured a clear-cut victory by 18-8 against Scotland yesterday. This was the tourists „ first international match and, incidentally, the fust game against Scotland in 30 years. Securing a generous share of the ball from the scrums the All Blacks made the most of their opportunities and provided a bright and enterprising exhibition. Caughey scored three tries and he and Sadler were the outstanding backs. The forwards packed excellently and Hadley’s hooking was a feature of the game and his success resulted in the crack international, R. W. Shaw, being virtually starved at five-eighths. The teams were as follow: — NEW ZEALAND. Gilbert, Hart, Oliver, Mitchell, Caughey, Griffiths, Sadler, Hore, Hadley, L.ambourn, Reid, King, McKenzie, Manchester, Mahoney. SCOTLAND. Kerr, Forrest, Dick, Murdoch, Fyfe, R. Shaw, Logan, Grieve, G. Shaw, Beattie, Burnett, Lambie, Gray, Waters and Thom.

All the Scottish team except Kerr, G. D. Shaw and Gray, were included in the XV which defeated England last season, thus Scotland fielded what was regarded as their strongest team.

A week of bad weather resulted in the ground being,on the soft side; otherwise conditions were ideal. Play started excitingly, the Scots dashing down the field from a scrum lat mid-field and the All Blacks defender was. forced to race his hardest to touch down. Scotland continued the pressure and Dick cut through, brilliantly, enabling Fyfe to outpace the defence and obtain a try which Fyfe was unable to convert. Scotland 3 Xnv Zealand O The Scottish forwards were more than holding their own in the scrums and also were breaking away well, preventing the All Blacks developing ' attacks. Murdoch was injured and I retired, depleting the home pack. The All Blacks invaded Scottish territory, but Thom, tackling magnificently, ended a dangerous period. The New Zealand backs, kicking finely, regained a territorial advantage, then a magnificent all-in passing movement yielded them their first score, Griffiths and Caughey giving the final touches, Caughey scoring and Gilbert converted. New Zealand 5 Scotland 3 Murdoch returned, but the All Blacks were dominant and somfe hard scrummaging in Scotland’s twentyfive enabled anothei’ try, Hadley touching down and Gilbert again converting. New Zealand 10 Scotland 3 Scotland rallied magnificently, but a great effort by Logan was spoilt by Dick failing to pass. The Scottish forwards forced back their opponents to the line but failed to score. From a free kick the All Blacks made a brilliant dash down field, which Kerr and Forrest tackling grimly, stopped, but Caughey got over when the defence wavered. New Zealand 18 Scotland 8

The All Blacks deserved their half time lead. They were snapping up opportunities near their opponents’ line and wasting few passes, but the weakness on the defence was shown when Dick opt through again when Logan dashed round the scrum. Both packs were playing well, the Scottish being very virile and packing tightly, but in the last quarter of an hour the All Blacks were winning two scrums to one. The combination and back-ing-up between the All Blacks’ backs and forwards was excellent. The inside backs cleverly found the line when danger threatened. Sadler was the most outstanding and was most dangerous near the line. Resuming after half-time, the Scottish backs made a brief attack, but play soon settled down in Scottish

territory and the visitors appeared likely to increase their lead, .until a free kick relieved the pressure. Shaw led a good attack, which Griffiths beat off, but fine passing between Logan, Shaw and Dick enabled the last-named to go over between the posts. Murdoch converted. New Zealand 13 Scotland 8 Both sifiels were playing their hardest and the Scottish defenders forced. There were .several' 1 rushes, but neither side could get' to close quarters, while' keen thcklinig prevented any atltjack developing. Nevertheless, the Scots, finding touch excellently, reached the New Zealand line, whence they were driven, back to mid-field. The Scots again Invaded the New Zealand ifrwenty-five, but were driven out, after which a long dribble by Caughey ataid Oliver was checked in the nick of time by Forrest. The All Blacks maintained their relentless attack, and Mitchell wtals almost .in before a great dash by Murdoch took play to the New Zealand end. Then an All Black forward rush swept back the Scojtls and Sadler, with a clever break-away supported by Mitchell and Ca.ughey, made the issue .sure when Caughey went over. Gilbert convertijnig. New Zealand 18 Scotland 8 1 Scotland made a final desperate effort, but failed with a kick a yard from the' line. Flay was proceeding in midfield at itlhe finish. Wild Easses Snapped Up After looking well-beaten, Scotland played .so magnificently that either side ulnltil the last ten .minutes might have won. The Scottish forwards equalled those of the ATI Blacks and, led byj Beattie, Thom, Waters and Lambie, often swept through the opposition with the ball at their toes. Scotland might have scored several tries, but dropped passes showed that no team can afford to make mistakes against the New Zealanders, who began some of their best movements from their opponents’ Wild passes. The match was intensely interesting throughout and superior combination won. Thei special correkrlondent of the -United Press Association, commenting on the match says: The New Zear landerfs’ convincing win against Scotland at Murrayfield proved that they are a really good all-round side, comparable with any the Dominion has produced. Critffcs who declared the team, would not rise to great heights must now eat their words. Scotland was not overwhelmed but, on the whole, the tourists were much too good for theliir opponents ajnd carried too many guns in backing up, combination and tactics. There was a period in the second half when victory appeared possible for Scotland, but' in the final te|n minutes the tourists had matters praetUcally their own way. bewildering the Scots iswift and sure passing and remarkable anticipation. Moreover, the All Blacks never locked unless forcte'd, the inside men always aiming to work the ball to the

wings or attempt reverse movements, at which they are mow most adept as a result of intensive training. On the contrary, the Scottish centres often relied on kicks, presenting the ball to the visitors, who were enabled to '’initiate 'passing movements even from th'eir own goal-liine. This was particularly evident on one occasion when Caughey, Oliver, Griffiths and Sadler carried inlay the full length of the field immediately following a crisis when the ScoHWish backs seemed certain to score. Best Game for Years Critics who have seen international games for the last 20 or 30 years declared after thie final whistle that it had been one of 'the most spectacular and thrilling expositions of open Rugby ever witnessed. The Scottish backs several times showed ability to beat the defence, but backing up, which was la feature of the tourists’ play, was missing. If the New Zealanders reproduce the same class of football there is no reason why they should not win all the international matches. It is hard to visualise any team outside .an international one troublSnlg them. Mr Meredith is greatly pleased with his men’s showing and believes that the scrummaging troiibleis are over. Thijs is the first meeting between New Zealand and a Scottish Rugby tieean for thirty .years. At Tn verlei th. in 1905, the AM Blacks won by 12 points to 7. >