MERITORIOUS WIN

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 301, 28 December 1935, Page 3

MERITORIOUS WIN

The All Blacks LONDON COUNTIES DEFEATED CRITICS CONFOUNDED By Telegraph—Copyright—Press Assn. LONDON, December 26. The All Blades defeated London Counties by 24 points to five after leading seven to nil at half-time. Fierce work by the forwards and individual efforts by the backs distinguished the New Zealanders’ fine win, demonstrating the value of intensive backing-up and ability to make the best use of the slightest opening.

Tindill scoring a dropped goal and Gilbert a penalty goal put the All Blacks ahead in the first spell. New Zealand 7 London Counties 0 After the interval the game was bright and full of incident. Mitchell fielded a loose kick, and with little room to move crossed for a try. New Zealand 10 London Counties 0 A few minutes later, when a burst by the All Blacks seemed to have been checked. Ball kicked a field goal. New Zealand 14 London Counties 0 R. Dick scored a try for the Counties, taking a reverse pass from Candler and went clean through the middle. He kicked over Gilbert’s head and beat several All Blacks for a touch-down. Jenkins converted. New Zealand 14 London Counties 5 The All Blacks’ forwards were magnificent in the closing stages. Tindill scored another field gnal. New Zealand is London Counties 5 Mitchell crossed for a try and Gilbert kicked a penalty for New Zealand. New Zealand 24 London Counties 5 Lambourn replaced Pepper, who ricked an ankle on Christmas Day. The back-line was re-formed with j Ball and Hart on the wings. Mitchell . at centre, Griffiths at second and , Tindill at first five-eighths. Corner j was captain.

Comment on the Play

The special correspondent of the

United Press Association, commenting on the game, says: The All Blacks win was one of the most meritorious of the tour. They beat the Counties in all departments, and showed that their Cardiff defeat had not affected their morale. The tourists might have been excused for the adoption of safety-first tactics and for closing-up play, relying on

their forwards to carry the team through. Instead. . they opened up the play, exploiting all the tri.cks they have developed on the tour, and thus confounding critics, who believed that they were a defeated team. The New Zealanders’ bad luck since the commencement of the tour apparently is continuing till the end. Caughey did not play. His leg is still troublesome, and it is doubtful whether he will play against England. Pepper ricked an ankle when he stumbled on Christmas Day., Lambourn replaced him. The back line was re-formed, Ball and Hart playing on the wings, Mitchell at centre, Griffiths at second five-eighths, and Tindill at first five-eighth. Corner captained the team. There was some doubt before the game whether Hore’s hand would stand the test. The doctor previously considered that he would be unable to play for five weeks. Mitchell. Ball. Hadley, King and Reid are weary of football. •The New Zealanders immediately pleased the crowd with a great back movement, Hart making an extra man after the ball had been heeled from the scrum. Unwin and Dick later left the New Zealand backs standing with fine runs, but a minute later Tindill potted a goal. Mitchell’s handling, previously faulty, lost a certain try owing to a knockon, a sad ending to a glorious movement. The team fully deserved its half-time lead, and with a little luck would have scored two more tries. The difference between the tourists and the Counties was that the former’s passing was accurate and the Counties’ was wild. In the second half the All Blacks seemed capable of working themselves Into scoring positions whenever they desired. Tindill was surprisingly good on defence, and there are excellent chances that he will be half-back in the last international match. Griffiths was content to pass on to Mitchell or to make sure by

kicking to touch. It was a great match for Ball. Half the team rushed up to shake hands with him when he kicked a spectacular field goal. Ball’s dodging runs nearly resulted in two tries in the second half. Mitchell’s was the best

try of the game. Reid and Wynyard were the best forwards. Wynyard has learnt much on the tour and should be one of New Zealand’s best forwards next season.

“The Times’’ expresses ’he opinion that the score flattered tbe All Blacks as a combination if not as kickers. The paper says Tindill is memorable as the most effective positional drop-kicker seen either in Britain or the Dominions for many a long day. His two dropped goals were magnificent while Ball’s which occurred after Mitchell’s try. was so easily achieved that many thought it was Tindill again. The “Daily Mail’’ says: “The visi-

tors were apparently playing well within themselves. There was no question of their superiority in the tight scrums.” Mr Meredith is sending 10 to 20 Probables against England for a week at Brighton, where the sea air will reinvigorate them and assist in the final work.

The "Daily Mail” regrets that England’s 15 cannot similarly be collected and trained, instead of drifting In twos and threes to Twickenham from their respective jobs. Mr J. W. Faull, of Wales, will referee the game between New Zealand and England.