SPARKLING GAME WITH AUSTRALIANS

Chronicle (Levin), 26 August 1946, Page 6

SPARKLING GAME WITH AUSTRALIANS

-Press Aasnciatinn

WIN OVER TARANAKI-KING COUNTRY

By Telearavh-

NEW PLYMOUTH, August 25. Bjiarlding foot ball was played at Kugby Park, New Plyiuouth, 011 Balurday when tlie Australian Kugby tour iug team boat the comliined Taranaki lying Country team by 9 points to 6. The ground, in spite of lieavy overI night rain, was in splendid coiulitioii | aud the teams, playing at a fast pace I from start to flnisli, threw the ball about brightly. Australia had the better of the game territorial ly but in the second spell the coinbiued team was u trille unlucky not to .score twice. Domination of the set scrums and lineouts and crisper handling were factors contributing principally to Australia 's well deserved win. The visiting team 1 faced stern opposition and it was re vealed that it was the niakings of aj side that 110 team will be able to take liberties with. Throwing the bait about at every opportuuity the Australian backs and forwards thrust Combined 011 to the defensive from the outset aud for a vvhile it appeared as if Combined defence would wilt. However, although Combined tackJing was not always wliat it should havo been, it kejit the line intiiet. After 20 minutes' play Combined forwards settled down and begau to get tlie nieasuru of tlieir "Opponents but the Australians were always on top in tlie set scrums, Uavvson raking tlie ball back almost unl'ailingly. In the lineouts the Australians gained the ball more often. Gccasionally Combined backs received an opportuuity and when tliey did they usually made an impression. Getting a fairor share oi' the ball, and with the forwards produeiug their best form in closo loose rushes, Combined had the better of the earJy stages in the second half but about teii minutes before the^end ihe Australians were 011 top again. Concentrating. 011 open football, tlie Australians showed clear-cut superior itv in handling the ball, particulariv in picking it up when tlie Australians broke away with the ball at toe. They were less com-entrated in attack and when a favourablje bounco permitted a player to snap up tlie ball, his com pauious fanned out and indulged in snajipy long passes which were favour ed by tlie Australian inside backs. aud they were exeeuted in sucli a way that •he rec.ipient was usually given pleut^ uf room in which to work. Bchulte halt'-back, shot out well directed passes but in the second spell Marriner and Wetiou frequently caught him in possession. Schulte varied liis game clovelly. Bainton was fast oi! tlie inark aud it requirod a solid low tackle to stop liini.

'J'iie uso of two ceutres had Combined worried, Bchulte making good use of the blind side. Ilowell was always a source of danger but Ihe outslanding Australian back was McBride. H handled well aml once the ball was in his possessiou, he clajtped on the pace. often racing through Combined forwards lo open up the passing in which lie had led more than once. The wings Fastes and McCean, were well bottled up by- Cartwright and Jtunieson. Kastes showed he lms pace and dolor minatioji. The highlight of Ihe Australians' perl'ormance was a brilliant lield goa) kicked by Piper from about 45 yards out. Pijier was sound on defence but his handling was not as sure as the others. His line kicking was usually well done. Cameroii, tlie Combined halt'-back played brilliant football. His defence was particularly sound and from tln scrum he gave almost faultless service I'oor handling by Ridlaml cost Com bined chances in the lirst spell. Jioper's try was brilliant and Janiieson wai always ilangerous. K'attling good football was played b\ the paeks. The Australians showed 1* liey are cajiable in the tight as well ar the loose. Livermore and C. Windoii were perhaps the most prominent. thi former playing splemlidly. Combined pack gave tlie impression that it was playing as well as it was allowed. Walton was an outstanding Combined forward and Marriner was Oue of the most dangerous, particularly in tlie loose. llo was unlucky in failing to score when he broke through witli thc lutll at toe and louched down 011 the dead bfil 1 line. Walker was a tireles> toiler and did a great deal of defence. . Australia scored four miiiutes after tlie second spell began. Bullot, Com bined full-back, fumbled and fdver more picked up. A number of backs and forwards handled before Windoii went over near tlie posts, Livennore c.011 vertiug. Combined equalised within two minutes, l(oper handling twiee and beating two men before touch ing down. Rid land converted. Combined 's second try eame after another quarter of an hour and was the i esii 1 1 of a (ine run down the sideliue bv Janiieson who beafc two men. Piper's iield goal nine miiiutes before time clinclied the issue.