Australians Unlucky to Lose Test

Chronicle (Levin), 30 September 1946, Page 8

Australians Unlucky to Lose Test

— Press AsSociation

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Sept. 29. Giviug tlieir best display of the New Zealand tour, the Austrnlian tugbyteam was very unfortuixate to be beaten by the All Blaclts at Eden Park yesterday afternoon by 14 points to 10. Only spleiidid goal kicking uy K. W. H. Seott, the home fullbaok, saved the day for the side. He kieked three penalty goals, two of which were spleiidid eli'orts, from well out and converted the only try scored by the All Blacks. Australia registered tvro couverted tries. The half-time score was 8 — 5 in favour of the All Blacks. The weather conditions were good, the game being played iii bright sunshine. There was searcely any wind and in spite of the heavy rain experienced, the ground was in better order than anticipated and although holdilig, was eonducive to open football. There was an attendance estimated at 30,000. Before the start of the match, Mr: A. H. Outler, V.C., Australian High Commissioner for New Zealand, shook hands with the player's of bo'th teams. In the fifst spell, Australia, on wrinning the toss; had the advantage of the sun and the better of the game territorially and it was unfortunate for them to lie in arrears at half time. The Australian' forwards who lapsed badlv in the match against the Maoris at Hamilton last Wednesday, again sliowed vast improvement. It was a different set from that iielded in the Hamilton game and took the all round lionours. Australia wron 23 scrums ro .13 and 14 line outs to 10. The penalties were 12 — 9 in favour of the All Blacks. It was pleasing but rather surprising to see the way in which the Australian forwards overshadowed the All Black vanguard in phases of the play to which the All Black pack was more accustomed. In early matches during the New Zealand tour, the visiting forwards revealed delinite weaknesses in regard to scrummaging and line out play and especially rucking. It was a different story 6n Saturday and the Australian vanguard is deserving of the highest praise for the manner in which they sliowed points to the opposition. The Australian back&, too, in spite of lapses in handling irt the early stages of the match, sliowed more speed and thrust as a set tlian the All Black rearguard which at no time was a happy combination. Sonie of the home players erred by tackling too high and often, as the result an Australian player in pos^ session was allowmd to get his pass away to a support after a movement had been temporarily held up. All round the cover defence of the Austra lians was better and quicker than that of their opponeltts. Although there was plenty of bright play in the match, the pace thfoughdut wrns ttot so fast as that of the first test in Dunedin. This, to some degr'e^, eould be attributed to more use of'tFe touchlines being made bv both sbJes.'' Tlib Australian backs, with their ' forwards playing so well, had plenty of the ball. C. Burke, half, who pr'o'ved very elusive, made some good side-stepping runs and, as in the first test, revealed weaknesses at times in the tackling of the All Black forwards. With T. MacBride he was the outstanding back in the Australian side but wa's inclinfed to run too far on occasions. MacBride demonstrated his ability on the first try scored by the Australians, which was an excellenr one. MacBride, who had come up fasi in support, tlien showed the opposition a clean pair of heels to touch down be hind the posts. Congratulations from all sides are due to the Australian forwards who played a great game. There was none bett.ei than P. Hardc&stle wliose line out work was again of a liigh standard. Ile was ' also outstanding in tight play and ranks ; with the best New Zealand forwards before the war. ' v ,/Wie .best '^II. ^5l.ack backs were R • latllei* 'FGa^tdln^fiand fir:st .five^eighihs ; ''W, ■ ScofJ'' /(f ullhack) and *U. Goddard (centre)^ 'Allen did sptendni work on attack and some of his efforts, had he been supported, would surely I have borne fruit. Goddard proved very elusive and on four or five occasions his speed enabled him to burst th rough the defence but only to see his good work go astray tlirough a knock on. Of the 14 points scored by the team, Mcott registered 11 with three penalty goals and a conversion. His handling picldng up and defence were splendid. - Among the All Black forwards M. J. McHugh and II. F. Frazer were the most prominent. The only try scored by the All Blacks was wlien Goddard made a fine opening and in-passed to 1 McHugh, Elvidge completing the move ment by going over near the posts. The All Black team disappointed owing to Jack of finish to its movements and dasli. The Australians, too, Iost opportunities through lack of finish. With • the amount of ball they received they should have scored more tries.