GREATEST MARGIN EVER IN N.Z.-N.S.W. CLASH

Chronicle (Levin), 23 June 1947, Page 6

GREATEST MARGIN EVER IN N.Z.-N.S.W. CLASH

Press Assn

!r By Telegraph

.-Copyright ,

Received Sunday, 7.0 p.m. SYDNEY, June 21. Exacting full vengeance for their defeat a fortnight '.ago the All Blacks overwhelmed New South Wales by.36 to.3 at the-Sydiiey ' Cricket ground this afternoon. This wa£; thfe* ;greatest m^rgin in any clash between New Zealand afid .New South .Wales.sinpe the/ beginning of the long series of cdjitests' in 1884. Of -fifty-four matehes played since then New Zealand has won 41 and New I S0Uti Wales 11, two being drawn. '\ ' / - "... ; ?t ih reply-to a solitary penalty by Piper, scqred in .ten^.. ; min'utes, the New Zealanders today piled upsix trieS; v -To this 'Scott added eighteen points by convefting all six tries and kicking ' two penalties. -Goddard and Thornton registered two tries .each':' and Catley and Kearney oue each. ; ' The cr.owd of under 32,000 was electrified by the earlier-play-and by the persistent attempts by the New South ' Wales backs and forwards to break through the New Zealand defence in the' second half, but many began to leave the field when a New Zealand win was plainly in sight fifteen minutes before full time.

The teams were as follow: New Zealand: Fullback, .Scott; threequarters, Mason, Goddard and Argus; five-eighths. Allen and Kearney; halfback, Tetzlaff; forwards, Thornton, Arnold, White, Hobbs, Willocks, Simpson, Catley and Connolly. New South Wales: Fullback, Piper; three-quarters, Eastes, Howell, MacBride and Allan; five-eighth, Cremin; halfback, Burke; forwards, Buchan, Cornforth, Windon, Kraefft, Hardcastle, Keller, Furness, Tweedale. The referee was Mr. H. A. Tolhurst. Playing conditions were neariy perfect when the teams took the field. Despite two curtain-raisers the ground showed no signs of being cut up though there were several bare patches at halfway where the Bulli soil of the cricket pitehes showed. -The breeze was light and the sky clear. The All Blacks won the toss and opened with their backs to the sun which, however, was not bright enough to make things difficult for New South Wales. New South Wales Attacked Early. New South Wales swung into action from the whistle, first Cornforth, and then the backs, penetrating deeply into New Zealand territory. The backs in partieular with Howell and Eastes showing prominently were dangerous. MacBride was pulled down inches from the line and Windon actually crossed but was recalled for a forward pass. In the resultant scrum in front of the posts the All Blacks were penalised and Piper kicked an easy goal. — New South Wales 3—0. Catley Crashed Through for First Try. Scott cleared another attack and Kearney and Tetzlaff took the ball downfield with shrewd kicks. From a lineout Catley crashed through _ for a try in the corner. From the sideline Scott made a perfeet conversion and New Zealand led 5 — 3. Up to this time the All Blacks seemed hard pressed and were losing both the scrums-and a fair proportion of the lineouts. /fhe team was visibly shaking 'ddwn, however, and soon was breaking better than even, with Thornton and Arnold constantly menacing the New South Wales back line. T. Allan staved off one All Black threat and returned play to half way where New South Wales were penalised just inside the line. Scott raised the flags again and New Zealand led- 8 — 3; " The All Blacks were now holding New Soutfh Wales on the defence, chiefly by line kicking. Allen sent his backs away several times and once Kearney was dumped by Buchan just short of the goal line. The New Zealand forwards were settling into their stnde and were gradually bettering the opposimr nack in all departments.

Half way through the spell Allen dummied through, drew a inan and passed to Goddard, who doubled through between MacBride and Howell and scored cleanly in the corner. Scott 's unerring boot added the conversion and New Zealaud led 13 — 3.

By no means outcias^ea, isew oouui Wales threatened continually. Howell was grassed near the New Zealand twenty-five, but the splendid backing up play by the New Zealand backs and forwards slowly forced the home team back into its own twenty-five. With the defence stretched almost to breaking point it seemed certain that New Zealand would score again. Scott went through and short punted but the ball rolled over the dead-ball line. Then Allen tried for a field goal and failed. Scott later kicked and 'the bounce beat Piper but Kearney knocked-on when all he had to do was fall over the line. Just before half time Scott dummied through and passed to Allen but the referee ruled that the pass was forward. For half the spell New South Wales had been fighting desperately to hold the fort. Cremin and Windon had tried to get back on- the attack but the Ail Blacks showed uncajmy amtieipation of every -New South Wales move. At half time the scrums were even but the All Blaoks were well ahead in line outs. The Second Half. On resumption the All Blacks went back to;the offensiye with Allen prominent in shrewd pffiy* This time they made no-mistake. When Burke tried to clear he was charged down by Argus, who passed out to Goddard. The Can-' terbury centre ducked -o-ound on the blin,d side and went over for his second try. -Scott. converted and the score was New- Zealand 18, N.S.W. 3. Neariy half an hour passed before the score was changed. In that time the play was again even with New South Wales taking the fight time and again into All Black territory. The All Rlswks keot throwing the ball about

and were .keeping the play open despite the fact that the home backs were always triers. In the forwards the play became even more willing. Willocks is Injured. Play was held up when Willocks received a bad cut over an eye. He was off the field about ten minutes while an ambulance man stemmed the flow of blood." ' Allen was laid flat after stopping a forward rush but he resumed IHtle the • wors^.-for. the knock.

Burke, Cremin and MacBride made strong attempts to break through but at this stage the New Zealand cover defence was superb. Simpson received a cut on the face and during the holdup . Ar-gus changed a boot. The All Blacks weathered the. full force of a New South Wales attack and then went back for more. The forwards went over the line but .MacBride saved. Then Allen dummied his way right through to Piper apd whipped the ball to Thornton, who scored. Scott converted making New Zealand 23, N.S.W. 3. r . With a erushing defeat in sight, New.. South Wales iieyer let. up. • Cremin and Eastes figured in several . game movements which finished in a group pf All Black jerseys. Piper held the fort for a while with excellent kicking but the result could be foreseen. Hobbs, Allen and Mason handled in a neat movement and then . Tetzlaff broke through and passed to Connolly, who sent Thornton over for his second try. Scott made easy work Of the conversion. — New Zealand 28, N.S.W. 3. The game remained open and New South Wales kept pegging away but for once the All Blacks appeared to oe finishing fresher than they started. A penalty from well out toward the aide line gave -Scott another chance to demonstrate' his ealibre. He made the lifficult kick look simple and the score was New Zealand 31, N.S.W. 3. In the final minutes of the game the vvhole All Black team seemed to be riinning and passing on attack. -Kear-ney-went over- f 6r a try which Scott converted, making New Zealand 3(5, N.S.W. 3. ' The final whistle went after the All Blacks had thrown the ball all found the New- South Wales twenty-five in an amazing combinhd effort. -