Combined Side Gives Visitors Good Game

Chronicle (Levin), 8 September 1949, Page 9

Combined Side Gives Visitors Good Game

Press AssaciationJ

) (Per

BLENHEIM, Sept. 7. The touring Australians met nnexpectedly strong opposition in their i match against the combined Marlbor- j ough-Nelson-Golden Bay team today. . They won by 14 points to 8 and they! deserved to but it was not until close | to the end that the issue was beyond doubt. More than a f ew times in a very willing second spell the situation was such that Combined might have run- tlie points even closer. The game unfortunately was marred by some hot exchanges early in the second spell for which the crowd held the Australians responsible, and at one stage there was a noisy demonstration in which the referee was voqiferously exhorted to take drastic action. Instead, however, he kept firm control and after allowing a short period for tempers to cool down, he ordered playi to continue. There was no repetition] of offending behaviour. j Territorially the ifrst spell was much j in favour of Combined whose bustling and slashing loose rushes prevented the Australian baclcline from exploiting its undoubted superiority in speed and understanding.

The spell ended 3-all, Australia 's points coming from a brilliant run "by Solomon who eut the defence to ribbons ' and passed near the line to Broad who dived over. Cawsey missed with the ! kick. For nearly all of the remainderl of the spell, Combined were eonsistent- 1 ly in Australian territory. Jensen and Raymond in the forwjirds were outstandiug in loose rushes and Taylor, who was a member of the Maori team which toured Australia tliis year, and Ilobson, played exceptionally weli in the baeks. Taylor kieked a penalty to bring the scores even. The Australians were quiek olf the marlc in the second S£>ell but.could not quite produce the finishing toucli. • For a period the game became more willing than scientific 'but then came a brilliant exhibition of speed and good handling when Casey came up into a passing rush and made a fme opening which Allan iinished with a trv. The kick at goal missed. Soon aftenvards there was a series of very willing scrummages culminating in the incidents which eaused the hostile demonstration mentioned. The Australians at tliis stage had a deflnite advantage in the serums and launclied a succession of back rushes. Burlce received a long pass from a forward melee near the touchline and eut through brilliantly to make an opportunity for Brockholf who scored well out. Allan converted. Combined replied with a bustling forward rush from which tho ball went from Raymond to Garguilo to Taylor and the latter produced a tricky run to seore near the posts. Hobson converted, making the score Australia 1.1, Combined 8. With only a few miniites to go, the paee was again hot with the Australians producing bewildering speed. TQ.jip, especially line movement was finished by Allan who went over for a great try. His kick at goal missed.