ALL BLACKS DRAW WITH BORDER

Chronicle (Levin), 12 September 1949, Page 6

ALL BLACKS DRAW WITH BORDER

C. King, N.Z.P.A. correspond-

( From

ent with the All Blacks). Rcceived Sunday 7 p.m. EAST LONDON, Sept. 11. Border, the first South African Province to beat the All Blacks, equailed Eliodesia's record when they drew tho return match todav. Onee again the All Blacks' line was uncrossed. The scores consisted of a try by Allen and a penalty goal" by Scott, to a penalty gOal and field goal. A record crowd of 15,000 saw a"; thrilling match with the All Blacks dominating the first spell arnl Border having -much the better of the second spell. As in the Rhodesian game, remarkable scenes occurred at the final wliistle. Border has lost only one game this season and that was in their 'first fixture. Since .then this pronuoncediy Eng- ' lish-speaking area has gone from success to success including the defeat of the All Blacks and Border Rugby has' reeeived well merited recognition by having two players in the fourth Test. The crowd was delirious with excite"inent that its representatives should .establish an unbeaten record against an ' Qverseas touring side for the first time in the history' of Border Rugby and i tliere was even greater excitement when j AI r Parker, after the - match, said: "You tliorough'ly deserved your first vvin and we feel that a draw was a, fair result of today's game." Fred* Allen, who played his 100th first cluss game today, also paid a notable tribute to Border. This, coupled with the- manner in whieh Jim Kearney's side accepted the first defeat of the tour, has made the 1949 All Blacks the toast of the town as "generous in victory or defeat." Contrasting Spells Today 's ganie xesolvecl itself into two contrasting spbils. The All Blacks began with such dash that they looked iike overwhelming the opposition. Scott kicked a good penalty goal within six minutes' after missing two others, one of vvhich grazed the posts, and for 15 minutes the tourists threw the ball about with delightful abandon whicii promised great results. Savage, playiug his first game since the second Tesi at Ellis Park on August 13, threw out ( good passes and Delamore gave added j thrust to the backline by his s.peed off ' the mark and sound handling. Scott moved up into many movements and it seemed nothing could stop-them except superb defence. , But' that defence was there. As in the first match, Border provided an exhibition of sound tackling and cover deEence second to none in South African Rugby. ' Gradualiy the edge was taken off the New Zealand attacks and then the second factor entered into the match".

Catley hegan to get heaten for the ball in the scrums. The main reason for this appeared to he awkward packii:g of the New Zealand scrum. In fact it surprised everybody since the majority of the Test side were on the field. As a result the All Blacks at half time ica by only three points to nil thQugh they looked vastly the better side. The second spell was only five minutes old when from a 25 drop out, the All Blacks worked a clever move. Delamore took a quick transfer from Alitu tapped the ball over the 25 line, regained and passed to Ghristian who sent 10 Meates. The Otago vvinger beat his ;opponent and centred nicely for Allen lo bustle the opposition. When the bali rolled clear the All Blacks' captain cleverly dribbled it ahead to' score a clever opportunist try. Scott missed the kick and the All Blacks led ti — 0. But this was virtually the only occusion till the final five minutes that tbc All Blacks were in their opponents' 25. Border hit back with interest. Their first points came in an unusual manner. Meates fieided the hall near h.,3 dead hall line. Instead oi' forcing I13 elected to race upfield, was caugfit near his 25 where the All Blacks were penalised, and Snynian goaled. The only weakness in an inspire'i spell of Rugby by Border, was tlie continual kicking of van Rensberg their fly half. He tried pots at goal and aki. kicks ahead. None had good directiou but finally his persistence was revvarded and from a scrum inside the New Zealand 25 the ball was sliot back to him and he potted a good goal to level the scores. It was now the All Blacks' tuni to hit back. Crowley and Ghristian were prominent in loose sorties and Ghristian also gave most intelligent suppoft to his, backs. Again magnifieent dbf enee stop ped Goddard when he appeared tlirougii gaps. Then tSeott had the misfortune to hit the uprights, with a long" penaln shot at goal. But there was still plenty of threat. No sooner had Goddard been halted in one rush than the bail came back from the ruck to iSavage who immediately swung play to tlie opposite flank. Tlieiv typical New Zealand football was-seen at its best. A try appeared certain ex cept for the unusual circumstance of a Border player coming back onside get ting between Allen and Goddard ami causing the former to- have to swing in field and run into a tackle. This was the game's final incident. of note. Scott again gave a superb display at fullback. Some of his huge touch kiclcs caused the crowd to gasp. He converted one of four penalty kicks at goal. Two others were only a fraction out. The whole back line was full of energy but ran. up' against a grim defence.

1 I — ■ — , Delamore 's crisp passes and speed off the mark earned;him his place in the | fourth Test side. , Of the forwards, Crowley was outstanding while Christian played his best game of the tour. In fact it was one of the best displays of the back row game of the tour.