NOTES ON THE GAME

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 145, 23 June 1930, Page 4

NOTES ON THE GAME

BRITAIN MORE ENTERPRISING

WEEKS AND WILLING BATTLE

;gi- (By Telegraph.) *ii ( . ("Post's" Special Reporter.) , ; ;'sf- . DUNEDIN, 21st June. £Ekv British team was a more enter'jurisihg side than tho New Zealand one. .Their combination, Initiative, and ability JSjCmake quick use of opportunities being 'inaiply responsible for their success. The JSfW: Zealand teata lacked cohesion, and taofc;a long time jto work up-combination, r-and at was only 'jrr the: second, spell that Jjfie'^orwards rose/to international heights/ /Gonft'ol of the ball at toe was no easy ifitttter, but some .-excellent loose- rushes ■ij|©fe carried out by both sides. The'battle. «id;;the tight wasi stern! and willing, the, . Jsfe^i Zealand seven holding their own ■'Splendidly against'the',British eight, in .iprHich, however, full weight was-not always "applied, as Ivor Jones-had a spoiling comJaifsiton. The hooking hohours_ were just 'Sobut even, the New- Zealand 'pair dbing jfcftibularly well !f6ra.';]>enod of the secpnd, ;spell. , V■■.;■: ; • ZjJONES A CONSPICUOUS FIGURE. A 0n the line-out Britain was beaten. Much; obstruction was* pbsorved in■. this depart-. liient, also in the course; of the .loose: rushes. With this as welLas withscruni-: iini'age difficulties, the referee should have taken a firm stand. Britain had three ; stockily-built front-rankers—Rew, Par- . JjfeCV-and O'Neill—who were always workling with a will. Black and Farroll formed a>'Solid middle row, with Beamish applying his weight from the middle of the backirow, where Hodgson and Jones were ■entrusted with winging duties. Jones was qiiitei the most figure among (ti»e jßritiah forwards, and did well with iijjb'e ball at toe. .Apart from his efforts at spoiling, which were made easier through the''weakness of .the New Zealand half: tiack Jones, however, had-more than a hatfdful in directing his attention to Ported iwhom ho found a very elusive customer. Murray,, who is moulding into a firi«..half-back, played well, varying his ■play at the base of the scrum. Spong did ninth of service as.. "donkey _man," but being very closely watched he did not show up so well as usual. Bowcott and Aarvpld, tM two centres, had any amount to do on'attack and defence. Their best work was on defence, Aarvold frequently getting; round to support Bassett. Boweott gives the impression of being a classy back, and in this game he showed himself to be a reliable kick with a wet ball. Neither Eeeve nor Morley had many opportunities at the end of passing bouts, l)ut"'each did his job perfectly in registering Britain's points. Bassett gave a performance which left no doubt as to his capabilities as full-back. He was cool, iJaved his side many times, and kicked with fine judgment • .always making sure . of, finding touch rather than attempting long kicking St the risk of the ball not finding the line.: He gave a fine display, although Be;:had -nothing on Nepia. PORTER INVALUABLE. : Z'Oi the jjew" Zealand forwards there ■v^aiT-none better than Batty in the first Kptell, but most of them came to light in . tup'second spell, when Finlayson played 'lil:ie,a real champion. M'Williams also ■-m^iitained his -consistently good form, "wiiile Hazlett "showed -a glimpse x>f his ,--<3rije; form. Steerc, as lock, had a tough 'afternoon's work, and was .an honest, i toller all the way. He could put more3

sting into his play. ' Cottrell ■ was' the best of the front-rankers, Irvine not being up to his fornj of a few years ago. Porter, although suffering .'from a cold, played a leading role so capable that he must have silenced those who doubted the wisdom •of -the .selectors in including him. He..was'in practically"■' everything that -was .going aud the most valuable man; on . Now .Zealand's side. - ■ ■ \'_: "THE WEAKEST LINK. •.- ---' Jlill, as pointed r,but when, he was selected, has slipped. He, was-New Zealand's weakest link, and did not iiilfil the promise lie showed at Oamani. i-il-burne naturally was affected by the weakness at the,base of the scruuvbnt . he too was not the right man to tultil. the requirements of first five-eight.h, with good team' work essential. There have been few games in1 which Cooke has been less conspicuous on attack. For'all that ho rendered fine service, much of which was in clearing danger from advances by the opponents. The three-quarters, Hart, Lucas, and Oliver, played creditably under difficult circumstances, Hart shaping as a wing three-quarter ;likely ,to take rauk with the best-produced in this country. NEPIA'S ' J-INE-KICKiNG WON- ' ' .■ ..■;" 1 ,/:",.-\_ j -pERFUL. NepiS'played an exceptionally fine game. All that was said of Bassett must also be said of Nepia, with this addition, that his line kicking was wonderful. His performance under bad conditions was. a sample, of, what he gave m .lingland, and that.is saying.a lot. So far as the- next Tests are concerned the New Zealand, players : will require better opportunities ofattainiug combination than those provided for this Test. They will ceftainly need more than two j days together.;. ■ ■'■•.. ..