"A DARK DAY"

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 4, 6 January 1936, Page 12

"A DARK DAY"

TOURISTS OUTCLASSED

ENGLAND KEEPS UPPER HAND

OBOLENSKY A HERO

LONDON, January 4.

Commenting on the match, the special correspondent of the United Press Association says New Zealanders pre- • sent at Twickenham will, remember Li January 4, 1936, as one, of the darkest ■" days in the history of the Dominion's '• Rugby. They saw England completely • outclass the All Blacks, inflicting one ' of the most convincing defeats possible. New Zealand against Wales, al- . though defeated, made a grand show- !- ing and fought to the bitter end. The - same cannot be said of today's match. • England appeared to have the upper • hand ten minutes alter the start, while • the • longer the game continued the more superior they looked. All that can be said is that the New Zealanders j did their best, but it was a poor best. t Both English and New Zealand enthu- . siasts were disappointed with their dis- . play. > Not once throughout the game did 1 the tourists' backs stage a real breakaway. Indeed, they found it impossible ' to pierce the opposition. England, like Wales, showed the visitors many points in fine phases of forward and back \ play. i The score could have been 17 to 0, - Dunkley's first attempt to convert be- ■ ing very unlucky, the ball striking the crossbar and bouncing infield. . Another kick shaved the upright. ■ BRITISH RUGBY IMPROVED. ' The game further proved—not that '. proof was needed—that British Rugby has improved out of all knowledge, also that the New Zealand side sadly lacks a brilliant five-eighth. Moreover, one of the biggest faults of ■ former English teams has been reck- : less passing, but the backs today gave : the tourists a lesson in passing and 1 handling, which was almost perfect i throughout. Also, they never passed needlessly. Not a single man in the English back line was afraid to be : tackled when he found himself unsupported. Wales, against New Zealand, produced a hero in Wooller. England,' too, produced a hero in Prince Obolensky, who before the game was named as "England's Russian hope." The All Blacks never once during the tour encountered his equal for speed. Twickenham showed that Obolensky is apparently faster than Hart, the tourists' speedier winger. The Russian left the All Blacks standing on both occasons on which he scored. Once he turned, chased and caught Ball from behind when the New ZealanSer was in ?ull pace. RUSSIAN'S GREAT SPEED. The New Zealanders were in position both times Obolensky spored. Obolensky on the first occasion securpd a pass from Cranrner, raced round Ball and beat Gilbert just as easily. The full-back was completely baffled by the Russian's change of pace and went for a tackle but was left clutching the air. Well-deserved thunderous applause greeted Obolensky's great effort, men and women standing up and cheering in probably one of the most enthusiastic demonstrations ever seen at Twickenham, where crowds seldom register their feelings. Obolensky's second try again showed pace too great for the opposition. Cranmer made an opening, giving a perfectly-timed pass to Gerrard, who sent on to Obolensky. The last-named ran diagonally crossfield, heading for the corner flag. Mitchell, sensing the move, raced across to intercept. He had a shorter distance to travel, but could not reach the spot before the Russian. . . GADNEY PROMINENT. In addition, Obolensky was not the only great back in the English fifteen. Excepting Candler, who was a very orthodox and mechanical five-eighth, all were superior to the New Zealanders. Gadney had a very prominent share in the victory. His bullet-like passes from the scrums were a joy to watch. Neither Corner nor Sadler compares with him in this. Gadney was able to send the ball a surprising distance. He passed so quickly that Tindill was unable to reach him in time to smother the pass to Cranmer. Gerrard was thus able to get moving before the tourists' backs could get up to them. England's all-round display ' confounds the critics, most of whom anticipated an All Black victory, some believing the visitors would win by a handsome margin. Commentators before the match expressed the opinion that the English pack was likely to be unwieldy and slow, although it should win the ball from the scrums. The exact opposite happened. The All Blacks won 31 scrums to 21, while the line-outs were even. INJURY TO KING. Nevertheless, the scrums were the only department of forward play in which the Englishmen were beaten. Their rucking and tackling were definitely superior. They more than held their own in the loose also, and | lasted out better than the All Black | forwards, who were hard pressed in Ihc concluding stages, one reason being ; that King was practically a passenger 1 most of the second spell. The West ' Coaster received a bad knock on the 1 head soon after half-time. He then I received a badly injured shoulder, and 1 was unable lo pack in the middle of t

the scrum. He took Manchester's place, simply leaning against the pack.

The critics were also wrpng regarding the method of scoring. The majority anticipated England's tries would come from scrambles on the line with the tank type of forwards pushing over. But all the tries came from fine threequarter movements, the ball going oul to the wingers by good chain-passing.

It was also thought Tindill would win the game with field goals, but ho made only one attempt from a difficult position, the ball not going near the postu. Nobody expected Cranmer's dropped goal. It was a beauty. WEAKNESS IN FIVE-EIGHTHS. Tindill, Oliver, and Caughey, seeing that both Ball and Mitchell were opposed by swift runners and good tacklers, repeatedly attempted to burst through, but ineffectually. If one English back missed his man another would dash round and save the situation. Apparently they had learned this from the All Blacks, whose covering work on defence has been one of the features of the tour. Obviously, as against Wales, many of the tourists were stale, but that was not the chief reason for the defeat. The trouble is the New Zealanders have a weakness, particularly regarding; penetrative ability and defence by the inside five-eighths, which they found it impossible to remedy. Something must be done about this if the All Blacks are to have a chance against the South Africans next year. The decision to play Caughey was made a few hours before the game. The Aucklander earlier in the day said his-leg was stiff, but he was sure it would wear off. Had Caughey dropped out it was intended to play Griffiths, but it is doubtful whether this would have made much difference, although he could not have been poorer than Caughey, who played the poorest game of all the visiting backs. CAUGHEY PLAYS POORLY. Caughey on several occasions was beaten by Cranmer and Gerrard and was partly to blame for two English tries. He was also of small value on attack and kicked poorly, except at the start, when he made several long linekicks. Nevertheless, Caughey tried to make openings, but was , not given room by Cranmer and Gerrard, who generally managed to tackle him in such a manner as to prevent his passing. , This type of tackling also upset Tindill and Oliver,' resulting in most of the New ' Zealand attacks breaking down prior to the ball reaching the wingers.; The English forwards were quick to rush up when the All Black backs were tackled thus, and started rushes by swift heeling when the New Zealanders were out of position. No New Zealand back played in his best form. Corner worked hard throughout and defended magnificently, but was outclassed by Gadney. Tindill was included because it was thought he would make openings, but one reason for his non-success was that the English wing-forwards, fearing his. goal-kicking ability, watched him very closely. UNORTHODOX FULL-BACK. The South African Owen-Smith was more brilliant and sound than Gilbert. Owen-Smith is the most unorthodox full-back the tourists have met throughout the tour. He played risky football and was not afraid to try and beat his man before kicking. He i almost let the All Black forwards in on several occasions through failure to go down to the ball, but luck generally enabled him to get out of the tight places. Gilbert had several bad patches, failing to take the ball cleanly and knocking on. Constant playing is telling a tale in his case.

Hatjley, Reid, Mahoney, Manchester, and Hore were the best All Black forwards. Mahoney was a champion in the line-outs and used every ounce of weight in the scrums. Reid made many solitary dashes and twice went within an ace of scoring. The Englishmen found him very difficult to pull down in full stride. Hadley did his share, out-hooking Nicholson. He was also prominent in the tight.

The English wing-forwards Hamil-ton-Hill and Weston, were invaluable in holding up the tourist threequarters. Dunkley and Clarke were two of the best forwards on the field.

Gilbert, in the final stages, came up to the three-quarter line in the hope of making an opening, but the All Blacks were unable to pierce the defence.

The game, was played in the best spirit, although once or twice the 'English forwards were guilty of late tackling through ov;v-keenness.