All Blacks’ First Defeat

Evening Star, Issue 22147, 30 September 1935, Page 6

All Blacks’ First Defeat

Tourists’ Disappointing Display

Beaten Back and Forward

Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON. September 29. Swansea defeated the All Blacks by 11 to 8, at Swansea, before a crowd of 30,000. Adkins completed the All Blacks* team, which was as follows: —

Backa—Gilbert, Ball, Oliver, Mitchell, Caughey, Tindill, Comer. Forwards—Lambourne, Pepper, Wynyard, Collins, King, Manchester (captain), M'Lean, Adkins. The Swansea team was; — Backs—E. Jones, G. Davies, R. Williams, Davey, Griffiths, W. Davies, fanner. rr Forwards—Taylor, Pnyne, larr, ii. White, Harris, Hunt, Long, D. White. FIRST SPELL. The Swansea forwards immediately began rushing tactics, obviously intending to rattle the visitors, who packed a 3—4—l scrum.- Gilbert early in the game missed with a penalty kick, and shortly afterwards Swansea scored from a scramble near the line, Hunt using his weight to get over. Harris did not convert. Swansea 3 New Zealand 0 Caughey was generally prominent, and was closely watched. At one stage he had four men on him. Caughey appeared to say something to the Swnnseaite referee, who spoke to the players shortly afterwards. Davey, receiving the ball from W. Davies, scored a great try between the posts, and Harris converted. Swansea ... 8 New Zealand 0 - The All Blacks were now showing improved form, and Caughey, Tindill, and Corner handled before Ball scored. Gilbert failed to convert. Swansea 8 New Zealand 3 The next score came from Davey. who, after a fine movement, dived across for a try, which Harris was unable to convert. The spell ended: Swansea H New Zealand ... 3 SECOND HALF, The second half opened sensationally, Harris being knocked .off when marking the ball from the kick off. The crowd hooted, and there was an exhibition of even louder resentment when Jones was also knocked off when taking a mark.' The referee spoke to Pepper about the matter. „ , , , , The All Blacks were fighting hard and scrummaging strenuously, while Swansea were defending strongly. At this stage a drizzle set in, making the ball slippery. Then Swansea, with a great effort, hemmed the AH Blacks on their goal line for a long period. The tourists towards the close, however, made a brilliant rush the length of the field, but the defence held. Swansea H New Zealand 3 [The 1905 All Blacks beat Swansea in the last game of the tour by 4 points (a great potted goal by W. J. Wallace) to 3, and the 1924 team won by 39 points to 3.] __ _____ REVIEW OF THE GAME * NEW ZEALAND BACKS OUT OF FORM The special correspondent of the United Press Association, commenting on the game, says the match against Swansea was the All Blacks’ first meeting with aii entire club side. However, they encountered the best combination so far. Swansea was anxious to avenge the overwhelming defeat the New Zealanders inflicted on litem in 1924, and lived up to expectations, providing the tourists with a real test. The forwards fought tigerishly, and had the better of Watters in rucks and scrums. The backs were especially formidable, particularly the “ schoolboy halves,” Taniier and W. Davies who are regarded as the most promising pair in Welsh Rugby to-day, and Claude Davey, the international centre, one of the surest and hardest tacklers playing in Britain. The Swansea backs were generally better than the All Blacks, none of whom was in real form. Their handling was poor, and Solomon and Gilbert were decidedly weak, while Caughey was definitely off form. It is understood lie was not keen to play, doubting whether his leg would stand the strain, but ho was persuaded to turn out. The gigantic crowd sang ‘ Land of My Fathers ’ when the players cnlne out. The weather was dull and overcast, npd rain during the morning caused the ground to be heavy, contributing to the All Blacks’' defeat. Swansea kicked off, and the All Blacks, who had apparently abandoned packing the three-four scrum with a loose forward, lost the first scrum, while Tanner from the second made a nice run, but was forced out. Thereafter there was a spell of open play, the backs exchanging kicks. Solomon was twice called on to save, biit fumbled and knocked on. He seemed nervous. Caughey, in attempting a run, almost got through the_ defence. A few minutes later Williams and Davey wore prominent in a fine V-itil. The All Blacks’ inside backs then secured, enabling Ball to iWake*an exciting run and beat three opponchts, but his in-pass was dropped. The Swansea forwards}, showing determination, held their own for the first 20 minutes, heeling well in the scrums and nicks and delighting the crowd. They kept up the pressure, which led to the : first score. The second try came as the result of a great movement, W. Davies going straight through the All Blacks and passing to Davey, (he defence being welt beaten. Sbop afterwards Davey again pierced the defence. Solomon saving when the Welshman kicked, The New . Zealanders eventually got going, Gilbert making tile opening for Ball’s try, Hut the All Blacks' backs were again defeated when Davey scored after a spec-

SWANSEA’S DECISIVE WIN

tacular movement among the backs, each man gaining ground. In the second half Caughey went to centre, Gilbert to full-back, and Solomon to second five-eighths, Solomon was on his toes and was eager to rectify his former mistakes. The All Block forwards, using tear-away tactics, early gained ground. The team e idently realised' the seriousness of the position, as Swansea were playing well and giving the opposing backs little room to move. Apparently they sensed victory ahead. Their forwards again began holding the New Zealanders, necessitating the tourists defending for 10 minutes. Swansea were playing with a wing-forward in the line-outs, apparently aiming to swoop on Corner and Tindill with all possible SP The All Black forwards were now fighting magnificently, Manchester, King, and Collins being especially prominent in the thick of every ruck. Manchester, looking grim, was spurring on his men. Swansea repeatedly took scrums instead of line-outs. The drizzle was now lessening the All Blacks’ chances. Corner finally got his backs moving, but they were upset by determined tackling. The Welshmen, exploiting stab line kicks, gained ground and hemmed the All Blacks on their line, making every effort to increase the score. They lost a chance when Davey attempted a scissors movement. The home team continued to hold the upper hand, and the All Blacks, making desperate efforts and trying a variety of tactics, were unable to make headway. .Swansea held the advantage territoriallv during the first part of the second half, but a break away carried the ball to Swansea’s goal line, the fuill-back saving, his kick reaching halfwav. Swansea pressed from this relief, out a promising movement by them failed through a dropped pass. A DELIGHTED CROWD.

Many of the crowd began to leave, satisfied that the game was over. Gilbert, attempting to save, kicked over his own goal line, resulting in a scrum near tho posts amid a roar of cxcitement. . , „ , The All Blacks, with a final rally, dashed clown the field and a try seemed certain, but a Swansea hack pounced on the ball in the nick of time ahead of Adkins. : ’ With the final whistle the crowd exultingly rushed the field, cheering the victors. Thousands gathered in front of the stand singing ‘ For They Are Jolly Good Fellows. Long, the Welsh captain, addressed them. The New Zealanders looked disappointed as they trooped off. VIEWS DF THE CRITICS " DEFEAT RELATIVELY UNIMPORTANT " The ‘ Observer’s ’ Rugby critic says: “ The defeat of the All Blacks is relatively unimportant, as it is an undisputed! fact that some recent international teams, owing to poor combination, would be beaten by a tip-top Club side, consequently the All Blacks’ International matches are still open, although they must improve their forward play in order to succeed. Moreover, Swansea proved that a club can provide a better game than a combined team, and this may affect future programmes.” Dr Gent, writing in the ‘ Sunday Times ’ on the Swansea match, says that tho All Blacks were rather badly rattled in the opening stages of the second half, when the referee stopped the game three times in three minutes to speak to players on both sides. The Swansea pack repeatedly exposed the tourists’ weakness in the forwards, which the backs’ brilliance was unable to counteract. Mr H. D. Sewell, in the ‘ Sunday Graphic,’ says that the All Blacks’ defeat was due to lack of pace behind the scrum, for which injuries were not responsible. The victory proves the unwisdom of tourists’ fixtures with “ 10 gift matches ” against English scratch sides. WDH ON THEIR MTS LONDON, September 28. Mr Meredith, manager of the All Blacks, interviewed, said that Swansea had won on their merits. They had played better football than New Zealand. , He refused to comment on the All Blacks’ display, or discuss the possibility of experimental back formation causing the defeat of tho All Blacks.