Narrow Margin

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 179, 16 August 1937, Page 12

Narrow Margin

i— Press Association.)

N.Z.LEAGUE VICTORY Australia Beaten in the Second Test VISITORS UNLUCKY

(By Teleerapl

AUCKLAND, Last Night. A brilliant exhibition of the League code was witnessed by a crowd of 20,000 at Carlaw Park to-day, when New Zealand, which was easily defeated in the first Test, showed a surprising improvement to take the decisfon from the visiting Australian side by 16 points to 15. The game was played on firm ground and in fine weather, and prior to the commeneement of play the Prime Minisfer, the Hon. Mr. Savage, and the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Mr. Walter ISTasli, addressed the crowd through amplifiers, both reeeiving a splendid reception from the spectators. Although the game was dominated by the New Zealand team, whose pack played forceful and intelligent football, the glamour of victory was lessened by the fact that the Australians, for the greater part of the time, were playing two men short. At one stage the visitors had three men off the field with injuries. In attempting to takle Nepia, tho New Zealand full-baek, in the first spell, Pearce, one of the most brilliant. of the Australian forwards, was thrown heavily and suffered a broken leg. Gibbs also had to retire with a severe injury to his thigh. Both players were taken aboard the Arawa and they will continue the tour with the team. New Zealand owed its victory to the superlative play of the forwards, wHo had the measure of the opposing pack from the start. The firm conditions should have suited the visitors, but the fast raiding by the New Zealand forwards and their initiative and good handling threw the visitors og their balance. The outstanding feature of the game was the brilliant display of George Nepia, the famous full-back with the 1924 All Black Rugby team in England. Not an Australian passed him throughout the game, while his subtlo taeticg.1 moves were of great assistance. both to his forwards and his backs. Although he tired a trifle iu the second half, he proved himself such ■a rock on defence that the Australians ■would rather pass than attempt to beat him, and his splendid line-kicking got his side out of diffieulties on many occasions. Playing the typical Australian game, the visiting backs threw the ball about in a fashion which delighted the crowd, but the fast raiding of the opposing forwards npset their moves at critieal moments. Pearce^ Gibbs and Norman were the outstanding forwards for Australia and when the first two had to leave the fiel'd the visitors' pack laeked devil. Oue of the finest exhibitions of halfbaek play seen on Carlaw Park was given by Williams, the diminutive Australian player, who stood up to the onslaughts of the fast-moving and resourcefnl New Zealand forwards in Tesolute manner, and he w(is responsible for most of the visitors' attacking movements. Norman and MeLean were hard workers, but they were forced to submit to the fine tackling. New Zealand turned out the finest League combinatiou that has represented the couutry for many years and the presenee of Nepia at full-back gave the remainder of the New Zealand side tho confidence which it has lacked in prcvious internationai fixtures. Brodrich, the bulky and speedy forward, practically dominated the serummage. He was a hard worker in the scrum and brilliant in the loose and he carried an advantage over any opposing forwards. It was difficult to discriminato in the New Zealand vanguard, however, as all the players justified themselves. Cootes, Glynn and Gault were particularly impressive. Davison, one of the New Zealand wing three-quarters, xrrovea himself a resolute attacker, and Tittleton, Chase and Bickerton ' were outstanding for solid tackling. Tries were scored for New Zealand by Davison (2), Satherley and Bickerton. Nepia eonverted one try and kicked a brilliant penalty goal. McLean (2) and Nolan scored tries for the visitors. Williams eonverted one and Beaton and Williams kicked penalty goals.