ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1928, Page 2

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

BEAT GRIQUALAND

BY 19 TO .10. (Special to Press Association). (Received this day at 9 a.m.) KIMBERLEY, June G

Showing better form the All Blacks .beat Griqualand West to-day by 19 to 10, but as the latter are not reckoned among the strong sides, the margin was nothing to boast of. On the other hand as the ground was of hard red dirt this was a new experience for the visitors and probably affected them to some extent. The score was made up of five tries, two converted, to one try, a penalty and a potted goal. New Zealand v.as again favoured with brilliant sunshine hut the attendance was only five thousand. The spectators were not treated to anything brilliant, the match being a, disappointing exhibition on both sides.

New Zealand team—Lindsay, Rushbrook, iSheen, Lucas, Strang. Johnson, Kilby, Carleton, Burrows, Ward, Stewart (captain), C. Brownlie, McWilliams Snow, F'inlayson.

Tl;e All Blacks in this game made radical changes in their formation and tactics. They played three men in the front of the scrum and four behind. Carleton acted as an extra centre. As a result of these alterations New Zealand got a fair percentage of the ball from the serums. For a little while advantage lay with the local side. Within three minutes of the start Holton kicked a goal from a penalty in front of the New Zealand posts. The All Blacks then started a, succession of dashes, from one of which the hall came to the hacks. Lucas kicked infield accurately, McWilliams gained possession and scored near the posts. Lindsay, however, was too slow with his kick, which was charged down. 3—3. The (rriqualanders came hack and remained on top for some time, keeping the All Blacks busy defending. Holton secured the bull from a scrum in front of the posts and potted a goal. 3—7.

Playing with great determination the Africans pushed the All Blacks hack and still kept" them on tho defence for a further period. At last the latter’s hacks got an opportunity. From his own 25, Strang gave Kilby a pass and the ball travelled the rest of the length of the field. It was handled by Lucas, Sheen, McWilliams, 'Johnson and Bushbrook. who raced across the lino after a most spectacular movement. Strang’s kick missed. G—7.

Tho Griqualanders still had something to say and immediately started a whirlwind forward attack, which tool; them close to the New Zealand line. There a serum took place, the ball was heeled out to Bolt and he shot over at tho corner. The kick at goal missed. G—lo. The All Blacks, however, evened up before the spell ended with another pretty movement. Tviljiy shot the hall away from tho scrum to* Johnson, to Strang and then to Sheen who cut in and Carleton finally handed it to R.uslibrook, who dashed over the line. Lindsay converted, making the half-time score 11—10. Tho local side, who had so far done very well, fell off in the second half and the All Backs had all the host of it, though they did not score heavily. Their hacks showed up very prompiently. Ton minutes from resuming Kilby,' who in particular was playing a groat game, started a passing rush, in which Johnson, Strang and Sheen took part. Carleton cut in at the right time and handed on to Lucas, who sailed over at the cornel 1 . Lindsay’s kick, though difficult, only just missed. 14 —10. Several mere combined movements promised well but were spoiled hv failing to put in the finishing touches.

At the last, minute, Brownlie, however, got possession from the line-out and passed to Finlayson, and tlie big Aucklander swerved his wav through to score between the posts and Strang had no difficulty in converting, leaving,the All Blacks victors by 19 to io'.

REPORTS ON THE GAMES. INVERCARGILL. June 0

That the reports of tbe All Black matches were most unsatisfactory and inadequate, in view of the national interest in the doings of the New Zealanders, was tbe opinion expressed today by Mr D. K. Torrance, President of tbe .Soutblaaiul Rugby Union. He said that tbe accounts of tbe matches were scarcely worth reading, except to see who won.

“Wc do not knew which of our team are making good, or wliat tbe South Africans think of them.” said Air Torrance. “Wo have bad practically nothing in tbe way of comment, except that the All Blacks were beaten for the ball in the scrums. I can only express the hope that the grossly inadequate reports we have so far received will be improved as soon as word caul be spent from the authorities responsible for tbe quantity and the quality of the messages.” WELLINGTON. June G. Strong dissatisfaction was expressed by. the members of the Management Committee of tbe New Zealand Rugby Union this evening at the paucity of tile reports of the matches played by the New Zealand team in South Africa which were appearing in the New Zealand papers.

Mr S. S. Dean, the chairman, stated that when lie was Manager of the 192-1 team lie liad received a cablegram from New Zealand voicing some complaint, and lie had at once interviewed tbe representative of tbe Press Association in London, who liad at once promised to see that fuller reports were cabled.

Members pointed out that when any important Tennis, Cricket, Boxing, Golf and athletic events were held in various parts of ...e world, adequate reports were sent out describing in detail tbe performances, and yet the doings of the New Zealand team, in which almost the entire population of the Dominion wore keenly interested, wer being reported in tbe most perfunctory manner.

On the motion of Air Dean, it was decided that ATessrs Wylie and T. A. Fletcher should wait upon tbe Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, tbe editors of the ‘Dominion” and the “Evening Post,” and the Manager of tbe Press Asociation in an endeavour to see if fuller reports could not be provided for the public.