ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1928, Page 2

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

- ALL BLACKS AVIN. (.Special to Press Association). JOHANNESBURG, June 16. The greatest victory that so far lias been achieved in the New Zealanders’ tour of South Africa was that which they scored to-day, when the All Blacks defeated the Transvaal reps in the return match at Johannesburg by five points—a converted try—to nil. The feeling of the team on their victory can be judged from the captain, Maurice Brownlie’s, remarks after the match. He said: “I feel that the team is, more or less, coming into its own, and is playing the football that we expect the team to play. I feel confident of the team’s ultimate success.”

Although the honours were even in the first spell, the New Zealanders had territorially siAenty per cent of the advantage ; and in the second spell the visitors should have scored at least another five points.

Yeale replaced Grccre in the Transvaal side of the previous Saturday. The match was played before a crowd of twenty thousand people, in brilliant sushine, and on a hard and fast ground. New Zealand, immediately following the kick-off, initiated a passing rush, which, however, broke down when Scrimshaw sent a poor pass to Johnson. The Transvaal forwards made the most of this mistake by sweeping down the field into a position that was dangerous to New Zealand, but, gradually, the All Black forwards worked the play back to half way. The local forwards, after screwing the scrum effectively, again carried all before them to the New Zealand line, but a succession of vigorous attacks by the visitors’ backs and forwards turned the tables, and the Transvaal men were hemmed in their own end, until some great line kicking by Ivotze and Devine put them in a position for a hot attack, which necessitated fine defensive work on the part of the All Blacks to keep their citadel safe. Offside play by Scrimshaw gave Devine a chance at goal, but he’failed to lift the ball. The visitors’ forwards then overwhelmed the Transvaal in a fine dribbling rush, which ended at half way. A penalty then came to New Zealand, Strang’s kick at goal falling- short. (Ironside broke away from a ruck at halfway, and bo beat two men, but Scrimshaw missed his pass, and Kruger. flashing out from the loose, gained a lot of ground for the All Blacks’ opponents. Three scrums followed on the New Zealand line, but finally a force-down relieved this awkward position.

A beautiful combined movement by the All Black forwards then made tilings merry, but they were driven back by the Transvaal men’s neverfailing touch-finding kicks. The New Zealand backs next tried the home defence .with a dazzling attack. but a series of long line-kicks put the Transvaal in a position to retaliate. and the play then liovered on the New Zealand line. Sound work by Dailey and Johnson, together with a clever line-kick by the latter, altered the complexion of the game, and then half-time came.

The Transvaal bad won possession of the ball from two scrums to each one that went to the visitors. _

A line-out at the commencement of the second spell placed the visitors in a good position, but a penalty to the Transvaal followed. New Zealand came again, but Johnson dropped a wild pass from Strang, and Dobie broke through the New Zealand forwards, carrying the play to the New Zealand 25, where Dailey saved. From a ruck Grcnside sailed for the line, and Lilburne raced up to take a pass from the wing man, but it was forward and this spoiled a likely try. Dailey sent bis backs away from a line-out, and Bobilliard centred with a fine kick, Raatli, the Transvaal winger, carried the ball over bis own line, and, from the scrum which followed Dailey sent Strang away, but the fiveeighths was field up on the line. Only a minute later, Bobilliard was sent away by Dailey, but he lost possession after be was over the line. Then the Province men, with clever play, cleared, and a series of runs from the scrums by their backs took tlie game to halfway, from where Devine found the line at the corner with a strong kick. Kruger, however, was penalised following on the line-out, ami Strang cleared, Swain improving tlie position with another fine kick. The All Blacks backs got going in a deadly movement, and only desperate tackling saved the homo side. Brownlie, Finlnyson, Hazlett, Swain -and Stewart were next seen in a fine forward movement, a knock-on again saving the Transvaal. The New Zealanders wore now getting the better of their opponents. Their telling loose rushes wore rattling the Provincial backs. Lilburne bad a pot at goal from half-wav, the kick falling short. Then Finlnyson, getting possession from the line-out, fouled off two wouldbe tacklers, and passed to Brownlie, from whom Swain took the next pass, setting sail for the corner, but was pushed out only a foot from the line. Again, when New Zealand was pressing hard, Dobie, ihe home centre, kicked through, and then, keeping tlie ball at bis feet, lie went to the All Black twenty-five, where Strang saved when the position was becoming desperate. At this stage three of the Transvaal men were knocked out, and were carried off the ground, which looked like a battlefield, with the wounded lying prostrated. All three of the men went on again after a couple of minutes. AVitli a brilliant movement, tlie Transvaal forwards took play close to tlie New Zealand line, where Dobie bad a pot at goal which went wide. Again the All Blacks started a bright attacking movement, which ended at half-way, where a local man was penalised, and Strang had an unsuccessful kick at goal. Later on, another penalty came to New Zealand, but C'arleton missed with bis kick.

A shattering run by the All Black forwards then put New Zealand within striking distance. Shooting the hall from the scrum, Dailey sent Strang away and the South Canterbury man transferred to Johnson, who, with a brilliant cut-in, shook off two tacklers, and scored a magnificent try underneath the posts. Strang converted tbe try. NEW ZEALAND 5: TRANSVAAL 0. There were only five minutes to go now, and New Zealand was having easily the better of the play when the final whistle went. There was a fine cheer from the crowd, and there was comment on the improvement in the All Black team.

It was mainly an improvement in the forwards, who played a hard and fast game throughout, scrummaging to better effect, and showing more skill and pace in the loose. The Transvaal pack again dominated the serums, however, gaining possession on two out of each three occasions.

The New Zealand backs played with more confidence and better finish than they did the previous week. The inside men—Dailey, Strang and Johnson —worked effectively in both attack and defence, while the three-quarters made the most of their few attackingopportunities and were sound on fence. Dailey was always elusive, liis

twinkling brilliance being a puzzle to Transvaal.

Lilburne had a great deal to do in the first half,' ancl, although he got away without letting the opposition through, lie did not inspire confidence, and at times ho mulled badly. To-dav the All Black forwards worked with beautiful combination, outstanding members of the pack being Hazlett, Brownlie, Stewart, Finlayson, and Swain, with Hore always eager. Alley locked the serum well. Scrimshaw gave his best display to date, hustling tlie Transvaal hacks badly. The outstanding player on the home side was Devine, who is a master both in attack and in defence. He is easily the best player that the All Blacks have met in the tour. .

Kotze, the Transvaal five-eighth, was always dangerous. Dobie, the home centre-three-quarter, was brilliant at times, while Prinsloo and Liebenberg. tlie home wingers, led the New Zealanders a merry dance when they were in possession of the ball.

Ivruger and Van Druten were the shining lights among the Transvaal forwards, while Pretorions always kept the visitors thinning. There is no doubt that the better side won to-day,-and the general opinion is that it should have won by at least another five points.