ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1928, Page 2

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

ALL BLACKS “VVIN. BY 31 TO 3. tSpecial to Press Association)

MARITZBURG, June 23

With eight points up in the first half, in which they played against a slight wind, the New Zealand team overwhelmed Natal in the second spell of the match played at Maritzburg to-day, winning by five converted tries, one unconverted try and one penalty goal to one penalty goal. A quarter of an hour after the start of the second spell, the All Blacks started to play brilliant football, and right through the last half hour they adopted whirlwind tactics. Their backs found a gaping hole in the defence through - which the three-quar-ters pranced in sparkling style. Territorially in the first half Natal had the better of the game, but the Ali Blacks took advantage of the slightest opportunity to go through. It was a different story in the second spell, the New Zealanders dazzling their opponents and delighting the crowd with the brilliant thrusts by* their backs.

After the match, Mr George Devenish, one of the South African selectors, said that, after ttie trials this week, he was not too pleased with the South African backs, and after seeing the All Blacks’ performance in the last twenty minutes to-day, there was a doubt left in his mind as to the ability of South Africa to hold the New Zealanders. He was emphatic that the South African forwards would more than hold their own. Twenty-five minutes of little but ragged play had passed before anything approaching good football was seen in the match to-day, y Then, with a series of systematic attacks, the All Blacks worked play into the Natal twenty-five, where Kilby sent bis backs away from a scrum. When the ball came to Strang, he sold the dummy beautifully, cut in-field, and then sent out to the wing, and sent Grenside over after a fine run. Lindsay converted from the touchline.. N.Z. 15; NATAL 0. A penalty from a scrpm infringement followed the kick-off, Lindsay landing another great goal, this time from ten voids inside half-way. N.Z. 8; NATAL 0. A spell of dull forward play followed until Johnson flashed down the blind side of the scrum and sent Scrimshaw over, lint the rover called back for a knock on. Halftime was then called. Two minutes after resuming the game, Brownlie was penalised for hanging on to the hall, and Barlow kicked a magnificent goal against the wind from half-way. N.Z. 8; NATAL 3.

Given heart by tire fact that they were now only five points down, the Natal forwards played with more vim and decision, and the Natal hacks started to move with more freedom. Both sides then fell into slipshod ways until McWilliams sent the ball to Kilby from a ruck. The hall was then handled by Johnson, Carlcton,

and Robilliard, the last-named racing hard down the line to score a fine tryc. which Lindsay converted. N.Z. 13; NATAL 3. Plainlv Natal was almost paralysed now, anil the New Zealand hacks were working with more precision. Clarkson. the Natal centre, came to light with one brilliant run, and a try was saved only by an equally brilliant tackle bv Lindsay. Then, with three fine attacks by the backs, New Zealand lmd Natal in a tangle. Another sortie saw Strang and Carleton away in fine style, and the centre cut in smartly, transferring to Scrimshaw, who scored under the posts. Lindsay converted. N.Z. 18; NATAL 3. A fine opening by Johnson resulted in a scrum oil the line, and from a melee which followed Stewart dived over. Lindsay converted. N.Z. 23: NATAL 3.

Natal now sot up a hot attack, hut it was rendered ineffective when the New Zealand hacks broke away, the hall coming from a- scrum through the hands of Kilby, Johnson, and Carleton to Grenside, who beat two men ami passed in-field to Scrimshaw, who raced over and scored an excellent try. Lindsay’s kick was again successful. N.Z. 23; NATAL 3. It was an easy thing for New Zealand now. The next try came when Kilhv made an opening from a ruck, sending Johnson away. Carleton added liis share, and sent ltobilliard over for n iino try in tlio corner. Lindsay just missed with the kick, and when time came the score hoard read: NEW ZEALAND 31

NATAL 3 In the first half the game was one of shreds and patches, but in the second spell the New Zealanders played bright football, the handling of the hacks and the combination of the forwards being perfect.

Kilby and Carleton outshone the rest of the back division, with Johnson always sound. Carleton, for the first time on the tour, showed his true form. Both the wings, Robllliard and Gronside showed flashes of brilliance, hut Grenside’s tackling was not altogether reliable. Lindsay’s display was sufficient to inspire confidence, though ho was not called upon for much serious work. Strang for the most part, was only a good connecting link, and his defence was erratic. Kilby played another strong game, feeding his backs in lightning style, and combining with Johnson beautifully. On iiis play in his last two matches, Kilby should he certain to be the first Test half. - All the forwards showed fine form gaining possession from twenty-eight scrums against opponents thirty-one. and capturing the hall two out of every three times in the line-outs. McWilliams and Hadley were the best forwards of the day. It is very doubtful whether even one Natal man will get in the Springbok side.