ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1928, Page 2

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

THE FIRST TEST. WON BY AFRICA. BY ITrO 0. (Special to Press Association). DURBAN. June 30. Twenty thousand people watched South Africa overwhelm New Zealand on the Kingsmead Ground to-day, by two potted goals, two penalty goals, and one try—l 7 points to nil.

New Zealand was literally never in the hunt, and only a magnificent defence saved a bigger score.

Territorially, the Springboks had 80 per cent of the game. Fourteen of the points were scored by Bennie Osier, the crack fly half, who is now regarded as a national hero. Ho potted both goals and kicked two penalties. It was a perfect football,day. When the teams took the field there was no wind and the sun was hidden by dark grey clouds. There was a hush among the crowds while the teams gave hnkas. Then Brownlie kicked off and for the first few minute's, it appeared that New Zealand would get across. It was a whirlwind start that raised the hopes of New Zealand’s supporters, but fortune’s wheel turned several points against the New Zealanders in a trice. Strang was collared while attempting a pot under the posts. Alostert cleared, and away went the African forwards in a shattering run with the ball at, tlicir feet. Heeling out from a loose serum the Springbok backs had the New Zealand defence in a tangle. Alostert kicked through and smothered Lindsay, but only a force down resulted. The play was fast and open at this stage, with most of the game in the New- Zealand twenty-five. The sun broke through the grey clouds, and shining in their eyes, pul the South Africans to some disadvantage. Serum followed serum, blit Bennie Osier did not feed bis backs until in the New Zealand 25, and alv;• v- jvei'si-Jed in kicking into touch. ( 'arleton saved a desperate position „ minute later by smashing a Spring- (>.,[•: uttack. He kicked through to loth -An v; le i Ht-viMier - -li.u :ho ball an i: v •(run a, serum 'and' .Stanley Osier ~|k,it [United. Lindsay, racing up. took the hall in his stride, and cleared brilliantly. Hadley. Stewart, and Swain dashed out lrom the ruck with the ball at tbeir feet, only to be sent hack by Tindall, the African fullback’s never failing line kicks. I-tom „ penalty at half way. Lindsay made an attempt to score, but bis kick fell just short. In a blind side run, Robilliard was hurt, and became practically useless all through the most of the game. Away went the South African hacks in full cry. Again Stanley Osier, with a clever short punt, gave a chance to Slater (who was played in prelerence to Brand). The winger collected the hall going at top speed, and bolted hard for the corner. Lindsay came across just: as fast, made a Hying dive at the flying Springbok, and brought him down brilliantly. With run after run, the African backs kept the New Zealanders guessing, and only a rocklike defence saved them.

Another serum was formed fortyyards from the New Zealand line. From this Devilliers sent the hall to Bennie Osier, who beat Scrimshaw and manoeuvred for a drop at goal. He let drive, and the ball soared high between the goal posts. It was a magnificent kick which aroused the spec, tutor.- to a frenzy that only simmered dow-u when the New Zealand forwards .set, about the task of recovery. They could achieve very little. Only once, close on half-time, did they look at all like scoring. From a line out, Robilliard sent the ball to Swain, who gave a reverse pass to Robilliard. Again lie raced for the corner, but was held up on the. line, and South Africa cleared with a penalty kick. Half time came with the Springboks four points

up. When play restarted. Duffy, one ot Africa’s centres, did not turn out owing to an injury. A change was also made in the New Zealand team, Scrimshaw going from rover to extra centre. Hardly two minutes of the second spell had gone when the hall again came out from the scrum to Bennie Osier, and like a flash of lightning, he potted another fine goal. A fierce forward battle went on neai half way, with South Africa getting all the best of it. and ending in Brownlie being penalised for being off-side. From this Bennie Osier kicked an easy goal. The Springboks, although a man short, were now playing better than ever. The hacks developed a series ol impressive thrusts. From one run. Prinsloo was almost over, hut was pushed out at the corner by Grensule. Three free kicks to New Zealand gave them a chance to work up to half-wav. where Potgieter had an unsuccessful attempt at goal from a penalty. Pretorius opened up play well, and short-punting found the All Blacks’ defence at sixes and sevens, but again Lindsnv saved magnificently racing across to take the hall on the full and kicked a line Hue. Then the New Zealand forwards got away in a combined movement, hut the Springbok battlers soon swept them back. The ball came from the scrum to Bennie Osier, who short-punted, but after lie had got in his kick. Johnson bowled bill) over, and a penalty was awarded the Springboks for obstruction, which Bennie Osier turned into a goal. South Africa were winning lore and aft now. being given plenty ot the ball bv their forwards, and the backs started to throw the ball about spectacularly.

Lindsay had a shot at goal from r. penalty at half way, and only just missed. Again the. South African backs got going at top speed, and Prinsloo lost the ball when actually over the line. The next moment it came along the line of backs from a scram to Stanley Osier, who threw away a certain try hv holding on too king. A few minutes before time, when the Springboks had been attacking continuously. Deyilliors worked the blind side brilliantly, and the ball went to Bennie Osier, and then to Slater, who cut clean through the defence to score a great tiv. Bennie Osier just missed goaling. The New Zealand run of the whole day came a minute later when Strang cut in after receiving from a scrum. The position looked quite hopeful, but Scrimshaw dropped his pass, and the opportunity was lost. The final whistle went with South Africa still on the attack. The crowd at once surged on the field, cheering anil congratulating their men.

COMMENT ON PLAY. While the fates were fiendish in committing the New Zealanders to a dreadful chain of errors, the hitter were certainly the less worthy of the two teams. Everything was tragic for the All Blacks. They could do nothing right. The game went to the better balanced side and a superior set of tacticians. At the same time, it must be stated that for the bigger part of the match, New Zealand played with a three-quarter line of crocks. Grenside’s knee, which was injured in the last match, failed him early. Robilliard- when downed bard by Slater, rose limping badly, and could hardly run for the rest- of the day. Carleton in the first few minutes had a thigli muscle badly damaged. Even as sore

as they were, they played a ningnicficnfl game, smashing the Springbok attack time and again with a pack that was obtaining easily the larger share of the scrums. South Africa’s dominance radiated to a fast elusive three-quarter line, where the two Osiers 'combined with fine precision, cleverly drawing their men or varying their play with a short punt or a line kick. Dcvilliers was a very clever half, getting the ball a wav to his men without hesitation.

Taken altogether, the New Zealand hacks, except for a stubborn defence, were overwhelmed, and the forwards were likewise in the scrums, hut held the upper hand in the line-outs.

The most- brilliant exhibition of fullhack play seen on the tour was given by Lindsay to-day. He bad a tremendous amount of work, but never failed, being sound in every department. Dailey was wayward and uncertain, and failed to got the New Zealand back machine on the move. Johnson .suffered as the result, hut at the same time he too was not impressive: Strang was good in patches. The forwards battled hard and hopelessly, with Hadley Stewart, Swam and Brownlie the most prominent workers. The South African 1 forwards’ front row—Alostert. Kruger, and Van Druteii--formed a splendid trio, who played a great game. Pretorius was another fine lonvard, who played centre-three-quarter when Duffy was injured. There may have been more brilliant and scintillating exhibitions of the code in international matches, hut it is doubtful whether there ever has been a match more strenuously fought. There is only one epitaph to record— New Zealand was beaten by a better team.