ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1928, Page 2

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

A HARD-FOUGHT GAME.

(Special to Press Association)

BLOEMFONTEIN, July 28.

At Bloemfontein to-day, before a crowd of seven thousand, in brilliant sunshine, the All Blacks beat Orange Free State by three converted tries (fifteen points) to one converted try, one try and one penalty goal (eleven points). Although hard-fought, it was a ragged match. The game was played on the Bloemfontein cricket ground, which had been ploughed and watered for the occasion, and was not recognisable as a cricket ground. The Free State team was—Duplessis; Tramp, Vanderpost, Wansbury, Coetzer; Leeman, Fischer; Basson, Potgieter, Visser, Hende, Rest, Gouldie, Fitchat and Vanderliufe. This side was regarded ns being stronger than that which last played against the All Blacks.

The New Zealand hacks opened up the game from the start with a succession of effective runs, which took play to the Free State line. They were then driven back by Duplessis’* good kicking. Lucas and Sheen then went down the line in a pretty passing movement, and from a resulting scrum the Free State backs started a dangerous movement, which ended in Tramp being pushed out past the half-way flag. Lilburn, taking the ball near his own goal line, raced down the side and a- clever passing movement followed, in which both backs and forwards handled the ball. This carried play to the local side’s goal line, whereupon the New Zealand backs opened out, but they found the tackling of the opposing backs sound. The Free State forwards got going, and went down the field in a fast, combined attack, play settling in the New Zealand twenty-five for some time. Both sides were making many mistakes and losing opportunities. At this stage, for the first time in the match, the All Blacks’ forwards showed cohesion, and they swept tho ball the length of the field, and Dailey, from the lino-out, cut clean through the backs in front of him and scored near the posts. Strang converted. N.Z. 5: ORANGE FREE STATE 0. After this, there was a spell of appallingly ragged play, the backs on both sides continually dropping passes. The Free State backs at least were sent away by Potgieter from a ruck. Tromp put in a- fine run and went over the line, but he lost possession. Sheen was temporarily laid out with his knee but be kept on playing after receiving attention.

A scrum followed a kick to the twentw-fivo yards line, and, from loose play, an African forward kicked tho ball over the line. Potgieler, raciiig up, secured it and scored, and he also converted the try.

ORANGE FREE STATE 5: N.Z. 5

At half-time the All Blacks were attacking hotly. Sheen was carried off at the interval. He appeared again when play was resumed, but the first time lie touched the ball, lie had to he helped off again, his knee giving out once more. New Zealand were thus one man short for the rest of the game, and a re-arrangement of backs had to be made. Lucas took Sheen’s place at centre, and Scrimshaw was moved from wing forward to three-quarter.

The Orange Free State hacks attacked from the first scrum, Tromp being soundly pulled down by Lilburne when within inches of the line. The I roe State players, however, were first to score again, Potgieter landing a goal from a penalty. ORANGE FREE STATE 8: N.Z. 5. The New Zealand forwards then started serious packing. Cyril Brownlie and Ward led off with a clever ■ dribbling movement, and a scrum fol“ lowed. Dailey worked the blind side, and the hall was handled in turn by Johnson) Strang and Scrimshaw, who fell over as lie scored a. good try. Strang kicked a fine goal from a difficult angle. N.Z. 10: ORANGE FREE STATE 8. A minute later the All Blacks backs were again sent away by Dailey from a scrum. Lucas side-stepped liis man, while Strang came round for a pass, and handed the hall on to Scrimshaw, who got over near the posts. It was a pretty piece of combination, which deserved success. Strang again converted.

N.Z. 15: ORANGE FREE STATE 8. The Free State forwards now worked hard for a recovery. The home hacks also made several good runs, Coetzei cutting in on one occasion and reaching Lilburne at full back before bo was tackled. The New Zealand hacks, however, were not idle, and they made thrust after thrust on their own account. They were showing an improvement with Lucas at centre, and took play to the Free State twentyfive, hut a penalty , stopped their ad-

vance. A good break by the Free State forwards, led by Basson, Potgieter and Visser, removed play to the New Zealand twenty-five. There Maurice Brownlie was penalised for getting offside in front of the goal, but Potgieter missed an easy kick. A minute or two before time, the Free State backs opened out with a beautiful movement, which ended in Tromp scoring the last try of the match. Potgieter again missed the goal. There was one fine run by the All Blacks backs before the end, in which Scrimshaw was within an inch of the lino. Lucas then picked up, and sent Strang over, only to be penalised lor using liis hands in the scrum, and the game ended with the scores. N.Z. 15: ORANGE FREE STATE 11.