ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1928, Page 2

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

ALL BLACKS WIN. AGAINST EASTEIIN PROVINCE. (Special to Press Association). PORT ELIZABETH, Aug. FI. After it disappointing exhibition, the All Blacks to-day beat the Eastern ■Province reps by two converted tries and two unconverted tries, to one unconverted try, at Port Elizabeth today, A crowd of 10.000 people witnessed the match. There was a fair wind, which blew down field. The ground was of green turf, -and it was slightly on the soft side, after rain. Tt was several minutes liefore the All Blacks became warmed up, the Eastern Province forwards holding them well. The New Zealand backs opened out in two or three movements, hut the opposing rearguard were smothering them well, and the attacks were broken.

Strang then started another movement from which Lilburne cut in. Burrows took his pass, and going all out, ho dived over tlie line jnst as he was ta-clded to score. The kick at goal missed. N.Z. 3; Eastern Province 0. Eastern Province were doing their best to keep the game tight, and, in this they succeeded for a time. There were a series of uninteresting melees in which tli All Blacks had the best of things. Three fine line kicks then put the Eastern Province on tlie attack, and their hacks started their first passing movement, the hall going out to the centre, Dower, who drew Johnson, then ran past Lucas on tlie inside and scored a brilliant try at the corner. It was the best- try that so far has been scored against the All Blacks. Tho kick at goal missed. N.Z. 3; Eastern Province 3.

Clever work by Strang, Lilburne and Johnson took operations to the Eastern Province line, but a score was prevented by offside play. Then there followed another spell of lagged work, which lasted till half time. It had been a period of particularly dull Rugby. The Easterners started off the second half by rushing the game to tho All Blacks’ line, where they won the ball from several scrums. Their backs got away in a. couple of dangerous movements which needed the best New Zealand defence to keep the line safe. ALT, BLACKS GO TO IT. Then the All Blacks’ forwards started in a workmanlike fashion. They rushed the play down field. where Strang set the backs off. Lucas heat his mail, and a try looked certain, but he was well tackled from behind. Again the New Zealand forwards dominated the play. After getting from Strang a pass from the scrum, Lilburne dummied his man, and sent on to Johnson, who passed infield, for Strang to secure and score between the post. Strang’s kick hit an upright. New Zealand 6; Eastern Province 3.

The All Blacks were continually on attack now but there was deadly tackling by the Eastern Province, which kept them out. Still the New Zealanders hammered away at the line. At last, from a scrum. Strang broke away, and passed to Burrows, who scored his second try, which Lindsay converted. N.Z. 11; Eastern Province 3-

The Eastern Province forwards made a gallop upfielrl, hut they were soon forced back to their own twentyfive again. A few minutes later the New Zealand backs opened out from a serum. After both Johnson and Lucas had dropped the ball, Rushbrook snapped it up, and dived over at tho corner to score, and Lilburne converted with a great kick. N.Z. 10; Eastern Province 3. The final whistle went with the AH Blacks still attacking. Apart from tho fact that the New Zealanders played a. disappointing game, much must he said for the excellent tackling of the whole Eastern Province team. Seldom was there a man who missed. ALL BLACKS NOT KEEN. Tho All Blacks seemed to work in only a half-hearted way. It was a big reversal on their display in the last three matches. Lindsay played his usual first-class football, but Strang was patcliy. Really tho only back to play anything like good football was Lilburne, who did much smart work. Hadley, McWilliams and Snow seemed to be the only forwards who had their heart in their job. THE THIRD TEST. PORT ELIZABETH, Aug. 12. It is now definitely stated that Stanley Osier, the South African crack flv-half, will not bo able to play in the third test. He hits an injured thigh muscle, which is still giving him considerable trouble. New Zealand players to train for next test will he chosen on Monday, while the Springbok team will he definitely picked on Wednesday.