A LEAGUE TEST

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1932, Page 2

A LEAGUE TEST

A DRAMATIC CONTEST

SYDNEY, June 19,

The second League test' in Brisbane yesterday wee one of the fiercest football affairs in international history. Australia won, 15-6, but only after unparalleled exertion. /The great fight for the Ashes of Rugby, League will now be at Sydney on July. 16, when tlfe deciding match is to be played. The test at Brisbane was a test of big men. Of men who neither gave nor asked quarter.

In the lightning onslaughts and mad rushes that swept the play from corner to cqrner only the fittest survived;

Many men were brought to earth; quite a, number suffered injury. ■

A test of fractured bones—a test of bruised; bodies,, damaged eyes and, torn lips (says,one writer, Claude’ Corbett; in /the' “Sydney Sun”). ■; ; A test that so stirred, the emotions °f a huge crowd that it cheered, friend and foe alike throughout a, day that will live in memory. .In Weissel/rests the epic of the match —an epic that'haid the crowd of 26,500 crazy with excitement as Weissel sped from near his own goal-line right down into the shadow of the English: goal, lyiiere liis brave spirit gave otlt; ahd he was “buried” into the earth by tvvb‘Enfelishiriehi' r * **

The points were 10-6 in Australia’s favour in the dosing stagee. England had gone close to scoring, but was driven back yard by yard, when the ball came across to Adams. For some reason he stopped—evidently under the impression that the whistle had ■gone. ■ ’ . f. . A RACE FOR A TRY. In a 'moment the’ball was knocked from his hands, and Weissel had it. He, too, stopped, but then went on, beating three men. Finding himself in the open, ten yards clear of any pursuer, Weissel looked about him, but there was no comrade in support. Back went the Temora man’s head, an- out he strode for that thin white, line, so far away. Inch by mch, Lolland and another Englishman gained on him. Time was nearly up. England looked like snatching the game from the fire/ and now it had turned Australia’s way. Rocking on its feet,, the packed throng yelled and screamed incoherently as that green-dad figure streaked on. Ten yards to go, ana Weissel was faltering. He fell, with two relentless pursuers on top of him. The ball was played, Weissel collapsed, but a mighty roar, a hulling of those famous Brisbane cushions, told these who could not see from behind that Australia had scored, and that there was still a chance fbr the Ashes. Hec Gee had scored. Pearce converted an d Australia won 15-6.

It looked in that last ten minutes as if Australia’s hour 6f doom had been reached, for it was then that England played its greatest, against eleven men, thrusting home with terrible force every advantage, Only superhuman defence kept them out. Australia, was,-playing with three forwards in the scrums, being naturally beaten for the ball, standing up to see it go streaming along, that English line of attack. Into them crashed the defenders, with body and round the legs. But still the ball went on to the Australian line. Then came that last dramatic episode of all, find the game was over.