FIRST RUGBY TEST

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1932, Page 3

FIRST RUGBY TEST

AUSTRALIA BEATS N.Z

SUPERIORITY OF VICTORS.

(Australian Press Association.)

SYDNEY, July 3.

Though the New Zeaknu team Jinithed desparately and gallantly, they were forced to admit defeat m the fiiist Test match against Australia .at Sydney yesterday by a margin of live points, which scarcely reflected the tuiference in merit between the two teams.

The final score was: A,ufetalia 22, New Zealand 17.

The Austalian backs were, in all meet every place individually superior to the visitors and collectively they were much the more resourceful. Yet the result 'remained in doubt until. Lawton's last minute score, which was a risky move. The attendance was thirty thousand. Tiie weather was line and cool. Tile teams*were as follows:

New Zealand.—Hacks: H. T. Lilburne, F. Bulloek-Douglas, T. H. C. Caughey, A. C. Proctor, J. R. Page, H. It. Pollock, F. D. Kilby (captain). Forwards: H.,F. McLean, T. C. Metcalfe, G. W. Purdue, E.. R. Steere,' J. E. Manchester, A. I. Cotterell,. E. A. Jeseep, J. Hore. , Australia.—Backs: J. Steggall, D. Cowper, S. C. King, G. W. White, T. Lawton (captain), S. ,J. Malcolm. , Foywardn. j. Clarke, M. White, 0. Bridle, G. Bland, Cook, E: W. Love/ E. Bonis, W. H.. Cerutti. THE GAME DESCRIBED. Lawton’s move that brought the last minute score for the winners was as follows:—Gn New Zealand’s twentyfive line, after the blind side of the scrum had been closed up, Lawton coolly kicked the ball acre,} sthe field to his left flank, the bounce of the ball, favourng the Australian winger, Cowper, and enabling him in a strid to come inside Bulloek-Douglns with an open line before him, just two minutes from the final bell. .This move was typical of Australia’s back play throughout the game, venturesome in-and-out passing being a speciality witl all the Australian inside 'backs.

The New* Zealand forwards nicker well. They frequently raped ahead in

black clouds (when the ..ball was locee, and' the- sli&wed a greater variety of play in the fine out) in which they nullified' Australia’s only method, the •‘knock-back,’ ‘but in the set scrums the Australian forwards hooked tne ball on an average of two to ope. When occasionally they were breaking through, the All Blacks..’, rushes were offset by the Australian’s stern

tackling. The New Zealanders’ short-

age of the crashing, direct type of fast, tall, safe-hadiing forwads ;wi.o were with their previous teams,.-.was also noticeable. Moreover, .the absence of >a skilful “rover” .left,., the visitors without an eaptra man to create an over Tap for, tlieir wings. Lawton the Au.talian five-eighth was the hardest nut to crack. Though he was tackled heavily and often in the early ftages qf the game, he still

survived to .exploit the “Waratah” methods of opening up the game, and he was always a remarkable anticipator in defence. Lilburne • was safe at full-back for New Zealand, and outshone Steggall as a last line of defence.

Bullock-Douglas and Proctor proved both to be straight-running, paCy wings. Though Page sharpened the attack, however, theuball never travelled among the New Zealand 'threequarter line as flashingly as it ’ (did along Australia’s • 1,1! Kilby’s service was excellent, arid he frequently retrieved‘"nasty situations. T '' .'>b'C ’ Kilby was left alone in a long, stern and‘vain chase to catch the 1 ” 1 Australian • Cerutti, who scored‘Ausralia’s penultimate and most decis'iV© try. Cottrell, McLean and Hore were New Zealand’s best forwards. ■ I'HE FIRST. SPEID:'' From thg, kick-off, 'it',.seemed that New Zealand‘ would make 'amends for their previous spiritless sl/o.\yitig here, For the first twenty minutes, the play was only twice', and then’spasmodically within th e visitors’ 25.1 In' all of th; recoveries, Li.lburne regularly. was a surer .line-finder thVn) ‘.%|eg : g%jl. Australia’s attempts to exploit the “knockback” on thq hue out wer e foiled by ■quick breaking-up on to Lawton. ’ McLean was the source of the'’ first try. Snapping up tlTfi b.al cleverly in the loose, .he sent Pollock and Caughey racing each drawing the defence. The final pass was one a yard infieid to Bui- j Jock-Douglas-, who skirted tlbe touch! in round Steggall, grounding the ball near the posts. Pollock converted.: .New, Zealand 5 ; Australia 0. jAr, McLean was also the originator.) .; .of the next . try. Beginning withrwo a -kibble, he gathered th e ball at ".halfway, with three forwards supporting him. Hore. was the handiest, and he;alecepted a'paps and crossed to .score] iPolIpck faked jyvith a com p' I ' rati very. /easy | kick. , New Zealand 8} Australia 'Qr , New .. Zealand’s eight points’!' were j wplLdeserved-., but one minute from- the | bell, some Australian back play was'rewarded; when .Cowper,' who was hemmed : ri. nassed to Bridle, the Victorian forward, wh«3 ’Tnade diagonally'' “frir the posts to ; score. Lawton converted from, in front-ofuthe ‘posts'."' -New' Zealand 8 ; Australia s;i ' * " ‘

c -THE SECOND SPELL: ; ' The second half was muclr morc inspiring than the first. The New Zealand 'onvarck -began in a contmandidg/v-ay, hiving their backs repeated pbtsesfion of the balth-Though the hand-'ing 'was good,/ the movements wer e foiled h->r the Australians’ safe tackling,' the wings never securing an overlap. Two penalty goals were kicked by Lawton, vHhich put Australia ahead. Austral!11; New Zealand 8: Malcolm’s and Lawton’s daring resulted in fast exchanges, as the v °, Zealanders’ tackling beat them contiti” lally when' .attempting to us 6 their wings. "Suddenly Sturtridge, the Australia*’ three-quarter, found a chance, and- f cut inside Pollock -to make fifty. y~'rt of ground. Then he punted past-.'.!’’ burne, and the Australian forward Oerutti beat the full-back in a rapover the goal line to scqre. . Lawtor converted. Australia 16 ; j<ew, Zealan8. ■ . ,r- ; New Zealand responded with a fierce attack for five minute^.,,and, while in the home 25, "Page kicked, a field goal as the defenders'Were fetredniing across. Australia 16"'; New‘‘^ea'lafid^S./ There now was four points',of a difference, but the turning"p6iht('was the next try. The New Zealand:' backs wpr,, in possession against the close--playing defenders: ' Caugbey" ' was tackled, and, as the bail” went'Tnto the loose, Bridle-, the*-' nearest' ‘'.Australian forward, after kicking it arid possession, flung it wide to,Oerutti, who was vainly chased by Kilby ‘from halfway, and scored. Australia"l9; New Zealand 12. The -set-back spurred the New Zealand forwards, who were playing des-. perately. Out-rucking them, Australia won' a Scrum, but quick breaking-up by the New Zealanders beat King, , ami, Purdue, gathering, burst through, gain, ing a try, and carrying two forward, over the line with him. Pollock easily converted, Australia T 9; New Zealand 11 ■ ’ v-:'i a iPM The excitement now way inten-'O, with the Two points margin. Nevertheless New Zealand lost ground, their backs kicking as time neared. Th°ri C-owper’s try, originated by LawjUmV risky, deliberate cross-kick, •put : " :5 ‘ itls- - beyond doubt. Australia 22 ; , N'o‘w' Zealand 17. , -. -i-' New Zealand began Attacking,' ■' 'b’-r Proctor ' was forced 'into touchbeh rang. I'iie New Zealand malinger. Mr M-, 1 lace, interviewed, said : “Congratidrtioiiis! Your backs are too old in the bead! I think our forwards did quit* wa'l, and prevented the provide' domination in the line-out." ' -