FOOTBALL

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4490, 12 August 1930, Page 3

FOOTBALL

NEW ZEALAND'S DECISIVE WIN IN (FINAL TEST MATCH.

Before a record crowd of 40,000 on Athletic Park, Wellington, on Saturday, New Zealand had a decisive: victory in the fourth and last Test against Britain by 22 points to 8. The game was an exhilarating one from start to finish

with the New Zealand team attacking two-thirds of the time. Britain won the toss and there was a thrill from the start when Porter kicked off and caught- the hall on the rebound from one of the British forwards whose comrades however packed round and a line-out was formed on the halfway line. Britain hooked the hall and Murray passed to Spong to Bowcott, Aarvold, and Reeve who putin a short run and found the line in New Zealand’s 25 where both forwards and hacks combined in returning play to halfway, Lilburne and McWilliams being prominent. JfYom the lirst set serum Britain hooked the hall neatly and when Spong received from Murray lie got in one of his characteristic speedy runs hut was held up and McLean and Cottrell were to the fore in heading a dribbling rush that took play back to halfway. McLean again and McWilliams got- the hall at toe from the lineout, but a penalty for offside, play let Britain clear, Nepia allowing the ball to go over the line, thus giving his side a drop off from the 25.

iFrom a scrummage Corner sold a dummy and though he was sinntliered by the British forwards he managed to send on to McWilliams who forged ahead for a few yards and passed to Porter. Zealand’s first try came when the latter hurled himself across the line.. Nepia took the kick but missed New Zealand B—Britain 0. Within three minutes Britain had equalised. New Zealand were penalised and Parker kicked a splendid goal from fiye yards inside New Zealand’s half-way. Britain 3 —New Zealand 3. ‘Scrummaging followed until Porter stopped an attempted breakaway iby Murray and Ivor Jones. Murray got offside and Nepia found the line well down, and from a scrum Corner was given the hall, passing out along the line to Cooke who clapped on the pace and passed to Hart, but the latter was pushed out by Reeve. Again getting the ball Corner worked the blind side and passed lo Hart and McWilliams.

For a spell the forwards dominated the contest only a few yards away from the British line. Eventually an infringement allowed Britain lo clear. Strang; Lilburne and Cooke handled in a passing bout and cutting in in an endeavour to make ail opening for Lucas, Cooke lost possession but Strang was handy and picked up. He attempted a “pot” but missed and Aarvold forced. . Black and Beamish started a rush hv the British forwards which gained 5(1 yards before Nepia stoplied it. From a scrum in New Zealand’s 25 Murray sent the hall out along the line to Novis hut the latter’s pass in was well intercepted by Nepia who brought off a great save.

■ Spoil# was .again prominent in evading Strang and Corner, but Porter headed a counter rush, successfully beating off a tackle and passing on to Lucas and Cooke. The centre was clean away with Hart in support when he was called back for an infringement and New Zealand lost a practically certain try.

Ivor Jones secured from a scrum and broke away supported by several forwards, but Porter and Lucas stopped 'the movement. Porter was penalised in the line-out and Parked missed another shot at goal.

At length Corner set his line going. Lilburne cut in and sent a

pass back to Strang- who went over for a great try. He missed with the kick. New Zealand 6 —-Britain

New Zealand steadily gained ground till in a scrum not far from Britain’s line McLean was penalised. Evidently some of the New Zealand forwards had some remarks to make about, the ruling, for Porter was called up and the referee had a brief but convincing 'ehait with him. O’Neill and Rew headed the British forwards in some hard work that took play 'up to halfway and from here Corner passed out to Strang- and Lilburne, the latter short punting and accompanying Cooke in a fast follow up that caught Bassett in possession. From the scrummaging that followed Corner, Bafctv, Hore and Lucas combined in a. rush that ended in Britain forcing. iFor the remainder of the spell Britain Was defending and the scores were unchanged. In the second spell half the British forwards following up quickly gained a good deal of ground until Corner took a neat mark and found the line. Britain secured from the serum and the ball went out along the line to- Reeve who was held up and Aarvold who was in support was smothered by Cooke. A hot British attack ended when Murray was penalised and Nepia found the line well up.

. Lilburne, Cooke and Lucas started a passing rush which ended well in British territory.' A scrum formed and the ball again came along the line to Cooke who sent out a long pass to Hart, cutting put Lilbume. Hart was .collared but in the scrummaging that followed Hie ball was kicked over Britain’s line and ICboke produced a great turn of speed to win a race for possession and score well out amid

wild enthusiasm. New Zealand 9 —Britain 3.

From the line-out after a great kick by Bassett a British forward kicked high and Nepia was tackled by Row who had followed up quickly. Both Nepia and Rew were hurt. A scrum was formed and the bad was sent along the line to Novis. Novis cut in bountifully and left the defence badly beaten. He inn 40 yards for a splendid try and scored under the posts. Black converted. New Zealand 9—Britain 8.

Three minutes from Britain having come up only one point behind, New Zealand had scored again. Aarvold fielded Porter's kick oil. and found the line. From the lineout Corner secured the hall and sent out- a beautiful pass to Lucas just as the British forwards were breaking through. Lucas performed a similar feat to Hint of Nieho'lls in the third Test and crosskicked. Unfortunately for Britain Bassett fumbled and before the barks in support- could retrieve the mistake C'ookc had come up, kicked across the line, followed up and scored. Strang converted. New Zealand 14—Britain 8. The next sensation was when Corner brought off a - wonderful save after Beamish, Rew, Farrell and Welsh had broken through to New Zealand’s 25.

Murray evaded Porter and Corner in coming round the serum and punted over Nepia’s head. Lucas took the. ball on the bounce and was smothered in goal as he forced. Aarvold was given the ball on the blind side and eross-kieklecl, hut New Zealand just managed to force in time. Strang, Lilburne, Cooke and Lucas handled, the last two named inter-passing until Lucas was pushed out.- From the linenut Cooke had a shot at goal hut missed. Porter scored a wonderful try when he secured from about 10 yards out and dodging through to the line then threw himself over with two defenders hanging on to him. Strang converted. New Zealand 19 —Britain S.

Lucas was penalised for obstruction and Parker took another kick' at goal and missed by very little. Novis attempted a “pot” but was well astray. Ivor Jones secured from n serum and passed to Spong, Reeve and Novis, all of whom in-ter-passed at top speed and took play in a flash to the New Zealand line where a heap of New Zealand and British players went over the line together. A scrum was ordered. Porter and Corner cleared to the 25.

A trick >kick from a penalty after Porter had got offside failed to produce result. Porter smothering the movement at its start.

The ball was kicked through to Bassett and the full-back ran up and passed to Novis and Aarvold, the latter being pushed out on New Zea lands’ 25. A short punt caught Basset in possession. A line-out was formed and McWilliams, Batty, Lucas and again Battv handled in quick succession, Batty going over for a try which Strang did not convert. New Zealand 22 —Britain 8.

A series of line-outs saw New Zealand gain ground and McLean went- over the line with British players on top of him. A sreuin was ordered and time iwas called with New Zealand still hammering on the line.

The crowd stormed the field when the players were walking off and several of them were chaired. There was wild cheering long after the teams had reached their dressing rooms and the scene was one of the most enthusiastic ever witnessed on Athletic Park. Guided by wireless megaphones the crowd was dispersed slowly but in an orderly way and for more than an hour after-words was streaming down the various roads leading from the park.

PORTER WILLL FINISH THE SEASON.

Before he retires from active Rugby football, C. G. Porter, captain of the New Zealand and Wellington teams, will see the present season out. He said this yesterday in answer to an inquiry concerning- his plans. Some Wellington supportres, when Porter announced at the dinner to- the British team on Saturday that lie was giving the game up, thought that the All Black captain intended to shed his jersey immediately, and would not take part; in any more matches. Porter says that he was only referring to international games when he said, “this is my last game for New Zealand.’’ He told a “Dominion” reporter to-day that he would continue to play for his club and province until the end of the season, and would then make room for younger players.

TAKINGS AT FOURTH TEST. The balance-sheet in connection with the fourth Rugby Test match at. Athletic Park on Saturday has not yet been dualised, as there are still a few returns to come in. The match was controlled fertile New Zealand Rugby Union by the Wellington Rugby Union, whose lion, treasurer, Mr. G. F. W. Jackson, estimated yesterday that the takings would total between £6900 and £7OOO, and that the crowd would be found to have not exceeded 40,000.