WEAK LINK IN THE BACKS

NZ Truth, Issue 1176, 14 June 1928, Page 14

WEAK LINK IN THE BACKS

BOTH teams were much the worse for wear when they left the field at , the end of the game, amid mutual hand-shaking and cheering. The Browniie brothers, Maurice and Cyril, Ron. Stewart and McWilliams were the shining stars in the forwards. Maurice was superb and easily the best, and in all phases of the game fully justified his reputation. Cyril was magnificent in ( the line-out. , "* Of the backs, Frank Kilby made the most of. his. chances behind a beaten , pack. He went down gallantly to the rushes of the Transvaal forwards. Lance Johnson was responsible for a fine defensive game, and he also showed himself capable in attack, though occasionally he mulled his passes. Mark Nicholls was sound and kicked well. , The occasion proved too big for Sid. Carleton. .He was not equal to a dashing offensive and frequently mishandled at critical times. Bert. Gren"side made the most of limited chances. ..' . '• ' ' •. • : . ; Dave Lindsay gained much valuable ground with long kicks into touch, and he defended resolutely, though all this good work was discounted by; a high tackle of Liebenberg when he scored. : . . , Throughout the game the All Blacks freely used the' .kick .into touch. They dropped their traditional play in preference for South African methods. They were a fitter team and outlasted Transvaal. Their chief weakness ] was the inability of the hookers to secure .the ball and provide the opportunities for the backs. x ' : Their opponents were the best forwards that they had encountered to date and against them were playing many candidates for the Springbok test i teams. The outstanding forwards were Kruger, Oliver, Pretorius and van ; Druten. -. Devine, at half, was superlatively brilliant, and will probably be selected to take part in the tests. He was knocked out for two minutes from a punch on the chin. . . . , : ; His long passing from the base of the scrum enabled his stand-offs to open up or kick, without having to contend with the attentions of the rover, k i thus inflicting severe work on the All Black forwards. ■ , ■■ ' ' '< Referee Finlay, a recent arrival from Scotland, and who is spending his i first season in Transvaal, interviewed by "N.Z. Truth's" representative, said, : he most deeply regretted the necessity for ordering Flnlaysonoff, but he had no alternative. ■■■'.• . "In the interests of the game I had to do it." Regarding the knoeking-out of Devine, the referee stated that he saw a fist connect, but he was not certain who was the culprit. Down in the mouth was "Bunny" Finlayson when he was approached. He was most penitent and took all the blame. "I was irritated because he swore at me. I sincerely hope. that the incident will not affect sporting relations between players." ; Fjnlayson subsequently apologised to Geere and the Transvaal Union. ! The latter, in reporting to the South African Board of Control, states that the' ] matter has been dealt with and that it can now be regarded as closed.