BENNIE OSLER'S BOOT

NZ Truth, Issue 1187, 30 August 1928, Page 14

BENNIE OSLER'S BOOT

Brings Defeat To All Blacks In Western Province Game (By Cable.— From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Representative touring with the •V All Blacks.) P LAYING for Western Province, Bennie Osier again showed his brilliant individualism and was the prime factor m the fifth defeat sustained by the touring All Blacks on the famous Newlands field, where South African Rugby was nurtured and reared. The homesters success was mainjy due to the superiority of their backs m adapting themselves to the prevailing conditions and also to the grand- play of the forwards. The, All Blacks started off m magnificent style, badly rattling the Province, who were all at sea with the sodden ball, their kicking being most inaccurate. For the first twenty minutes the All Blacks completely dominated play; opening their score with a beautiful try which was the outstanding movement of the match. Robilliard received the ball from a scrum hear the line, beating Vannie Kerk and opening up a passing movement that went half the length of the field. Harvey was d.owned near the line, but gave the ball to Dalley, who scored near the flag. It seemed the All Blacks would simply outplay the homesters, who were continually on defence, and an easy victory for them seemed assured, but gradually the' Province pack, led by Mostert, began to improve, instilling confidence into their backs. Towards the en.d, of the first half, they were having the better of the game. It seemed that the tourists' three points' lead on a sodden ground might well be the winning score, but near half-time Carleton sustained an injured knee which resulted m his being a passenger for v the remainder of the match. He stayed on the field, until the bitter end. A slippery ball checked nearly all attempts to launch passing movements and players slithered and slipped m mud until they were almost unrecognisable. Osier's accurate line- kicking played a big partj steadying his team and forcing back the opposing forwards fifteen to twenty yards every time. This compelled, them to win the ground all over again, and slowly but surely the homesters began to exercise a winning influence. After scoring, with a penalty goal, De Villiers opened up a succession of dangerous wing thrusts and after sustained pressure, with superb defence by Johnson, Dalley, Strang and Stewart, Osier dropped the ball over the bar, but the goal was disallowed, Harvey having touched the ball inj transit. From this stage onward the All Blacks' forwards wilted and practically collapsed, the Province winning nine successive scrums. Morkel went over from a passing movement showing a clean pair of heels to Strang' and Grenside. Osier capped a grand day's play with a great drop goal from an objique angle. The All Blacks rallied vainly during the last ten minutes, but the deficit they had to make up was too much under the prevailing conditions. No doubt Carleton's accident influenced the result as his defensive play was missed. Johnson was superb m defence, playing his best game to date. Dalley was again outstanding among. the backs, giving one of his most impressive displays of the tour. He frequently broke away frbm the scrum worrying the defence. Strang was affected as the result of his previous play m the scrum half position and was not as sure as he was earlier m tha tour. Lilburne was safe and cool under the most trying conditions. Hazlett was the most outstanding forward and Harvey impressed, considering his lack of play pn the tour. Alley was again sturdy and dogged, while Stewart proved, an excellent spoiler) reinforcing the backs during the second half.