FIRST TEST VICTORY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 18, 14 September 1931, Page 3

FIRST TEST VICTORY

AUSTRALIANS BEATEN 20-13 IN GAME FULL OF INCIDENT BUSH'S GREAT KICKING In a match which was packed with thrills the All Blacks to-day defeated the visiting Australian side by 20 points to 13 in the first test match of the tour. Play never lagged throughout the full 80 minutes, and both sides gave a sparkling display. The rugged work of the All Black pack carried the day. Interest was at a high pitch throughout and it was only. in the final two minutes of the game that the New Zealand side placed the issue beyond doubt. Although on the heavy side, the ground was dry. Weather conditions were ideal. The teams were: — Australia: Fullback, A. W. Ross; three-quarters : W. H. Hemingway, C. H. Towers, D. L. Cowpei', H. A. Tolhurst; five-eighth, J. C. Steggall; halfback, S. J. Malcolm (captain) ; forwards, J. G. Clark, T. G. Perrin, J. R. L. Palfreyman, B. Judd, E. T. Bonis, M. C. White, W. H. Cerutti, R. M. Blair.

New Zealand: Fullback, G. Bush; three-quarters, N. Ball, R.' Page, G. J. Hart; five-eighths, H. T. Lilburne, W. A. Strang (captain) ; half-back, M. Corner; wing-forward, F. Solomon ; f orwards, W. Batty, T. Metcalfe, G. Purdue, E. R. G. Steere, D. Max, A. I. Cottrell, E. Jessup. New Zealand won the toss and Towers kicked off for the Australians into the wind. The All Blacks were quickly into their strides and less than five minutes after the opening whistle, they scored their first try. The ball came out from a scrum at half way and Corner flashed out a pass to Strang who transferred to Lilburne. The latter punted through a gap and with an amazing burst of speed Hart raced round Tolhurst, snapped up the ball and dived over wide out. Bush converted. New Zealand 5, Australia nil. After a period of indifferent play the New Zealand forwards settled down to hard battling. The Australians were forced into their own territory and good runs by Strang and Hart had them badly bustled. New Zealand was attacking hard and the Wallabies had their backs to the wall. The All Black forwards were dominating the game and the backs were always on the move. Scores Level Suddenly however, the Australians reversed the position with a brilliant move. In midfield, Malcolm shot the ball out to Steggall, and with a perfect cut-in, the 'eighth carved his way through the New Zealand defence to Bush. He sent out a quick pass to Cowper who collected the ball at top speed, raced down the line and scored under the posts. Ross added the extras. New Zealand 5, Australia 5. Straight from the kick off, three more points came to the All Blacks when the visitors were penalised between the half way and the twentyfive and Bush kicked a splendid goal. New Zealand 8, Australia 5. Australia Leads The visitors were quickly on the move again, their backs opening up the play with pretty passing movements. Then Malcolm sent out a pass on the blind side to Towers, who beat two defenders and came through to Bush. He kicked over the fullback's head and the Australidn forwards, following fast, took the centreing kick. Judd snapped up the ball and before the All Blacks had timo to rally their defence, he had sent a transfer to Towers who took an awkward pass on one arm and scored unopposed. Ross converted. Australia 10, New Zealand 8.

Encouraged by this success, the visitors came back for more, and for the second time, Steggall jinked his way through. . A scrum was set down on the half -way line and Malcolm sent out a beautiful pass; taking the ball at top, Steggall eluded Strang, dodged a dive tackle by Soloman, went through to Bush, and passed in-field to Towers, who scored with a defender hanging round his waist. Ross missed an easy kick. Australia 13, New Zealand 8. Bush attempted to add three more points by a penalty, but failed and there followed some exciting forward work. Then another chance came to Bush, and with a magnificent kick from near halfway he goaled. Australia 13, New Zealand 11. The first spell ended without further score. Second Spell The All Blacks started well at the beginning of the second spell, and taking the ball along the line of backs, Ball made a great run before He was downed by Ross, as he attempted to pass in-field. The All Black forwards had rallied round but Steggall with a clever short punt soon put Australia on the attack again. The All Blacks at this stage lacked sting and never appeared dangerous. Exciting Football Towers and Hemingway had Bush worried when Towers short-punted to follow fast, but Hart and Page came to the full-back's rescue and whipped the ball back to Bush who cleared with a good kick. It was exciting football at tlus stage. Attack after attack was launched by both sides and the tackling was good. Once more Bush got a chance to goal, and from near the touchline, inside half-way, he kicked another magnificent penalty. New Zealand 14, Australia 13. With only one point between the sides, the game was full of incident. The All Blqck fcrwards were piaying a great game and the backs were showing more confidence. Bush nearly earned further fame when he went very close to potting a goal after picking up a clearing kick on the run. ' Bush Again There was a great burst by the All Black forwards and helped by some Smari work by Lilburne and Page the New Zealand side was soon on the attack again. Just outside the Australian twenty-five, a flagrant off-side by Perrin gave Bush another chance and he kicked his fifth goal. New Zealand 17, Australia 13. Play was moving swiftly up and down field, and both sides were working at a' great pace. Australia was awarded a penalty near the touchline and Ross with a beautiful kick hit the outside post, the ball bounding baclc into play. The All Blacks counter-attacked hard, and had the

visitors bustled with their whirl-wind tactics. The forwards were getting the greater share of the ball in all departments and with swift and accurate passing Corner was sending his backs away with every opportunity. With ten minutes to go, and four points between the teams, the visitors battled hard to make up the deficiency. T^e fast open play of the New Zealand forwards, however, kept the visitors busy. Cowper and Towers sailed down the line and Towers was dropped by Hart after twenty yards' sprint. Then came a lot of rough work, with New Zealand holding the advantage. The Final Try With only two minutes to go, Ball scored another spectacular try. Corner sent Solomon away on the blind side and the wing-forward beat Hemingway to race down the line, with Ball in support. Ross had come hard across and dived for Solomon as he transferred to Ball. The winger gathered in the ball with one hand and raced over as he was tackled by Blair. Bush failed with the kick, tc leave the full-time score 20-13 in favour of New Zealand.