WEST GRIQUALAND BEATEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 374, 7 June 1928, Page 1

WEST GRIQUALAND BEATEN

THREE-MEN FRONT ROW CARLETON AS EXTRA CENTRE Mic WILLIAMS SCORES FIRST TRY nETVEN to adopt a new formation, which embodied sen1T saticnal departures from the traditional New Zealand style, the All Blacks yesterday beat West Griqualand by 19 points to 10. The game was played on the hard, red-dirt ground at Kimberley, and for Aucklanders held a special interest because Sheen and McWilliams got their first game, McWilliams scoring the opening try. f United j P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Special to Press Association.)

S*<i. 9.4« a.m. KIMBERLEY, Wed. Showing better form, the All Blacks k«>t West Griqualand to-day by 19 points to 10, but as the latter was not reckoned among the strong sides, the oirgia was nothing to boast of. On the other hand, as the ground its hard, red dirt, this was a new experience for the visitors, and prolixly effected them to some extent. The score was made up of five tries, two of them converted, to one try, one penalty and one potted goal. The New Zealanders were again fsroured with brilliant sunshine, but the attendance of only 5,000 spectators was not treated to anything brilliant, the match being a disapointing exhibition on both sides. The New Zealand team was: Lindsay IMibrcok Sheen Carleton Lucas Strang Johnson Kilby Wsrd Burrows Stewart C. Brownlie McWilliams Snow Finlayson The All Blacks in this game made radical changes in their formation and tactics. They played three men in the front of the acrum, and four behind. Carletee acted as an extra centre. As a result of these alterations, New Zealand got a fair percentage of the ball from the scrums. For e little while the advantage lay with the local side. Within three minutes of the start Holton kicked a goal from a penalty in front of the New Zealand posts. The All Blacks then started a succession of dashes, from one of which the ball came to the backs. Lucas ticked infield accurately. McWilliams lained possession and scored near the PMts. Lindsay, however, was too

slow with his kick, which was charged down. New Zealand .. ~ .. West Griqualand ....... 3 The Griqualanders came back, and remained on top for some time, keepaeieie<etß{S4eK}s^msis^e^isi^eieieiQtsisK AUCKLANDERS DO WELL rpHE Aucklanders, Lucas, MeWilliams and Finlayson, each scored a try..

ing the All Blacks busy defending. Holton secured the ball from a scrum in front; of the posts and potted a goal. West Griqualand .. .. 7 New Zealand ........ 3 Playing with great determination, the Africans pushed the All Blacks back, and still kept them on the defence for a further period. At last tile New Zealand backs got an opportunity, and from his own 25 Strang gave Kilby a pass, and the ball travelled the rest of the length of the field. It was handled by Lucas,

Sheen, McWilliams, Johnson and Rushbrook, -who raced across the line after a most spectacular movement. Strang’s kick missed. West Griqualand 7 New Zealand 6 The Griqualanders still had something to say, and immediately started a whirlwind forward attack, which took them close to the New Zealand

line. There a scrum took place. The ball was heeled out to Bok and he shot over at the corner. The kick at goal missed. West Griqualand ... ». 10 New Zealand ~ .. .. 6 The All Blacks, however, evened up before the spell ended, with another pretty movement. Kilby shot the ball away from the scrum to Johnston, to Strang, and then Sheen cut in, Carleton finally passing to Rushbrook, who dashed over the line. Lindsay converted, making the halftime score: New Zealand .. .. ... .. T 1 West Griqualand .. . . „ 10 SECOND SPELL The Africans, who had so far done very well, fell off in the second half, and the All Blacks had all the better of it, though they did not score heavily. The backs showed up very prominently. Ten minutes from resuming, Kilby, who, in particular, was playing a great game, started a passing rush, in which Johnson, Strang and Sheen took part. Carleton cut in at the right time, and handed on to Lucas, who sailed over at the corner. Lindsay’s kick, though difficult, only just missed. New Zealand 14 West Griqualand 10 Several more combined movements promised well, but were spoiled by failure to put in the finishing touches.

At the last minute, Brownlie, however, got possession from the line-out, and passed to Finlayson, The big Aucklander swerved his way through to score between the posts, and Strang had no difficulty in converting, leaving the All Blacks victors. Final: New Zealand 19 West Griquiland 10 IS IT PANIC? BALL AT ANY PRICE ANOTHER DROPPED GOAL The report of the radical changes in style and formation to which the All Blacks have been driven cannot cause anything but uneasiness among followers of the game in this country. However good the individuals of the team may be, they will be working under a heavy handicap if they have to practise such a radical experiment while the tour is in progress. New Zealand’s confidence in the outcome of the Tests will be shaken by the necessity for introducing a threeman front row, and a four-man threequarter line, which have been unknown in New Zealand Rugby since the 90’s. Some may be inclined to condemn the “monkeying” with the formation as evidence of unnecessary panic, but for the moment it has answered its purpose. One feature is the employment of only one regular hooker in the new front-rank. This was Burrows, a light “swinger” between two such heavy men as Stewart and Ward. The back row was almost as heavy a quartet as the team could field. Aucklanders will be gratified by the knowledge that McWilliams was prominent

True to his training, he was on hand for the fast work in the open. The same applies to Finlayson. Better form by the backs is welcome. The new men, notably Kilby and Rushbrook, seem to have opened the tour brightly. Some of them will be among the stars before the tour Is over. West Griqualand is not, on last year’s form, when it finished seventh in the Currie Cup, one of the strongest sides. The 1924 English team won at Kim-

berley by 28—0, but against the New Zealand Services team, in 1919, the Griquas scored a glorious victory by 8 to 3. In this instance the All Blacks scored five tries to one, a convincing demonstration of superiority. Another potted goal helped to swell the tally raised against them. It is time New Zealand got the habit.