Transvaal’s Win

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 377, 11 June 1928, Page 11

Transvaal’s Win

WORST DISPLAY OF TOUR Finlayson Ordered Off TRANSVAAL inflicted defeat on the All Blacks on Saturday, by six points to nil. The All Blacks’ display is described as the worst of the tour. Finlayson, the New Zealand forward, was ordered off for punching a player on the ground; but there seems to have been two very good sides to that dispute. The New Zealander was not alone in sinning. (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Special to Press Association.)

JOHANNESBURG, Saturday. A great crowd of 30,000 spectators watched the All Blacks beaten by Transvaal by 6 points (two tries) to 0 on Ellis Park to-day. The ground was in good order and brilliant sunshine favoured the players. For New Zealand the match was all a tragedy. The team could no nothing right. The forwards were beaten in the scrums and could only hold their own in the line-outs. When the backs were given a chance they usually mulled it badly. It was the old story that a team cannot win unless it gets possession of the ball. It was not the high altitude that

beat the All Blacks, as only two complained that they felt a burning sensation in the throat. The New Zealanders could not get the ball, so they were forced to play a defensive game for the greater part of the match. The Transvaal forwards were too good for our men—ln fact, New Zealand was beaten fore and aft. In the whole 80 minutes of the game there was not even a suggestion of class football, and it is doubtful whether an All Black team has ever played such distractingly poor Rugby. FINLAYSON INCIDENT Tbe Finlayson incident came as a bombshell to the New Zealanders, as

backs which ended in Prinsloo drop piug his pass when in a scoring posi tion. New Zealand in this half, re verted to the two three-two scrum formation instead of the three-four as in the first spell, McWilliams acting as lock.

the North Aucklander has a big reputation as a great sport. He was seen lying on the ground with Geere, a Transvaal forward, on top of him, having a head lock on the New Zealander and screwing his neck unmercifully. When freed, Finlayson made one solid punch at Gecre’s jaw, which connected. The whistle went, and Finlayson was ordered off. The whole incident happened in front of the main stand. Up to this stage the game had been unnecessarily willing. Some unsavoury work had been going on in the scrums on both sides, and these tactics were continued till the end of the match. Seen after the game, Finlayson said he had nothing against anybody, and took all the blame to himself. The game had been very hotly contested, and it was unfortunate the whistle went just at that moment. He was sorry the incident had occurred. MANAGER’S VIEW Mr. W. Hornig. manager of the All Blacks, said:—“There is no question that Geere was trying to screw Finlayson’s head off. If the referee had seen that part of the incident both players would have been ordered off. It was a hard fought game, from start to finish.” The Johannesburg “Star” said the Transvaal forwards played a traditional game, in which they outclassed the opposing pack, and, with Devine as scrum half, won their way to victory. The All Black play has certainly Improved. Mr. G. L. Finlay, an ex-Scotish player, was referee.

Transvaal defence was like a rock, and eventually the home side cleared its quarters. VERY LITTLE OF BALL For the first 20 minutes the Transvaal backs were continually getting the ball from the scrums, but they made little use of it, as their attacking movements lacked sting. The New Zealanders were up against things for the next 10 minutes. The local forwards dominated play in both scrums and line-outs and the All Blacks got very little of the ball. Punting high the opposing backs l-ushed Lindsay and hustled him while he was attempting to clear. Unfortunately Robilliard bumped into Lindsay, which allowed Raath to race up and dive over the line. Devine’s kick missed. Transvaal 3 New .Zealand ........ 0 In the last five. minutes New Zealand had the better of the play, but taking the spell on the whole the play was deplorable. There was not one fragment of good football by either side in the 40 minutes, and the All Blacks gave their worst display of the tour so far.

Transvaal started the second spell with an electric dash among the

POLICE PROTECTION A few minutes after starting again Finlayson was ordered off for punching a player on the ground in front of the stand, and he walked slowly from the ground with bowed head amid hoots and jeers from the crowd which caused him to receive police protection. Just after., this .incident the Iransvaal forwards heeled the ball from a scrum to Kotze, who sent Devine away He passed to Liebenberg and the winger dashed down the line and ran over at the corner with Lindsay and Carleton hanging on to him. The kick at goal missed. Transvaal ® New Zealand • 0 BLACKS' LAST EFFORT

The New Zealand forwards pulled themselves together for a while and started on a task of recovery, but their efforts were

useless, as the South Africans were still getting possession from the scrums, aud they kept their opponents continually on the run. Lindsay had a kick at goal from a penalty, but the ball hit an upright. The New Zealand

forwards then did

obtain the ascendancy for a short time, Ward. McWilliams and Swain putting in some rattling work, while the defence and touch-finding were accurate. Tile Transvaal inside backs finally drove the attacks back again, and the home side’s threequarters set off for the line, but Lindsay saved. The All Blacks made one more effort, backs- and forwards combining in a sustained rush upheld, but there was no result, and th - final whistle sounded with the scores: Transvaal 6 New Zealand ........ 0