FOUR CONVERTED TRIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 380, 14 June 1928, Page 1

FOUR CONVERTED TRIES

FINE VICTORY AT KROONSTAD ORANGE FREE STATE DOWNED FORWARDS AND BACKS GREATLY IMPROVE (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Special to Press Association.) Reed. 9.5 a.m. KROONSTAD, Wednesday. FE All Blacks, playing the best all-round football of the tour so far, beat the Orange Free State by four converted tries to nil, at Kroonstad to-day.

The Free State side was supposed i to be a team of country clubs, but it i had been considerably strengthened. The All Blacks were given an ovation on leaving the field. The team was: . Lilburne Grenside Lindsay Robilliard Strang McGregor Dailey Scrimshaw Ward Hazlett M. Brownlie, Alley McWilliams Hore Swain The game was played on a dirt ground, which had been furrowed 10 days previously, and watered before the match. The attendance numbered 5,000. It was a beautiful day, and there was not a breath of wind. Within two minutes of the start, the New Zealand forwards bustled their opponents. There was a lineout near the Free State line, and from loose play that followed Dailey dived over at the corner. Lindsay converted with a very fine kick. New Zealand 5 Orange Free State 0 The play then travelled up and down the field twice, the New Zealanders having easily the better of things at this stage. The ball was heeled out from a scrum, and Dailey sent his backs away. McGregor, Strang, Lindsay and Grenside handled in turn, and the lastnamed finally ran over and Lindsay converted. New Zealand .10 Orange Free State 0 At half-way, Grenside again got possession, and set sail for the line, with Lindsay and Strang on the inside. They took the hall in turn, and Strang raced behind the posts. Lindsay again converted. New Zealand 15 Orange Free State 0

It was an easy matter for the New Zealanders now. The forwards were dribbling well, and the backs were opening out in pretty movements. When half-time came, the All Blacks were still hot on the attack. The Free State started the second spell with a great effort to retrieve the position. The forwards played with more dash, and started to get possession from the scrums. The

backs were given every chance, but they mulled their passes badly. New Zealand w'as defending for about ten minutes, with the Free State forwards storming the line, and rallying in fine style. When this burst had spent its force, the New Zealand forwards carried all before them, and drove their opponents to their twentyfive. A hot offensive was kept up, the backs throwing the ball about in

telling style, but the defence was strong, and their movements just failed to get home. Again the Free State, with a fine combined movement, carried play to the All Blacks’ line. By sound work Strang and Dailey cleared, and with

a brilliant forward movement, led by Brownlie, McWilliams, Swain and Alley, New Zealand swept down the field. From a scrum in the Free State’s twenty-five, Dailey sent Strang away. The five-eighth cut in and scored a fine try under the posts, which Lindsay had no trouble in converting. New Zealand 20 Orange Free State 0 Lilburne now changed places with Lindsay. The next passing movement saw Grenside thrown out at the corner. Play hovered in the Free State’s twenty-five for a time, the New Zealand backs puzzling their opponents by a series of quick thrusts. The Free State made one more praiseworthy hut Ineffective effort, and the game ended with the All Blacks still going strong. FINAL New Zealand . . 20 Orange Free State 0

THEIR BEST DISPLAY

HOW ALL BLACKS WON ANALYSIS OF TEAM Reed. 9.5 a.m. KROONSTAD, Wed. The All Blacks gave easily their best display during the tour. The forwards put more weight into the scrums and obtained possession. The scrum work was a big improvement on Saturday’s exhibition against the Transvaal. In the line-out, New Zealand dominated the play, the pack exhibiting better combination and understanding. Brownlie, McWilliams and Swain stood out, and Alley was Invaluable in the line-outs. The backs from the start combined well, Dailey feeding them generously. Although McGregor received a nasty Injury to the back early in the game, he was valuable in attacking movements. Strang who played first five-eighth when McGregor was hurt, showed excellent football, varying his play nicely.

The three-quarters were in good form, their pace being too much for their opponents. The team is delighted with the reversal of form, but it realised that it was meeting weak opponents.

It is now certain that the All Blacks will keep the 2-3-2 formation in the scrum.

PROMISING PERFORMANCE

BETTER FORM ALL ROUND The news that the All Blacks are showing better form fore and aft is no less welcome than the intimation that from now on they are to preserve the traditional New Zealand scrum forThe New Zealanders clearly had the best of this game, although the opposition was by no means negligible, and this may indicate that they have now passed the most critical stage of the tour. At any rate, few New Zealanders, despite the devastating criticism of Mr. F. M. Howard, “Cape Times” correspondent. who may now be inclined to modify his judgment that the All Blacks are a “commonplace side,” will not be willing to pin their faith to the All Blacks in the all-important second match with Transvaal on Saturday. The only puzzling feature of the latest game is the exchange of Lindsay with Lilburne. Presumably this was done because Lindsay was hurt. His kicking was first-class. The New Zealand service’s team in

TEAM IN GOOD SPIRIT

1919 beat the Free State by 16 to 3, but in 1924. the English team found the Free Staters too solid, and went

under, 3-6. New Zealand’s latest performance is therefore meritorious. The All Blacks have played five matches: V. Combined Western Province —Won 11-3. A'. Combined Capetown Clubs —Lost 3-7. A r . Griqualand—Won 19-10. A*. Transvaal—Lost 0-6. A". Orange Free State (country);— Won 20-0.

MESSAGE FROM MANAGER Press Association. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Mr. W. F. Hornig, manager of the All Blacks, has sent the following cablegram to the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates: “Tour message is much appreciated by the team: hope to show true form soon; not downhearted.”