ALL BLACKS WIN IN THE WET

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 428, 9 August 1928, Page 1

ALL BLACKS WIN IN THE WET

BORDERERS BEATEN FORE AND AFT THIRTY-FIVE POINTS TO THREE

DRENCHED GROUND AT KING WILLIAMSTOWN

(United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Special to Press Association.) Received 10.25 a.m. KING WILLIAMSTOWN, Wednesday. POR the first time since the All Blacks left Australia they “• have seen rain. They played a return match with the Border team on a rain-drenched area, before a crowd of 3,000 spectators, at King Williamstown to-day, winning by 35 points (four converted tries, four tries and one penalty) to one try.

There had been 17 hours of rain, which turned puddles into pools. In many respects the match was reminiscent of the famous third test against the Springboks at Wellington In 1921. It was a gloomy panorama.

In spite of the conditions, the New Zealanders played surprisingly good football. The Border team consisted of Lecouder, Belton, Hubbard, Duffy, Kemp, Cheshire, Southwood, Landmann, Pretorius, Schnell, Nel, Seymour, McEwan, Clack, and Talnton. The game had hardly started when Lilburne cut clean through the pack, and passed to McWilliams. This pass went astray, but Finlayson, racing up, secured the ball and scored. Lindsay’s kick at goal failed. New Zealand 3 Border 0 A miskick by Strang gave Border its one and only try. The ball went to Duffy, who beat Grenside, and passed to Belton. The wing man put In a fine run down the line, and scored at the corner. The kick at goal missed. New Zealand 3 Border 3 A line forward movement by the New Zealanders took play near the line. Strang sent the backs away from a scrum. Carleton beat his man, and Stewart came In as extra, and handed on to Rushbrook, who scored at the corner. Lindsay’s kick missed. New Zealand 6 Border 3 Border started a good rally, but the attackers were soon sent back by hard drives from the All Blacks’ pack, in which McWilliams, Swain and Burrows stood out. Again from a scrum, Strang started the backs moving. Lilburne beat his man and passed to Nicholls, who sent a beautiful lob pass over his head to Carleton, and thence to Grenside, who had a clear run in. Nicholls failed with the kick. New Zealand 9 Border . . . 3

Next followed what may be described as three fast comedy movements by the All Blacks. They threw the ball about in haphazard style, swinging the attack from one flank to the other. McWilliams was the next scorer. He came away in a brilliant solo dribbling run, and when near the line snapped the ball up and dived over. Lindsay converted. HALF-TIME New Zealand 14 Border - 3 Cheshire, who had an ankle hurt, stayed off after half-time. It was a tame opening to the second half until Swain sent the ball to Strang from a line-out. It travelled along the chain to Rushbrook, who scored at the corner. Lindsay missed. New Zealand 17 Border 3 The New Zealanders were continually on the attack now, but the play at this stage was rather ragged. Another try came when Stewart slung the ball far across the field to Rushbrook, who went hard for the corner, and then ran round by the posts. Strang goaled. Strang next worked the blind side and sent Stewart over for Nicholls to convert. New Zealand 27 Border 3 A fine break by McWilliams from the ruck gave Snow the next try, which Lilburne converted. Border had hardly been out of its 25 during the whole of the second spell. The last score came from Ward’s boot. A penalty was given to

the New Zealanders. 25 yards out, and Ward kicked a goal. FINAL New Zealand 35 Border 3 MASTERS FROM THE FIRST The All Blacks were the masters from their first try. Border was never in the hunt, and was soundly trounced in both divisions. McEwan was the only forward worth mentioning on the Border side, and Dully the only back. All the New Zealand forwards played a great game, particularly McWilliams, Swain, Burrows and Stewart. Snow also did a lot of useful work. Strang played another sound game, giving his backs a lavish amount of ball. The Lilburne-Nieholls combination again worked admirably. They have proved themselves to be a line thrustful pair. Rushbrook, Carleton and Grenside gave a lively exhibition. Lindsay, especially in the second half, had more or less of a picnic. Alley is now confined to bed with influenza.