ALL BLACKS’ FORTUNE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 455, 10 September 1928, Page 6

ALL BLACKS’ FORTUNE

Waratahs Again Out of Luck

PENALTY TRY WINS GAME FOR N.Z.

IX T the first Rugby Test at Wellington last Wednesday, New South Wales scored four tries to one, and lost the match. At Dunedin on Saturday, the Waratahs crossed the New Zealand line four times, and the All Blacks crossed theirs twice, and again the New South Welshmen were beaten. At the same time, however, the visitors committed many infringements in both games, and this was a big factor in their two defeats.

(Special to THE SUN) DUNEDIN, Saturday. Though it beat the New South Wales team in the second test by 16 points to 14, the New Zealand team did not at all impress one as a very skilful or clever combination till a quarter of an hour before time. The visitors had had the better of the play, and had shown themselves the more resourceful team, but in the last quarter of an hour they failed to show the initiative which had characterised their earlier play. Then the New Zealand forwards, for about the first time in the game, played as a pack, and became the diciding factor in the match. The rain which fell for about two hours on Saturday morning made the ground a trifle heavy, a disadvantage to the vistors, whose style of play is to throw the ball about with rare abandon. The game was played at a great pace, which was kept up till the finish by the New Zealanders, but not by the vistors. That, in short, sums up the reason for the Australians’ defeat. SPECTACULAR FIRST SPELL The New South Welshmen got more of the ball in the first spell, and with Malcolm playing a grand game behind the pack the backs got plenty of chances. Their passing was good to watch, and thrilled the crowd, which was a generous and sporting one, apaT* 4» 4» * & 4* SK ♦

plauding with equal enthusiasm the good work of either side. Good defensive work by the New Zealand backs, however, brought a great deal of the passing to a standstill. In the second spell the New Zealand forwards got slightly more of the ball from the scrums than their opponents, but the ball was not got away very quickly by either Holden or Bradanovich, the consequence being that Cooke did not get many good chances. When he did get the ball, it was generally seconds late, and the defence was fast on him. In defence, however, he was the real Cooke, kicking and tackling in good style. ITook did not get many good chances, but he was not impressive in what he did do, and could have fed his wings a great deal more than he did. McClymont and Snodgrass got few chances all day, but both put in splendid work in defence. Mehrtens made a fair showing as fullback, but will need to be much quicker to be up to international standard. KNIGHT PLAYS WELL Among the New Zealand forwards, Knight and Porter were outstanding. The latter showed that he is still one of our best footballers, despite his habit of getting off-side so often. Freitas and Palmer were the best of the others. All the New South Wales backs played well, their line-kicking showing excellent judgment. Westfield and Malcolm were particularly good in this respect. All the threequarters displayed determination and pace, and would probably have done better on a dryer ground. FORWARDS’ GOOD FOOTWORK The forwards were especially good in the loose, and dribbled better than the All Blacks. Their continual off-side play, however, cost them a lot. The scoring register wag as follows: —New Zealand (tries by Robinson and Knight, and a penalty try, two converted by Bradanovitch, who also kicked a penalty) 16 points: New South Wales (tries by O’Connor, London, Hemingway and Malcolm, one converted by George 14 points.