Attacking Artistry

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1029, 21 July 1930, Page 6

Attacking Artistry

HOME SIDE’S INSPIRED MOOD All Blacks Could Take a Lesson Bv J. G. McLEAN. IX defeating Britain by 19 points to G, Auckland gave a far better exhibition of Rugby than any other New Zealand side, even including the All Bljtek teams, lias given on the tour. If the All Blacks could have infused the same fire into their play, and allied to bustling forward methods the same skill in gaining possession, New Zealand would now be two up, instead of all square, in the Test rubber.

If Mr. 12. McKenzie, chairman of the All Black selection committee, did not ]<ondcr gravely over certain features of Saturday's game, he must have greater faith in the .present New Zealand team thaji its standards to date have warranted. Solomon, on his game, is clamouring for admission to the New Zealand team. His display of constructive wingforward play, marked by skilful backing-up of combined movements among the backs, was rewarded with a fine try, and stamped him. as the type of wingforward who is capable of answering all arguments against the position. Porter, one of the disappointments of the All Black side in the two tests to date, will have to play great football next Saturday to prove that he is better than the still virile Maurice Brownlie, who gave a fine display at wingforward in the Hawke’s Bay match, and the younger, fitter and more -powerful Solomon. BETTER HOOKING Just as Solomon in his position appears to be a better man than the New Zealand captain on present form, so the Auckland hookers. Palmer and Hadley, established a success that places them ahead of Cottrell and More, who are doing the hooking for New Zealand. By getting possession regularly and smartly from what was virtually a British test l'ront-row. Palmer and Hadley from “the front of the Auckland scrum directed the course of the game. Their success was perhaps contributed to by guile as well as by actual skill. By dropping his outside shoulder Palmer was giving Martindale nothing to pack against, and the British row was very uneven. It seemed that the referee was not altogether satisfied with the methods adopted by the Auckland front-rankers, as on one occasion he summoned Lucas from the threequarter line to have a heart-to-heart taik with them. With their fast handling in the open —attractive work of the type that produced McWilliams’s try—the Auckland forwards grave a taste of traditional New Zealand forward play. Though praise must be accorded him with reservations. A. Knight played a great game. McWilliams touched his best form, and Batty must have played himself into next Saturda3 r ’s test team. But there was not a better forward in the willing, spirited pack than A. Finlayson. whose work was as honest and effective as it was unobtrusive. 0 CORNER, THE IDOL. Corner has installed himself as the idol of th€> crowds, not only here, but at Christchurch, where he played in his first international game. There is no longer any danger that Strang may displace him behind the scrum, though it would be no surprise to find Strang figruring at first five-eighth, with NieholJs one place further out. With every game Corner is displaying more initiative, and though on Saturday he had things made to order for him. he must still be regarded as one of the men of *he moment in New Zealand Rugby. His slight physique has been used as an argument against his selection for big football, but he has not yet been hurt .in any of- the big matches he has played, and on Saturday, when he brought dov/n Beamish with a crash, it was the big Irishman, not Corner, who was hurt. -In making a comparison of the Auckland match with earlier games of tlie tour, it must be remembered, without in any way minimising the merit of Auckland’s victory, that the visitors, a seemingly tired and lifeless side, lacked the vitality which carried them to such heights in the test matches. For a team that was already in trouble with casualties, they had undergone a severe ordeal. The

showed- liis .skill in one fine break early in the game, when he got right to Butler, though without finding the Expected support; and in the second spell his efforts to set the British backs moving from the fringes of broken scrums and line-outs deserved a better reward.

Of the British scrumming forwards, Black and Farrell were the best The pack will need to be a different proposition next Saturday, just as it has been a different proposition in the Djist. when even an All Black pack has failed to subdue it.

As a spectacle, Saturday’s game was one of the finest of the tour, because it showed that the arts of attacking back play are not lost to New Zealanders, even though the New Zealand repi esentat-ive team itself has failed to exhibit them. The Auckland threequarter line swung into action as prettily as the British line has done, and with a good deal more precision and thrust than the All Blacks’ backs this season have yet been able to develop. AN INSPIRED SIDE AUCKLAND’S GREAT DISPLAY BRITAIN’S WORST DEFEAT Dashing play the Auckland forwards, who rose magnificently to the occasion, clean hooking, and the inspired work of the Auckland inside backs, who played well up on their opponents and tackled with grim determination, were the main factors in the defeat of Great Britain by 19 to 6 at the hands of the Auckland representative team on Saturday. A crowd of approximately 33,000 cheered the home side on to a splendid victory in a game which will rank high among the most historic in New Zealand’s Rugby history. The teams were: BRITAIN Fullback.—Bassett (Wales). Tlireequarters.—Reeve (England), Aarvold (England), Bow'cott (Wales), Novis (England). Fly-half.—Knowles (England). Scrum-half.—Poole '(Wales). Forwards.—O’Neill (Ireland), Parker (Wales), Martindale (England), Black (England), Farrell (Ireland), Hodgson (England), Beamish (Ireland), Ivor Jones (Wales). AUCKLAND Fullback.—Butler (University). Threequarters. Minns (University), Lucas (Ponsonby), Hook (Ponsonby). Five-eighths. Jamieson (Ponsonby), Haslam (Technical). Halfback.—Corner (Grammar). Rover.—Solomon (Ponsonby). Forwards.—Hadley (Marist), Palmer (Ponsonby), A. Knight (Grammar), L. Knight (Grammar), McWilliams (Ponsonby), Finlayson (Grafton), W. Batty (Grammar). Mr. J. E. Moffit was the referee. Great Britain won the toss and decided to play toward tlie Dominion Road end. Lucas kicked off, Beamish fielding and punting well down to Butler, but he was out and a scrum was called in British territory. From the line-out, the British backs slung the

ears which carried them from Gisborne to Itotorua in an exactly all-day journey were uncomfortably crowded, with in some cases three men in the front seat, three in the back and two perched on the dickeys. This, followed by the train journey on Friday, told on an already weary team. In justice to future teams that are required to travel .by motor-car, the New Zealand Rugby Union should at least see that there are sufficient cars provided to allow the part}' to travel in reasonable comfort. ABSENCE OF SPONG The British were handicapped by the absence of Spong, and Auckland lias yet to make the acquaintance of that courageous and clever player. But even with Spong, and even supposing it had been allowed a day or two’s rest before meeting Auckland, the British team could never have bested the Auckland side in such inspired fettle as it exhibited on Saturday. Lucas was a much better player than the Lucas of the tests, and emerged with honours from his friendly duel with the rival captain. C. L). Aarvold. who was permitted none of those glorious swerving bursts which in the test matches have endowed his play with such a spectacular flavour. Minns has had many better days, not because he did not play well, but simply because opportunities refused to come his way. After the match, however, one of the British team exprt* sed the opinion that, with his pace and determination, Minns should do very well when he goes up to Oxford. Reeve appeared just to have the edge on him for pace, and caught him napping badly at the start of the game, just as on another occasion Novis’ playing right up to his recent impressive form, ran right round Hook. But on the day the opposing wingers came out about square with each other Hook perhaps, of the four, having most success. ARTISTIC FOOTWORK -Bowcott more than once revealed the artistic lootwork which is a legacy ot his association as a schoolboy with the Soccer code. He was the only one of the British insides to make startling penetrative runs and one exposition of the reverse pass between him and Aar void ".o S i > ,iece ot work. Many attended the match expecting to see a sei ies of brilliant dashes by the Vast British thrceciuarters, and" on performances i„ earlier matches thev Mere fully entitled to some such expectation. But the sound tackling and covering of the Auckland backs who not only got tlie man with the ball but shadowed lus supports as well snowed that where the tackling is good enough even brilliance loses its lustre Ivor Jones, another whose name has become a Rugby household word,

ball out to Reeve, who made a startling run from touch to Auckland’s twenty-fine line. There was a lineout there, and Auckland’s forwards gained 10 yards along the line by hard pushing.

Auckland was penalised for off-side play and Black essayed an ambitious shot at goal from near half-way Corner fielded and kicked the ball out. A Knight snapped up the ball and plunged headlong through the British forwards, sending on to Lucas, who sprinted and punted down to Bassett. The Welsh fullback took things calmly and kicked gently into touch A series of lineouts followed, the Auckland forwards, McWilliams, Batty and L. Knight being prominent, giving a convincing account of themselves. Corner managed to get the ball out, but Ivor Jones made a characteristic spectacular effort when he intercepted and ran down 30 yaj'ds to Butler, who smothered him effectively. Auckland took play back: but another penalty was given against it, and a scrum. BbicJt again elected to have a kick at goal, and from two yards from halfway put over a magnificent :ick to the great applaues of the crowd. Play had been in progress eight minutes. Britain 3 Auckland 0 Loose play followed and the Auck land forwards cheered on by the enthusiastic crowd once more carried play to Britain’s twenty-five. Corner darted round the blind cide of a scrum but lie was held up by Novis Britain was sorely pressed. Corner again* heaved the ball out, but Jamieson. rather foolishly elected to cut in near the posts. He was grassed and a chance went begging. The British forwards were caught glaringly offside and from in front of the goal Corner

kicked an easy penalty. The crowd was jubilant. The scores now were: Auckland 3 Britain 3 Auckland started another hot attack, and Bassett fielded magnificently in the face of an onslaught by the Auckland forwards. He cleared, but the energetic Auckland backs again got the ball out, apd Hook made a rapid run for the corner. He was held up. but Auckland had gained much ground and battered away steadily at the corner. Britain had several narrow escapes, especially when Corner nearly shot through the inside backs- Britain was saved by a penalty against the Auckland forwards.

Untiringly, the Auckland forwards swooped down on the British inside backs, tying them up completely, and it was only another penalty which sent the New Zealanders back. Auckland was having tlie better of the play territorially anti Britain was hemmed in its own twenty-five. Black \yas penalised; but Lucas sent up a high punt which did not prove of any great advantage to Auckland. Beamish secured and he and Farrell made a magnificent rush over the halfway line There was another scrum, this time in Auckland territory, and Corner proved his worth by snatching up the ball, and relieving a dangerous position with a neat run. Corner’s every move was applauded wildly by the crowd. The crowd was greatly pleased when Ivor Jones was collared heavily by a bunch of Auckland forwards, when he was just about to send bis backs away from a good position. The ball wa flung out from a mass of forwards, Jamieson snapping up and dashing for the corner. The British backs ran frantically round to stop him, but Hook was in attendance, and ho took a nicely-judged pass to fly over well out. Lucas took the kick, but his shot went wide: Auckland .. C Britain 3 It was a minute or so before the wild excitement of the crowd was subdued Cheer upon cheer rose from the packed masses of people on the terraces. Britain returned to the attack, but good work by' Haslam, Jamieson and Lucas brought tlie ball down to the British twenty-five. Here the Auckland forwards, who were playing a wonderful game, in tight and loose, took charge and the position again looked dangerous for Britain. Wave after wave of cheering came from the crowd, but the ball went out at the twenty-five and half-time was called with the scores remaining Auckland 0 Britain , 3 Aarvold kicked off for tho second half and tho British forwards started off resolutely. The ball went into touch, however, and a scrum was called in midlield. Auckland gained the ball and Corner dashed away, hotly pursued by Boole. The pass went nowhere and Britain cleared easily enough. There was another scrum, and this time the advantage went to Britain. Poole sent the ball out, but the. Auckland backs were so close up* to the British insides that Aarvold and Bowcott were baffled in their effort to break through. AUCKLAND ATTACKS On several occasions, Auckland was within an inch of the line. Now came a movement, with which Auckland was distinctly unlucky not to score a try. Solomon booted the ball along the ground out of reach of Poole and Knowles, and Batty, racing up from another part of the field, took tlie ball just between the goalposts. Bassett, who had been caught out of position, hurried back just in time. In a thrilling race for the ball Batty dived over it and Bassett pounced on the ball to force. Play was held up temporarily because of an injury to Beamish, who was playing a wonderful game as the leader of the British forwards. In all departments of play the Auckland forwards were winning a good share of possession, and Corner was feeding his backs to wonderful effect. Auckland secured a wonderful try in a few moments. Hook by sheer dash intercepted British passing in the visitors’ twenty-five, threw the ball to the alert Lucas, who immediately passed to Haslam, who went over in the corner. The crowd’s enthusiasm was terrific. Butler missed a difficult kick from . the line and the score was: Auckland 9 Britain 3 For several minutes after this, Auckland was hotly on the attack, backs and forwards combining in movements which utterly riddled the defence. Thrilling passages of play followedAarvold ran through and passed on to Beamish, who by sheer strength carried play within 10 yards of the Auckland line. Auckland had anxious moments there, but Haslam and Jamieson showed up by determined tackling. It took them all their time to hold Britain out. A classic try came when Solomon started a movement in Auckland’s twenty-five. Several forwards handled and, with the assistance of Corner, Batty carried on. The ball was passed out to A. Knight, L. Knight and McWilliams, who scored with three or four men in support. Corner converted the try from in front of the posts. Auckland 14 Britain 3 L. KNIGHT ORDERED OFF Britain produced tremendous dash, and tempers were frayed on both sides. There were willing passages among the forwards and in one of these L. Knight was ordered off. The crowd booed the referee for several minutes and cheered Knight. Britain’s backs swung into action again and again, both Reeve and Novis running strongly down touch. Britain plunged in again and Bowcott sent out to Reeve. who was hauled down two yards from the line He was up again and passed to Bowcott. who scored under a mob of tacklers. Ivor Jones took the kick and just missed. The scores were: Auckland 14 Britairf 6 Open play was instituted by the Auckland insides after this reverse; but the ball was carried to half-way Auckland was now having a tremendous .task in keeping Britain away from tho line. The British forwards were tigerislily in the tight work McWilliams, Batty and A. Knight surged past the British pack in an-

other great rush for tho line. Time was now short, and the crowd was cheering on- the slightest justification at every movement of the play- Auckland was now penning Britain in its twenty-five, and Knowles, Aarvold and Bowcott made several futile but commendable runs in endeavours to pass tho half-way mark.

A shockingly bad pass by Poole from a scrum in Britain’s twenty-five nearly let Auckland in. Britain was being raked back and forward.

The most sensational movement of the day followed. From a scrum Corner tossed the ball out cleanly to Jamieson, to Haslam, to Lucas. The Auckland captain showed great initiative when, instead of transferring to Minns, as the British backs anticipated, he side-stepped Bowcott and Aarvold, sending a pass infield to Solomon, who was in attendance. Auckland’s dashing wingforward dashed over under the posts. Corner converted easily, and the game ended immediately after with the score— AUCKLAND 19 BRITAIN 6 Thousands of people poured on to the ground at the close of the game, swarming round the Auckland team and cheering the winners to the echo. TRIUMPHANT FORWARDS HOW LINE-OUTS AND SCRUMS WENT BRITAIN’S PENALTIES Just how well the Auckland forwards did against their redoubtable opponents is clearly shown in the division of the honours in scrums, line-outs, and loose scrums. In the scrums Auckland secured only one more victory than Britain, but tlie ordering off of L. Knight, the heaviest man in the side, made a tremendous difference to the scrum formation, though, even with six men only in the scrum. Auckland gained a fair share of the ball. In line-outs also Auckland had an advantage, although there was an enormous number of line-outs that became tight scrums and. finally, set scrums. Rucking scrums also became so tight that set scrums were generally ordered by the referee. Most of the free kicks went to Britain but that was a natural result of the dashing game played by the home pack and a general overeagerness. Following is a record of scrums, line-outs and free kicks. Britain. Auckland. Neutral

THE CURTAIN-RAISERS TWO BRIGHT GAMES PLAYED Excellent football fare was provided for the waiting crowd in the two early curtain-raisers, both of which were school matches. In the first game the Auckland Primary Schools representatives defeated South Auckland schools by 24 points to 10. Sacred Heart College had no difficulty in defeating Morrinsville High School in the second game by 29 points to nil. For Sacred Heart Elliott scored three tries, Slianly scored two and McConachy and Smith one each. Casey converted four. Captain J. G. C. Wales was referee. TRAMCARS CARRY 8,000 TRANSPORT WITHOUT HITCH in providing 102 tramcars to take away the people after the game the Transport Board rose splendidly to its responsibilities. Within half .an hour of the final whistle hardly anybody remained on the ground. Eight thousand people, rather more than a quarter of those who attended, were conveyed to their homes on all routes by tramcars. People who left by the Dominion Road end found 26 cars waiting at Valley Road, the rest, 86, being banked behind the grandstand and on the up line of the Sandringham Road route. Taxi-cabs reaped a harvest both before and after the match. Numbers of persons who had to work late used this means of getting to the park as fast as possible. Taxis were employed to take hundreds from the ground at the Conclusion of the game.

Under the supervision ot policemen and traffic officers motorists parked their cars on many streets in the vicinity of Eden Park. Tho ranking of the was carried out without any difficulty, there being plenty of room. Some enterprising people had put up notices offering park ing accommodation for a considera tion, but they did little business. Some of the more far-seeing of the motorists parked some distance from the* Park, thereby being out of the rush when everybody was starting up.

Scrums— First half .... 4 8 2 Second half .. 7 4 4 Total 11 12 G Line-outs— First half .... 12 14 28 Second half ..10 14 15 Total 23 28 43 Loose Scrums— First half .... 2 G 5 Second half 4 2 2 Total G 8 7 Free Kicks— First half .... 7 3 — Second half G 2 — Total 13 5 —