Busch a Great Half

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1035, 28 July 1930, Page 7

Busch a Great Half

GENIUS OF N.S.W. LEAGUE Injuries Toll of N.Z. DISASTER dogs the footsteps of the All Blacks of the Rugby League. Overwhelmingly beaten by the pick of New South Wales at the Agricultural Ground on Saturday fortniglit, they had finish written to their hopes of making the Australian tour a financial success (comments the Sydney “Referee” on the second New South Wales-New Zealand match).

New South Wales was quite the superior side that its 29 points to 2 victory’ suggested. But it would be ungallant in the hour of that victory not to recognise the handicap under which the losers so vainly struggled. It was too much to expect them even to seriously’ extend the home side once their ranks were reduced to 11 fit men. New South Wales, fielding what was probably’ the strongest side to wear the blue this season, played fine football. Even when the All Blacks were at full strength they were clearly’ the superior combination, but the New Zealand defence was so good, the men being so swift to the man in possession, that for quite a long time they kept the attackers out. Occasionally’ a forward pass helped, but generally the visitors showed fine defensive qualities. When the first Blue try came it was the sort that would have ripped any defence in the world. Busch, as so often happened throughout the game, started it. He streaked away’ from a ruck, and in a twinkling was through the first line of defence, with Shankland sprinting up in support. Away’ went the big winger, and back infield again came the pass, for Busch, who had kept in the picture, to run in near the post. It looked as though the Shankland pass was forward. Brilliant Blues There were some dazzling Blue bursts after this, and a few times the visitors made a charge. But invariably’ from the scrums the ball came out to Busch, and Kadwell would be sent careering away. Repeatedly’ he reversed the play’ back into the forwards —either Kingston or Prigg. The move was a good one. but unfortunately’ the pass was more often than not adjudged forward. When the Blues have perfected this phase of their play’, they’ are going to become a great attacking side. Kingston and Prigg have the pace to turn it into tries, especially against a side that is inclined to scout. The second Blue try’ came because of fine football by John Why in the centre. Along the line from the scrum it went to Kadwell, Pearce, and Why, with the New Zealand backs showing speed to the man with the ball. Hardy, on the wing, looked like being crowded, so Why chopped inside, and in a twinkling was through to the New Zealand fullback, with Kadwell looming up on the inside.. All the five-eighth had to do was to take the ball and touch it down. Why showed a touch of the Gorman artistry in this. It was just after this that Pearce, the New Zealander, was hurt in stopping his namesake on the New South Wales side. Then the bell went, and New South Wales went off with a 10 to nil lead. They’ deserved it, because at all times they’ had looked the more likely attacking force. There were things attempted which showed promise. N.Z. STROVE GALLANTLY With one man off the field, and another just limping about the field the game ceased to have a competitive interest in the second half. The All Blacks strove gallantly, but when they’ did get a chance they’ were too tired to impart the snap on attack that was necessary to get away from such a fast set as the Blues. They had sapped themselves in their heroic defensive efiorts During this period there were some glorious movements by the Blues. The pity was that the New Zealanders were not at full strength so the crowd could have seen how their champions would have shaped under real fire. First try was registered by giant Treweeke, who got up with the fast-moving backs. Pearce and Hardy, to get the latter’s pass and run in unchallenged from almost half-way. There was a tendency to criticise Referee Neill for not penalising 1-lardv for shepherding Dufty here. But there wasn't any’ obligation on the part of Hardy’ to get out of Dufty’s road. This started the rout. The tries came thick and fast. One of them was a thing of joy’. McMillan started it from behind his own goal-line with the whole of the New Zealanders lined in front. Out to Pearce went the Kangaroo fullback: hard and straight ran Pearce till he got to Busch, who had dashed ahead into a strategic position. Down the right wing sprinted “Chimpy,” with Blues coming up from everywhere. Kadwell got it next, and looked certain to score, but one desperate dive by’ a lone Black sent him sprawling, but he managed to let the ball back infield again as he was going down and Busch was there to take ii again and go on to get a try. No better try was ever scored on the Agricultural Ground, and, even if New Zealand had 13 men, it could not have been stopped. That was one movement that New

South Wales deserved credit for. It was constructive football that would have done even the Kangaroos proud BLUES A GOOD SIDE Kadwell got another dazzling try just after this, with Shankland the bright light in it. The big winger weaved in and out, stepping from foot to foot with the lightness and skill of a Horder. Then Pearce had it, and all Kadwell had to do was catch it and flash across at the posts. N. Hardy also scored a good try’. It was from a bullet-like pass, thrown wide on the blind side by Busch. Careering ahead, Hardy went round the winger and propped inside the New Zealand fullback, to cross near the goal posts. Frank O’Connor, too, managed to get on the end of one of the whirlwind attacks. Shankland. Busch and Pearce were in this, and O’Connor got into it with the skill of a Kingston. The strange part about the whole gam© was that Kingston himself did not notch a try. Ho tried hard enough, too.

Great speed from the pack and through the rucks several times took him into try-striking positions, but it was not his day. and invariably’ the referee decided on a forward pass. Once, when everything was completely’ in order. Kingston dropped the ball. New South Wales, on this game, has got together a very’ good side. There wasn’t a weak link in it. The forwards showed better rucking powers, the moving up of Treweeke to the front row having made a difference. E. Root plaj’ed his finest game of the season, yet he made one unpardonable blunder, when, in the first half, he clung to the ball instead of letting it out to snowyheaded Justice, who would have notched a certain try. Prigg was the best of them all. He relieved Busch of a lot of work in the rucks, and shot the ball away with the skill of the champion halfback himself. F. O'Connor was hardly as prominent as the week before, nevertheless he played a very' fine game. Justice got more ball than be has ever done before. This was probably helped by’ the fact that the New Zealand hooker, Stephenson, injured at Bathurst, was unable to play’, and no reserve rake was brought across. Justice was good in the open, too. and it was Root’s fault he did not score a try early in the game. Justice showed fine backing-up qualities here. Treweeke did giantlike things in the rucks. His form is improving as the season progresses. BUSCH THE STAR OC the Blue backs. Busch was the star of a glittering set. He did many beautiful tilings, and never seemed tobe out of the play’. Once he came across to down the New Zealand winger, when things were looking dangerous, with the determination of a Farnsworth. He makes all the difference to the New South Wales side. Kadwell played another good game at five-eighth. He and Buseh seem to be working up an understanding. Cliff Pearce improves each game in the centre. He runs hard and straight as soon as he gets the ball, and play’s a punishing kind of game: the sort that featured the play’ of Gilbert and the Queenslander, E. S. Brown. The man who tackles him knows all about it. The other centre, J. Why, also did good things apart from the incident which brought the second New South Wales try. He seems suited to the play’ of Pearce, and has certainly vindicated the judgment of the selectors in giving him his chance. N. Hardy, on the wing, seemed a bit strange to the role, and at times left his position, but when he got the hall he was dangerous, and there was no doubting the determination with which he went for the line when he got his try. A most versatile plaj’er is Hardy, who has now played for his State at fullback, centre and wingthreequarter. Shankland, on the other wing, gave his best football since returning from the Kangaroos’ tour. He showed sidestepping qualities of a high order. McMillan did not get much to do, but lie did that little well. He is proving a success as leader of the side, the responsibility having imbued him with a desire to set the men in- front swinging for the goal line. THE GALLANT LOSERS The New Zealanders, overworked with the task of having to play shorthanded, could not be expected to shine with the brilliance of the home players. But Brisbane wa§ a back good enough for any side. He never let up, and his sparselj’-covered thatch was prominent all the time. Abbott, the little halfback, also did a Trojan’s part. The speed he showed in getting to Busch at times was remarkable. He is only small, but ever bit of him is grit. Scores: —New South Wales, 29 Busch (2). Kadwell (2). Treweeke. T-Tardy' and Shankland tries: Shankland (3) and Hardy goals. For New Zealand, Watene kicked a penalty goal. Attendance, 19,060; takings, £1,195.