Saturday 14th December 1935
Talbot Athletic Ground
Port Talbot
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Official Match Programme
A match which was not the an entirely pleasant affair with sporadic outbursts of fighting, both sides infringing making life difficult for the referee ‘Dai Hiddlestone’ a former Welsh international who played against the 1924/25 All Blacks for Wales. The tourist getting annoyed at the partisan crowd, who would jeer NZ whenever they were penalised or made an error.
The first score came from Charlie Oliver who scored in the corner to put NZ 3-0, their second score came from Jack Griffiths after a fine passing rush started in their own 22, this try was converted by Mike Gilbert who put the visitors 8 points up. The home side’s sole score came from the boot of full back T.O James who kicked a penalty goal. The score at half time was 8-3 to the All Blacks.
The second half was when all the trouble came with both packs getting angry, the home forwards being over physical.
The sole score in the second half came from Hugh McLean who scored a try by driving through the home defence from a scrum, the try was converted by Gilbert.
Reid and King were the standout players for NZ, in a match won by New Zealand 13 points to 3.
Combined Neath & Aberavon:
T.O James (A), H Powell (N), R Lewis (A), J Thomas (A), J Bevan (N), G Thomas (N, Captain), M Baker (A), D.M Evans (N), T Morgan (N), I Bennett (A), G.M Williams (A), H.W Thomas (N), H Matthews (A), W.E Vickery (A), I.G Prosser (N)
New Zealand:
Gilbert, Ball, Oliver (Captain), Mitchell, Griffiths, Tindill, Sadler, Adkins, Hadley, Lambourn, King, Reid, McClean, McKenzie, Mahoney
Scorers:
Neath & Aberavon: James (PG)
New Zealand: Oliver (try), Griffiths (try), McLean (try), Gilbert (2 c)
Attendance: 20,000
Rugby Memorabilia Society
Peter Douglas-Davies
Ray Ruddick
Book: A Century of the All Blacks in Britain & Ireland by Dave Fox, Ken Bogle & Mark Hoskins
Peter Douglas-Davies
23/09/2019