NARROW WIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 57, 17 December 1945, Page 3

NARROW WIN

KIWIS BEAT NAVY TWO PENALTY GOALS tO TRY (Official Correspondent N.Z.E.F.)/ PORTSMOUTH, December 15. In an exceptionally fast and spectacular game to-day beat Royal Navy by 6 points to 3—; two penalty goals to a try. A vigorous and very fit Navy pack kept the Kiwi forwards fully occupied-.-throughout and an excellent Navy, ; back line, getting the bigger share' of the ball, made some very thrustful rushes.

Excepting for one brilliant movement they found the New Zealand defence impassable. At least one Navy forward played offside all. through the game, but the Kiwi backs saw rather more of the hall than usual. They were unable "to pierce the defence of an equally fast and grimly-determined Navy rearguard. Both sides showed ability to swing into sudden attacks from loose play, and as a ersult a crowd of 3000 saw a game which went rapidly from one end of the field to the other/ It was full of swift, sudden breaks. i

Following were the, taeams: N.Z.E.F.—R. W. H. Scott, W. A. Meates, R. L. Dobson, E. J. Boggs, J. C.- Kearney, A. M. King, W. S. Edwards, J. G. Bond, 3. G. Simpson, N. J. McPhail, A. \V. Blake, D. S. Bell, S. W. Woolley, J. Finlay (capt.), S. L. Young. Royal Navy—F. T. Healy, A. F. Murray, L. Williams, S. Peel, W.TL McLennan, L. Constance, W. K.' T. Moore, M. R. Neely, G. M. Bevaif, J* K. Morrison, J. R. C. Matthews, A. H. Bell, M. A. Waller, It. J. L. Hammond (capt.), D. B. Vaughan.' . Navy kicked off, and in the first minute of the game King made a brilliant break through, sending on to Kearney, back to King, to Dobson, to Boggs. The movement failed to get right through. A moment later Kearney went close with a drop-kick at goal. The Navy forwards drove play back, and from a scrum the backs made a sudden thrust, Constance sending on to Williams, who changed direction cleverly, catching the rdefence on the wrong foot. He raced, through for a brilliant try.. The kick at goal failed. —Navy 3, Kiwis -0. Tlie Kiwi forwards took pla5 T to the Navy twenty-five, where one of the back reverse-passed to Boggs, who had followed him infield from a scrum. Boggs, was grassed close to the Navy

line. A minute later Scott kicked a good penalty goal.—Navy 3, Kiwis 3. Navy Backs in Form The next thrill was a rush by Peal and McLennan, who chased speculators for 50 yards, Scott clearing. Constance showed up in a spectacular solo run, but was downed- in the Kiwis’ quarter. Dobson and Boggs again combined in a- run back - into Navy territory. Hard tackling stopped a good Navy passing rush, but Moore started another from loose play, and Murray missed with an attempt to drop a goal. Scott was wide with a long penalty kick at goal and half-time came with the scores: Navy 3, Kiwis

3. . From a serum early in the second halt Edwards sent the Ball to King, to Kearney, who missed in an attempt to pot a goal. He gathered in the return kick and started a rush, but his pass went astray. Scott then kicked a magnificent penalty from a long way out.—Kiwis 6, Navy 3. From a line-out which followed, Scott sent play back with a great line kick. Play now became yerj fast and exciting, with both sides throwing the ball about and trying, desperately to score. Finlay and McPhail led a good rush to Navy territory, and from a line-out Blake and Finlay carried it further on. The Kiwi backs made a good run, but a kick ahead was marked by Hammond, whose covering play on defence was a feature of the game. Led by Finlay, the Kiwis rushed play to the Navy twenty-five, but the Navy forwards took it back and then sent their backs on a concerted movement which crumpled against hard tackling. Vaughan missed a penalty shot at goal. McLennan topped off a Navy passing movement with ahrilliant run, but Kearney got across push in time to tackle him. The Kiwi backs were away again and the ball went to Boggs, who bumped off two men and sent infield to Dobson, who kicked near the Navy goal-line. Bond dribbled across the "line, but Navy forced, Dobson intercepted 1o stop a Navy, passing rush and turn defence into attack with a long run before passing to Finlay, who was overhauled. From the ruck tiie ball went to Kearney, to Meates, who was nearly over in pne. .corner, and from the resultant line-out Moore cleared well. Navy almost broke through when Scott was slow in getting to the ball, which bounced awkwardly, and tlien Edwards was grassed after a good run .from the smuiu The game ended in a win for' the N.Z.E.F. team by 6 points (two penalty goals) to 3 points (a try).

RECORD TO DATE v. Swansea, won 22-6.' V. Llanelly, won 16-8. v. Neath, won 22-15. v. N. Services, won 14-7. v. Ulster, won, 10-9. v. Leinster, drawn 10-10. v. England, won 18-3. v. Army, won 25-5. v. E.A.F., Avon 11-0. A’. Navy, won 6-3.