FOOTBALL IN EGYPT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 90, 16 April 1940, Page 12

FOOTBALL IN EGYPT

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCES STRONG TEAM TO DEFEAT BRITISH SERVICES 20 POINTS TO NIL: THREE ALL BLACKS AND PROVINCIAL REPS.

(By Mail)

CAIRO, March 27

Fielding a team which included three All Blacks, T. C. Morrison (South Canterbury), J. L. Griffiths (Wellington), J. G. Wynyard (Waikato) and a number of provincial representative players, the New Zealand troops in Egypt defeated a combined side from the British forces at Easter. A two-day tournament was held in aid of the Red Cross, two New Zealand teams meeting on the first day and the British Army meeting the Air Force. After these games the representative sides were selected and the New Zealanders won by 20 points to nil on Easter Monday.

The Xew Zealand team was as follows:—Fullback, C. E. Rollinson (South Canterbury); three-quarters, T. C. Morrison (South Canterbury), R. Arnold (Taranaki), Knowles (Wellington); fiveeiglith?. J. L. Griffiths (Wellington), captain, L. Arnold (Taranaki); half, D. J. Parsons (South Canterbury); forwards, A. Thompson (South Auckland), Stow (Canterbury), J. G. Wynvar<l (Waikato), J. B. Coull (Taranaki), G. R. Wales (Wellington), Kidd (South Auckland), R. Anderson (Auckland). The referee was Wing-Comniander G. W. Beamish, who was a member of the 1930 British side which toured New Zealand. The match was played on the Arsenal ground at Zamalek and the ground was filled to capacity, states an Egyptian exchange. The spectators were mostly New Zealanders and the game was thue played before a keen and critical audience, for most New Zealanders have both a practical and theoretical knowledge of the game. The teams looked very smart as they filed out on to the ground a few minutes before 3 p.m. The New Zealanders wore blue and white jerseys and white shorts, and the Combined Services red and blue jerseys and blue shorts.

One had imagined that the Services would have been the heavier team, but the size of the New Zealand second row forwards, Wynyard, Coull, Kidd and Anderson, seemed even more imposing than that of Mathias, Smith, Griffiths, Kettlewell and Ford, who are no lightweights. Both teams looked remarkably fit, but one or two of the Services' players bore signs of their Saturday's battle. The game had three distinct phases. For the first quarter of an hour the New Zealanders pressed fiercely but did not have things all to themselves. Then the Services appeared to- get the upper hand for a time, although they did not score, and then once again the New Zealand backs always looked dangerous and often the ball would be shot out from the scrum and would travel witK extraordinary velocity right across the line. The Services' backs, on the other hand, never once got going as a line and never appeared even remotely dangerous. Individually all of them at times did good work, but it was mainly defensive. This was due not only to fine marking by the New Zealand backs, but also to the great speed aud energy of their forwards. Parsons. playing behind a pack that sot the ball three times out of four, was also too much for Thomas when the Services pack did heel, and if by chance Parsons wasn't on the ball as it came out, the New Zealand wing-forwards were. It was paradoxical that, although the New Zealand team deserved to win by an even higher score, their first two tries were a little fortunate, but this was certainly countered by bad lock on half a dozen occasions. Another Interesting point about the game was that it was the New Zealand forwards Who were constantly getting offside. Indeed, I do not remember more than one kick given against the Services team. It would have been pleasant from the spectators* point of view (a) if some of the sparkling movements started by the New Zealanders had continued to their logical conclusion, and (b) if the game had, been a little more even, but it was on the whole an interesting and thoroughly enjoyable game.

In the first twenty minutes of the game two tries were scored by the Wellington representative forward Wales. The first successful movement started from a lineout, the backs making a run; L. Arnold ran across to send on to Morrison, who, when tackled by the full-back, Gant, sent on to "Wales. The next try came from the loose. Parsons making a dash and then sending on to Anderson, who gave the ball to Wales just on the line. Neither try was converted. Is He Nepia? Directly after the drop out came one of the highlights of the game. The New Zealanders were penalised on the centre line and Arnold told Kettlewell to take the kick. When it was seen that he-was going to take a shot at goal ironic cheers rose from the New Zealand ranks. "Who does he think he is, Nepia?" yelled one wag, and was almost obliged to eat his words as Kettlewell's kick failed only by inchcs; it was a magnificent effort. Fast Following Up. The New Zealanders Scored an unexpected try 'immediately after half-time as the result of fast following up which took play to the opposing line. There the ball came from a scrum along the line to Morrison, who beat several men and scored in the corner. He converted the try, making the score 11 to nil. There was a melee on the Services' -5 line, and Morrison picked up in the midst of a whole bunch of charging forwards and dropped one of the finest goals I have seen. It was done ao rapidly, so neatly and so

perfectly that there was a (rasp of surprise as the ball soared over the bar, followed by a storm of cheering.

Finally Griffiths scored after a brilliant bit of play. He cut through and crosskicked. When a Services player fumbled Griffiths, hot in pursuit, picked up the ball and went over. Rollinson converted, bringing the score to 20. Morrison Hero of Match. There is not the slightest doubt tlirt Ihe New Zealanders deserved their victory. In every department of the game they weri obviously superior to the Services players, (irifliths played a grand game, but he was hardly more prominent than ljis fellow five-eighth, L. Arnold. Morrison, however, despite an early inability to hold the ball, was the hero of the game. He is an exceptionally strong runner witli, usually, beautiful hands and a grand kick. Knowles, on the other wing, did not have so much to <10, but was very useful in defence while R. Arnold in the centre participated in most of the winning movements. Parsons fully justified his selection, and was one of the outstanding players on the field. The same cannot be said of Itollinson, who had an off day. Neither his fielding nor nis kicking could be relied upon, but as he was never really pressed this did not matter very much. All the forwards played magnificently both in the tight and in the loose. Wales, who is a wing-forward with great speed and a sure knowledge of the game, was always prominent. His following up and his positioning could well be taken as a lesson for all aspiring internationals. Mcßeath hooked successfully and Wynyard, Coull and Anderson were usually to be found in the forefront of all rushes. But it is hardly fair to the remainder of so fine a pack to select these for individual mention.