Kiwis' 11 Points To O ln First Spell Wins Match

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 29, 10 December 1945, Page 7

Kiwis' 11 Points To Oln First Spell Wins Match

N.Z.E.F. Correspondent LEICESTER, Dcc. 9. Scoring all their points in ' a concentrated five minutes, the N.Z.E.F. Kiwi Rugby team defeated the Royal Air Force 11—0 in the ninth match of their tour yesterday. It was a hard slogging match played in bright but bitterly cold conditions before a crowd of about 7COO. The five minutes of scoring came during the last 15 minutes of the first spell, a period which the Kiwis completely dominated. The R.A.F. forwards secured the ball from two of every three scrums, but the backs disappointed, poor passes spoiling several movements. The R.A.P. missed with attempts at a field goal and a penalty before the Kiwis opened their score with a snap try by Argus. Cook failed to convert this try and also the second when Finlav dashed over from 25 yards out after" a good movement. -However, he made amends when Arnold put on the third try. In a pointless second spell the New Zealanders covered each other well, and fought their way out of trouble. There was hard rucking throughout this spell, with tempers fraying at one stage, and good tackling. The Kiwis' winger, Sherratt, left the field temporarily with an injury early in the first spell. It was found after the game that he had a fractured nose. ° Both Saxton ana Cook had an off-day, the former sending out several very bad parses, and the latter misfielding and oft" c n failing to find the line. However, Kearney plaved a magnificent game at first five-eighth, showing cleverness on attack, while his defence was of All Black standard. The Scottish international full-back, K. T Geddes, gave an outstandingly brilliant exhibition, but the N.Z.E.F. defence more than held the R.A.F. backs on attack. Three changes were made in the R.A.F. pack due to injuries. The teams were: — Kiwis. —Cook; Sherratt, Smith, Argus; Proctor, Kearney: Saxton (captain); Simpson, Haigh, Johnstone, Rhind, Young, Nelson, Arnold, Finlay. RAF —K. I. Geddes (captain); I. J. Cotting, M. P. Goddard, B. L. Williams, G Hancock; P. Vallance, P. W. Sykes; K J. Longland, C. G. Gilthorpe; P. piumpton, R. H. Peele, H. P. Hughes, C. Hudson, C. H. Beamish, J. Thornton. Repeated use of the line kept R.A.F. on attack, until from a ruck Kearney picked up and sent Argus on a run to almost half-way. Haigh retired after a few minutes with an injury. Geddes missed with an attempted field goal, and then Goddard made a good run before iieing downed heavily. Another good R.A.F. back movement ended when

.Williams was well tackled, and Smith picked up and started a loose rush with a centring kick, play going to the home twenty-five. From a scrum infringement, Cook was well wide with a penalty shot at goal. From the drop-out, Nelson threw a pass well across the field, and the ball was sent on to Argus, who smashed his way through several tackles before being pulled down. From a ruck, Young made an amazing Solo run down the centre of the field, passing to Finlay, whose pass went astray. The Kiwis hooked from a scrum and the backs put in a good passing movement, Smith making a long run before being pulled down. Then Vallance missed a field goal and Geddes was wide with a penalty shot. From a scrum the Kiwi backs made a good run, Smith breaking through and being pulled down five yards short of the line. Two scrums followed and from the second Argus crashed through near the sideline. Cook missed the shot at goal. Brilliant play brought another try a few minutes later, Proctor picking up a ]>oor pass and sending to Kearney, Smith. Arnold, and Finlay, who scored, Cook missing the shot. A minute later the backs were away again in a great movement. Kearney sent the ball infield to catch the defence napping and Arnold scored, Cook converting. Saxton was away immediately in a fine run from a scrum and he passed to Arnold, who was stopped close to the line. Saxton worked the blind side of a scrum, Argus being held up on the line. Half-time came with the score: Kiwis, 11; R.A.F., nil. Goddard Hurt Early in the second spell Geddes narrowly missed with a long penalty shot at goal. The R.A.F. backs were getting plenty of the ball from the scrums and made two good runs. From a line-out Proctor showed up in a good back movement in which Sherratt was stopped after a strong run. Goddard was injured in this movement am* changed places with the winger. Hancock. A period of hard rucking followed. Geddes missed a penalty shot at goal from beyond half-way. A fine breakthrough "by Williams and excellent linekicking kept the R.A.F. on attack. The latter's forwards were getting the ball to their backs repeatedly. Fists flew in a hard ruck near the line. Then from a scrum Sykes broke right away and on the line his jjass went astray, Beamish just failing to dive on the ball. A bad miskick by Cook resulted in an R.A.F. loose rush going to the Kiwi line and Sykes was downed on the line after a brilliant break-through. Vallance and then Geddes failed with attempts at field goals. Kearney snapped up a rolling ball and sent Smith on a long run. When a passing movement broke down, Kearnev missed with an attempted field goal. Geddes fielded a long kick and started a fine passing movement, Cook misfielding a short punt and Argus getting across from the opposite wing to force down. A minute later the Kiwi backs got going, Geddes downing Sherratt to stop a dangerous movement. The game ended without addition to the score.