RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23810, 2 December 1942, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

♦ N.Z. AIR FORCE BEATS ROSSLYN PARK LONDON, November 28 By five tries, of which four were converted (28 points) to a converted try (5 points), the Royal New Zealand Air Force decisively defeated Ros.slyn Park in a fast and hard match. In contrast with the game a fortnight ago, when Flying Officer Eric Grant had the greatest difficulty in raising a side, this time he had 'more players than required, and for once was able to play the team selected. It included C. Smith, of Hawke’s Bay, a former Maori All Black, who is now farming in England. Rosslyn Park fielded five internationals. They had heavy, fast forwards, and a back line which was fast and always dangerous. They hooked from the scrums regularly—failure by the New Zealanders to heel the ball cleanly from (he scrum has been a wciUtness throughout Hie season—but although the Rosslyn Park backs were fed regularly with the ball they came up against a rock-like defence which time and again broke up fast passing movements. The New' Zealanders scored three times in the first half—two forwards, Cadet Rating D. S. Hart, and Sergeant L. George getting tries, and then Sergeant A. G. Sutherland, the outstanding wing on the field, touched down behind the posts. Leading Aircraftsman J. H. Macdonald converted twice and missed once. Rosslyn Park crossed (iic New Zealand line towards the end of the first half, and with the score at 13-5 at half-time it was still anybody's game; in fact, Rosslyn Park made the play fo- most of the second half, but the fast New Zealand backs seized their opportunity. First Sutherland shook off two tackles, ran down the sideline, and passed in to Smith, who scored. Then Sub-Lieutenant N. Lawrence cut through and passed in to Suadqron Leader F. Bowling, who scored under the posts. Macdonald converted both tries. Other members of the team were:— Backs; Acting Leading Aircraftsman J. A. Brown, Sergeant C, Saundcrcock; forwards, Sub-Lieutenant G. W. Smith, Sergeants H. Morgan. A. Matheson, I. Dustin, and G. Stevens.