RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24745, 10 December 1945, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

KIWIS BEAT R.A.F. AIR FORCE FORWARDS SUPERIOR (Official Correspondent N.Z.E.F.) LEICESTER, Dec. 8. Before a crowd of about 7000 the N.Z.E.F. team to-day beat a strong Royal Air Force fifteen by 11 points to 0, in a fast, hard, and exceptionally willing game. Once again the Kiwi forwards were i beaten in the scrums and line-outs and the backs were given few opportunities. The weather was fine and the ground m excellent order. Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg was present. For the last quarter of an hour In the first half, of a very even game the New Zealanders completely dominated the play and scored all their points In the first five minutes of that period with three tries, one of which was converted. For the remainder of the match it was a game of very hard rucking, with tempers fraying at one stage, and of good tackling repeatedly stopping the R.A.F. passing rushes. The Kiwi backs occasionally flashed Into sudden attacks. Both Saxton and Cook had an off day, the former sending out several very bad passes and Cook misfieldlng and often failing to find the line. Kearney played a mag-, nificent game at first five-eighths, showing cleverness in attack, while his defence was of All Black standard.

The Scottish international full-back, K. I. Geddes gave an outstanding and brilliant exhibition, but the N.Z.E.F, defence more than held the R.A.F. backs in attack.

Three changes were made in the R.A.F. pack because of Injuries. The teams were:—

N.Z.E.F.—H. E. Cook, J. R. Sherratt, J.' B. Smith. W. G. Argus, T. Proctor, J. C. Kearney. C. K. Saxton (captain), J. G. Simpson, F. M. Haigh, R. D. Johnstone, P. K. Rhind, S I. Young. G. B. Nelson. K. D. Arnold. J. Finlay. Royal Air Force.—K. I, Geddes (captain), I. J, Cotting, M. P. Goddard. B. L. Williams. G, Hancock. P. Valiance, P. W. Sykes. R. J. Longland. C. G. Gilthorpe, P. Plumpton, R. H. Peele. H. P. Hughes. C. Hudson, C. H. Beamish, J, Thornton. Royal Air Force kicked off. Nelson knocked on. R.A.F. hooked, but Proctor downed Valiance, and from the ruck Finlay picked up and sent to Sherratt. who centred and Geddes cleared under pressure. Cock put Kiwis on attack with a long line kick from a penalty. Geddes missed in an rttempted field goal and then Goddard made a good run before being downed heavily. Another good R.A.F. back movement .ended when Williams was well tackled and Smith picked up and started a hard, loose rush, with a centring kick going to the R.A.F. twen-ty-five before being stopped. Sherratt reared Injured, but returned after a few minutes. From a scrum infringement Cook missed with a shot at goal from a penalty. From the kick-off Nelson a Pass half-way across the field, and the ball was sent on to Argus, who smashed his way through several tackles before being pulled down, R.A.F. attacked with a loose rush. From a ruck Young made an amazing solo run down the centre of the field, passing to Finlay, whose pass went astray. A good R.A.F'. movement was stopped by solid tackling, and then Valiance missed in an attempt to tack a field gcal. Geddes went wide with a penalty shot at goal. Rapid Scoring Soiid tackling stopped a R.A.F. passing rush, and Smith sent play back with a fine line-kick. From a scrum the Kiwi kffi” a good run. Smith breaking through and being pulled down five yards sho Jt °f the line. Two scrums followed, and from the second Argus crashed through near the side-line. Cook missed the shot at goal. Kiwis 3. R.A.F. 0. Brilliant play brought a try a few minutes later Proctor picked up a poor pass and sent to Kearney, to Smith, to Arnold, to Finlay, who scored. Cook failed with the kick. Kiwis 6, R.A.F. 0. A minute iater the backs were away again in a great movement, Kearney swinging infield to catch the defence napping, and Arnold scored. Cook converted. Kiwis 11, R.A.F 0. Saxton broke away in a fine run from a scrum and passed to Arnold, who was stopped close to the line. ■ Saxton worked the blind side from a scrum. Argus being held up on the line. Half-time came with the scores unaltered. Early In the second half, Geddes narrowly missed with a long penalty shot at goal, and fumbling spoiled two Kiwi back movements. The R.A.F backs were getting the ball from the scrums. In the second, Cook fielded a short kick, beat men, and kicked magnificently Geddes was injured and changed places with the wing-three-quarter, Hancock The R.A.F backs thrust dangerously with a fine passing rush, and when It was stopped. Smljh snapped up the ball and made a good run down the line. A fine break-through by Williams and excellent line-kicking kept R.A.F on attack. The home forwards were getting the ball back to the backs repeatedly. R.A.F. Narrowly Miss Scoring Fists flew in a hard ruck near the line, and then from a scrum Sykes broke away, but on the line his pass went astray, and Beamish just failed in his dive for. the ball. A bad mis-klck by Cook resulted In a loose rush going to the Kiwi line, and Sykes was downed on the line after a brilliant break-through. First Valiance and then Geddes failed with attempts at field goals, and Kearney snapped Up a rolling ball and sent Smith on a long run before he passed to Arnold, who was tackled. - When a passing movement broke down, Kearney missed in an attempt to kick a field goal. R.A.F kept the ball in play and Cook fielded a long kick, beat two men, and started a passing rush. When it broke down, R.A.F. drove back with a. good loose rush. Then Geddes fielded a long kick and started a passing movement. Cook misfieldlng a short punt, and Argus getting across from the opposite wing to force down a speculator over the Kiwi goal line. A minute later the Kiwi backs got going, Geddes downing Sherratt and stopping a dangerous movement. The game ended in a win for the Kiwis by 11 points (a goal from a try and two tries) to 0.