N.Z. TEAM IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25301, 29 September 1947, Page 5

N.Z. TEAM IN BRITAIN

RUGBY LEAGUE

DEFEAT BY SWINTON (N.Z Press Association—Copyright!

(Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 27. The touring New. Zealand Rugby League team was beaten by Swinton by 8. points to 6. The New Zealand team played only two of the side which beat St. Helens on Thursday—Jordan and P. Smith. New Zealand early benefited by three penalty kicks, but failed to press its advantage. The three-quarters joined in a brilhant movement which should have resulted in a score, but McKenzie missed Clarke’s pass and a moment later a defender pulled McKenzie down on the Swinton line. New Zealand was almost two stone a man heavier in the scrum, but were repeatedly beaten for possession. The tourists had some difficulty with rule interpretations, particularly about .scrummaging and playing the ball after being tackled. New Zealand scored first when Giliman and Hancox sent Clarke over at the corner. Nuttall missed the kick. Swinton soon after scored a penalty goal.

Jordan made a sparkling run down the centre, but was not backed up, and the chance was missed. The half-time score was: New Zealand 3. Swinton 2. New Zealand had nothing- to spare at any stage, and in the second half Swinton looked like over-playing the visitors. Swinton continued to play a spirited, harassing game. Warry’s try came mainly as the result of some weak tackling by the tourists Gillman and McKenzie had a grand chance to score for New Zealand, but missed. Stoddart. the Swinton captain, crossed the New Zealand line, but was called back for an infringement. Swinton began to assume control of the game. The New Zealanders could not win the scrums and could not feet their backs into action. Winkworth’s try for Swinton and Jordan's for New Zealand came close together, just Pefore the end of the game.

TRAINING . GROUND FOR N.Z. TEAM

REFUSAL OF FACILITIES (Rec. 11 p.m.) - LONDON, Sept. 27. The Union executive rejected an appeal by the Ilkley Rugby Union Club against the Rugby Union’s decision not to allow the New Zealand Rugby League team which is touring Britain to use the club’s ground for training. The club claimed that the decision was an act of discourtesy to the New Zealanders.

The Rugby Union stated that the practice of allowing professional footballers to use the ground for training infringed the rules on professionalism.

VIVIAN CUP CONTEST

SYDENHAM BEATS HORNBY Sydenham, the holder of the Vivian Cup, beat Hornby by 19 points to 14 in the final match for the trophy, played on Saturday. In the annual game for the Stuart Harrison Cup Marist (Greymouth» won from Linwood by 32 points to 10. Yesterday Ngahere (West Coast) beat Hornby by 32 points to 9.

SYDENHAM v. HORNBY Magnificent forward play in the last 20 minutes of the game enabled Sydenham to beat Hornby by 19 points to 14 in the Vivian Cup final played at Athletic Park. Hornby had beaten Sydenham twice in previous Matches this season and on this occasion appeared to have the game well in hand half-way through the second spell, but C. Barnes. K. Andrews, and F. Churton led the Sydenham forwards in a series of rushes which led to tries.

There was little between the teams in the first half, each side attacking in turn, but solid tackling prevented the development of spectacular back moves. Barnes and R. Marsden scored tries for Sydenham, one of which B. Stapley converted. For Hornby M. Tobeck scored a try which E. Lewis converted, the half-time score being: Sydenham 8, Hornby 5. Hornby attacked strongly from the start of the second spell, and Lewis found a gap in the defence to score a neat try, which was followed almost immediately by a try scored by J. Lisle. Leading by 11 points to 8, Hornby kept up the pressure, and G. Moore, wing three-quarters, came close to scoring on two occasions. Sydenham then took charge of the game, and tries were scored by Churton, Stap•ley, and D. Forbes. Stapley converted one try.' Shortly before the end of the game L. Lanauze, who played good football throughout, scored for Hornby. K. Henry, at full-back, was the best of the Hornby backs, while in the forwards W. Bainbridge and D. McDonald wern outstanding. J. Graham and Forbes, the Sydenham five-eighths, played * sound football. The Sydenham forwards all played well, with Barnes and Andrews being especially prominent. The referee was Mr R. Barbarel. MARIST (GREYMOUTH) V. LINWOOD With several West Coast representative players in the side. Marist (Greymouth) was too strong for Linwood in the early game at Athletic Park and won by 32 points to 10. The game was notable for the high standard of the back play of the visitors, who had plenty of pace, ran straight, and handled cleanly. J. Pascoe and J. Dargan were outstanding in this respect and frequently found gaps in the defence. Lipwood was handicapped by the absence of several of its regular players and lacked combination, but the backs made some good individual moves. The Linwood forwards played solidly, W. Berry, who scored both tries for his side, being prominent. K. Smith converted both tries. For Marist tries were scored by M. Teen (2). Pascoe, K. Curnow (2), L. Dunn, Dargan, find J. Mundy. Tries were converted by Dargan (2), Dunn, and Costello The referee was Mr E. Hamburger. NGAHERE v. HORNBY Playing at. Hornby, Ngahere had little difficulty in beating Hornby, winning by 32 points to 9. Both teams made the game an open one, Ngahere, in particular, playing enterprising/.football. After Hornby lost K. Henry and G. Moore through injuries, however, the standard fell away, and the game was rather ragged in the concluding stages. The Ngahere backs had plenty of pace and showed excellent combination. Tries were scored for Ngahere by J. Gibson (3), J. McLauchlan (2), M. McLauchlan, D. McVicar. and H. Silk. D. Gillman converted four tries. E. Lewis secured all Hornby’s points, scoring a try, which he converted, and kicking two penalty goals. The referee was Mr E. J. Smith. Other results:—

Junior.—Ngahere 6. Woolston 5. Third Grade.—Hornby 10, Wellington Watersiders 8.

ASSOCIATION CODE

TECHNICAL BEATS WESTERN ENGLISH CUP FINAL Under good conditions, Technical Old Boys I beat Western in the final of the English Cup knock-out competition after a hard, even game. Western, having slightly the better of the first spell, led by 1 goal to 0 at the interval, but in the second spell Technical Old Boys nad the advantage, finally cliching the match by the odd goal in five. After the game Mr J. E. Jones, president of the Canterbury Football Association, presented the cup to V. Smith, "captain of the winning team. The Technical Club last won the cup in the 1928 season.

Technical’s win over Western was the third of the season and the only losses the Hurley Shield championship winner has had. With Dowker, in particular, and Sturgess out, Technical's chances on Saturday were not considered bright, but the two promoted reserve players, Davies and Keyes, filled the breach capably. Western adopted Thistle’s winning taps tics from the start, and again showed up the lack of solidity in the Technical third back game. Putting Thistle’s tactics into practice was outside Western’s capabilities. This was not the fault of G. Smith, but of the poorly-directed placing by the players behind him. Western played the third back game only in periods, but in any case the side did not repeat the accurate passing and positional play shown earlier in the season.

Cohesion between flank halves and spearhead forwards is dependent upon ac-curately-played transfers, which rather explains most of Canterbury’s most prolific scorers’ lack of success.

In one department, however. Western showed some consistency. On defence, the goalkeeper and three backs worked tirelessly recovering quickly from mistakes and in general playing top-notch games. Gordon, at centre-half, even at times belittled Bailey’s centre forward ability by making a trip in an endeavour to strengthen an advantage by his forwards. Altogether, Western gave a less scientific display than in the two previous games with Technical. The earliness of Western’s first goal and the hopefulness of further thrusts down the centre put a new complexion on Technical’s arrangements. V. Smith came from inside-right, where he has moderate scoring ability, if not the knowledge ot positional play, to centre-half, where his presence was immediately felt. Smith is a natural half, and got his New Zealand colours deservedly In this position.

The Technical defence began shakilv enough. Davey in goal began on the wrong foot tw “fumbling occasional sho f s. hut later made amends hv son® reallv brilliant saves. The back line with Smith

present showed its old solidity, and it was only from this period of play on that the side's possibility of success became a fact. / Harris, at right. half, back in his accustomed position, played much better, although embarrassed at times by the roving Mason. Mason, one of the most promising players of the season, has yet to learn the value of correct positional »play. His proneness to follow the ball too often left a big gap unmarked behind his forwards, besides making connexion with his other inside man, Lucas, difficult to maintain. Like Western, Technical's midfield play lacked consistency. Although brilliant bursts of excellently executed passing took place, there were equally drab periods of indecisive play, characterised by sluggishness and indiscriminate passing. This had the effect of putting a check on the forwards’ chances, which, judging by their work in possession, the side could ill afford to waste.

Against steady tackling and fast recovery by the Western backs, the forwards were far frorti happy. E. Bailey, at centre, lacked initiative, and it was only on the departure of V. Smith that this player assumed the responsibility that was his and began to play with some of his old dash.

With the inside forwards without their scoring boots, the real thrust devolved on tjie wing men, where D. Grieve showed enterprise. With anything like a goaling chance in the offing, Grieve was dangerous, and he thoroughly deserved his two goals.

Technical’s success both in the championship, where the side finished second, and in the knock-out competition, looks as though at last a team has been found to break Western’s long sequence of wins in both competitions. Western has set a high standard in senior football, and it must be said that the province’s long run of successes in English Trophy matches must be attributed to the backbone of players from this club. Technical will have this reputation to uphold and improve if possible.

LOWER GRADES Junior.—Knock-out final (Watson Cup): Canterbury Agricultural College 5, Wigram 2. Fourth Grade.—Thistle B 3, Thistle A 1; Rangers 2, Nomads A 0; Western 1, St. Vincent’s 0; Technical 6. Nomads 0.

Fifth Grade.—Knock-out final (SevickeJones Cup): Technical 3, Watersiders 1. Eighth Grade.—Western A 2, Nomads 0; Celtic A 5. Watersiders 1.

FINAL GAME OF SEASON The last game of the season will be played at English Park next Saturday between Addington Workshops and Canterbury Colts.