BRITISH TEAM BEATEN AGAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26120, 24 May 1950, Page 4

BRITISH TEAM BEATEN AGAIN

RUGBY FOOTBALL ,

Southland Wins by 11 Points to 0 TWO TRIES IN LAST THREE MINUTES (New Zealand Press Association} INVERCARGILL, May 23. Two flashing opportunist tries scored in the last three minutes of play gave Southland victory over the British Isles touring team, at Rugby Park this afternoon, by 11 points to 0. Five minutes from time, Southland was desperately defending a 3-0 lead from determined British assaults, but haphazard passing and poor handling among the British threequarters, combined with the loss of G. W. Norton, the fullback, caused the sudden dramatic downfall of the visitors and their second successive defeat of the tour. Except for a few occasions when the ball was thrown about among the three-quarters of each side, the game was unspectacular and even ragged. The British forwards were listless, and the rucking of the Southland pack, although it was superior, lacked its traditional zest. Aimless passing and surprising misunderstandings in the positional play of the tourists gave the lively Southland backs and breakaway forwards several opportunities for attack, but the resolute tackling of the British backs was a redeeming feature.

The best British players were on the bank and several of the players on the field were handicapped by injuries, and the visitors at no time appeared to have the combination of a first-class international team. The speedy wings, M. F. Lane and K. J. Jones, however, were impressive on attack, and each was unlucky to miss scoring by inches. Norton also missed two penalties within range of goal, one from a fairly easy angle about 35 yards out. The game was played in overcast but calm weather on an excellent turf before about 16.000 spectators. Early in the game it became apparent that the British team, led by I. Preece, was out to play open Rugby, but it had to change its. tactics when ill-directed passing caused breaches in the defence and the forwards became slow in backing up. The Southland forwards and the British outside backs continued to dominate the game until the visitors started to flag half-way through the second spell. However they continued to play gallantly, and had the home team bustled in the last 10* minutes. Teamwork suffered from a lack of finesse on both sides, and the emphasis was on individual efforts, although no one player showed particular brilliance. Lane and Jones had few opportunities of the normal type, but both showed ifesource and speed, spoilt a little by a tendency to get out of position. J. P. Butt and W. R. Inder, opposite them, were not overshadowed, and each scored a try from their opponents’ errors. Southland Defends Well On the whole, the Southland backs played better than was expected, particularly on defence, although there was not much polish as an attacking unit. J. T. Millar, the full-back, was the equal of Norton in handling and linekicking. often gaining 50 yards. Preece, the fly-half, and D. V. Smeaton, the Southland second five-eighths, were the best of the inside backs. P. J. Creedy (Southland) was a better half-back than A. W. Black. He gave excellent service io his backs as well as making strong runs on the blind side. His stab kicks and touch finders were also most effective. L. S. Connolly, a 1947 All Black, A. L. Sutton, and C O. Ballam kept the Southland pack together in the tight. C. E. Robinson and W. A. McCaw played lively games in the open, but the tackling of the speedy McCaw was not as effective as usual. Preece eluded him on three i occasions. 1 The most impressive of the British for- ! wards, in line-out • especially, was E. R. j John, who rose high above his markers. Dai Davies hooked successfully. D. J. ! Hayward. G. M. Budge. J. S. McCarthy, and T. Clifford stood out on occasions, but lack of concerted drive was noticeably absent from the British forward The teams were:— British Isles.—G. W. Norton; K. J. Jones, M. F. Lane, W. B. Cleaver. R. ?4acdonald; I. Preece, A. W. Black; C. Davies, D. M. Davies, T. Clifford; D. J. Hay ward. J. E. Nelson, G. M. Budge, J. S. McCarthy; E. R. John. Southland.—J. T. Millar; J. P. Butt. W. R. Inder, R. A. Harper; N. J. Bennett, D. V. Smeaton; P. J. Creedy; L. S. Connolly, T. Mclesworth, A. L. Sutton; T. A. Budd, j C. O. Ballam. C. E. Robinson, W. A. Me- ■ Caw: J. R. Stuck. Southland scored first after 15 minutes. ■ A forward rush was halted on the twenty- I five in midfield, and McCarthy specu-; iated with the rolling ball, which ■ went straight into Butt's ai ms. He kicked | a field goal while surrounded by op- ! ponents. Both sides came within an ace of scor- ■ ing on several occasions in the first spell. I Norton hurt his left arm in going down ’ on the ball and left the field for 10 minutes ir. th*e second spell. Cleaver went to lull-back. Norton returned to the right wing, but had to retire. McCarthy then played on the right wing. Southland Scores Twice With about three minutes to go, Britain was throwing everything into a final effort to score. A midfield thrust by Preece, Cleaver, and McCarthy made ground, until Cleaver, who had run up from full- j back, dropped the ball. Butt, a 15st wing- j er. swooped on the ball, and galloped away, supported by McCaw. with a clear I field ahead. Lane gave chase and was rapidly overhauling the winger when Butt dived across near the posts. Millar failed with the kick, and Southland was six points ahead. From the kick-off, the Southland forwards made ground, but again Macdon-

ald. Jones, and McCarthy (now on the wing) threw caution to the winds in their own twenty-five. Jones beat two men before sending a difficult pass to McCarthy, who dropped the ball. Inder picked up the ball and sprinted 20 yards to the corner flag. McCarthy made a desperate tackle from behind. The corner flag was uprooted, but Inder remained in the field of play and was awarded a try right on time. Millar goalcd with an excellent kick. The British Isles won the scrums 18 to nine, and Southland won the line-outs 32 to 29. Britain was penalised 10 times to Southland's 11. The referee was Mr A. Fong (West Coast). BRITISH TEAM FOR TEST PLAYERS CHOSEN (New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, May 23. The British team to play New Zealand in the first test at Dunedin on Saturday is:— Full-back: W. B. Cleaver. Three-quarters: K. J. Jones, J. Matthews, I. Preece. M. C. Thomas. Halves: J. W. Kyle, A. W. Black. Forwards: P. W. Kininmonth; J. W. McKay, D. J. Hayward. E. R. John, R. T. Evans; J. D. Robins, K. D. Mullen, T. Clifford. MATCHES WITH OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND REQUEST FOR CHANGE OF DATES REFUSED The Canterbury Rugby Union’s request that the dates for matches between Canterbury and Southland, to be played on Saturday, August 12, at Invercargill, and between Canterbury and Otago, on Wednesday, August 16, at Dunedin, slvould be reversed, could not be agreed to, said a letter received from the Southland Rugby i Union by the Canterbury Union’s management committee last evening. Reasons lor the refusal were given in the letter. “The board is greatly perturbed at the increasing tendency of scrums to collapse. It feels that serious injury to players may result, and that such collapsing is largely attributable to the failure of the front row forwards to bind closely,” said a directive notice from the International Rugby Football Board, contained in a circular from the New Zealand Union. The board considered that the close binding of the front row of the scrums was essential to tlve playing of the game in its proper spirit, and that malpractices had resulted from the lack of such binding. “This malpractice will not be tolerated by the board, and all clubs must instruct their players accordingly,” said the letter. It was decided to bring the matter to the notice of the I clubs. P. Foster, a senior grade player for Lin- : wood, who was ordered off the field by the i referee controlling the Linwood—Sunny- ; side-Spreydon game on Saturday (Mr A. ' E. Rogers), was stood down from playing until he appeared before the committee, i Mr Rogers, who attended the meeting, i said he had seen Foster strike another : twice and liad ordered him off the ■ Advice that a copy of the instructional film made m South Africa last year could be bought by the union for £9 was received from the New Zealand Union. It was decided to hold the matter over until the lull film was available. Life Members Honoured Messrs E. V. Phillips and W. E. Maxwell, who were elected life members of union three years ago. and Mr J. K MoJoney and Dr. W. S. Seed, who were elected lite members at the last annual I meeting, were presented with medallions at. the conclusion of the meeting. Tributes 1 R ei ß P Masters t ) hem by the *P residen t (Mr DRAW FOR SATURDAY (Unless otherwise stated all games commence at 3 p.m ) Senior.—Tech OB v. Chch ’ LP ovalAlri/'i Ru V* k; Vars Lin ’ Sho "’ Gids 1, Men v. Mar, Show Grds 1 130 P.m.; Sunny-Sprey v. Syd, Show Grds'2; New Br bye. Senior Reserve.—Chch v. Vars, NP 5Mar v. Tech 08, SP 31; Coll v. Lin, Brom r k i’i B r H u' H n? B ’ Malv Pk: Alb v - Train Coll, Becken Pk; RNZAF bye. Second Grade.—Sum v. Lin, LP West; Men v. Vars. St Alb Pk; New Bri v. Syd Rugby Pk, 1.30 p.m.; Kaia v. Lyt SP 33 Mar v - Alb - sp 29 ; rnzaf v.’ Coll, Wigram; Chch v. Sunny -Sprcy, Sunn, 2.1 a p.m.; HSOB bye. Third Grade.—Kaia v. Mar, Kaia 1, 2.30 p.m.; Rich v. Rice, Rich Pk; Pap Tech OB v. Chch, St. James' Pk; Syd v. Lin, Waltham 1; Belf v. Sunny-Sprey, Sheldon Pk (Belfast); Meri v. Alb, SP 32; RNZAF bye: Vars v. Tech 08. SP 26, 3 p.m. Third Grade C.—St. Bed v. HSOB, St. Bed; BHS v. Train Coll, Strav rd, 1.30 Fourth Grade.—Coll v. Syd. Elm PkHSOB v. Meri, NP 10; New Bri v. Alb’, Rawhiti Dom; Lin v. Pap Tech OB NP 12; Chch v. Tech 08, NP 11; Train Col v. Mar, Barrington Pk. Fifth Grade.—HSOß v. Sunny-Sprey. NP 9: Syd v. Lytt, Waltham 2; Mar v. Tech 08, Ensor’s rd; Sum bye. Under 18A.—Tech OB v. Pap Tech 08, Fend Pk; Mar v. RNZAF, Wigram; Lin v. Chch, Lin Pk; HSOB bye. Under 18B—Ch Col v. Pap Tech Col, own arrangements: CTC v. BHS B. Strav rd 2; St. Bed v. West Chch HS NP 13; BHS A bye. Under 17.—Kaia v. New Br, S.P. 34. 2.15 p.m.; Mar v. Lin, Burwood 1; Tech 0.8., a bye. Under 16—H.5.0.8. v. Sunny-Sprey, Burwood 2; Kaia v. Mar, Kaiapoi 2, 2.30 p.m.; Tech 0.8.. a bye. Under Bst 71b.—Mer v. Pap Tech O 8.. 5. 26. 1.30 p.m.: Tech 0.8. v. Mar. L.P. oval, 1.30 p.m.; H.-5.0.8. v. Lin, S.P. 27; Syd v. Sunny-Sprey. S.P. 27. 1.30 p.m. Under 7st 71b.—Mar v. Chch. N.P. 1, 1.30 p.m.; Tech 0.8. v. Kaia. Kaiapoi 3, 2.30 p.m.; Sum v. Lin B. N.P. 1; Mer v. Syd, N.P. 2, 1.30 p.m.; Lin A v. SunnySprey, N.P. 2. Under 6st 71b A.—Alb v. Tech 0.8., N.P. 15, 1.30 p.m.; Lin A v. Sunny-Sprey, N.P. 15; Rice v. Mar A, N.P. 14, 1.30 p.m.; Chch v. Syd. N.P. 14. Under 6st 71b B.—Belf V. Lytt, N.P. 4; Rang v. Mer, S.P. 36. 2 30 p.m.; Kaia v. Lin B, Kaiapoi 4. 1.30 p.m.; New Br v. Mar B. N.P. 4, 1.30 p.m. Under sst 101 b A. —New Bi' v. Lin A, Rawhiti Dom, 1.30 p.m.; Sum v. Mar A. N.P. 5, 1.30 p.m.; Syd v. Mer, N.P. 15, 10.30 a.m.; St. Bedes v. Sunny-Sprey A. N.P. 14. 10.30 a.m.; Lytt v. Alb, Heathcote, 1.30 p.m. Under sst 101 b B.—Mar B v. Chch. N.P. 6. 10.30 a.m.; Kaia v. Lin B. S.P. 25, 2.15 p.m.; Rice v. Rang, S.P. 35. 2.15 n.m.; Mar C v. Sunny -Sprey. B N.P. 8. 5 0.30 a.m. Under sst.—New Br v. Sunny-Sprev A. N.P. 6. 1.30 p.m.; Alb B v. Alb A, N.P. 9. 10.30 a.m.; Lin B v. Sunny-Sprev B. N.P. 10, 10.30 a.m.; Lin A v. Chch. N.P. 11, 10.30 a.m.; Mar v Syd, N.P. 12. 10.30 a.m.; Kaia v. Rice, Kaiapoi 1. 1.30 p.m. Seven-a-side—Under sst 101 b: Chch v. Mar B, L.P. oval, 3.40 p.m. Advt.

ASSOCIATION CODE CANTERBURY TEAM CHOSEN The following Canterbury team, to take part in the Football Association trophy tournament during the King's Birthday week-end, was announced at last evening’s meeting of the Canterbury Football Association:—goalkeeper, N. Lambert (Thistle); lull-backs, M. Dean (Technical), right; E. Harris (Technical), left; half-backs: V. Smith (Technical), right: A. Laffey (Western), centre; H. Lloyd (Wigram), left. Forwards: C. Bailey (Technical), right wing: P. O'Malley (Technical), inside right; G. Smith (Western), centre; A. Davis (Wigram), inside left; J. McGrath (Thistle), left wing. Emergencies: T. Jones (Wigram) and R. N. Smith (Western). Mr R. S. Smith was appointed manager of the team and V. Smith and R. Davis were appointed captain and vice-captain respectively. Mr A. McAnulty complained about the prevalence of rough play, particularly in the higher grades. It was decided to request the Referees’ Association to adhere more strictly to the rules concerning dangerous play. Members generally felt that that would lead to a great improvment in the standard of play. DRAW 7 FOR SATURDAY First Division, 3 p.m.—West v. Ran, EPj This v. Cel, Bar; Tech v. Wig, EP, Second Division, 3 p.m..—West v. Sham, Elm; Nom v. Var, Malv; Hine v. Tech, Hill 1. Senior Reserve, 3 p.m.—St Vin v. Wig, Wig; YMCA v. This, H 4; West v. Tech. Ensor; Nom v. Sham, St. Albans; Atl v. Ran, Beck. Junior, 3 p.m.—St Vin v. West. Hill 2; Uni v. Atl, H2; Ran v. CAC, Hl; Tech v. Nom, H 3; Cel v. Trg Coil, Sprey; Sham win by default from This. Third Grade, 1.15 p.m.—West v. Orlen, Elm; Tech v. Trg Coll, H2. Fourth Grade, 1.30 p.m.—Syd Rov v. Wts, Hl; Tech v. Nom, H2. Fifth Grade, 1.30 p.m.—Nom v. Tech B, Malv; Tech A v. Cel, Beck; Ran v. This, Bar; Sham v. West B. St. Alb; West A v. St. Vin, Hill. Sixth Grade, 10 a.m.—Sham v. Nom, Malv; Tech v. YMCA, Ensors; West V. This, Elm. Seventh Grade, 10 a.m.—West v. Nom B, EP; ‘Nom A v. Ran P, Lin; Sham A v. This, Bar; Sham R v. Cel, St. Alb; Ran a bye. Eighth Grade, Section 1, 10 a.m.—West v. Sham Rl, H2; Sham A v. Sham B. H 3; Nom v. St. Vin, H 4. Eighth Grade, Section 2.—West A v. Cel, H 5; Ran v. This S, Hl; Sham R2 a bye. Advt.