INTER-ISLAND GAME

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26728, 12 May 1952, Page 10

INTER-ISLAND GAME

NORTH BEATS SOUTH BY 19 TO 10 POSSESSION AND PACE DECIDE RESULT I New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 11. Possession and pace largely determined the unexpected victory of the North Island by five tries and two goals (19 points) to two tries and two goals (10 points) over South Island in the annual Rugby League match at Carlaw Park on Saturday. The attendance was about 15,000. South Island was run ragged in the final 10 minutes, during which North Island scored three unconverted tries. Even though its lead at half-time was only 2-0, North Island only once looked like losing. Within a few minui.es of the start of the second half, it had scoied two tries, and led 10-0. Then South Island, spurred on by a freak penalty goal which pitched on the bar and bounded over, began a movement which led to its equalising the score. The struggle then became grim and exciting. Suadeniy North Island scored three sharp tries. The forecasts of a South Island victory had overlooked two vital factors: one was the hooking for North Island of G. W. Davidson; the other was the superiority over the years of the North Island back play. J. Russell Green, the link between the two, had more pace and more brilliance than J. S. Haig, his noted opponent. His fine passes allowed R. McKay, gt fiveeighths, to act as the pivot of a back line of speed. McKay, in spite of inexperience, performed his task admirably. Hardwick Outstanding In the forwards, North Island had an able leader, T. Hardwick. There was loud applause whenever A. J. Atkinson, Hardwick’s opposing lock, used his remarkable speed. His link-up with Haig for a try under the posts was a fine effort. Yet there was no doubt that Hardwick was the outstanding player among the forwards, if not of the match. Davidson, J. Wright, and J. Ratima were prominent in the forward play, and behind the scrum both of the centres. C. Eastlake and J. Dodds, who pluckily carried on after a hard knock on an arm, had moments of brilliance. J. Edwards, on the wing, used his speed. D. H. White, the Kiwi full-back, could not kick goa's, but was resourceful in joining in attacks. However, he was very bad'y beaten when W. McKenzie scored. South Island's tactical plan implied a want of faith in its back line, for Haig constantly attempted to take the play back to the forwards, but even W. McLennan could not get far. The outstanding forward was R. Neilson. L. Blanchard was a good companion, and F. Mulcare did much good work in the loose. J. Soster, a veteran West Coast fullback, gave a good display. Haig was not quite nimble enough to beat a tight cover defence. Perhaps the most consistent South Island back was a wine, C. McGougan. McKenzie, on the other wing, made the best of his chances, but among the inside backs only S. Paskell impressed. Russell Green, Edwards. H Moore, Eastlake, and David on scoied the North Island tries, and White kicked the two goals. Atkinson and McKenzie scored South Island’s tries, and Soster kicked the goals. Mr R. Avery (South Auckland) was the referee. Final New Zealand Trial The final New Zealand trial for the selection of the team to tour Australia, held as a curtain-raiser, was won by the Red team by 33 points to the Blue team’s 15. The match assisted the New Zealand selectors to the extent of providing them with seven players for the Kiwi team's tour. They were R. Moor 1 , T. O. Baxter, A. Reichleman, and R. O’Donnell (of the Red team), and W. B. Hough. C. Harris, and R. Rc-ff (of the Blue team). Play in the third match was generally somewhat scrappy. Though on occasions there was really good back play, most of this was provided by the Reds. The two outstanding players were J. Varley (five-eighths) and A. Aspden (a toward), both of the Red team. K. Ropata, of We'lington, appeared to be superior to R. Moore as a full-back. The hooking honours were evenly divided, and Roff had no advantage over F. Delgrosso, who played for the winning team.

SENIOR GAMES

SYDENHAM BEATS MARIST The Canterbury Rugby League's Vivian Cup competition reached an interesting stage when the fourth series of matches was played on Saturday, three teams becoming equal at the top of the competition. Although several teams were weakened by the absence of players in the inter-island game at Auckland, the standard of football was fair. Results were:— Hornby 22, Linwood 17. Sydenham 13, Marist 4. Woolston 9, Riccarton 7. Addington 5, Papanui 5. Competition points are: Addington 6, Marist 6, Sydenham 6. Hornby 5, Papanui 3, Linwood 2, Woolston 2, Christchurch 0. SYDENHAM V. MARIST Marist was beaten by Sydenham by 13 points to 4 in. a scrappy game. Without Haig the Marist backs were very disappointing. failing to combine effectively at any stage. The only redeeming feature of the side’s play was the display of the forwards, who strove throughout to get their backs on the move. The Sydenham backs, especially in the first spell, played up to their true form and made some fine attacks. The game was marred by stoppages for injuries, and both sides lost players. The play of the forwards became willing at times and the referee sent two Sydenham players, Pimley and Graham, off the field. Graham, Stackhouse, and Forrester, the Sydenham inside backs, had a feast of the ball from the scrums, and until the Marist backs adopted a close-up defence were formidable attackers. The Sydenham forwards were led by Butterfield, Andrews, and Beale. In the Marist pack Stokes did the work of two men. He was well supported by Ryan and Hislop. Of the Marist backs, the only ones to show good form were Johnston, the half-back, and Cuneen. For Sydenham, Pimley, Butterfield, and Robinson scored tries. Butterfield converted one try and kicked a penalty goal. McGowan kicked two penalty goals for Marist. Referee: Mr K. Cox. HORNBY v. LINWOOD Hornby showed greatly improved form, especially in the backs, to beat Linwood in the main game at the Show Grounds. Linwood had the greater share of the ball from the scrums and threw it about, but Hornby’s inside backs defended strongly, stopping their opponents with very solid tackling. The Hornby backs showed much more polish in their handling than in previous games, and when in possession were as effective as Linwood’s. The game was very even and was played at a fast pace. Hornby led by two

points at half-time, and then went ahead with another eight points. However, Linwood. which lasted better, gradually made up the leeway, and with an ounce of luck towards the end would have drawn the game. ihe packs were very even, the honours perhaps going to the more mobile Linwood foi wards. L. Knight, O'Neill, and McGee were Linwood forwards who were always up with the play, their following up and tackling being of high class. In the Hornby pack Rutherford was outstanding both in the tight and in the loose. He was well supported by Butts, Woodgate, and R. Knight. Hornby’s backs showed greatly improved attacking qualities. The inside backs, T. D. Neiman and G. Neiman, were always prominent. They made many openings for their outside supports, and their defence was always solid. Well served from the base of the scrum by Jones, the Linwood backs made some fine attacks, the five-eighths, Clarke and Hobson, heading most of them. Both handled cleanly and were quick to take advantage of any gaps. Lisle, the Linwood wing, was a good handler and a very determined runner. Hudson was a safe fullback, and scored 11 of his side’s points with a try and three goals. In the first spell Hudson opened the scoring for Linwood with a penalty. Then a Linwood clearing kick went astray, and Butts dived on the ball. Pomare converting. Hudson scored a fine try for Linwood. coming up into the backs to take an in-prss from R. Atkinson. He converted his try. Soon afterwards Hudson kicked a field goal. Hornby attacked strongly, and before half-time T. Neiman and Robertson scored unconverted tries, to put Hornby in front. Hornby had the better of the game after the spell, and went further ahead with tries by Robertson and Kibblewhite. Shadwell converted Kibblewhite’s try. Linwood reduced the lead to two points with tries by Knight and Lisle. Hudson converting one. but towards the end of the game D. Neiman scored a solo try for Hornby from 10 yards out. Referee: Mr L. Blackler. WOOLSTON V. RICCARTON An even and willing game between Woolston and Riccarton resulted in a twopoint win for Woolston. Riccarton forced the play throughout the first half and scored seven points in the first 10 minutes, but sturdy defence by the Woolston threequarters took the edge off the Riccarton attack, and in the second half Riccarton was pushed back to its 25-yard line. The key man in the Woolston backs was L. Brown at centre. His defence was faultless, and his attacks were cleverly made. He was well supported by R. Hill and F. Pitcher on the wings. J. Smith and F. O’Brien, the Riccarton five-eighths, were kept too busy dealing with the Woolston inside men to cover defend the weak points in their own three-quarters. W. Evans, locking the Woolston scrum, backed up well and did some fine work with the blind-side wing. J. Reeves, in the front row, also played soundly. The Riccarton pack, led by R. Kenneth and J. Hampton, was fully a match for the Woolston forwards. Woolston’s points came from tries by G. Pitcher, W. Evans, and R. Hill. For Riccarton. F. O’Brien scored a try, which was converted by J. Smith, who also kicked a penalty goal. Referee: Mr M. Noonan. ADDINGTON V. PAPANUI After a scoreless first half, Addington and Papanui drew, 5-all, in a match played at the Show Grounds. The back play for most of the game was below senior standard, but interest was held to the end in a keen forward struggle. In the first half, the Addington forwards. well led by W. Berry, adopted effective bustling tactics and held the advantage to the end of the spell. The Papanui backs received a fair share of the ball from B. Campbell, a capable halfback, but the five-eighths seldom gained ground and were generally caught in possession. The Addington backs also lacked penetration, but the side was unlucky to miss what would have been the winning try when G. Westall, wing three-quarters, failed to ground the ball properly after a good run. The second half produced some firstclass forward play, when the Papanui forwards had the measure of their opponents, Solid work by R. Cook and E. Griffiths nearly brought tries on several occasions, but the defence held. Papanui’s points came from a try by J. Rothera, after a good break by M. Pahi, B. Campbell converting. Westall scored a try and D. Henderson kicked a penalty goal for Addington. Referee: Mr E. J. Smith.