DECISIVE WIN OVER N.S.W.

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 15

DECISIVE WIN OVER N.S.W.

RUGBY LEAGUE

N.Z. Forwards Ensure Victory

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

I (^? C ’ JA O P m ) SYDNEY, June 3. ; Headed by six powerful forwards, I Zealand s Rugby League team decisively beat New South Wales 26-17 at the Sydney Cricket Ground today, ine scores do not convey New Zeai s . rea l m argin of superiority. ; victory was assured eight minutes aHer the start when the Jock forward * rank Mulcare, scored a dashing try after twice backing up. New Zealand ' . lose control of the game although N.S.W. hooker, Ken KearWf;n the scrums 16-7. . New Zealand hooker John Buti^ r .S a beat Kearne y 9-8 in the scrums in the second half. At half time New Zealand led 14-5. ine attendance was 35.492. It was tnought the crowd would reach 50,000 out many people were uncertain about ine weather which remained fine all aay. The centre of the ground, after a previous day and night of heavy J dri , ed quickly and players were a me to keep their balance. The New Zealand success has assured a Jarge crowd for the first test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground next Saturday but has thrown the selection of the Australian test team into consternation.

The New Zealand centre threequarters, Bill Sorensen, scored three good tries today, and Mulcare scored one.

The ?* ew Zealand full-back, Des White, kicked seven goals out of 10 attempts.

| Scorers for New South Wales were i Hon Adams, Graham Laird, Peter O Connor and Ron Willey (four | goals) The members of the Sydney j A, ric x?* Ground stood and applauded 11,. N ® w Zealanders as they left the j neid Spectators said it was one of the j most entertaining and clean games | they had seen for years. I White’s kicking form indicated to . Australia that he will be a menace in i tne tests. In his general play White i SL rpa £ sed the N.S.W. full-back, Willey. The New Zealand captain and centre three-quarters. Tom Baxter played a . captain’s game. The New Zealand I nve-eighths Menzies, was the sharpest player on the ground. He and Soren- , showed excellent understanding, i curt Johnson and Henry Maxwell I were outstanding in a tine pack of a J ds : , New Zealand should have ! at . S ast five other tries which I were lost by errors or ill luck. The I New Zealand forwards had so thoroughly pounded the New South Maxwen aC Ti" the SeCOnd half ’ that Maxwell, Johnson and others were I backs’ 28 aS freely as if they were

BataJiph 6 * Zealand left winger, Vern So,,in ui I was rec °snised by New South Wales as one of their main j dangers. The New Zealand half-back. Belsham, brought a roar of appreciai tion from the crowd when he used a Springboks! 12 the fam ° US S ‘ yle ot the

s ß ?k™, ote " broke up the New Y a CS , attacks w ‘th his tackling. ’ H-om aWay - on one occasion from a defensive position and thrilled 101 l c c°wd with a 60-yard run. Four nart ru eW Zealanders often took part in other scoring movements. z c ° ach ’. BiU Telford, said: tivl la .? d Piayed good constructive football. I think they will be better than they were today. I conSl £er the team to be as good as that which visited Australia in 1952. I am very hanpy about the referee’s three last d r niahf S 'h Whe i n we spoke to him things ” Sht he cleared up several

CANTERBURY WINS

WELLINGTON BEATEN BY NINE POINTS

FAST OPEN GAME AT SHOW GROUNDS

In a fast and at times very exciting game at the Addington Show Grounds on Saturday, Canterbury won its second representative fixture of the season when it beat Wellington by 18 points (four tries, two converted and a penalty goal) to 9 points (one converted try and two penalty goals). Both sides threw the ball about at every opportunity, and although passes were dropped, the handling was generally very sound, and had the tackling not been so sound the scoring of both sides must have been much greater. The defence of both sides was a feature of the game and reached a very high standard.

Canterbury led at half-time by 10 points to 5. but had to fight every inch of the way to gain this lead. Wellington took charge of the game at the start of the second spell and, keeping possession of the ball, threw ir. attack after attack which had the Canterbury defence sorely tested. Had Canterbury’s defence slipped at this stage, Wellington could easily have scored enough points to win the game. However, the defence held, and although two penalty goals put Wellington to within a point of the winner. Canterbury came right back into the game and. having the best of the latter stages, added two excellent tries to put the issue beyond doubt.

The deciding factors in Canterbury’s win were more snap in its back move* ments and extra speed in the forwards which allowed them to get out in the open to link with their backs The Wellington pack held its own in all the tight play, but was slightly shaded in the open play. Its backs handled as well as their opponents, but much of their passing went across field. Canterbury’s inside backs tried al'all times to straighten up the attack and gain room for the three-quarters.

The Canterbury backs did not have an easy time, the Wellington backs getting up to them quickly, and by very solid tackling stopping many attacks.. However, when they did get the breaks the Can+erbury inside backs continued splendidly and made a lot of play for their outside supports. The teams were:—

Canterbury.—D. Derbridge: M. Courtney C. Courtney, E. Griffiths; S. Keenan. S. Park; J. Jones; R. Turton, T. Kilkelly. J. Rossiter, K. Pearce, J. Jones. R. Wakefield.

Wellington.—E. Ashton; P. Coffey, G. Martin, I. Johanson: P. Fox, L. Nunns; J. Dodd: K. Golding. W. Taurua, N. Poutu. H. Kreyl, R. Houston. R. Clarke. E. Ashton was replaced in the second half by A. Simpson. Without attempting to do too much, Jonees, behind th'* Canterbury scrum, gave his five-eighths good service with crisp passes and placed a sound, allround game. At fist five-eighths Park was lively, and was always probing for a gap in the defence. Keenan, his partner, had a lot of attention paid to him by his opponent. Fox, who generally arrived at the same time as the ball. However. Keenan’s clever footwork got him out of a lot of trouble and he made many fine breaks.

At centre, C. Courtney was always prominent, and his speed always troubled the o:position. His brother and Griffiths on the win; s. played very soundly, and on several occasions went very close to scoring. Derbridge was sound without beme outstanding at full-bacK.

J Dodd, the Wellington half-back, and his first fivc-eighihs, L. Nunns, at times spoiled otherwise good play by attempting too much on their own. Although his attacking chances were limited, Fox.

at second five-eighths, p: oved his worth with his fine tackling. Time and again his hard, low' tackling brought promising Canterbury attacks to a sudden stop. Martin was a very efficient centre, running hard and straight and tackling very soundly. Two fine breaks by him would have brought tries but for dropped passes. Coffey and Johanson, the wings, showed a lot of pace and were fine defenders.

The Wellington pack was led by Kreyl. Taurua, and Houston, who were in the thick of things throughout and frequently gained big stretches of territory with clever combined play. Golding played well in the loose forward position. He was very adept at opening up play, and his cover defence and hard tackling repeatedly got his side out of trouble.

There was no more industrious player on the field than the Canterbury secondrow forward, Rossiter. His tackling set a fine example to the rest of the side. In captaining the side for the first time Kilkelly was a good leader of the forwards. Energetic in the tight, he was also very prominent in the open, his strong bursts being hard to stop. Pearce, Jones, and Wakefield gave K.lkelly fine support. The loose forward, Turton, did well, but appears to have lost a little of the dash he showed earlier in the season. The Scoring Canterbury lost an early chance to open its account when Park dropped his pass with a clear run in after Keenan had made a good break. Canterbury kept up’ the piessure, and after Walefield had missed with a penalty kick, his second attempt soon afterwards was successful. A wild pass spoiled another golden opportunity for Canterbury. Wellington then attacked, taking play right to Canterbury’s line, where in a clever move from a play the ball Taurua barged his way over for a try, which Coffey converted with a fine kick from near the sideline. From loose play Kilkelly started i movement which sent the ball through the Canterbury back line. The ball ■eached C. Courtney with a yard to spare. This was enough lor him and he sped away to touch down near the corner with his brother right up with him in support. Turton was very prominent in the next Canterbury sco.ing movement. Shooting through a gap, he sent C. Courtney over for his second try, which Wakefield converted. Canterbury was attacking at half-time.

Wellington started the second spell as if it was going to sweep Canterbury off its feet. It launched a series of attacks which had Canterbury defending desperately. A certain try was lost when Coffey dropped a pass right on the line. However, he kicked two fine goals within minutes of each other to put his side only one point bellin'!. Canterbury then came right back into the game, and after a bright movement Derbridge made the extra man and sent Courtney over for his third try, which Derbridge converted with a fine kick.

From the kick-off the Wellington forwards took play right to the Canterbury line, where one of them went over, only to be brought back for an infringement. Canterbury had the better of the rest of the game, and just befare the final whistle Turton and C. Courtney combined nicely to send Jones, the hooker, over in the corner.

The referee was Mr J. Hocking (Wellington).