South Favoured To Beat North Again

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30804, 16 July 1965, Page 13

South Favoured To Beat North Again

(By Our Rugby League Reporter.)

The 1965 inter-island Rugby League match at Greymouth on Sunday may prove one of the most exciting, certainly one of the most interesting, since 1925. South Island has an excellent chance of defeating North in successive years, something it has never been able to do before.

The closest South has come to gaining two successive wins was in 1929 and 1930. It won the 1929 match, 22-13, but could only draw, 22-22, the following year. Only one other inter-island match has been played at Greymouth, which is celebrating its fiftieth jubilee this year. On that occasion (1960) the brilliant North Island backs, led by C. A. Eastlake and G. R. Phillips, came from behind to win 37-24 in a magnificent exhibition of open football. Even the fact that Sunday’s match is the final trial to select the Kiwi team to tour Britain and France should not influence the style of play, for in 1960 the World Cup team was announced after the game. Upset Teamwork The only feature that might spoil the match is the possibility of four replacements being made at halftime in each team. This could influence the result for a team leading at half-time might have its team-work upset by the introduction of new players. It is unfortunate the New Zealand league did not arrange a further trial match if the selectors were keen to see the eight replacements. South Island must be favoured to win. Its team is

stronger than that which defeated North, 14-11, at Christchurch last season. There is more power and penetration in the pack in spite of the loss of M. L. Cooke. The fine young West Coast trio—J. K. Dixon, A. P. Dennehy and R. O. Scholefield—is capable of punching holes in any defence, as they have twice demonstrated to Canterbury. In addition, Dixon was outstanding in the second Australian test. If Dennehy and Dixon are allowed to remain on the field throughout the match their dangerous combination could bring disaster to North. Hooking Problem South’s major problem could be in possession. The two hookers In the squad, W. P. Noonan (Canterbury) and F. Kennedy (West Coast), will find it difficult to win the scrums against C. E. O’Neil, who twice out-hooked I. J. Walsh (Australia), regarded as the world’s leading hooker. North, as always, will throw in its challenge from the backs, particularly as its forwards, apart from S. K. Edwards and E. Moore, are relatively inexperienced. G. Smith and R. Orchard are two young players challenging for positions in the touring team while the loose forwards, D. Deacon and H. R. Sinel, could prove dangerous if they strike form. With R. W. Bailey, R. Strong and I. M. Erceg in the centres, North should be dangerous. B. T. Reidy, the finest wing in the country, and R. F. Christian, who has developed into a fine player, have great scoring potential and behind them is the forbidding figure of J. E. Fagan, safe, sometimes dangerous, always accurate with his kicking. Halves Not Impressive Any break-down in the North attack could come in the halves. P. Schultz did not impress as a stand-off half in

the second test, being inclined to retain possession for too long. J. Nicholson is very ' inexperienced and should' be no match for the wily J. D. M. Walshe. The scrum-half and captain, W. L. Snowden, is not the player he was and could have trouble containing R. S. J. Irvihe and N. Kiely. Irvine should combine well with Walshe for they played together for Christchurch Marist until Walshe transferred to Dunedin late last year. L. P. Brown will have a difficult assignment as G. M. Kennedy’s centre partner but here again club combination should help. P. M. V. White was South’s matchwinner last season and the other wing. B. W. Langton, assisted White in compiling South’s 14 points. B. J. Mann seldom makes any mistakes at full-back.