THE LEAGUE GAME

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 61, 6 December 1926, Page 18

THE LEAGUE GAME

.WALES BEATS NEW ZEALAND TEAM BY 34 POINTS TO 8 ' (Rec. December 5, 5.5 p.m.) ' London, December 4. Wales beat the New Zealand League team by 34 points to 8, in a match at Pontypridd, at which 10,000 people were present. Wales scored eight tries and live goals, and New Zealand two tries and one goal. Wales entered the' field to strains of “Men of Harlech.” The visitors, following, gave_ their war cry. The teams were as follow: — Wales: Sullivan (Wigan), Evans (Swinton), Lewis (St. Helens), Hurcombe (Halifax), Rhodes (Pontypridd), Carswell (Hull), Rees (Swinton), Green (Pontypridd), Oliver (Pontypridd), Hodder (Wigan), Stephens (Wigan), Davies (Pontypridd), and Gore (Salford). New Zealand: Gregory, Brown, Davidson, Kirwan, Parkes, Brisbane, Delgrosso, Avery, Devine, Mason, Carroll, .Wright, and Thomas. Wales started brilliantly. Evans, Lewis, and Carswell, combining finely, carried the ball across the line,, but were recalled for an infringement. The Welshmen continued sorely to press the visitors. Avery, punting brilliantly, relieved, but Sullivan returned, enabling Evans, Lewis, and Hurcombe to take part in a fine passing run, in which Ev aT| s broke in for a return pass, tricked Delgrosso, and scored. Sullivan failed to convert. Wales continued to press, and the New Zealanders rarely passed out of their own twenty-five until after a series of scrums, when Davidson broke away perfectly and passed to Delgrosso, who scored under the posts, converting the try himself. The Welshmen returned to the attack, and Sullivan, fielding beautifully, dropped a goal. From the kick off, owing to New Zealanders fumbling the ball, Gore intercepted and scored a try, which Sullivan converted. The Welsh forwards were very successful in the scrum, and gave their backs every opportunity, resulting in many fine rounds of passing. Gore again broke through and passed to Evans, who registered a try. Delgrosso and Brisbane were playing wonderfully well behind the beaten pack and defeated many attacks, but the Welsh three-quarters were too smart to enable them to turn defence into attack. Lewis was prominent in a fine run, but failed to score. At half-time the score was: Wales 13 points; New Zealand, 5. The visitors were penalised immediately after the interval, enabling Sullivan to kick an excellent goal. _ The Welshmen continued to have their own way, and Gore scored a try, and a. moment later, following a splendid passing round, inaugurated by Carswell, Evans also got over. The New Zealanders made desperate efforts, the forwards passing well. _ After speedy,play they sent Thomas in to score an unconverted try. The Welshmen re- ' asserted their supremacy, Hurcombe scoring, after which Rees broke away, and sent in to Carswell, who scored. Both tries were converted. Sullivan, after a brilliant effort, scored another try in the last minute. Mr. Fairhurst, of Wigan, refereed. PROBABLE WELSH LEAGUE London, December 3. Seven Welsh Rugby Union clubs are likely to turn professional, and form a Welsh League affiliated to the Northern Union. This will be inaugurated in the autumn, says the “Daily News.” Al- 1 though the names are not yet disclosed, grounds are already engaged. The Rugby League’s “hush-hush” policy regarding the views expressed in official Australian and New Zealand Jetters concerning the two years’ qualification rule is distinctly regrettable. Whatever the Dominions think, the League clubs will press for the removal of the ban. Wigan has already' called a general meeting of the clubs to discuss the matter. —Sydney “Sun” Cable.