FAST, OPEN RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 284, 28 August 1944, Page 6

FAST, OPEN RUGBY

Interisland Services’ Match NORTH TOO STRONG FOR SOUTH ■Jbe best Rugby talent assembled at headquarters since the war started was seen in action at Athletic Park, Wellington, on Saturday afternoon,, when the interirsland services’ match thrilled a croud of about 10,000 spectators in au exceptionally fast and open game, which was won bv tho North Island fifteen 18-8. Hie weather was gloriously fine, ground ami ball were bone dry, anil a light northerly breeze tempered the sun’s rays. The western bank was packed with. spectators, and there was a liberal sprinkling on both the north and south terraces, but. doubtless because of the high price charged, the stand was only about half-full. Before the game started, the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall. accompanied by StallSergeiint A. A. Baker, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and one or the selectors of the North Island team, shook hands with the members of both teams. The Trentham band enlivened the Intervals with bright selections.

The teams were:— . South Island.—Masters; Ransliolu, Wilson, Cochrane; Burrett, O’Callaghan; Dougan; Knight, Herman (captain), Paul, Averv, Hazlett, Eusor, Harvey, Smith. North Island.—Morrison; Butt, Wiles, McLean; Everest, Delamore; Barcbard; Beadle, Greeu (captain), Fraser, Elliott. O’Donnell, George, Waldegrave, Johnson. Right • from the opening kick-off, the players of both teams showed that they were out to give the ball plenty of air, and in this they were greatly aided by the referee, Mr. ‘H. B. Simmons, Wellington, who turned a blind eye to trifling breaches, and only inflicted four penalty kicks, all against North, in the whole game. The result was that the crowd enjoyed oue of the most sparkling displays of open Rugby seen at headquarters for many a year. It was early seen that the North fifteen had the better combination. Their forwards were getting the ball from the scrums, and Barcbard, the half-back, kept sending out swift and well-directed passes to his brilliant five-eighths, Delamore and Everest, with the result that passing movements several times came within an ace of scoring. It was the southerners, however, who were first to score. A dash by Smith, Herman, and Knight gave Cochrane, the speedy winger, a chance to sprint over for the first try, which O’Callaghan failed |to convert.

A series of hot attacks by the North Island succeeded when Barcbard whipped away from a scrum to score a clever try on the blind side, which Morrison failed to improve from well out. The crowd next had a thrill when Knight checked a northern attack, ami raced upfield to the full-back. He then handed on to O’Callaghan, and the speedy Canterbury five-eighths set sail for the distant line, hotly pursued by Morrison, who clutched the runaway’s legs as O’Callaghan hurled himself over the line for a sensational try, to which he added the extra points, making the score at the interval 8-3 in South’s favour. The North Island fifteen dominated the play in the second spell. The forwards fed Barchard liberally from scrums and rucks, and some bright passing movements were started, only to be met with ' solid tackling. The forwards, too, took a hand at the passing game, and short transfers by Fraser, Elliott, Waldegrave, and Green ended in the last-named scoring in a handy position, for Morrison to even the scores by converting. Keeping up the pressure,' Everest did some elusive swerving to go through for a try near the posts, which Morrison converted. The South Island suffered a serious loss when O’Callaghan had to retire with a head Injury after a hard tackle, hie place being taken by Cook. The going was hard, and it was not long before O’Donnell, one of the North forwards, had to retire with an injury, Stuck filling tho vacancy. The northerners were now so definitely on top that Morrison came up from fullback, and joined in the passing. He crossed the line, too, but did not have bls hands on the ball when he fell on it. Wai. degrave was the next to score for North. Morrison landed bls third goal, and a fast and open game ended with the scores: North Island, 18: South Island, 8. Hutt Overwhelm Marist. In a friendly match between the senior teams of the Hutt and Marist Brothers’ Old Boys' clubs on the Hutt Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoon, In aid' of the funds of the Lower Hutt St. John Ambulance building fund, Hutt unexpectedly outplayed Marist to the tune of 36 points to 23. Tries were scored for Hutt by Grant (2), Bayliss (2), Potter, Arnold, King, Marsden, and Bougen. three of which were converted by Arnold, Haig, and Bougen, and Bligh kicked a penalty goal. For Marist, tries were scored' by Fowler, McKone, O’Donnell, Dudley and Norton, one of which was converted by Barnao, and McKone kicked two penalty goals. Wellington Fourths Win. Some bright football was seen In the curtain-raiser at Athletic Park, when the Wellington fourth grade representatives beat Horowhenua juniors, 18-6. The home forwards showed more dash In the loose, with Bayly and Bralley prominent. The inside backs, Potter and Jones, made some excellent openings, and Armstrong (wing) showed fine pace and skill. Law, Candy and Robinson were a noticeable trio in the visiting forwards, with Jacobs, Hakaraia and G. Sclascia doing good work among the backs. For Wellington, Mexted, Bayly, Bralley and Armtrong scored trits, Jones converting three. Robinson scored for Horowhenua, and Hakaraia kicked a penalty goal. Country (Hutt Valley area) won both the third and fifth grade representative matches, beating Town 6-5 and 13-3 respectively. Future Matches. As railway travelling restrictions are to be lifted as from September 6 next, it will be possible to play the North Island v.' South Island Rugby match at Christchurch on September 16, the Auckland v. Wellington match at Wellington on September 9, and the return Wellington-Auckland match at Auckland on September 23. Tlie management committee of the New Zealand union will decidobthis week whether a full meeting of delegates of afllliatcd unions should be held this year.

LAST-MINUTE AVIN Wellington Beat Manawatu Dominion Special Service. PAT/MERSTON N., August 27. _ Two last-minute penalties from the sideline by Alexander gave Wellington a somewhat fortunate win 11-8 against Manawatu at Palinerston North yesterday afternoon. Conditions could scarcely have been better, and with Wellington enjoying a virtual monopoly of the ball from the set scrums, the backs were not starved for opportunities. However, the Manawtau forwards were largely responsible for the fact that the visitors were unable to turn on many fireworks. Fast breaking through and following up methods forced Wellington's backs to sacrifice accuracy for speed, and it was from their resultant errors that Mauawatu’s attacks usually commenced. On the whole the teams were very evenly matched, and, while a more finished display could have been wished for, Wellington’s backs played as well as they were permitted to and great credit is due to the Manawatu forwards for keeping Wellington’s score down to one crossing. A feature of the game was the splendid exhibitions given by the rival full-backs, Alexander and Malone. Roth bandied the ball well and gained territory with their kicks to the sidelines. Alexander’s conversion of Roberts’s try, which came after a pretty piece of reverse passing, did not present any great difficulty, but his two sideline penalties were something out of the box. ■Manawatu ran Into the lead when Wish-nows-ky sent Bailey over half-way through the first spell for an unconverted try. Wellington led 5-3 at half-time, and the score remained unaltered till half-way through the second spell, when Davidson scored following a loose foot rush and Wishnowsky converted to place Manwatu ahead 8-5. From then on Manawatu had thy game under control, but the last two minutes enabled Wellington to turn the tables and win an interesting game 11-8. For Wellington Jamieson and Roberts played prominently among the backs. The best of the visiting forward.? were Shannon. White (till he went off Injured) and Calcinol. Wishnowsky, Taylor, Davidson Clark and Mercer were outstanding in the Manawatu team. OT AGO BEAT CANTERBURY (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, August 27. Otago scored their third consecutive win of the season when they defeated Canterbury 15 to 8 at Carlsbrook yesterday. Though neither ■side was at full strength, the match wax bright and well contested throughout. For Otago IJ. Murdoch kicked two goals from penalties, T. Kaw.e kicked a field goal and J. Morton scored a try which was converted by Murdoch. For Canterbury the full-back P. Callanan scored all the points, scoring a try which he converted himself and kicking a goal from a penalty. Otago owed their win to their forwards’ greater dash In loose play and the ability of the backs to make full use of their limited opportunities. SEDDON SHIELD MATCH (By Telegraph. —Press Association.! WESTPORT, August 27. In a hard, bright game. played under very favourable conditions the holders stalled off the second challengers of the season for £Uipld Aybea on Sat -

unlay Buller beat Nelson, 25-3. Buller led 6-3 lit half-time, mid piled on the score In the second spell. Nelson's three points .•nine from a free kick by Mcllroy. For Buller the try-getters were O. Smalllioline (2), T. Anderson (2). T. Coyne, W. Neighbours. and D. Neighbours, two tries being converted by Dunn. Mr. .1. Scott (Manawatu), was the referee