SPECTACULAR PLAY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 125, 29 May 1930, Page 6

SPECTACULAR PLAY

BRITISH RUGBY TEAM FORWARDS IMPROVING BACKS BRILLIANT tVo giijries, as well as practices, have worked wonders with the British Rugby football team, and at Palmerston North yesterday afternoon the visitors appeared to much better advantage than in their games at Wanganui and New Plymouth. Enough had been seen of the backs to form the opinion that they were a capable, fast-moving set, but in what the forward* had shown there was room for a great deal of improvement. The forwards against Manawhenua yesterday indicated that- they wero! finding their feet, and their greatly-improved performance was one of the features of a game in which the play left little to be desired by those who crave for the spectacular. The backs were better than ever, and, with the forwards a much stronger force, Manawhenua were set a more difficult task than either Wauganui or Taranaki. Excellent team work, solid scrummaging, ■ cohesion between forwards and' backs, crisp and accurate passing by fast and nippy backs, and good kicking all went to show that the visitors are developing into a firstclass ' combination. At the same time, Manawhenua, to use the expression o£ one of the leading lights in New Zealand .Rugby to-day, left the top rail off. Up to a point Manawhenua kept the visitors busy, but the latter were ever ready to make use of openings, and the quickness with which it was done very often left the provincial players standing. It is more evident than ever that the British team is out to play spectacular football, and. they gave great measure of it to a crowd of about 12,000 people at the Show Ground yesterday afternoon. In view of: comment which has been made about International Board rules and customs, it was interesting to note yesterday that the use of spare balls, was permitted. There was a spare ball on each touehjine throughout the game, so that the visitors have evidently agreed to wipe out the restriction > about the use of one ball. With regard to teams leaving the field at half-time^ the experience yesterday was that at the end of the first spell the Manawhenua captain asked permission of the referee for his team to leave the field, and this was granted. The British team remained on the field during the interval. Other teams meeting the visitors will no doubt adopt the same course as Manawhenua. CAPTAIN'S DEBUT. Four members of the touring party had their first game of the tour yesterday— P. D. Prentice (captain), T. E. Jones-' Davies, M. J. Duifne, and H. C. Jones. One of the results of Prentice's appearance was to bring to light another fine place-kick. Prentice started the team's big account with a penalty goal, and added another later as well as converting five of- the Bis.'tries.' He had eight placekicks at goal and was successful with seven, contributing 16 points to the total of 34. Prentice was also a good leader in the pace, generally breaking away quickly from the back row of the scrummage, but was not quite such an effective winging-forward as Wilkinson. The scrummage, with1 Martindale as hooker, operated much better than in the previous games, and the application of weight enabled the visitors to get a plentiful supply of the ball, of which the backs made full use. For a time Manawhenua hookers fared well, but as the British pack settled down possession of the ball was more often with the visitors. In the middle row the two Irish forwards, Farrell and Dunne, were toilers. It was not only in scrummaging and loose play that the British forwards showed up. While the backs were in operation the forwards were always on the gui viv'e in the centre waiting for the ball to bo sent infield so that they, might carry on when the way of the backs ; was barred on the flanks. There was no better all-round forward on the ground than Hodgson. A fair share of the^ball was gained from the line-out, but in this department the visitors will still need to improve to a considerable extent. FINE COMBINATION. For rearguard action the team was well served by Poole at the base of the-scrum. There were times when he could not gather up the ball, but on those occasions he generally managed to pat it back to the player behind him. The back line combined excellently, handling well and making their passes more crisp than in previous games. The passes, too, were taken in fine style and not infrequently with the backs moving at full speed. Bowcott was a fine out-half, but one of the moves employed by the visitors brings .in extra man into the line between the half and'■; the out-half. This extra man is •generally one of the wing-three-quarters, according to the side on which the play is taking place. Jones-Davies, a nippy back, playing first as a centre and then on the wing, made a good link between Poole and Bowcott when the ' occasion arose. . One o£ the outstanding backs yesterday, as previously > was Aarvold, a dashing centre. Npvis also had a turn at centre, and he, too, played well there as oh the" wing. Reeve, the left wingthreequarter, is solid and fast,, and ;was very dangerous when under way yesterday. Although his right place is the three-quarter line, Jennings again filled the full-back role capably. The line-umpires. were Ivor Jones and Mr. Tom Parata. The latter, whose son played as half-back for Manawhenua yesterday, was a Horowhenua representative against the Anglo-Welsh team of 1908. THE TEAMS. The teams were:—-British.—Full-back, R. Jennings; threequarters. J. S. R. Reeve, T. E. JonesDavies, C. D.. Aarvold;. A. L. Novis; outhalf, 11. M. Bowcott; scrum IValf, H. N. Poole; forwards, Dai Parker, S. A. Martindale, H. C. Jones, J. L. Farrell, M. J. Dunne, H. Wilkinson,, J. Mi). Hodgson, F. I). Prentice (captain), ' Mauawhenua.—Full-back, Mefca Johnson; three-quarters, M. Strange, E. Fletcher, R. Page; five-eighths, G. Riddell, R. Akura; half-back, W. Parata; wing-for-ward, T. Parata; forwards, W. Tatana, A. Satherley, O. G-alpin (captain), T. Miles, A. Conrad, Henry, Fitzgerald. Prior to the teams_ taking the field, the refer.ee tossed the coin and Prentice called correctly. The large crowd gave each a fine reception, and after cheers had been given by both sides, the visitors decided to play from-the southern end of the field, having what advantage there was of a strong south-westerly wind. The weather was fine and the ground splendid, considering the amount of rain which had fallen previously. THE RUN OF PLAY. From the kick-off Manawhenua adopted hustling tactics, Novis holding them up with a mark; which, however, gave no gain, as a man was in front when the ball was kicked. Then in the ensuing scrummage Dunne gave the home team a penalty kick through being off-side. Poolo set the visitors moving to the attack, and his work was supported by Prentice, who joined in the movement and led his men with the ball at toe to the opposing twenty-five. There was solid' play by the forwards; but the scrummaging was not satisfactory. A little advice by the referee seemed to make matters better, and each side in turn' gained possession, the British players doing more with the ball than the Manawhenua team. Occasionally a passing bout was started, but effective smothering and tackling prevented the advances from becoming dangerous. The Manawhenua players were doing well in breaking in on the British rearguard. As a further means to reaching their objective, the Britishers indulged in kicking and following up, but the defence was good, Fletcher in particular making some good saves. Some neat work by W. Parata on the blind side also served to drive the visitors back, but they quickly returned in a loose rush, with Wilkinson at the head. This brought play perilously .near to the Manawhenua line. From a scrum Poole served Bowcott and Novis on the blind side, but their way was barred, and then the forwards ia a hard struggle' went over en massi;. A force-dpwa resulted, and tlie same thing

' happened a little later when Parker and Wilkinson led n strong rush. The prorvincial side continued to beat oft" the attacks and not infrequently bustled the visitors. Ofi'-sidc play by X. Parata,. howover, was costly, a penalty kick enabling Prentice to register his first points of the tour and to open his team's account for the match. Great Britain ~.. 3 Manawhenua 0 The British back line operated splendid ly in ensuing play. The ball travelled from Poole through Jones-Davies and Aarvold to Reeve, who clapped on the pace in a fine sprint. Just as the last named was downed ho passed infield to Jones-Davies, who completed a spectacu lar movement with a try near the corner Prentice's kick, after a no-charge, was unsuccessful. Great Britain 0 Manawhenua • 0 This stirred the local tcava to more vigorous action, and in fast, loose play they had the visitors on the run. In the visitors' twenty-five there was a scrummage, following which Bowe tt made a fine clearance. Manawheniia's players had warmed up to their task, and it was not long before W. Parata sent his backs' away, Akuira and Riddell acting as good links before Fletcher made a hole in the defence. The gap was closed and Reeve was soon given another chance to show his speed. Nothing resulted from this, nor from solo efforts by Conrad and ■Fletcher. An attempt by Akuira to goal from a penalty kick was also unsuccessful, while a dashing bout by Farrell, Poole, Bowcott, Jones-Davies, and Aarvold, in which the last-named made a great run, was checked only in the danger zone. As Manawhenua came away again with Fitzgerald in the van, Jones-Davies took a mark. He endeavoured to spring a surprise by making a short kick with the ! knee. The referee, however, would not i pass this and ordered a scrummage, in which the visitors were penalised. Hodg- j son subsequently placed his side in a likely position with a fine kick to touch. A clearance by Akuira was only temporary, as Poole soon had hia backs in action, this time in a manner which beat the opposition. Jones-Davies and Aarvold played their part well, as did Novis. A reverse pass to Aarvold enabled this player to .complete the bout and he ran round and touched-down behind the posts, Prentice converting. Great Britain 11 Manawhenua 0 A rally by Manawhenua was short-lived, and in the play which followed there were further flashes from the visiting backs as well as some solid pushing by the forwards. The defence, however, held good, and an occasional counter-attack was launched by Manawhenua.' One of Bow cott's dashes, necessitated a short punt in order to clear the ■ local full-back, but .Johnson was on the alert and took a mark. The spell' ended soon aftei'wards, Manawhenua having done. well to keep the score down to eleven "points. By per mission :of the referee,. the Manawhenua. players retired from the field at .half-time,-' the visitors remaining on "the ground. • / Great Britain 11 Manawhenua , ■._ 0 GOING GREAT GUNS. .Form in the first spell suggested that the British team might find Manawhenua' tougher after the change-over, but', whilf the latter never let up, the visitors improved and made no race of it. The British forwards were going better than in the previous games, and they indulged in some stinging rushes and frequently supported the backs in passing bouts. On one occasion early in the spell Fletcher showed up well on attack , for Manawhenua. Page was hurt in stemming a rush by the visitors, but was able to carry on after a brief spell. ' Time after time the visitors were under way in open formation and sometimes did some nippy work on the blind side. The local team, however, held out tenaciously, until Aarvold cut a big hole in the defence by "dummying" a couple of men. He then passed to Wilkinson, who transferred to Poole. Aarvold came into the movement again and paved the way for a try by Farrell. From in' front of the posts Prentice converted. Great Britain 16 - Manawhenua 0 No sooner had the play, been resumed that the visiting, backs were off again in an attractive boiit, • started this time by the. left-wing, and-going through the! line until a forward pass .caused a stoppage. Johnson- was hurt in stopping, this rush, but he kept going, and with others had a hard time'of it trying to keep the fast: ' moving visitors in cheek. Jones-Davies was riot playing on the right wing, having chfanged places with Novis, but he generally moved over to a place behind the halfback and made an extra man in the line when the passing bouts went to the open field. There were plenty of these bouts as well as loose rushes by the forwards. In one of the latter Manawhenua were penalised, and Prentice had no: difficulty in landing another penalty goal. .Great Britain ' 19 Mauawhenua' 0 . LOCAL TEAM SCORES. Matters were looking bad for the local team, and the prospects of tall scoring by the visitors became even brighter when Poole, Jones-Davies, Bowcott, Aarvold, Novis, and Reeve again swung into action. A missed pass at the end of the line, however, accounted for a change in" the proceedings which was relished by the local' supporters. Johnson snapped up the ball and dashed up-field. At the right time he made a. kick to the centre, and Conrad carried on, with the support of other forwards, the ball being kicked over the British line where T. Parata finished up with a t,ry. Akuira converted. Great Britain 19 Manawhenua 5 VISITORS BRILLIANT. At this Manawhenua' played with new life, and the play for a time was fairly even, with the forwards doing most of the work. After a well-judged ; kick by Akuira, the British pack had' to battle' hard near its own line,-but-the advantage by Manawhenua, was lost when T. Parata was penalised", c Riddell, however, kept his side up, and ManaWhenua were doing well until j some clever. manoeuvring by the visitors resulted in more sparkling play by the British backs. The ball travelled along'the line to the right wing and was^theu sent infield by Jones-Davies to Wilkinson. Before this forward was collared he got a pass away to Novis, who topped off a bout which had Manawhenua completely beaten. Novis's- try under the posts was. converted by Prentice. Great Britain '2i Manawhenua 5 There was no lotting-up, and Poole and Jennings were called upon to make clearances, which they did successfully. The.. British forwards were now scrummaging well, and giving plenty of ball to the backs, who set off on another likely mission; This time more than . half the team took part in the rush, Jennings coming up to form the final link in the back line and then sending a kick to the centre, where the forwards quickly got busy. Hodgson, a fine forward, finished off with a try under the posts, Prentice again converting. 29-5. Another rush was started immediately by Parker, and when the ball .was taken up by the backs. Novis left the opposition standing and scored under the posts. Prentice goaled. Great Britain .34 Manawhenua 5 MANAWHENUA AGAIN. The concluding stages were keenly contested, Manawhenua appearing in several j bursts; in fact, the provincial side finished on well. The result of a series of determined rushes was that efforts to get across . were finally capped by Fletcher. He failed to convert the try. 34-8. In the remaining play Manawhenua adopted more hustling tactics. There was no further score, and the game ended:— '' Great Britain .■... M ! Manawhenua 8 f Mr. J. King, of Taranaki, was the referee. *