RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 22419, 17 August 1936, Page 5

RUGBY

IHTERISIiHO HONOURS EASY VICTORY FOR THE NORTH CHRISTCHURCH, August 15. Hard battling between burly packs of forwards marked the opening stages of the North v. South Island match, played on Lancaster Park Oval this afternoon. Men repeatedly burst through into the loose, only to be brought down by deadly tackling, sp that the ball again went into the tight rucks. The teams were :—■ SOUTH ISLAND. Full-back.—G. D. Gilbert (West Coast). Three-quarters.—G. F. Hart (Canterbury), W. Mann (West Coast), W. A. Black (Otago). Five-eighths.—C. C. Gillies (Otago), G. Gaffaney (South Canterbury). Half-bach.—H. Simon (Otago). Forwards.—Back row, -J. G. Rankin (Canterbury) ; middle row —R. Ward (Southland), R. R. King (West Coast), H. Milliken (Canterbury), F. Green (Otago) ; front row —O. Hattersley (Canterbury), G. Ormun (Buller), C. Quaid (Otago). NORTH ISLAND. Full-back.—H. R. Pollock (Wellington). Three-quarters.—J. Dick (Auckland), J. Sullivan (Taranaki), L. H. Edwards (Wellington). Five-eighths.—B. A. Killeen (Auckland), J. L. Griffiths (Wellington). Half-back.—L. Russell (Waikato). Forwards.—Back row, J. M’Neile (Taranaki); middle row—J. Wells (Wellington), S. T. Reid (Hawke’s Bay), F. H. Fraser-Smith (Wellington), T. Lockington (Auckland) ; front row —E. Jackson (Hawke’s Bay), W. Hadley (Auckland), D. S. Dalton (Hawke’s Bay). From three scrums in succession the South hooked cleanly, and Simon sent his backs into swift action only to see them checked by resolute tackling. After this the South were awarded a penalty, and the advantage rested with them, when Gaffaney booted the ball out with an accurate kick two yards inside North’s twenty-five on the grand stand side. At the end of 10 minutes’ play North had to force as the result of a penalty shot by Gilbert going over the line, but the South maintained the pressure in forcing style. When the North hooked the ball. Rankin swooped down on Griffiths (North first fiveeighth) and grassed him hard. A sharp run by Dick carried play past halfway. Then Killeen darted through a slight gap at top speed, and made a wonderful opening by switching the ball' inwards to his forwards. Jackson took the pass and dashed over in great style to complete a thrilling movement. Pollock converted from fairly wide out. North 5 South 0 Hart beat two forwards and tricked Edwards with a feint pass, and was just thrown out at the corner flag by Pollock with a tigerish tackle. From the line-out play swung infield, and North were penalised. From 30yds out Gilbert put over a splendid penalty goal. North ... 5 South 3 Determined runs by Dick, the speedy Auckland winger, were stopped by sound tackling on the part of Black. Hard rucking by Hadley, Reid, and Fraser-Smith carried them through the line-out. The northern backs were showing greater snap on attack than the southern rearguard. They were dangerous every time they got the ball. The fame continued at a rattling pace, outh were penalised in front of their own posts for a scrum infringement, and Pollock goaled easily. Half-time score:— North 8 South 3 FAST WORK. Whipping in more fast attacks, the North made the opening of -the second spell very lively. Close play followed for five or six minutes, and sections of the crowd yelled “ Open it out, open it out.” Hart obeyed and made_ a brilliant run down the embankment side before centring. Gaffaney picked up the ball going at top and was almost clean away when Griffiths took him low. Then came a sensational countermove in which nearly all the North team joined. Edwards came up fast on the wing and threw the ball in as Hart went low. Killeen

took it and linked up with his forwards, Jackson and FraserSmith and Reid handled, and Reid scored about 15yds from the post. Pollock’s kick struck the post. North 11 South ... 3 In subsequent attacks the North showed the same vim, every man taking the ball while at top speed. Sure tackling by Mann and Gaffaney stopped Edwards, Sullivan, and Griffiths when they were breaking away, but Mann was hurt. He had to go off and C. H. M’Phail took his place. After this Pollock flashed into action with a spectacular solo run that took Hart by surprise and left Gilbert standing to score a magnificent try near the corner flag. The crowd l stood up and cheered the full-back. He took the kick at goal and it just missed. North 14 South 3 1 The South forwards, with King, Orman, and Hattersley, were striving desperately, and they burst through ip a great dribbling rush, and took the ball to halfway. Amid excitement, attack after attack was launched. Gaffaney went through, and passed to three forwards—Green, Ward, and King. It looked almost a certain try, but Griffiths came back at great speed to upend Ward just short of the line. The South kept it up, but they did not have the thrust and speed of the Northern men, and this fierce offensive was in vain. A passing bout by Griffiths and Killeen brought the North into attacking range again. Gilbert marked in front of his own posts, but the North came hard again. Sullivan took a low pass cleanly just outside i the twenty-five, side-stepped M’Phail, and went over to touch down as Gilbert dived for his heels. Another brilliant try. North 17 South 3 The South forwards took play to the other end. Simon opened out shrewdly on the blind side for Black to dive over between two opponents. Gilbert’s kick failed. . Final score: North 17 South 6

OTAGO'S PART GILLIES VERY IMPRESSIVE [Special to the ‘ Star.’] Gillies, at second . five-eighth, brought honour to himself and Otago with a sterling display, which was easily the most impressive of the South Island back line. Ho was mo« 6 than a match for Killeen, ami although he did not combine well with Gaffaney (inside him) he made many chances for the three-quar-ters by individual dashes in loose play. Gillies distinguished himself on defence, his tendency to play too far away from Gaffaney on attack being his one weakness. Simon was as plucky at half as ever, bub was not so well served from the set scrums as Russell. He took a fierce drubbing from the heavy North pack without flinching. Russell, the North half, with dozens more chances, showed to no better advantage, except in passing from the scrum. Mann, the South centre three-quar-ter, showed no ability in that position. Hart and Black suffered terribly as a result. Twice in the first few minutes Black made a mistake in not taking his man on defence. But after that he played a grand game, and right on time he scored a wonderful try, smashing his way past Dick and Pollock to dive over near the corner—a fitting reward for solid play. Black’s tackling of Dick, the North flyer, thrilled the crowd. The Otago forwards, Quaid and Green, were in the thick of the fray throughout, Green, with Rankin, was outstanding for the South in the loose, especially in the closing stages. Time after time, with the North Island backs throwing the ball about in bewildering fashion and reverse passing to link up with their forwards again, to Rankin and Green, was left most of the smothering. That the North did not run up a large tally in the last 10 minutes can be attributed to the relentless hunting on attack and defence of these two.

It was Green's best display on Lancaster Park, and one of the best of his career. Quaid lacked the real speed necessary for this match, but was a great leader in the tight rucking, with King and Milliken. _ In considering Simon’s play, great allowance has to be made for the failure of the out-weighed South scrum to get the ball clearly from a fair percentage of the set scrums. JUST ONE POINT SOUTHLAND BEATS MANAWATU 13-12 INVERCARGILL, August 15. Absence of sun and wind, with the turf in good order, provided excellent conditions for the Rugby match to-day between the Manawatu touring side and Southland. The home team was generally regarded as an experimental combination, and there were many changes in Manawatu’s team after the shield match of Wednesday last. Southland enjoyed the early advantages, and both forwards and backs played with plenty of dash. Smith and Sharp, at five-eighths, speeded up the rearguard, and in passing to the forwards frequently sent off good rushes. The Manawatu pack was responsible for splendid packing and much good footwork. Both sides were freely penalised, and Southland led 3-0 when Mattingly put one over. One of Manawatu’s few visits to Southland territory resulted in a fine back movement, and Bramwell scored after an in-pass from Dernier on the wing. From a forward scramble near Manawatu’s line, Dunstan picked up and dived over. Manawatu soon drew level at 6 all, when Fletcher took advantage of Southland’s bad tackling to run through their backs in easy fashion. In .the closing stages of the sped Southland had a monopoly of the ball, and, though Uttley, at centre, showed enterprise, their handling movements broke down repeatedly. , Success came when Sharp potted a goal from a handy position, and at half-time the score was: Southland 10 Manawatu ® The second spell was a drab exhibition throughout, and at no stage did it rise to the level of ordinary representative football. Both sides had a fair share of the ball but the Southland inside backs were deplorably weak on attack and defence. Manawatu’s passing was always superior, and the northerners must have won but for the solid tackling and safe fielding of Hamilton at full-back. Waugh scored for Manawatu after Nicol (replacing Fletcher at five-eighth) had opened up a blind side movement. Dunstan scored another dashing try for Southland after a dribbling rush, and Thurston kicked a penalty for Manawatu. Final: • Southland •••- 13 Manawatu ...' 12

AUCKLAND,ON TOP CLOSE STRUGGLE WITH WELLINGTOH WELLINGTON, 'August 15. The weather was fine, though the sky was overcast, and the ground was dry, but a fairly strong, gusty northerly wind prevailed for the WellmgtonAuckland Rugby fixture. • Winning the toss, Auckland played with the wind at their backs. Wellington opened aggressively, keeping the visitors on defence in the early stages. A good centre kick by Lamason caused Bush to force. Wellington kept up the pressure, doing well in the set scrums. From one of these Tindill took a pot, but could not get the right elevation. The visiting forwards were dangerous in the loose. After one such rush the ball was thrown about nicely among the backs, and D. Solomon scored, Bush failing to convert. The game continued at a fast pace, the bail getting a good airing, but the tackling by both sides was an obstacle to progress. Rain commenced to fall after 24 minutes’ play. A great run was made by Curtayne before passing to Cooney, -who was brought down by Hansen just short of the Wellington goal line. A little later good work by Frankham put F. Solomon over for a try, and Bush converted. Auckland 8 Wellington ... 0 Then Auckland charged down and Brown beat Crisp over the goal line for a try under the posts, which Bush converted. Auckland 13 Wellington , 0 D. Solomon shone in Auckland attacks, which took play to Wellington s twenty-five, where Bush converted a penalty in front, putting Auckland 16 points up. Wellington attacks near the end of the spell ended with Hansen winning in a race to the ball, Lamason missing an easy conversion. The score at the end of the spell was:— Auckland 16 Wellington 3 The visitors scrumming had not given the referee complete satisfaction, and had resulted in a number of penalties against them. From one early in the second spell Fleming tried to improve Wellington’s position, but failed. However, when Wellington was awarded another penalty Lamason kicked a fine goal. After a neat piece of work by Byerley, with which he evaded Wareham and Crisp, he sent the ball on to Anderson, and the big forward, showing cleverness, scored for Bush to convert. Auckland 21-6. The Wellington forwards had shown more dash this spell, but co-ordination between them and the backs was not sound. The Auckland forwards bunched well, and their defence was good. A fast break by Tindill took play to Auckland’s twenty-five, where the visitors were penalised, but Lamason was unable to goal. Just afterwards. from a scrum, however, Tindill potted a goal. Auckland 21-10. Wellington, in the ascendant, worked to the line, where Baldwin went on the blind side to score in' the corner. Lamason failed with the kick. Auckland 21-13. Frankham failed to pick up, and in exciting play Hansen sped across wide out. Lamason converted. .Auckland 21-18, Final:— Auckland 21 Wellington 18

SOUTH CANTERBURY VICTORY TOO GOOD FOR NORTH OTAGO TIMARU, August 15. Under admirable weather conditions the North Otago and South Canterbury Rugby teams met at Fraser Park this afternoon in the presence of a large gathering of enthusiasts. The home team in the senior match was not up to full strength, but was fairly representative. The junior game resulted; South Canterbury 13, North Otago 8. South Canterbury kicked off against the sun, and even play was seen in the early stages. The first score came to the home team, but the attempt at goal failed. The home side were outhooked in two scrums. When a back movement collapsed Gaffaney fielded the hall and raced across and flashed through almost to the line, but the kick went wide. South Canterbury 6 North Otago 0 The next score came when Cartwright’s kick hit the post. North Otago opened its score with a good kick. The South Canterbury forwards came fast through the rucks, but met with solid opposition, and the next score came to the home team when Lundy kicked a fine goal. Half-time scores;— South Canterbury ... ... 14 North Otago ... a. 8 In the second spell the South Canterbury backs outclassed their opponents, especially the inside men, whose thrusting and backing up produced most of the openings for scores. Wright, half-back, was outstanding, and the same applied to Lundy. Five tries were scored in the second spell, the scorers being Ryan, Wright. Lundy, and Adkins. Lundy converted two and King converted one. besides kicking a penalty goal.— Final;— / South Canterbury 35 * North Otago ... ... ... 3 HAWKE'S BAY AGAIN BEATEN POVERTY BAY WINS BY 12 POINTS [Per United Press Association.] GISBORNE, August 15. In a high-class exhibition of Rugby Poverty Bay defeated Hawke’s Bay by 25 points to. 13. Poverty Bay showed more initiative than the visitors, and the bustling tactics of the local forwards prevented the Hawke’s Bay backs getting away, with the result that only on rare occasions was bade play witnessed. The game was exceptionally fast and at times very thrilling. Poverty Bay was on top all the time, but towards the end Hawke’s Bay livened up considerably. The halftime score was 6 to 3 in favour of the local team. For Poverty Bay Scholium, Rogers, Mathieson, Webb, M'Aneny, M'Kinlay, and Harris scored tries, two of which were converted by Julian and Morrison. Herbert, Bradley, and Wilson scored for Hawke’s Bay, Bradley converting two.

NELSON SEATS DULLER [Per United Pbess Association.] NELSON, August 15. Nelson beat Buller by 12 points (four tries) to 9 (three tries) in a hardfought game, which produced spectacular Rugby. Stewart, Hickory, and Hill scored for the visitors in the first spell from bright, combined movements. M’Lean and Drummond scored tries for Nelson in the first spell, and Caoke and Wood finished off back movements for tries in the second. There was bright open play throughout, the game being the best seen here for several years. WIN FOR WELLINGTON [Per United Press Association.] LEVIN, August 15. j In a fast-scoring game at the Levin Domain' the Wellington B representative defeated Horowhenua by 26 points to 16. The combination of the visitors’ backs was superior to that of Horowhenua, whose tackling was not effective, enabling the former to break through repeatedly. The Horowhenua forwards were the heavier, and played a hard game. The Wellington backs did not let up, and were quick to seize opportunities. Tries were scored for the winners by Nees (2), M‘Lean, Edwards, Burns, Bowling, and Kirchberg. Trapp kicked a penalty goal, and converted a try. For Horowhenua tries were scored by J. Anderson, C. Anderson, and George. J. Anderson converted a try and George and J. Anderson kicked penalty goals. I HIGH SCHOOLS’ MATCH OTAGO DEFEATS CODE Secondary school Rugby is notable for its bright back exchanges, and the annual game between the second fifteen of Otago Boys’ High School and the first fifteen of Gore High School on Saturday afternoon at Tahuna Park was certainly no exception. The local team won the match 17-6> and thoroughly deserved its win, which was due to the zest of the forwards and the superior combination and thrust of the backs. The teams: — Otago Boys’ High School. —Paterson, Bathgate, Johnston, Bond, Cotton, Edwards, Watts, Gapper, M'Gregor, Highet, Rutherford, Francis, Bezett, Murray, M'Garrigee. Gore High School.—Liddell, Grant, Irvine, Smith, M'Matli, Reynolds, Currie, M'Mullan, Miller, Grant, Glasson, Turnbull, Macarthur, Wylie, Oakden. The visiting pack was decidedly overshadowed by Otago’s forwards in the first spell, and consequently the backs did not have the opportunity to indulge in many incursions. In contrast, the winner’s backs indulged in several combined attacks, three of which were successful, the two; wingers (Bathgate and Bond) registering tries after good runs. Bathgate particularly impressed as a very promising back, his determined bids for the line being quite a feature of the game. He_ scored the first try after a spirited dash, and Bond increased the lead with an excellent try shortly after. Another score by Bathgate after a pacy dash, gave Otago a nine-point lead at half-time, all three tries being unconverted. The Gore team rallied well in the second spell, but Otago’s ascendency was too marked, the visitors being

vanquished in both the forwards and the backs. One of the best tries of the game was registered for the local side by Highet as the reward of fast following up, M'Garrigee converting. Facing a 14 points’ deficit Gore attacked strongly for a period, and, following persistent efforts to pierce the defence* by the backs, M’Math, who played a useful game at second fiveeighth, dashed across. _ Irvine notched a penalty for the visitors, but Bond cemented Otago’s win with another unconverted try, the match ending:— Otago Boys’ High 17 Gore High School 6 Mr F. Henderson was referee. SECONDARY SCHOOLS' GAME [Per United Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, August 16. Te Ante College defeated New Plymouth Boys’ High School in the annual match by 3 points to nil. Rain fell throughout the match, the ground being a quagmire. NORTH AUCKLAND TEAM SOUTH ISLAND TOUR [Per United Press Association.] WHANGAREI, August 15. The following is the North Auckland team to tour the South Island and to play for the Ranfurly Shield : —• Forwards.—D. Neil, H. Whin, M. Orresey, R. Flavell, R. Webber, C. Bradley, E. Pairama, C. White, B. Word ley, L. Snelling, R. M'Orockcn. Backs. —M. Panepa, V. Hackett, A, Burkhardt, E. Wilson. A. Johns, U. Wintle, R. White, V. Franicb, V. Edge, G. Osbaldiston. Tkp tour, which will occupy three

weeks, will constitute the longest tour ever undertaken by a New Zealand provincial Rugby team. Matches will be played against Thames Valley, Auckland, Ashburton, Canterbury,' South Canterbury, and Otago. THIRD GRADE A. Pirates A 18, Zingari B 3. Southern 8, Alhambra 3. FIFTH GRADE. Alhambra 50. High School C 3. Dunedin 9, High School B 5. IN OTHER CENTRES AUCKLAND. Auckland B 17, South Auckland 14. Training College 19, North Shore 8. College Rifles 14, Technical 8. Otahuhu 30, Grammar 9. University 19, Grafton 17. Manukau 16, Marist 6. CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch 6, Sunnyside 6. Albion 20, Old Boys 9. CYCLING DUNEDIN CLUB The Dunedin Amateur Cycling Club’s races were held on Saturday afternoon. The 32-mile race (Green Island to Henly and return) resulted; —A Kellv 1, M. Paterson 2, W. Chalmers 3, K. Bullock 4. Fastest —M. Paterson, llir 23min 40sec; A. Kelly, Ihr 25min 2sec. The 16-mile event (Green Island to Brighton and return) resulted:—E. Boyd 1, A. Shand 2, A. Woodford 3. Fastest Times:—R. Sivertsen, 36min 45sec; E. Boyd, 41miu losec.