SPECTACULAR TRY

Evening Star, Issue 25677, 28 December 1945, Page 3

SPECTACULAR TRY

KIWIS' WIN AT CARDIFF THE PACE A CRACKER KEARNEY’S BRILLIANT FORM (N.Z.E.F. Special Correspondent) CARDIFF, Dec. 26. The Kiwi team beat Cardiff bythree points to nil in a hard and exciting game in which the only score was one of the most spectacular tries the Kiwis have scored during the tour. Twenty-five thousand, all that the ground with its badly damaged stands would hold, watched the match and enthusiastic spectators roared encouragement to their own team and then booed when they watched Cardiff suffer the first defeat of 18 matches. The forwards were evenly matched, and the backs got about an equal share of the ball. Territorially, the Kiwis had the better of the play and were a little unlucky not to win by a greater margin. The hero of the match was the first five-eighth, J. B. Kearney, who retired injured late in the first half and returned at half-time. Before the injury he was playing brilliant football and, although he slowed up in the second half, he remained an excellent link and was invaluable in defence. Although the ground had dried out after the heavy rain, the ball was greas,y and not easy to hold in the second half. The teams were:— Kiwis: Scott, Argus, Smith, Slierratt, Allen, Kearney, Proctor, Bond, Haigh, McPhail, Blake, Johnstone, Woolley, Arnold, and Finlay (captain). Cardiff: St. John Rees, Basil Williams, Bleddyn Williams, Jack Matthews (captain), Glynn Jones, W. B. Cleaver, W. Darch, G. Biackmore, Maldwyn Jones, G. W. Jones. Ray 'Bales, Cliff Davies, W. E. Tampliu, Les Manfield, and H. E. Jones. The Kiwis kicked off and Finlay made a good run and passed’to Johnstone, who thrust deeper with the ball

at his toe. Then Argus took over, punted, and followed through, Cardiff just clearing. From the scrum, the Kiwis went' into a passing rush and held Cardiff in their twenty-five until the Cardiff forwards bustled play beyond the*half-way mark for the first time. Smith kicked through and Argus beat Glynn Jones to the ball and kicked it to Rees, who slipped. Argus hooked the ball from him and dribbled towards the goal line unopposed. When the referee awarded a penalty against him the Cardiff backs went away in a good rush, but Scott collected and passed to Allen, who found the line.

THE WINNING SCORE. Kearney drove the play further back with a penalty kick to the line, and from the line-out came the feature of the day’s play. Proctor whipped the ball out, and it travelled along the line of backs to Argus, who threw it infield to Smith, who jumped over an opponent and sent on to Kearney, the last-named racing over. Scott’s kick was wide. Ten minutes had been played at a terrific pace when the try came, and the pace was continued from the kick-off.

A| Cardiff passing rush was stopped, but the forwards carried on, the ball going out in the corner. Scott relieved the pressure with a good line kick. Play went to the other end. where a penalty relieved the home team. Sherratt made a great run, bumping off two opponents, but he put a foot into touch as-he dived for the corner. From the scrum Allen was collarded and the Cardiff forwards broke away. Cleaver drove play to the halfway line witth a good line kick, and then made a dazzling solo run, beating several men before being brought down. The. Cardiff forwards carried on with a good massing rush. Cleaver and Bleddyn Williams combined in a sensational rush almost to the Kiwi lino and from the scrum the ball was kicked over the line to Scott, who forced. About 10 minutes before half-time Kearnev was hurt when stopping a rush. A moment later he collapsed and had to be removed from the field. Finlay went to half, and Proctor to first * five-eighth. Just before halftime a long Cardiff kick had to be forced down. WARNING FROM REFEREE. The Kiwis attacked from the kickoff. A period of vigorous scrummaging followed and the referee issued a warning. Taking man for man. the Kiwis stopped a fast Cardiff passing rush. The Kiwi forwards drove play back. Cleaver regained ground with a good kick to the line, and then Bond and Arnold gained 30 yards with a great dribbling rush. Tampliii was short

with a long penalty kick and a penalty against Cardiff enabled Scott to find the line at halfway. First the Kiwi, then the Cardiff pack made good loose rushes and another penalty saw Scott send the ball out at halfway. Bursting through a flagrant obstruction, the Kiwi forwards staged a dribbling rush, only to be driven back by a long line kick. Proctor and Sherratt then worked the blind, Rees tackling the big winger. KIWIS PRESS HARD. In another good passing -rush, Rees collared Argus about 10 yards short of the goal-line. Matthews hurriedly tried to kick clear, but the ball went over his own line. Finlay and Haigh dived for the ball and Cardiff were lucky to force. Kearney returned play to the Cardiff quarter, and he and Smith showed up in a good movement from loose play, but a forward

pass spoiled it. Proctor worked the blind side and Argus was forced out in the corner. Finally, a penalty lifted the siege for Cardiff. Play was still, very fast and vigorous. Scott made a good save when the Cardiff forwards made a sudden breakaway, and the Kiwi forwards were

hustled back to halfway. Heavy rucking was followed by a series of scrums in the New Zealanders’ twenty-five ahd Maldwyn Jones missed an easy penalty kick. A minute later. Tamplin missed a long penalty. Good tackling stopped a Cardiff rush and Smith kicked the _ ball through, but slipped as he was diving for Rees, and the full-back cleared. Bond led a smashing forward rush and the ball went along the backs to Argus, who found the line near the corner flag. Bond led another fine rush and. when it was stopped, .the game ended with the score:— Kiwis ... ... ... ... 3 points. . Cardiff Nil KEARNEY’S INJURY. Kearney’s injury, was the result of a bump on the hipbone, and it will be most unfortunate if he has to be rested because the first half proved that to-day’s backline could develop into something of the very highest class.