LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 July 1932, Page 11

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

ENGLISHMEN’S EASY WIN. [per press association.] WHANGAREI, July 27; The opening match of the English Rugby League team’s tour in New Zealand was played on Kensington Park here this afternoon, before- 2500 spectators. The game resulted in an overwhelming win for the visitors by 56 points to 5. For twenty minutes the- much lighter northern team held their own against the visitors, but could not stand up to the wearing away tactics adopted by the tourists, who, in the second spell, revelled in spectacular, open passing, the home side being quite outclassed, and it was not uncommon to see oiie blue man have to come to a team, mate’s assistance before a hefty Englishman was lowered. The Englishmen’s backing up was to perfection. Time after time- the ball passed right along the back chain, and the wingers, Hudson and Woods, made the most of their opportunities. Hudson cracked a rib, and England finished a man short.

Sullivan, whose tremendous linekicking was a feature of'the game, made himself a unit In the attack, and several of the scoring movements had their start in the Ehglisl'i 25. Once the full-back ran from behind his own goal line, and the ball was handled thirteen times before Hudson touched down between the posts at the opposite end of the field. Atkinson, the right centre, 4 initiated many of the most brilliant essays, but the greatest back of all was Davies, the fly-half, who was superb. It was his thrustfulness which straightened out most of the English attacks. The English forwards had a twostone average in the pack, and when their finding off tactics were ex plotted, they left the tacklers lamenting. Hodgson was the leader of the pack, and others to show up were Sitcock and Fender. The, scorers were Hudson (3), Woods (3), Fender (2), Davies, Pollard, Atkinson and Wright. Sullivan kicked a penalty goal and he converted nine tries, several being from the side lines. The northerners did surprisingly well in the scrums, thanks to the hooking of Wells, but they found the white jerseyed backs like a. moving stone wall in defence. Penny ran fearlessly arid White was the best forward. The tackling of both sides was magnificent.

Twenty minutes after the game started, Keith scored for the North and C. Hamilton converted.

Runanga Thirds to play Marist at Dunollie at 1.30 on Sunday:—Clarke, Speakman, Crowe. Hill, James, Watson, Unwin, Aims, Pope, Bowken, Smith, Wylde, Dalziell, Munday, Campbell, Airns, Wylde. EXCURSION TO CHRISTCHURCH. Arrangements are finalised for the Railways excursion from the West Coast to Christchurch, on the occasion of the second League Test, England v. New Zealand, on August 13. Other attractions on the same day are the Ranfurly Shield match, Canterbury v. South Canterbury, and the last, day of the Grand National racing meeting.

Tickets are obtainable from the following:—Reefton: J. McElwee and Committee; Ikamatua and Waiuta: A. Anisy and R. Taylor; Blackball and Ngahere: J. Hunt and D. Faris; Greymouth: G. Scott, R. Williams and R. Harrington; Runanga ana’ Dunollie: J. Masters and L. Hunter. Tickets for

children under 15 may be procured from R. Harrington on application. From Reefton to Stillwater and from Rewanui to Greymouth trains will stop where required, but from Greymouth to Christchurch train stops only at Wallsend, Stillwater, Moana and Otira. The Secretary of the West Coast Rugby League has received definite advice that a further curtain-raiser at 12.15 p.m. to the Test match on August 13 will be played between Mawheraiti third grade team and a Canterbury team.