NORTH ISLAND WIN

Grey River Argus, 27 July 1925, Page 6

NORTH ISLAND WIN

BY FAIR MARGIN A Match in Mud and Rain. SOUTH ON TOP FIRST HALF. Per Press AssociationINVERCARGILL, July 26. Despite atrocious weather conditions, there was a large crowd to see the North versus South Rugby match at Rugby Park yesterday. The ground had been saturated and it soon became very muddy. There was a driving rain practically throughout the game. Good play was out of question, but the backs generally handled the ball magnificently. Tn the first, spell, the South Island assumed the agressive, and then held th P upper hand practically o»» to half time. The South Island forwards set up a series of dashing rushes, but Nepia, who at all times was brilliant, generally managed to clear. Steel was safe and he put in good touchline runs. Heed also played a dashing game. T n the second spell, however, the North Island backs asserted their superiority. and they threw the greasy ball about, at random. Cooke was ever on the alert, and be made brilliant openings. Mill excellecT in fho art of getting the ball away from both the lineouts and the scrums.

Nepia retired injured in this spell, Cooke going full back. There was

no replacement as had been agreed

Porter Irvine and M. Brownlie shone in the North Island forward rushes. The blacks played a heady game. For South Island, Dailey was great on defensive work, and he revelled in the muddy conditions. 'Richardson. Masters, Burt and Gerrard were prominent forwards alv. lys. During the first, spell, the South Island were awarded half a dozen penalties, some in front, but all the kicks missed, Steel and Reed being thp kickers.

Nepia also attempted place kicks for the North, but he failed, the wet ball being uneasy to propel accurate-

The first scores came within two minute., of the conclusion of the first spell. South Island scored first. From a line out on the North Island goal line, Richardson and Masters fell to* gether amidst a heap of the North for wards. Masters was underneath, and was awarded a try, which Richardson converted, making th e South Island 5 to nil.

Immediately following the kick off, there was a sensational rush bv the North Island forwards, which culminated in Cooke scoring under tho posts, Mid Nepia converting, making the scores five all Half time then sounded. In the second half, the North Island team went at it from the jump, and for a period they rattled the South line. Walters and Irvine finally finished off a dribbling rush by Walters scoring .at the corner. Nepia converted the try. North Island 10: South Island 5. Shortly after this, Falwasser, the North Island wing, fielded smart'v and sent a pass to Blake, who ran over to score unopposed. Th e kick at goal failed. North 13: South !>. South Island then put in a temporary rush to the North Island goai, the North being forced twice in a. tew minutes. The ball was then taken back to the South line, where Langlands secured, and he dashed over between the “posts. Porter missed the kick at goal. The final scores were: — North Island 16; South Island 5.