INTER-ISLAND RUGBY

Grey River Argus, 1 October 1934, Page 2

INTER-ISLAND RUGBY

SOUTH WIN WELL Forwards Too Good (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, September 29. After leading by 18 points to 3 at half-time, the South Island to-day beat the North by 27 to 20. The game, which was played on a dry ground in the presence of fifteen thousand people, was one of the fastest and finest displays of bright open football seen in Dunedin for years. The South owed th er victory to a splendid pack of forwards. After dominating the game in the first spell, they eased off in the second, and the score mounted rapidly till half-way through the second half, the North Island were leading by 20 to 18. Tn the last twenty minutes, however, the Southern pack reasserted their mastery, and, driving the North back in a series of brilliant rushes, they paved the way for two brilliant tries by Hart, which placed the issue beyond doubt.

A fairly strong breeze was blowing right down Carisbrook, and, playing with this behind them in the first spell, the South Island learn ran all over the North, leading by 13 points to nil after twenty minutes’ play. Two tries were scored by Mitchell, and were converted by Nolan, and on the opposite wing Hart crossed after a thirty yards’ run to score an unconverted try, and South’s next try came when Oliver crossed after a good cut through by Gaffeney. Nolan converted. In the last ten minutes of the spell, the North team, which never previously looked dangerous, opened their score, when Reid crossed for an unconverted

With the wind behind them in the second half, the North quickly ran up a score, Bush potting a goal, and Clarke, McKenzie and Stringfellow adding tries, one of which was converted by Clarke and another by Davies. It looked as if the North were going to romp home, but the Southern forwards, playing a wonderful game, dominated the last twenty minutes of the spell. Nolan gave the South the lead once more by kicking a penalty goal from well out. Twice within about ten minutes Hart raced down the touch line, going over at the corner on each occasion for an unconverted try. Although the two packs were evenly matched for weight, the South Island forwards packed a better scrum, and in the first half, the North were consistently beaten for the. ball. After running up a lead of 18 points, they eased off, and in the second spell fast breaking by the North Island held them in check, securing more of the ball from the set scrums, and linking up well in loose rushes, which found gaps in the South defence. Towards the end of the game, which was played at a tremendous pace, the North Is land began to fail under the solid scrummaging tactics of the whites, and it was a well-beaten Northern pack which left the field.

The game was a striking illustration of the value of possession, and of forwards who would work in the tight. Of the South pack, Hore, Adkins, Best and King were always prominent. Leeson, who was a tireless worker, Clarke, Reid and McKenzie were outstanding iu the North forwards. Rolls at the back of the scrum was a passenger. Simon overshadowed Nunn, and particularly in. the first spell, play ed a wonderful game. Oliver was brilliant at centre, and Gaffeney also played a tine game. When he was hurt. Smith came on as centre, Oliver going up to second-five-eighths, but Smith was a poor substitute. Hart was the only impressive wing, his two last tries being brilliant efforts. Nolan was easily the better full-back. Griffiths and Stringfellow were the best of an uninspiring Northern back ‘line. MARLBOROUGH v. NELSON. BLENHEIM, September 29. Marlborough concluded a successful rep. Rugby season by defeating Nelson by 34 to 1G in a return home-and home match played in warm, fine weather. The visitors were below normal strength. Marlborough excelled in ail departments, and had an easy victory, scoring a string of tries by means of fast, open play by the backs and forwards. Patchett, the Marlborough winger, scored four tries.

Season Concluded CELTIC WIN HANNAM CUP. The West Coast Rugby Union’s 1934 season was brought to a conclusion on Saturday, when (two junior grade games were pliayed at Rugby Park Little public interest was shown i n the final games, despite the fact that one was a junior final, and there was only a small at/tendance at Rugby Park. The Hannam Cup final between Celtic and Cobden A juniors proved an excellent game, both teams throwing the ball about in manner seldom seen in senior games. The pace was on from i.ke kick-off, and there was no let up until the final whistle, which found Celtic winners by nine points to three. Celtic showed ai) all-round superiority, their forwards rucking ha?-.’, and giving their backs every cr port unity. whicUr was fully utilised. Cobden A showed weak tacking at times, and this, as much as anything cost them [he game. For the winners Forman, lames, Knowles and Hallinan were always in the picture, while Eggleton. Li nd horn, Barlow and Jackson worked well for C’obden. The teams were:— Celtic: P. Duffy, Heaphy, McGinley, Duffy Forman, James, Clancy Vaugh i-.n, Fogarty. McDonnell, O’Connor. Honey (2), Knowles and Hallinan. Cobden A: Minch in, Lind bun, Tennent, C’orhin, Shaw, Eggleton. Masters, Barlow, Anderson, Spencer, Robinson, Moss, Hawkins, Blair and Jackson. Cobden won the toss and Celtic were the first to gain territory, forcing Minchin to concede a drop-out. By catching

Minchin in possession Forman pul Celtic into a great attacking position, but Tennenit, although carrying ball over his own line, brought off a clever save. Cobden made a sudden sortie, right to the Celtic line, Jackson being almost over when he was penalised Celtic were doing most of, the attacking, and were rewarded wtien the ball was sent out t:o Heaphy, who, put in a determined 25 yards run, dodged the full-back and -scored under the posts. McGinley failed to convent, the ball hitting the upright. Almost immediately after a great piece of back play, in which Forman, McGinley, Hallinan, and Forman again, handled, the last named went over under 'the posts. McGinley again missed the easiest of kicks. —Celtic (>: Cobden A nil. Celtic again did most of the attacking, although Shaw lost :l certain try for Coibden by holding On too long. Half-time sounded with the scores unaltered.

Cobden were the first to attack in the second spell, and their backs were well away, but Corbin failed to (take his pass. Both teams made many mistakes at this stage, biff quickly retrieved them. Forman was lucky to get acros sthe field to push- Minchin out in the corner. The Cobden forwards, led by Blair, Moss and Jackson pressed, and from a scramble on the Celtic line Masters got over. Minchin’s kick was unsuccessful. —Celtic 3; Cobtic 6. Cobden were penalised, almost in the centre of the field. McGinley’s kick, an extremely long one, went right between the posts, giving Celtic a further three points* lead. Celtic kept at i't, and Forman put in a brilliant 50 yard rUn, but failed to pass out, w'Mth a clear field in front of his supports, and a penaltv relieved Cobden. C’obden came back, and Hawkins was almost over, but he, too, heTd on too long. Some hard rucking took place on the Celtic line, but they defended well, and made one excursion into Cobden territory, only to be sent hack with a penalty. Tn the closing stages Cobden rallied, but could . not score, and the game ended, Celtic. 9; Cobden A 3. Mr W. McLaughlin was referee. PIRATES v. BLAKETOWN. The curtain-raiser was provided 1 Pirates (Westport) and Blakeftown juniors, but the standard of play was far below tha/t of the other game The visitors won by eight points, 11 to 3, but their advantage was nn’t nearly so great as the scores would indicate, thev p'rofitting by Blaketown’s mistakes. The scorers for the winners wore Hill. Scott and Hayward, while Hill converted one. McLaughlin scored Blaketown’s ■only try. The senior game, Sitar v. Blaketown did not eventuate. HOTEL COMPETITION. The Golden Eagle team, which is challenging the Royal Hotel team lot the Hop or Tira Cup next Sunday at. Cobden, is as follows:— Full-back, T. Currie; three-quar-ters. IT. Steel, I*. Smith, IT. Minc.hin: five-eighths. A. Mundy. Gi. Nelson; half-back. R, Kiely; forwards, J. Flannery. T. Rassmussen. E. Price. W. Reynolds, J. Rodgers, A. IL Chunn, C. Parker, C. McLaughlin, R. Mills. Emergencies: W. Arnold and M. Southam. BRITISH MATCHES. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, September 29. To-day’s Rugby Union ninteiies resulted as follows: — Blaekheath 27 Birkenhead Park 12. London Scottish 12 Ohl Merchant Taylors 4. Old Elysians 5 Manchester 111. St. Bart’s Hospital 9 Old Bines 11. Bedford 11 Richmond 8. Bath 0 Harlequins 6. Bristol 7 Gloucester 111. Cardiff 12 Pontypool 0. Coventry 22 Guys Hospital 0. Crosskeys 9 Swansea 14. Headingley 1.1 Hartlepool Rovers 4. Leicester 29 Waterloo 5. Llanelly fi Newport 1(1. Northampton 5 Old Millhillians 5. Neath 26 Aberavon 11. Plymouth Albion 3 Camborne 3. Redruth 11 Devonport Services 3. Portsmouth Services 3 Rosslyn Park 3. Glasgow Aeas 21 West of Scotland 5. Heriotonians 9 Jed Forest 3. Wasps 20 Streatham 0.