SOLDIERS’ RUGBY

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1941, Page 3

SOLDIERS’ RUGBY

N.Z.E.F. in England DEFEATED BY ROSSLYN PARK. Five minutes after the start of the second half of a match with Rosslyn Park, the N.Z.E.F. Rugby team in England were losing by 22 points to io nil. They had been overrun in the first half, and were 17 points down at the interval. A quick try by Rosslyn Park early in the second half made it appear as though a cricket score was likely. But, according lo the London correspondent of “The Post,” the New Zealanders suddenly found their form and went within an ace of pulling the game out of the fire. They lost by two points. The teams were: —

Rossivn Park. —J. E. Stevens; D. J. Randall, C. M. Squire, P. F. Cooper (captain), L. V. Cornish; G. B. Rusfcli J. Lumby; S. A. Evans J’. R. Tyler, A. Higgins, D. E. Hennessey, W. Sanders, D. S. Brown, B. J. A. Lowe. R. Crouch.

New Zealand Expeditionary Force. —R. Simpson (Taranaki); J. RO’Hearn (Waikato), C. P. Campbell (North Auckland), R. E. Patterson (Waikato); M. T. Neighbours (Buller), E. L. Symons (Wellington); Lieut E. W. Tindill (captain) (Wellington, and All Black); B. C. Browning (Auckland), Lieut. R. S. King (Canterbury and New Zealand Rugby League); Lieut. L. S. Thompson (South Canterbury), Sergt. W. T. Cooper (North Auckland and New Zealand Maoris), J. E. McLean (Taranaki and North Island), Lieut. C. S. Pepper (Auckland and All Black), C. R. Graham (CYtago), Sergt. G. Fowler (Taranaki and North Island).

Referee: Capt. L. H. F. Sanderson. The match was watched by the High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. J'ordan. and Mrs. Jordan, Mr. Cecil Wray, who represents the New Zealand Rugby Union on the English Rugby Union, and Lieutenant-Colonel R. S. Park, the New Zealand Military Liaison Officer. New Zealanders from all the Forces were on the touchlines, and if they were worried in the first half they were certainly elated in the second.

R. Simpson (Taranaki) converted four tries, scored by Lieutenant R. SKing (Canterbury), J. R. O'Hearn (Waikato), M. T. Neighbours (Buller), and Lieutenant C. S. Pepper (Auckland). Simpson's place-kicking was an object lesson in sureness and deftness.

The N.Z.E.F. played in black jerseys without the famous silver fern leaf. They were captained by Lieutenant E. W. Tindill, the former All Black; The second All Black to turn out was Lieutenant Pepper. It was the first time that the N.Z.E.F. had fielded a representative side, and it took them a long time to settle down.

Rosslyn Park were without G. Hol-, lis and their usual half-backs, but they went off at a great pace and never allowed their heavier opponents time to think. Crouch and Brown, Rosslyn Park’s young wingforwards, met a new problem in the shape of two five-eighths and on the whole they solved it very well. In the second half, however the New Zealanders found their form. INCIDENTS OF PLAY. The first half must have taken everyone by surprise. Rosslyn Park heeled from every scrummage and the New Zealanders never crossed Rosslyn Park's twenty-five line. Lumby, in his proper position at scrum half, and Russell, had every opportunity to open up the game, and were a tine pair of half-backs. Russell, in particular, made some' grand runs. Rosslyn Park soon went into the lead when Squire dropped a goal, and then a break-through by Russell must have warned the New Zealanders of what was in store for them. After 20 minutes Rosslyn Park deservedly' scored again, Evans going over near the corner. Squire and Crouch then made an opening for Higgins, and Lowe kicked an easy goal. Cornish scored another try after a long run, and this Lowe converted with a line kick from the touch-line.

An urgent conference was held by the All Blacks during the interval, and a number of khaki figures could be seen and heard offering advice. Rosslyn Park’s answer to this was to increase their score by five points within a couple of minutes. Russell

dashed away on his own, and Crouch came up to take the pass and score near the posts for Lowe to kick another goal. A GRANDSTAND FINISH. Nobody realised at the time how valuable those points were going to he. . The New Zealanders, kicking cleverly to touch, gradually settled down into a side, and Tindill began to get some reward for his efforts. Eighteen minutes from the end, King, their best forward, scored their first try and Simpson kicked the first of his four goals. Campbell and O’Hearn I hen ran through from their own twenty-live for the latter to score, and a great run by Neighbours produced the third try when there were still six minutes to go. Pepper got the last try three minutes from the end, after a' remarkable run from half-way. It was a great finish.