RUGBY LEAGUE AUSTRALIANS WIN AT WANGANUI

Grey River Argus, 27 September 1949, Page 6

RUGBY LEAGUE AUSTRALIANS WIN AT WANGANUI

Southern Provinces’ Reps Play Well P.A. WANGANUI, Sept. 26 The touring Australian Rugby League team defeated Combined Southern Provinces Team at Wanganui to-day by 17 points to 15. It was a game in which the visitors showed superior combination in the inside backs, and a better understanding in the forwards than did the losers. But the Southern team greatly improved its tackling in the second spell, and was able to keep the score down. Had the Southern team passessed the same thrust in their inside backs as did the visitors, they would have been hard to beat. Mulligan, Hansen and De Belin played very strenuously in the Australian forwards. In the Southern pack, Kreyl, Morgan, and English played well. The Australians fielded a grand full-back in Bulgin, who was always ready to launch attacks, even when in defensive positions. He displayed a neat side-step and plenty of pace. The Southern full-back, Sillwell, also played a sound game. Thompson and Stanmore were a better pair of inside backs than were fielded by the Southerners, but on the defence, Sutton, Dodd and Evans were sound, particularly in the second spell. The same thing could be said for the Southern team in the centre position, Chatham tackling well.

The whole of the Southern side of backs improved their tackling greatly after half-time. As a result, the two Australian wings, Roberts and Graves did not get many chances. Roberts got better opportunities than did Graves.

Haysorm, the Southern winger was fast, and had he been fed more reliably, he would have been a hard man’to keep out. The same thing,applied to Patata on the other wing. Twice a foot put into touch held him back from what looked like a score. THE PLAY After 15 minutes’ play, the Australian full-back, Bulgin, fielded the ball at half-way, and, after sidestepping nicely ran and let Graves away to score. Graves beat two defenders. Dodd, English and-Haysorm handled for the Southern team, Haysorm being pushed out near the corner flag. From the resulting scrummage, Kreyl got possession to score. Stillwell converted and the home team led five to three. Australia scored again within a matter of minutes, Johnston kicking a goal from a penalty awarded for a scrummage infringement. Mulligan. Thompson, Stanmore and De Belin handled for Australia, and De Belin scored, Johnston missing with the kick at goal. Australia 8, Southern 5. Sutton, Evans, ,and Haysorm combined for Southern in a passing rush, and Haysorm ran strongly to score, Stillwell goaling. Southern 10, Australia 8. Just before half-time Graves goaled fop Australia from a penalty, and the teams were level at 10-all at the interval. SECOND SPELL Early in the second half, Hansen passed to Roberts, who scored for Graves to convert. Australia 15, Southern 10. Australia went further into the lead when Graves kicked a penalty. Evans intercepted a pass and put Southern on attack. Evans got clear of the field but his pace was insufficient to carry him to the goal. Graves tackled him well on the line. But Chatham was up in time to score. The kick failed. Australia 17, Southern 13.

Shortly afterwards, Stillwell goaled from a penalty, and this made the scores, Australia 17, Southern 15. On the call of time, Australia was awarded a penalty in a good position. The bell rang at this stage, and although Graves was placing the ball to take his kick at goal, the Australian captain, W. Thomson raced across and booted it into touch, the game ending without any addition to the score.