NORTH WINS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 July 1925, Page 6

NORTH WINS.

INTER-ISLAND MATCH

(BY TELEGHAPH. PIIESS ASSOCIATION.)

INVERCARGILL, July 25. Nor:till Island defeated south Island here -to-day by 16 points to 5. Despite atrocious. weather conditions large crowds turned out to see the match.. Recent heavy rains after alou<r is pel l of dry weather made the play Lug '-area very muddy and slippery, and driving rain -practically throughout t-iie game made good play out of the- question, though the- -backs handled magnificently. , , , In the first spell South, had the nipper hand almost to -half-time. The forwards set up a series of dashing rushes, beating the heavier opposition mine times out of ten. ' There Was no finish to -their play, however, -and several chances were missed. Nepia- was at a-l)l 'times brilliant and generally managed to clear. In this- -spell Steel and Reid displayed good football in both attack and defence. South had a-t least half a dozen penalties, most or them i>n- front, hut all missed. J"ii fiho second spell, the North ■back.' asserted their -superiority ancl threw the greasy hall about.. Cooke, eyet aleitrmade brilliant openings Mill, who excelled in getting t-li© ball away from rucks and scrums, gave the backs hosts of chances. Nepia retired in this -spell with an injury to lus leg, Cooke -going to- full-back. Porter, Irvine -and M. Brownlie shone in forward dashes. Blake was heady and made most of 'his oppoi trinities-, although he did not outshine Rent. Collier and F-alwasser were- only fair. Dailey was great on defensive- work and revelled in the muddy conditions. Robilliarcl -put in .some good rims Richardson, Masters. Burt and Gerard were prominent in the forward's- light through. Taking everything into consideration, the conditions in parti cumi , a good game was provided. 4-t was somewhat willing at times, bub the spirit was good. North displayed superior tactics and deserved its victory. The referee (Mr. Torrance) made the g-aime as open as possible. South played with -the wind in toe first half. Five minutes after the kick off Steel fielded well and put a long kick over the North line, Nepia forcing. Shortly after Nepia again forced from a South forward rush. North were penalised and Steel made a great -attempt with the- wet ball. Ne,pia then fielded a- speculator from a South forward and punted to Harris, who fumbled and regained the hall, but Nepia, coming up fast, tackled him. Penalties were frequent at this stage. South were penalised for but Nepia missed a kick at goal. Steel and Raid missed two further shots a-t goal, Reid’s being right in front. Flay was mostly in North’s half. A fine cut in -by Bell just failed. Bell missed another easy penalty. The game wa« now a forward -scramble, driving showers saturating the sodden gound. Gerard and Steel took play to the North line, where Irvine was offside -and Richardson just missed goaLing. Flay hovered near the North line for some minutes, and then from a line-out Mas-ters and Richardson went over together, the former being -awarded a try. Richardson converted. North retaliated sensationally with a sweeping rush -to the South line, where Choke clashed over under the posts. Nepi-a converting. At half-time the scores were: North Island 5, South Island 5.

After the kick-off Cooke made a. great cut in, beating Harris, but Dailey came up fast and saved. Rolli 1-1 ia.rd and Bell returned play to North, territory, but Nepia cleared. Irvine and Walter attacked with a fast dribbling rush over the South line, Walter -scoring near the corner. Nepia converted the kick, the ha 111 striking the bar ancl skidding across: North 10, South 5.

The game was now very willing. Falwasser fielded a bad pass smartly and sent out to Blake', who crossed unopposed. Nepia failed to convert. North 13, South 5. The South, forwards rushed play to the North; line, where eagerness spoilt a certain try and Nepia cleared. Loose l plhy followed anil Lartglands picked up and scored between the posits. Porter missed with, the kick: North IC, South 5. South attacked fiercely, and in a forward melee Nepia. injured his leg and went off. South kept pressing, but the fine defensive work of the North backs held them. Time sounded with no further score.

RUGBY LEAGUE. NEW ZEALAND BEATS NEW SOUTH WALES. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT SYDNEY, July 2G. The Neiv Zealand League fotballers beat New South Wales by 17 points to 10, and won the ashes after New South Wales were, leading by 10 to 5 at the .interval. Twelve thousand watch qd the game. The New Zealanders: invaded the home team’s territory right at the commencement of the game and only strong tackling bv the New South Wales’ backs prevented a score. Quinn 'reversed the position by sprinting cleverly to New Zealand’s line. The lobal three-quarter line then moved down the field in an all-conquering rush, but an aimless pass prevented a certain score. Brain and O’Bourke repeatedly penetrated the defence of the '■visitors, but- the movements invariably lacked the final touches. Wilson-Hail fed the three-quarters well when the opportunity offered. After further give-;|,lid-take play. New South Wales received a penalty, and Wearing* openicd the scoring with a goal. The 'visitors hotly replied. Parlies and Brown were prominent, and then from an infringement' by the home team in a scramble Dufty kicked a penalty goal to equalise the scores.

The first try was the result of a swift run on the part of Carr, who gathered at top speed: and sent to O’Rourke, who dodged two opponents before sending Brain across. Wearing converted. Hardman scored soon after, Wearing’s. kick missing by inches. The visitors then scored a penalty try, which was awarded through Brown being interfered with after parting with the ball.

Tho New Zealanders quickly assumed command in the second spell. O’Brien, gathering from a weak kick by Finn, struggled over, Dufty failing to convert. Wilson-Hall crossed a few minutes later', bringing the totals to 13 to 10 in favour of the visitors, -whose forwards at this stage were combining well with the backs in pretty movements. Dufty added two penalty goals before the final whistle.