RUGBY TOUR OPENED

Hawera Star, Volume L, 22 May 1930, Page 3

RUGBY TOUR OPENED

Success of British Team Victory by 19 Points to 3

Wanganui Fifteen Outclassed Opening its New .Zealand tour, the British Rugby team outclassed the Wanganui fifteen at Cook's Gardens, Wanganui, yesterday and registered a decisive victory with three goals from tides and a field goal, making a tally of 19 points, to which the home side could reply with only three points from an unconverted try. Following Wanganui’s successful scoring effort early in the second spell, the retirement of an injured player reduced the British team to fourteen, but, even with the advantage of an extra man, the home side could not again pierce the defence. A crowd variously estimated at from 8000 to 10.000 greeted the visitors in their first appearance on a New Zealand ground, and included a liberal sprinkling of Taranaki visitors, who were particularly interested in the tourists’ display in view of the coming encounter, with Taranaki’s representatives at New Plymouth on Saturday.

As the tennis lined out it uvas at once apparent that the Wanganui men were at a great disadvantage in the matter of weight in noth the 'back ancl forward divisions, and, though Wanganui carried the first scrummage, this fact, was further emphasised, more particularly during the first 'half of the game, during which the visitors gained possession ini d‘3 scrummages to the home team’s two. 'The,first, and - lasting impression created by the British team was that, if given tlid ball in future matches on the tour, the three-quarter line will develop into a •highly successful combination. Throughout the whole course of the match the orthodox British back game was exploited by the visitors, the main 'objective being a speedy transference of the ball to one or the other of the wing three-quaftrs. In this process the “insides’’ were not unmindful of the value of a tricky cutin, swerve or a dummy pass, for in their opening game the backs gave 'numerous delightful examples! of these perplexing phases. A special feature of the British back attack centred in the. fact that when a sequence of passes , strung out to the wing andl crowded him to the. touchline, he had no hesitation in effecting a seemingly blind in-pass. In almost every instance his' forwards had kept pace with the movement by surging up .the centre of the field, and were in position to carry on the otherwise blind transfer. This .style of play, indulged in. by fast, weighty forwards, proved effective. Whether . they will be able to work it off in opposition to a stronger team; than ( Wanganui remains to be seen. 1W EIGHT S COMP A RE D. An analysis of the respective team's showed that the average weight of the .Severn British backs was 12st 3lbs 'as against list 81b for an equal number of .the Wanganui rearguard. The British forwards averaged list 31bs against their opponents’ T3st 2lb, while the average weights of the full teams were —Britain 13st 41b, Wanganui Il2st 61b. During the first half of the game the Britishers were immeasurably superior in scrummaging powers, taking the honours on 13' '.occasions to Wanganui’s 2, while one arias. of neutral advantage. The home team turned the tables in the second spell by carrying lb scrums to Britain’s D, one again being to the advantage of neither team. In: the matter of .scrumanaging the visitors enjoyed a good deal of latitude at the hand's of the referee —they proved, themselves adepts at getting in a. solid forward movement before the ball . was put in and in almost every instance “cribbed” ground. The tor-* ritory thus gained perhaps mattered little, but when the, ball was actually in the scrum the British half of the formation wals on the move forward. Tir the first half Wanganui gained the advantage in I<7 line-outs against their opponents’ O'; 7 line-outs went to the advantage •of neither. After the interval the visitors improved in this phase of the gatme, evening up Wanganui’s increased scrummaging efficiency by carrying 20 line-outs to 14; ; *3 were indecisive. The kick-into-touck rule, it is readily seen, accounted for ( а. preponderance of Jin e-out play. Very few penalty kicks were awarded throughout the game, and of these not one added to the scare, of either team. In the first half Wanganui gave 5 away to [Britain’s 2, while in the second session the figures wore 2 and 3 respectively. THE BRIGHT LIGHTS 'CV D. Aar void (right centre threequarter), W. IH. iSobcy (scrum half), A. L. No vis (loft living three-quarter), I. б. Morley (right wing three-quarter), and IT. M. Bowcott (out-half) were undoubtedly the star backs on the British side and it is no exaggeration: to assert that Aarvald was easily the*most versatile back on the ground. On his game yesterday he is possibly a better man in the position than any presentday New Zealander. Of a fast-1110ving set of very evenly weighted, heavy forwards Ivor .Jones, the 'Welsh international, was pre-emin-ent. He was a prominent figure in ' t every forward l .'movement of his side and fitted splendidly into m'o'st of the brilliant dashes of his backs. Added t.o his qualification's ns a forward of | outstanding ability lie is a superb drop ' and .place kick, as proven by his con- , { tribution of 10 points in Britain’s total I of 10 (a beautiful left-foot field goal ■ and three con/versic-ns of tries). As a . dangerous opponent he shares the lion- , oursi with Aar void. For Wanganui 1.. ‘Tilley (wing threequarter) and F. Leahy (forward) were the bright lights in their respective divisions, (while T). Thompson. (full- • back), contrary to some expressed opinions before the game, played a sterling game. A BTRIVS-FYF, YTEW. Oiii the general run of the game the Wanganui men were outclassed, but their defeat by a margin of 16 points is n:o indication 'that the overseas' visitors are invincible. Both teams were at a disadvantage in that they were playing their first games together and necessarily lacked combination and knowledge of their fellows’ individual caliabilities. Naturally, the Britishers will gain combination as their tour advances, but with the fullest conccs-

sions in- that respect if is difficult t’O visualise the team -as a. very serious menace to the better class of 'New Zealand .provincial teams included in the itinerary. The team will be opposed to many forward combinations of much heavier calibre than that of Wanganui, and it is more than likely that their scrummaging and open-order powers will be countered to the detriment af their back division. :So far as the three-two-three formation of the Britishers’ serum, as compared with Wanganui’s two-three-two. was concerned, there appeared! to be little, if any, difference, in results, tlie visitors’ success in the scrums being mainly traceable to adoption of the “first push” principle. As a comparison of the effect of three front rankers pitted against two it is significant that when Bonner on retirement, was replaced by a British forward' '(Welsh), Wanganui’s seven forwards were thereafter slightly better than an equal number cf their diree't opponents in gaining- possession. Britain’s scrum formation was then tliree-four and they were a much heavier pack. Recent rains had made the playing area, heavy and though no rain ’fell during the game;, the single ball used' throughout the match was to a certain extent greasy and heavy and no doubt hampered, the. 'British backs. With a dry ball and: ground, if given the opportunity, they may confidently be expected to give good exhibitions, of tile handling code, bat a fast, smothering pack of heavy opposing forwards' would put a different complexion on their game. With no thought of endeavouring to belittle the Britishers, a comparison of their capabilities with those of previous visiting combinations to New Zealand would! ibo that ‘the team, collectively and. individually, is .slightly better than- A. F. Harding’s Anglo-i Welsh combination (IDO'S) and very much inferior to X). R. Bed'ell-tSivright’s (11904), j which was beaten at Wellington by an 1 untried All Black team by 9’ points to 3' after the Englishmen had gained combination in a series of Hit matches’ played! in Australia an cl tiw-o in the South Island. I Individually, Aar void is comparable with “Ponty” .Tones', R. A. 'Gibbs or IT. IT. Vassall in Harding's team. Bedell-,Sivrighf's ream bristled with brilliant Welsh international backs, including E. T. Morgan, R. T. Babe, W. M. Llewellyn and P. J' 1 . Bush, compared with wham no combination of our present visitors, on yesterday’s game, is a pparently equal. THE TE'AIM'S. The teams, siicwing Ihe weights of respective players, were as follow: — BRITAIN. I Dark Blue. j Pull-back: Cl. Bonn or, 12.fi. Throe-quart erst: .T. IMorley 11.0, C. D. Aarvoldi 3i5.11, T. .Knowles M'3.o, A. Novis 12.2. ’Out Half: IT. AT. Boweott T'2.o. , Scrum Half: i\V. 11. Robey (captain) 12.0. Bade Row: W. B. Welsh H 1.7, G. R. Beamish Tfi.4, Ivor Jones 13.9. Second Row: J. L. 'Farrell 13.11, B. IT. Black 14.4. Pront Row: IT. Rew 14110, A. Martin dale 14.2, D. E. Kcndrcw ,14.10. WANG A NUT. Rcyal Blue and Black. Full-back: D. Thompson 11.0. Three-quarters: E. Tilley 14.0,-S. Ambrose 10:5, P. Prince 10.11. j Five-eighths: D. McLennan I3.fi, K. | Gibbons (captain), 11.0. i Half-back: J. Duncan 10.2. I Rover: KT. Walden 12.10. j Back R'Oi’.vi; F. Lcahv 13.8, R. Oxlev , 13.10. " | Sides: F. Heise. 13. G, G. Lockett 12.0. Lock: L. Stewart 13.7. (Hookers: R. 'Lumsden 13.0. R. .Lowry--13.2.

The toss of the coin til lowed the 1 home skipper to place the visitors with i the advantage of the breeze in the first spell. Tilley opened the game with* a splendid kick which sent the ball I dropping in the corner, where Bonner failed to field cleanly and a line-out a. I moist on thle line ensued. The throw-in gave place to a loose scrimmage and possession again went to the British full-back, who -punted well clear of danger. In the British half the honours of the first serum went to the Wanganui hookers, the hall shooting quickly to Duncan, who. however. was unable to exploit the ad-j vantage, as a penalty was awarded the visitors and Bowcott found touch in home territory. An ensuing penalty for a Wanganui scrum infringement was taken by the British forward Black, who from beyond halfway .sent! the ball veering outside the uprights. I Thompson sent play hack to neutral' territory, where it hung for a period till Morley, Robey, Bowcott and Aarvold gave a taste of the visitors’ quality with a spectacular exchange of in and out passing, the movement finally breaking on the Wanganui rightwing Prince. In front of hie or., goal Thompson followed a clearance punt to the opposing full-back, but slipped as he dived for a tackle, and Bonner, taking his time, make an unsuccessful essay for four points. Again the British hack combination came into action and Sobey was away or. a dash which ended in a line-out.

Just inside, the borne half Welsh took i a mark, but failed to get- near the ob- < jetive with an attempt to goal. Pos- ] session in the movement went, how- 1 ever, to Black, who coolly handed the *- leather to Ivor Jones for the latter to drop a beautiful goal with a left loot 1 •kick from a 35 yards range and regis- ‘ ter the first points of the tour. 'Within ten minutes of the commencement ( of the game the score showed Britain 4—Wanganui nil. t At midfield Wanganui again incurred a penalty. Black placed the ball on the halfway line and tried the j goal, but the falling fall dropped wide. , With a good combined movement J | Walden and Oxley led tire home for- . wards to the twenty-five and Tilley ; had an unsuccessful place kick from . 30 yards out. The Wanganui sortie was short-lived, the visitors com mg again within a couple of minutes with j an electric attack and the opposition was well beaten when Robey .shot a pass to Ivor Jones and the latter sp-kl the dummy before transferring via Bowcott to Aarvold, who crossed for a. merited try half-way between touch and the goal. Ivor Jones converted, making the score Britain o—Wan garni i nil. Following the return from the kickoff Stewart, Leahy and Lumsdcn made a, likely charge for Wanganui, hut were penalised within two yards of the goal * line and the British hacks swept away iin a sudden counter. Tilley called chock, but Wanganui were defending hard again when Aarvold sent Norris, (on a short dash, which was stopped in • the nick of time by Prince. Wnnga- | nui were still on the defensive when I the flying three-quarter Tilley electrii fled the crowd 111111 a dash to mid-. I field where he passed to Leahy. With nearly half the length of the field to j go the latter had an open line, but I was promptly stopped by Bonner’s short and swift pursuit. Following a useful punt by Ambrose, Wanganui reached striking distance and for a. couple of exciting minutes the crowd $ roared applause as the home forwards surged on the line. A struggling group actually crossed the line and Oxlev fell oil the ball, but play was recalled for a scrum. From the ensuing melee the ball was booted across by the home forwards again, but was snapped up by Bowcott. who gained further applause as he refused to force the ball and made a dash out of the goal to put- to the safety zone. Jiis kick definitely repelled the Wanganui invasion and before long the visiting back machine functioned perfectly again. Morley, Bowcott, Aarvold and Novis handling the ball for a try by Novis in the corner. With a beautiful kick from almost on the side line Ivor Jones found the goal. Half-time sounded three minutes later with the visitors still calling the tune and the score showing Britain 14 —Wanganui nil. | THE SECOND SESSION. • With the wind behind them Wangai nui made the first invasion of the | second session, Me Lennon getting ibheei's for* a well-judged: line* finder : which ga;ve: a. throw in at couple of yards from the British line. Beamish, however. burst away from the lino-out and the venue changed swiftly to the home end. of the. field, The Hacks strung out in another 'pretty bout as the British, side made its first serious thrust of the .■■■pe'll, the ball going through five' pairs of hands lieforo reaching Novis who was dangerous till grassed by Thompson's low tackle. Wanganui’s sensational effort was made 10 minutes from the start of the spell when the forwards took play from the twenty-five to midfield, where T.iliey broke away and fended two tackles: before: being stopped' by AarvoW. In falling, however’ the Wanganui .star • got the. ball away to. Lockett who carried on and gave MeLennon a clear run in for a try near the corner. Gibbons made a. .splendid attempt, from the difficult angle and the big. crowd paid ils tribute as: one of the line: umpires raised his flag, but the kick was actually a poster and the goal war not allowed by the referee. Britain 14 —Wanganui 3. Early in Wanganui’s sucraeissiful! bid Bonner, the British, full-back, had connected with a low tackle and at the. same time received a head injury which compelled him to retire. He was replaced at lull-back by the forward! Wyhh andi the British scrum, reduced to .seven men, packed throe-four. • Marti ndolle was “out” for a brief period, but was able, to resume. Wanganui backs wore set going by Walden and handled smartly in a dangerous movement which was halted by Knowles, i Another stoppage was caused when , Robey went down in a midfield, melee. Though he resumed he became a. “passenger’’ in en,suing .stages and in the final quarter of the game Wanganui were praetiea.lly playing only 13 men. Short passing by Beamish, Farrell. Ivor Jones and' Kendrew presaged trouble, for AVa.ngamu till Ambros.se claimed a. timely mark. His kick was faulty, but the pack fought a; passage to the safety zone and MeLennon punted well clear of danger. In a developing attack Heiise. followed a punt which landed close to the line .and was only just, beaten for -possession by the speedy Aarvold 1 . Territorial honours were now showing a margin in the home team’s favour, but the backs could not exploit opportunities and welie able ;to make no serious impression on the ■ British defence in which backs ami forI wards combined with precision. Tn one ’Wanganui movement Gibbons, AI .bonny u "and Ambrose sent the ba.'d to Prince who tried the inpa.ss only to have it .snapped up by Ivor Jones, who set Beamish and Bew on a counter attack. At midfield the home full-back Thompson, received >\ knock winch dazed lrim for nearly two minutes, but 1,,. refused to retire and scrambled up

with a surmised expression us ho re- .; severed to find tlie ambulance men Dru- 1 paring a stretcher. With a good kick into the wind from a penalty Ivor | Jones failed narrowly to raise the flags. ( Back in the neutral aone policy was , penalised for scooping ,the ball from j a, scrum and Tiilev made an unsuccessful kick, the ball screwing from has boot. Wanganui were still .haying decidedly the better of the play, but in: the closing stages the visitors turned solid defence into sensational attack,when Ivor Jones charged from liis own quarter to midfield and .handed the; ball to Boycott who sent it via; Aarvold to Morley who took the transfer at too speed and raced 1 .over in the corner. With another magnifricent kick Ivor Jones registered hi.s fourth »-.oal and full time sounded shortly after with the scores: Britain 19—Wanganui 3. Wr. H. -T. McKenzie was the referee. ‘ 4 oyiyn the eoti'de.e-line ,j

•BRTTTGTT VTF'WiS OX * iWING-PORiW AT? T). (By Telegraph—Press Association.) \\ r A ; X!G ANUJ. <Mn.v 21. , ‘ ‘ l watched this game to-d'.iy very carefully,’ ■ said Mr •!. Baxter im reply to the toast of the .British team at a dinner here, to-night. “As 1 know some, men sitting at this table are hoping for pertain events to pome to a head. 1 think one of the best means of arriving at an understanding is to have one universal law to play exactly the same game ho the bcrjt of our ability. “I am not going to criticise to-niglit. but there is one thing X dislike. —that is your wing-forward play- I am sure the pian. who had the misfortune to play; here’ if he 1 coked' into his own. heart; didn’t o,ike it either. I won’t say lie is on the border-line —he is over it and must be discouraged, tile causes irritation to both sets of forwards. “I am not speaking about the man who played there to-day, but of the man playing in that position. It is contrary to the -spirit- of Rugby football. ;Alr (Baxter's .opinion avals endorsed by Ken Gibbons, captain of the .Wanganui team. "The wing-forward is a nuisance to the five-eighths.” he said. Mr'Hope Gibbons, an old’Rugby player, also spoke in favour of the. abolition of the wing-forward. •Mr •Loans iCohen, proposing the health of the New Zealand Rugby Union, said that it was highly desirable that New Zealand, where Rugby was the national game, should have a voice on' the International Board. If the British commonwealth of nations counted for anything, the International Board should not take the. .(stand that- ■ one country was unworthy of representation and others worthy of it.

PICKING DOMINION REPRESENTATIVES. TRIAD TEAMS CHOSEN. CHRISTCHURCH, May 21. The following teams have been selected for the New Zealand Test trial match : —■ PROBABLES. , Full-back : D. Heasdewood (Wellington). Three-quarters: J. D. Mackay (Wei-, lington), F. Lucas (Auckland), D. Oliver (Otago). Five-eighths : M. Nicholas (Wellington), H. Lilburne (Canterbury.). Half-back: A. Holden (Southland). Wing-forward: D ! . Solomon (Auek-I land). Hookers : K.. Reid (Wnirarapa), W. Irvine (Wairarapa).' Dock : R.. Steer© (Hawke’is Bay). Supports: O. Campbell (Hawke’s Bay), A. McWilliams l (Waikato). . • Rack row: . E. Collett (Otago), R. T. ; Stewart (Canterbury). R ©serves: Racks, ,T. Alii] (Wairar-j' apa), R. H. Mackenzie (Wellington) ; , forwards-, A. Sim. (North Otago), McLean (ex-Taranagi). ; ■ POSSIBLES. Full-back: G. Nepaa (Fast Coast). Three-quarters: G. Hart (Canterbury); A. E. Cooke (Wairarapa), P. Mi Jins (Auckland).

.* i j 11 i y rv i ruv idj ivty . Five-eighths : G. D. limes (Canter bury), li. Johnson (Wellington). Half-back : 3if. Corner (Auckland). Wing-forward : «<*. Scrimshaw (Can terbufy). Hookers-: A. J. Cotton'll (Canter bury). J. Ho re (Otago). Lock: I. Harvey (Wairarapa). Supports : ; J. . Finlays.on (Nortl Auckland), W. Mazlett (Southland). Bark r-mv: G. Purdue (Southland) W. Batty (Auckland). WAIRARAPA BEATS BUSH.' FULLER’S GOOD KICKING. PAHIATUA. May 21. The Wairarapa Rugby team .play® Bush to-day for the purpose of pick mg the combined) team to meet, tin Englishmen at Masterton on May 31 Wairarapa. won -by 22 points to 1 thanks to the 'brilliant kicking of Foil! er who notched 13 'points. Terri tori ally Bush had the better of'the game the forwards dominating the- situation The Wairarapa hacks were superior though their handling was very indii fere lit. Mill was outstanding as hal for Wairarapa and instituted most c the scoring ’movements. Reid show© up in the. forwarvls with Reside an Irving’. A fine. Bush track was led 1> J. Galvin. Gerald, M'ahonev and Ken daT'l. In the rearguard G. Harris (winsj

mil H. Hocycs (lull-UimK) worn in uw. imelight. . Fo>- Wairarnpa tries were seeaed. by itringfellow (two) and -Mill. Fuller inverted tvnj and kicked. three diniiplt. penairi.es. Harris scored 1 .two tries or Bush and Reeves converted one. SOUTH ISLAND TRIAL GA3VEB HACKS DISAPPOINT . Oimisfl'-ild.XßaiX. 'Alav 21. The 'South Island Rugby trial match, played at 'Lancaster Park to-dav, resolved itself into a struggle, betweenthe Possible 'forwards and the 'Probable backs, and the Possible forwards held the upper hand, so that-their- side won; bv 23 .points to 12. The game was not. impressive. There was dashing ,wor v by both packs of forwards, but- the backs (seemed incapable of successful combined- work. ■ The Possible forwards obtained' most, of the balk from -the. scrum and shone in (he .lino-out and Joo.se play. -Among the.baeks .'lTolden was in. excellent form behind the Possibles pack, Sic- was definitely superior to Dailey. With a strong, wind behind them the Possibles had' a big advantage in the first spell. -Tho-ir dorwarPis-eaHy asserted themselves, and first. (Scrimshaw and then 'Collett scored. Strang converted one try. ,‘Collett and Scrimshaw had a partnership-in the next try, which was eventually scored- by Scrimshaw- Strang converted. . The Probables scored .from a back movement initiated: by Dailey, from which Trotter scored at - the corner. Dailey failed to convert. Scrimshaw scored another try for t-lie -Possibles almost immediately afterwards. The -kick failed. ‘The Probable*’ next score was a- goal from a- mark dropkicked by GVEciGregor. After the interval changes were made in both teams. Strang was replaced' by €. Oliver, and- E. Holden went to centre.,three-quarter. (McCabe retired from the forwards, being replaced bv A. Ferguson., E. Olson took Trotter’s place, and! E. Sim went, on in place of McKay. IBird soon lelft the field, - however, go McKay went on again. The Possibles forwards remained aggreissive in the second half. -Holden first scored -by a .magnificent potted goal fro-m 20 yards out. Fast passing play by .the Probables’ backs let ‘Cot* terill over, but the try- was not converted. 'The Possibles countered with another try scored ‘by (Stewart. A moment later Lilburne failed with a. kick. Towards the close of the game Hart was given the ball near -the corner and, eluding the opposition, the speedy winger ran over and touched down. The final scorcls were: Possibles 2ft, Probables 1!2.