LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 198, 5 August 1920, Page 2

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

ENGLAND (46) NORTH ISLAND (5). A CRI SHING DEFEAT. VICTORY FOR EXPERIENCE AND COMBINATION. The represi'iitarivo Northern Union game, England v. North Island, was played at Napier yesterday afternoon. There-was a record crowd spectators, estimated at between 4,000 and 5,000. The weather was dull and a light rain fell during the game. The teams were comprised as follows: England.—-Full-back, C. Stacey; threo/quarters, AV. Stone, J. Bacon, D. Hurcombe, E. Davis; five-eighth, E. AV. Jones; half, J. Parkin; forwards, J. Cartwright, AV. Cunliffe, G. A. Skilhorn, H. Gronow, H. Hilton, D. Clark. North Island. —Full-baeli, E. Gray (Auckland); three-quarters, -M. Loveridge (Auckland), C’. McCarthy (H. 8. (captain), C. AA’oolley (Auckland); fiveeighths, G. Smith (AVellington), P. Exeter (H. 8. ; half-back, M. Pollock (AVellington) ; forwards, P. Burrows (H. 8. T. Bennet (Auckland), H. Pring (H. 8. E. Herring (Auckland), E. Downing (H. 8. J. Scott (AVellington). Mr. G. Frater refereed, and the line umpires were Messrs G. Procter and T. Exeter. The game generally was not up to expectations. North Island showed ve.rv little combination, and could not make any showing. The English team gave the impression that they could karn made their score much higher Their handlintr was good' at times, and rometimes brilliant, but onite often t l,r ball was mulled or passed badlv. It vas noticeable that a good r>.asri”r msb. in which all the hacks handled the ball, never resulted in anything, the balance of their tries being scored by individual or two .men work. They were extremely fast, and must have had the advantage of nearly two stone on the average weight. Their half-back was nippy and the scrum waS worked down to a fine point, and the play was. as a result of this and the code, ver; open. The referee gave fair decisions but as usual, could not please everybody. North Island played with the aijv.an tage of a very light wind, and rain commenced with the game. England kicked off, and North Island were awarded a penalty when the ball returned. McCarthy tried for goal and failed. England kicked back from the 25, and took the game away to the other end, where a score was narrowly averted, and play went to half-way where it remained, and tricky play and weight it ere evident amongst the visitors. England tried side-stepping wnii very little result, and their passing attempts brought no results, though they at times showed considerable pace for a heavy team. Finally Gronow secured near the twenty-five/and transferred to Bacon, who mulled the ball and missed an easy score. North Island were not playing a forcing game, but )vere smothering well. Stone rushed in on the twenty-five, intercepted and scoredunder the posts. Gronow converted.— England 5, North Island 0. . Almost immediately England again carried the ball forward, Hurcombe secured, passed to Stone who returned, and. Hurcombe got over. Gronow con-verted.—-England 10, North Island 0. Play Temained in the field, for some minutes to the advantage of North Island, who were very' near scoring on r ■■•■ouple of occasions. The handling, ol the ball was poor for teams of this character. England commenced# to' push again and. after a rush, from a scrum on the twenty-five. Hurcombe secured and scored well on the outside. Ihe kick failed. —England 13, North Island 0. From the kick off North Island took t he offensive and McCarthy tried a kick from nearly half way. From the return the North Island passed down and this finished in a scrum. A free kick was awarded for off-side and Gray goalcd. —England 13, North Island 2. ■ England again pressed and executed a passing rush out of the line. Nothing resulted and Stone drop kicked for goal He missed, and the game came,back to 1 alf-way, where play was very energetic and handling and tackling good,* Loveridge for North Island was prominent. I he style of play did not allow any prominent combination. Loveridge did a tine side-stepping run and this tame to grief within the twenty-five. Play went back to the other end and was on the twenty-five at the call of time.

After half-time England took the offensive every few minutes. Early in the half, England were penalised for off-side, and again in the scrum, but Ihe kicks failed. Play went to England’s' end where Stacey made a good rave, and eafried play back to the half. The ball came across the field and easily passed Gray, who made a deliberate attempt to trip. 'Gronow converted. —JSuglond North Island 2. '■ England again took control, and Parkin and Clark made a brilliant run down field. The ball was centred and Skilhorn secured and •cored. As usual Gronow converted.—England. 23, North Island 2.

From the kick off after some play in the centre, Stone secured rushed through, being stopped by Gray, who had to go off with an injured shoulder. Pointon took McCarthy’s place# and McCartny went to full-back. The bad came back to half where Stacey secured and went right across the held, where ne transferred to Bacon, who easily outpaced Aorth Tsiand and grounded the oali under the posts. Gronow converted.—England 28, North Island 2. North Island moved down and the left Aving centred. Bennett kicked forward but Stacey again secured and made a beautifuf save. Pray came back to mid-field, where McCarthy, Pollock and Wooi.ey were in evidence. Determined efforts by’ North Island were without insult, good opening up the game, while the weight of the visitors also told, England again increased when Hurcombe and grounded the ball as he fell from McCarthy's tackle. The kick failed. — England 31# North Island 2. North Island again pressed and some close play occurred near the line, but good kicking and too much pace on England’s part, nuisiied their efforts, and finally England again took the offensive but liad handling spoilt their chances until on the twenty-five Skilhorn was tackled, and passed to Parkin, who scored. Almost immediately Hurcombe secured near his own twenty-five, and transferred to Stone whose pace again allowed a score. Gronow again converted. —England 41. North Island 2. * The game assumed a ping pong effect, the ball being kicked from one side to the other while the players watched it. The game then again became fast, England attacking, and finally Clark got over. As- usual the score was converted.—England 46, North Island 2. The game again went in favour of the North Island, who were awarded a free, kick near the twenty-five and ARCarthy kicked high. The forwards followed through and Downing secured and gronmlpd. The kick by McCarthy failed. The hell went immediately.— England 16. North Island 5. CURTAIN-RAISER. The curtliin-raiscr was between Town and Country juniors and proved an even go. Country winning by 11 points to ](>. Mr. J. Beach refereed.