RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1929, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SCOTLAND MEAT ID ELAND, WILD SCENES IN DUBLIN. ' IRELAND 7pts. SCOTLAND 1(5 Scotland beat Ireland at Lansdowiie- , road. Dublin, by 2 goals and 2 trios to a dropped goal and a try. The game was played under extraordinary conditions, portions of the play being occupied by spectators who defied the attempts ol the officials, players and police to get them behind tile touch lines and the goal lines. Not only was the start delayed on this account but play was held up at times while appeals were made hv the referee and both captains for a little consideration. forty thousand people gained admission to the ground, and there were wild scenes at the entrance gates and at tbe approaches to the reserved portions. Halt an hour before the kick off every point ol vantage had been sec ured, even the roofs of the Lnnsdowne 1 and Wanderers’ club pavilion being black with people. A thousand late-eomers many of them being ticket-holders, indulged in a .scramble for places, and the appearance of tin* teams on the held was the signal for a wild rush for position. Harriers were swept down, entrances rushed, and the iron gates guarding i the approaches to the big stand burst < in ruthlessly. i Whether the tension had ail effect on ; the players is a dobateable point, but it is n fact that they gave a wretched exhibition of Rugby football, and except for occasional brilliant individual efforts the game produced little enthusiasm. i

Scotland thoroughly deserved to win if only because they took advantage of the few chances that came their way and Ireland deserved to lose because they threw away so many.

IRISH FORWARDS’ COLLAPSE

The last quarter of an hour of tfiis game will always be remembered for the complete collapse of Ireland’s famous seriimrnager, Jamie Clinch, who played about tbe worst game of his career. He had not unduly exerted himself up to that point, but lie frankly gave up playing forward banging about the fringe of the scrums and only succeeding in hampering Sngden. Indeed, far worse happened from Ireland’s point of view. Scotland were leading by three points and Ireland were fighting hard for a score and 100 tied like getting it. Then the Wanderers’ forward took a hand in a back movement and gave a shocking pass in the vicinity of the Scottish 25, which Simmers intercepted. This led to Scotland’s third score and was unquestionably the deciding factor.

Rannerman proved a brainy captain During the danger period referred to in the second half he rearranged his backs, Aitchison going into the threequarter line and Dykes full bank. Ireland had victory within her grasp during that 15 minutes and Ganly should have scored, and so, too should Murray, while if Arigho had possessed the requisite speed he would have gone in twice.

In the first half Macpherson scored a try for Scotland, which Dykes converted, and Davy dropped a goal and Ariglio crossed' for Ireland, who led by by 7pts to sat the interval. Late in the second half, alter Scotland had survived the pressure, the tables were turned and Berkeley, Smith, and Simmers scored tries for them, Allan kicking one goal from the touch-line.