SOUTH BEATS NORTH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 253, 25 September 1939, Page 12

SOUTH BEATS NORTH.

INTER-ISLAND MATCH. AYHIRLAVIND PACE. Per Pres's Association. AVELLINGTON, Sept. 23. In as exciting a finish as has been seen at Athletic Park, South Island beat North Island to-day by 25 points to 19. The second spell was played at a whirlwind pace, both sides throwing the ball about freely. Eight points were scored in the last five minutes. The ground was in excellent order and the afternoon was beautifully fine, with a light wind from the south. There was an attendance of approximately 30,000. and before the game began the Governor-General, Lord Galway, was introduced to the players. South Island owed their victory to the superiority of their backs. They showed better combination than the North Island line and their passing and handling were better. The positional and tactical play of both sets of backs was first-class. North Island had a slight advantage in the set scrums and line-outs, but not sufficient to have much effect on the run of play. North Island’s weakness was in the inside backs. Pearman, first fiveeighth, - played a sound game in the first spell, hut his play deteriorated later.- Ho was unable to break through and he resorted to grubber-kicking. Frequently the ball was snapped up bv the South Island backs, who turned tlieir defence into attack. Reid, second five-eighth, was the main weakness, however. His handling and passing were uncertain ’ and as a result Sullivan had few opportunities to 6end his wingers away. Both Tindill and Saxton threw out long, accurate passes, but whereas the North Island movements frequently broke down at the inside backs the ball usually travelled right along the South Island, line to the wingers. Tindill shaded-Saxton in-the first spell, but Saxton played hrilliantlv in the second 6pel! and was responsible' for most of the South Island scoring movements. Grace and Perriam, the South Island five-eighths, were very sound and definitely superior to Pearman land Reid. Sullivan and Wesney, the centre threequarters, had an interesting duel which ended with honours slight in favour of Sullivan. AA’esney had the greater number of opportunities, hut Sullivan made his own play and his

speed was always in his favour. North Island were unlucky to lose Phillips, their right wing-threequarter, early in the game. He was injured and was replaced by McAnney. Sutherland, who marked McAnney, was the best of the wing-threequarters. He scored three fine tries and he was responsible for a try which Saxton scored on time. He was unfortunate in receiving a neck injury ,when heavily tackled by several North Island players, and he was carried off just as the game ended. Morrison, the other South Island winger, had limited opportunities, but he showed flashes of form which gained him such a high reputation in Australia last year. He came infield several times to give the South Island backs an overlap. Schubert was the' better of the two North wingers. He showed himself to be fast and elusive and he marked Morrison well. On one occasion, however, he cost his side three points by being over-eager to intercept and stop a pass from Saxton to Grace and by getting offside. Easton, the South Island full-back, played a better game than Dyer, whose line-kicking was not up to standard. Easton’s only serious error was his failure to take a high kick by P. Reid when right on his own goal-line. Reid secured the ball and scored an easy try. Both Dyer and Easton tackled resolutely but in no way could their form be compared with that shown by Taylor 'in the All Black trial, which was played ns a curtainraiser to the North-South game. McKENZIE IMPRESSES. The standard of forward play was very high throughout the game. Soqth packed the more compact 6cruni f and had an advantage in the tight. They wero also more successful in the rucks. Both packs made good dribbling rushes and they linked up well_ with their backs in passing rushes. George and Herron did solid work tor South Island, in the tight, and AVard and Parkhill were outstanding in the loose. The best of the South Island forwards, however, was King, who was outstanding in the lincouts and always up with the play. Jackson played consistently well in the North island pack, as did McKenzie and Bowman. Coull impressed as the best of tho newcomers and he was the best of the North Island forwards in the line-outs. Reid played well in patches. Carson was compelled to play a tight game through being placed in the front row, and he was not as prominent as usual. He made one good run which resulted in P. Reid’s try. For South Island Sutherland (3), Grace and Saxton scored tries. AAesney converted two and kicked two penalty goals. McKenzie, Sullivan and P. Reid (2) scored tries for North Isjand. Pearman converted two and kicked a penalty goal. The referee was Mr J. A. Malcolm, of Auckland.