Honours to North Island

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7270, 25 September 1933, Page 10

Honours to North Island

South Island Beaten 27-18 In Fast Spectacular Game

Extremely fast play characterised the North Island versus South Island Rugby match played at Wellington on Saturday in fine weather before a crowd of approximately 20,000 to 30,000 people at Athletic park, Wellington. As the last game of the season it provided fans from all parts of New Zealand with an excellent exhibition of the code and ended in favour of the North Island by 27 points to 18.

The Teams Line Out. The teams, representing the cream of the North and South Islands, lined out as follow: North (black). .Full back: Nepia (East Coast.

Three-quarters: Fuller (Wellington), Caughey (Auckland), Bullock-Douglas (Wanganui). Five-eighths: Killeen (Wellington), Page (Wellington). Half: Kilby (Wellington).

Forwards: Cooper (North Auckland), W. Hadley (Auckland), Leeson (Waikato), McLean (Wellington), Steere (Hawke’s Bay), McKenzie (Manawatu), Mahoney (Bush), Solomon (Auckland). South (white). Full back: J. Grainger (North Otago). Three-quarters: F. G. Hart (Canterbury), H. Smith (Otago), W. T. Dunne (Otago). Five-eighths: C. Oliver (Canterbury), Fong (West Coast). Half: E. B. Scandrett, (West Coast.). Forwards: A. I. Cottrell (Canterbury), ,T. Hoare (Otago), L, George (Southland), J. E. Manchester (Canterbury), D. Max (Nelson), G. Purdue (Southland), A. H, Andrews'- (Canterbury), T. Metcalf (Southland).

North Island

Exciting Game Commences. The weather was good for the occasion, the rain leaving the ground with a spring in it. North won the toss and before a crowd of 30,000 set out with the wind and sun in their favour. Tho South set the pace from the outset and, awarded a penalty, Grainger tried a shot within a few minutes of the start. The kick missed, however, and Nepia sent the North away on an offensive which was halted by a breach. Kilby picked up and dived into the ruck, sonding out for Purdue to collect and change the venue. Bullock-Douglas came up fast to rob tho whites, Cowio losing possession. Douglas short kicked and picked up to get over in tho first ten minutes. Fuller took the kick about 12 yards out and capped a beautiful try by converting. North Island 5 South Island .. .. 0

North Island .. .. South Island .. ~ .. ..

Not a moment was lost and both sides went to it straight away, Kilby and Page figuring in a passing rush which saw Bullock-Douglas knock ort. Nepia was continually saving tho North with his fine lacking and sending them back to tho attack. The next moment there was a spectacular movement when all the black backs took part in a splendid rush but Fuller, who was last to handle, was grassed just short, of the liue.

After the backs had gained ground Killeen found the line in the corner, McKenzie picking up from the resultant throw-in and going over. Puller missed with the kick.

North Island 27 South Island Mr. Pauli, of Auckland, was the re force.

North Island South Island

Fifteen minutes had gone when North secured from the scrum. Page passed to Killeen, who made the South insides look like hacks when he went straight through to score under the posts. Fuller goaled;

North .. .. South ....

Andrews was playing a particularly good game for the South, but the backs were not going too well. North kept up the attack and Kilby sent the ball out to Page and Killeen. Killeen sent on to Caughey, who missed his pass. Hart snapped up the ball and drew the defenco and sent on to Andrews, who went away. Andrews passed to Fong, who outdistanced the opposition, coming across to scoro brilliantly under the posts. Purdue goaled: North 13 South 5 Hart broke through and looked certain to score when Nepia fooled him into kicking. Smith got there, but kicked too hard. The ball went dead. Back came the North, Hart dragged the North winger clown, but Hadley, Solomon and Lceson were there. Hadley scored for Fuller to convert: North 18 South 5 North came straight back after this and McLean made an opening down tho left flank. .Solomon, with Lceson in support, scored. Fuller failed to goal: North 21 South ~ ~ ~ 5 South swept the ground with a slashing, dribbling rush from winch Purdue' scored. At half-timo the score was: North 21 South S Second Spell Detailed. At this stage South had the breeze behind them and set out determinedly to

CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 23,

even the tally. There was little of interest until Cook sent out to Kilby and McKenzie, who pushed well through until forced into touch. It was Kilby who set it going again. He picked up in brilliant fashion, sent on to McLean, Solomon and Leeson, who gained ground but could not culniinaro the attempt. South attacked next, Scandrett sending to Fong, to Hart, who was pushed into touch. From the ruck Kilby picked up, but was beaten by Andrews and Metcalf. Scandrett sent the leather to Fong, who kicked high, and Kilby nulled the reception. Fuller came up fast but could not finish oil the offensive while a moment later Oliver made the same mistake. Nepia saved again and again at this stage, the South breaking away in sudden onslaughts. Scandrett transferred to Smith, who was robbed by McLean and Kilby to bring the play back to mid-field once more. South, however, were determined and went over in a fine rush, Grainger adding the extra points: South Island 13

• Clark replaced Cooper for the North after this. There was nothing of particular interest until Purdue took a free kick which went to Nopia. The black full-back sent it well back and Grainger secured sending it back to Solomon and Fuller, who made it hot temporarily. South Island were surprised a moment later when Solomon worked across to touch down beautifully. Fuller’s kick was unavailing:

Nepia was injured and had to leave the field with a damaged knee, Lillburne filling the vacancy. Ivilleen was also limping badly and appeared to bo fit for tho side-line. Steero was also hurt, but continued with the game. Manchester made the next run for tho lino and reached his objective without effort. Lillbumo tried to stop him, but was injured in the attempt. The kick added the extra points and made the score 10 minutes from time: South Island IS North Island 24 McLean was fighting brilliantly, secured and transferred to Killeen. Tho five-eighths sent it on and Dunne was caught in possession. Play was halted for ihc breach and Fuller took the kick, making no mistake: North Island 27 South Island 18 The crowd cheered Fuller owing ts the fact that he had put the kick over and also scored his 200 points for the season. Holder, who had come on for the South, essayed a kick a moment later without success and only three minutes remained to decide the issue. There was no alteration in tho last game of the season and the match ended:

Canterbury Stalls off Another Challenge SOUTH CANTERBURY BEATEN SHIELD-HOLDERS BELOW STRENGTH

Weakened considerably by me pioscncc of live of its best, players in the South Island team and the non-avail-ability of three others, Canterbury were hard pushed to stall off a challenge for the Eanfurly Shield from South Canterbury this afternoon, winning after a very hard and even game by stx points to three —an unconverted try and a penalty goal to an unconverted try. Playing conditions were good. Play in the first spell was fairly even, both sides doing an equal amount of attacking. South Canterbury were the first to score, Blythe, left wing, getting across five minutes after the start, following a line solo effort. The kick at goal missed. South Canterbury 8 Canterbury 0 From a scrum Canterbury hooked and Mullan sent on to Cobden, who cut in neatly and transferred to MortJoek to McPhail to Brown and then Mortlock again, the final receiver getting across. No goal resulted. South Canterbury 3 Canterbury .......... 3 A couple of minutes before half-time French put Canterbury in the lead, kicking a good penalty goal and making the scores: —• Canterbury 6 South Canterbury ...... 3 The challengers set up a hard attack following the reSunipnon, but King,

Wanganui’s Remarkable Recovery

FORWARDS ALMOST TURN THE TIDE BEATEN BY 21—19 AUCKLAND, Sept. 23. With tho half-time scoro IS—6 against them, Wanganui representatives made a wonderful recovery in the second spell in the game against Auckland played here to-day. The brilliance of the visiting forward line was responsible for the effacing of what promised to develop into a rout. Even play followed the opening of the game but Auckland were soon penalised for infringements on tho defence and from a good effort from well out Morgan landed an excellent penalty. More kick and rush tactics by the visitors had the northerners in difficulties and Auckland appeared in a poor light for a considerable period. Only good work by Bush at full back saved several ticklish situations.

Wanganui kept Auckland on the defensive and the northerners had little success in tho scrums, their backs rerecciving scant opportunity. Slyfield eventually got away to score when the ball came from the loose and converted his owm try. Kedglcy was next .to score from a- sudden back movement, Slyfield goaling.

Auckland .. .... . Wanganui .. .. .. .

In the last 15 minutes of the spell Morgan took a free kick for Wanganui and although the ball was elevated well, it went wide. Auckland responded with a slashing attack in which Slyfield and Kedgley showed their versatility but with only the TVanganui full back in opposition, Slyfield sent a pass to Townsend who fell. Bush attempted a field goal from near the halt way mark, missing by a yard or two. At this stage of the game Wanganui were having the better of it and Lockett raised hopes when he ran past four or five of tho Auckland, team with the ball at his feet. However, he kicked a little too hard when he met Bush and the latter gathered in and cleared. Auckland should have gained a further five points when Ross got over but Carter failed with the kick right m front of the posts. It was really Corner’s try. Slyfield sent him away and after making a brilliant opening, Corner transferred to Carter who outpaced the opposition and when faced by Bush, shot, out to Ross.

Auckland Wanganui

As the spell was ending Wanganui were awarded a free kick right in front of the posts which was successful. Auckland Wanganui G

Then, came a brilliant effort by the Auckland back line in which Derc and Siyfield figured, the latter scoring. Carter managed to get the ball over and half time was called with me score: Auckland Wanganui b Second Spell. The second spell had not proceeded far when Brogden, half-back for Wanganui, got. hurt and had to leave the field. He was replaced by Low. Wanganui missed a good scoring chance when a couple of forwards bustled Bush, but they fumbled the leather between them and the chance went begging. Auckland rallied and then Bush ran right through ou his own to make an opening for Townsend, but the kick at goal went astray. Auckland 2' Wanganui G

Hartnell and Howell lifted the pressure with a good passing bout. Cobden, Mortlock, McPhail, Rankin, Mullnn and Brown wero then associated in a movement that was halted only on South Canterbury’s goal-line, Brown losing possession when tackled. The defenders weathered the storm and play.went to midfield. South uanterbury forwards pressed and tho shield-holders were forced back on to their goal-line. The bail went over and Howell just beat a South Canterbury man to the touch-down. The challengers maintained the pressure and were again unlucky in missing a try. A further movement saw South Canterbury backs across, but they wero recalled for a forward pass. Even play followed, but the game ended without further score.

Smith (Wanganui) received a knock on the shoulder and It. was thought he would have to go off, but he carried on. Wanganui forwards renewed the attack and Lockett again broke through on his own and carried the ball right down to the line, where Siyfield saved. Relentlessly the pack renewed the effort and Lockett, Buckley and Dawson combined in an attack that proved irresistible and a try came out of the melee on the line. Morgan added the extra points and the score read: Auckland 21 Wanganui 11 Wanganui were now really awake and the forwards slogged through the opposition in a dazzling piece of w T ork that ended in Thompson scoring half-way between the posts and the corner. Morgan was not so successful this time with the kick: Auckland 21 Wanganui 14 There was no mistake now about the superiority of the Wanganui pack. Smith had to leave the field at this point, MePhee taking his place. A feature of the game right up to the present, was the deadly nature of the tackling