RUGBY SURPRISE

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 12

RUGBY SURPRISE

SCOTLAND’S TRIUMPH

DRAMATIC END TO MATCH WITH WELSH FIFTEEN

Few Rugby internationals have endec! so dramatically or unexpectedly as that between Scotland and Wales ai Murray field, Edinburgh (writes a London correspondent). Seldom has a gathering of 55,000 spectators been roused to such a spontaneous outburst of enthusiasm. Two minutes to go and Wales were leading by two tries to a goal—6 points to 5. It was a case of now or never for Scotland. They launched a wonderful rally', and hotly assaulteu the Welsh line. Suddenly the referee blew his whistle and pointed to a Welsh forward lying on the ground in the scrum and playing the ball with his hand. A penalty against Wales was inevitable. W. H. Crawford took the kick in a fairly easy position and steered the ball dead through the middle. Scotland had won, by 8 points to 6. The result was a big surprise. Scotland’s team was largely an experimental one, and it was not thought that it would be able to hold its own against the Welsh fifteen who had convincingly defeated England. Only in one circumstance, however, was it fortunate. For more than half the game Wales had to struggle against it was seven forwards. E. Morgan had to go to hospital with a fractured rib, and though one can only conjecture what was the effect of his loss, the pack did not display the same spirit as in the match with England, though it was able to provide the backs with an ample supply of the ball.

With W. Wooller at centre threequarter it was expected that Wales would hold a winning advantage behind the scrum, but the three-quar-ters did not move in the style anticipated, probably owing to the slowness with which they received the ball. The defence ana covering of the Scots was superb.