New Zealanders Much Improved Team

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 267, 12 November 1945, Page 4

New Zealanders Much Improved Team

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. \ N.Z.E.F. Correspondent Received Sunday, 7.10 p.m. LEEDS, Nov. 10.

In beating Northern Services 14 —7 at Headingley, the N.Z.E.F. team provided a crowd of nearly 20,000 with a hne exhibition in the fastest Bug by Union game seen at Leeds for many years. Against 12 internationals drawn from both codes the Kiwis were fully extended and with both sets of backs throwing the ball around, the game was crammed yrith exciting incidents. The New Zealanders’ pack today showed much more fire than in Wales and it gave the backs a fair share of the ball. Though they scored only two tries, each came from classic combined movements which completely beat the exceptionally fine and experienced defence. The Kiwis’ backs made many more mistakes than their more experienced opponents, but also showed much more thrust and for the last quarter of the game the tourists were attacking consistently. From the start of the game both sets of backs gave the ball an airing, Services going very close before a forward pass spoiled the movement. Arnold and Bhind broke clear through but were recalled and Services carried play back with two good passing rushes. Dobson missed a low pass but dribbled through to the fullback, who cleared brilliantly. Then Johnson, on the Services’ right wing, electrified the crowd with a great side-stepping run until Smith downed him. Good play by Edwards and Allen took play back and Cook kicked a good penalty goal. E. Evans made a long solo run through poor tackling and from loose play in the New Zealand quarter, C. Evans kicked a fine field goal. The packs were scrummaging vigorously with the Kiwi forwards getting the ball back much better than in their previous three games. Cook, then Ward, missed penalties. From loose play the ball went to Argus, who made a fine run but stepped out of touch. A minute later Argus was flying again after a good passing rush and be veered infield where he was stopped. Cook next missed another penalty.

KIWIS’ FIRST TRY. The Services’ forwards hustled the play to Cook who just cleared. Then came a great passing rush, Dobson cutting in, and Smith giving Argus room to work. Argus bumped off two tacklers and then sent infield to Dobson who ran over unopposed, Cook missing. The Kiwi packmen were playing a great bustling game. Edwards and Argus worked the blind side but Argus was downed and Edwards got the ball away again on the open side, Smith brilliantly going between two defenders and sending Boggs on a long run to score wide out. Cook converted and at half time the score was 11—1 in New Zealand’s favour. From the kick-off the Kiwis attacked and when a passing rush had been well blocked, Smith failed with an attempt at a field goal. From a scrufti the ball travelled along to Argus and back to Dobson and to Smith, who lined the Services’ quarter. In another passing rush the fullback. Trott, who played a great game, fielded Dobson’s short punt and lined with a long kick. The Services’ forwards carried on from the lineout, then let the ball to their backs, Smith stopping the movement with a fine tackle. Again Services attacked, their forwards breaking through, but Cook, who was thrilling the crowd with ling line kicks, drove the play back. The Services’ backs drove deep with a good passing rush, then, from a scrum, the scrumhalf, Ellis, passed to C. Evans, the standoff, on the narrow blind side, and Evans jigged through the defence with an amazing clever run. Boggs caught him as he crossed the line, held him upright, then pushed him out of touch in goal, but the referee ruled he had touched down. Ward missed with the kick. From the restart the Kiwi forwards bustled play to the Services’ line and Cook kicked a good penalty.

NO FURTHER SCORE. Though there was no further score, play continued to be very fast and exciting with Trott putting up a magmhcent performance and repeatedly getting the ball away to the line. Ward came to light with a fine solo run but was injured and retired. He had been a continual menace to the Kiwis with strong, tricky runs. Smith and Boggs showed up in a good run, Johnston stopping it. Then Ellis twice found the line when hard pressed. A minute later Ellis retired injured hut resumed a little later. The Kiwis continued their pressure in the last few minutes of the match but were unable to score. . The marked improvement in the forwards makes the prospects in future matches much brighter. The chief weakness in the team now is occasional lapses into poor tackling. It took a really fine rearguard to keep the Kiwi tries down to two today. The team found the interpretations of the referee, J. B. G. Whittaker, secretary of the Lancashire Rugby Union, easier to follow than those of previous whistlers, but the improvement in the forward play is evidently due to the few games together and to the rest they had in London before this match. Rbind, Arnold, and Simpson were the best of the forwards. Smith, who is already getting a great reputation in England, was the best of the backs and Argus played *n exceptionally fine game. Edwards at halfback stood up splendidly to much attention from loose forwards and played his best game to date.