The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” MONDAY, JULY 31, 1939. A Rugby Triumph

Northern Advocate, 31 July 1939, Page 6

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST”

MONDAY, JULY 31, 1939. A Rugby Triumph

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VICTORY is all the sweeter when it can be wrested from worthy opponents; and so there has probably never been a more satisfying moment for Northland Rugby enthusiasts than when the whistle blew for “no-side” at Kensington Park on Saturday afternoon, leaving Northland victorious over the full strength of Auckland by 14 points to 0. Northland had won on four previous occasions, but the Auckland team was not always at full strength. In any case, victory is doubly welcome this year on account of Northland’s series of big matches on its home ground. Saturday’s match gave an auspicious start to this series, and the results should be highly encouraging to the Northland Rugby Union, as not only was victory clearly and decisively won, by the margin of four tries to two, but it was won by sound methods, which reflected a perceptible advance in Northland’s standard of play. Hitherto the chief characteristic of our Northern Rugby has been the excellent type of forward play. Teams playing under somewhat primitive conditions in remote country districts, often on very muddy grounds, have little chance to cultivate the refinement of polished back play, but they do breed a grand type of robust forward, excelling in broken play, and among the world’s best under heavy conditions. Without exaggeration, it may be said that the typical Northland forward—and in particular the typical Maori forward of the North —should command the respect of all students of the art of Rugby for his mastery of this style of play. A big occasion on a wet ground sees them rising to heights worthy of the famous border forwards of Scotland, or the fiery Irishmen whose irresistible sallies on the wet turf of Lansdown Road, Dublin, are a legend in the annals of Rugby. In 1937 our Northland Rugby forwards proved their mettle under those conditions against a team of forwards —the Springboks—acknowledged to be among the greatest the game has ever knowm. On that memorable occasion Cooper, Morresey, Wordley and the rest covered themselves with mud and glory, and on Saturday they did so again. Valiantly as the Auckland pack toiled in their efforts to regain the lead—and those Auckland forwards deserve credit for their splendid tenacity—the Northland pack was always a match for them. It w r as 1937 over again. Time and again the Northland forwards burst from the scrums, two and three abreast, and started rushes that were stirring to wmtch. But to this superb forward play there was something added, which few of our Northland teams have had before. In this team we had not only good forwards, but backs who had accuracy, resource, intelligence and firm defence. Against an Auckland five-eighths combination, already spoken of as a potential All Black partnership, the Northland pair, especially the nimble Gibson, proved themselves match winners, and behind them were splendid three-quarters and a full-back, Masters, who was a host in himself. There is something particularly stirring about a hard fought game of Rugby, and something peculiarly satisfying to supporters of a team which triumphed in a close and spirited game. Thus Saturday’s match yielded a full measure of excitement and satisfaction. As a sporting spectacle, such a game is as fine as anything one could wish to see, amply compensating for the cold and rain. A particularly agreeable feature—even more important than victory—was the excellent sporting spirit shown by both sides.