Brigade Scores Runaway Win In Army Rep. Rugby

Northern Advocate, 28 June 1943, Page 6

Brigade Scores Runaway Win In Army Rep. Rugby

Concluding the Army Week programme in the Whangarei war loan campaign, the first army representative football match of the season was played at Rugby Park on Saturday afternoon before a large crowd. Although the game produced good football in the first half, it deteriorated in the second spell, and Brigade, after leading by 15 points to 8 over Division at half-time, won by 32 points to 8.

The opening phases promised a firstclass exhibition, both sides handling well and playing at a fast pace. Division, in particular, showed sure handling, and the ball travelled nicely along the back line, while the forwards worked hard. As the first half moved to a close, however, Brigade took charge, and in the second half piled up the points. Pack-Work Policy

Brigade forwards iworked as a pack, and maintained this policy, producing little play in the loose. On the other hand, Division forwards were not at home in the tight, and the heavy thrusting of the opposing vanguard repeatedly overran the defence and gave the backs ample opportunities. Just what happened to the Division backs was hard to determine. Several nice movements of the opening stages were not repeated, the line became disorganised, and there was weakness in tackling. Brigade backs did not start so dashingly, but when they settled down they showed beautiful handling, happy combination and ability to snap up chances and turn them to profit. Many of the tries were purely due to opportunism with the support of good backing. Perry, the Division full-back, gave a good account of himself during a hard afternoon, but he was overshadowed by his vis-a-vis, Hook, the former Auckland and North Island full-back, who gave a great display of cool positional play, good handling and sure kicking, and even scored a try. The Brigade centre, Smith, was the best player on the ground. Repeatedly he opened up movements for the other backs, and his fast, strong, penetrating running was a feature. Whaanga, the first fn-e-eighths, handled beautifully, and his quickness off the mark gave many of the attacks a flying start. Proctor, his outside, made mistakes, but over the latter stages was carrying more than his share of the back movements. Ahipene, the half-back, gave good service from the scrum, and always joined in the attack. Tibbie, Terry, Jacobs and Poihipi were the best of the forwards. Stewart, a winger, and Dobson, the second five-eighths, were Division’s best backs. Dobson has been playing good football each Saturday, but he did not receive the support from the other backs in this game. Arblaster, Johnson and Matchett were the best of the forwards.

Brigade made no effort to assist the spectators by numbering the players, suffering in contrast to Division's large identifications. This defect should be remedied in future matches. Premising Start Unfulfilled The teams were:— Brigade.—Hook. Donnelly, Smith, White Whaanga, Proctor, Ahipene, Tibbie, Edmonds, Jones, McEwing, Terry, Jacobs, Munro, Poihipi. Division.—Perry, Stewart, Parsons, Walkington, Halliday, Dobson, Bean, Arblaster, Bullett, Butler, Pring, Matchett, Johnston, O’Brien, Stembridge. Brigade opened with hard, fast attacks, but Division stemmed the tide and returned, Halliday sending to Dobson, who made an opening to send to Parsons, who scored near the posts, Dobson converting. After a considerable time on the defensive, Brigade took a turn and Smith snapped up, fended two opposing players and sent to White, who outpaced the opposition and scored handily, Hook converting and making the scores even. Ten points in a little more than as many minutes indicated a hard-fought and even game. Division again took the offensive temporarily. A long clearing kick was fumbled, allowing the Brigade forwards to smother a return, and then several handled before McEwing went over for a try converted by Hook to put Brigade in the lead.

Brigade came again, Whaanga sending to Smith, to White and then to Smith, who had run round to make an extra man, and he was too swift for the opposition in the race for the line. Hook again raised the flags. With desperate effort Division gained the opposite quarter and Parsons went over in the corner for an unconverted try, half-time coming with the score: Brigade 15, Division 8. The second half was all in Brigade’s favour. Division’s attempts to hold the attacks were practically fruitless and holes were repeatedly punched in the defence. Forward play took Poihipi oven for an unconverted try and then Proctor and Smith opened up a sudden thrust which Whaanga finished with a try, Hook converting. More ruckin'* by the Brigade forwards was productive, Jacobs going over in a corner for another unconverted try, and next Proctor went through on his own for Smith to convert. By this time there was little to keep Hook, the full-back, busy, and to warm up he joined the three-quarter line, sending the ball along and then running round to gather again and score a try which was too far out for him to convert, and the game ended: Brigade 32, Division 3. Mr. R. Morrison was the referee. Other Games Fortress, a visiting team to Whangarei, had more than the measure of Air Force in the senior grade curtain-raiser. Air Force was not at strength, and Fortress, with good handling, better backing up and more initiative, won by 16 points to 11, Air Force making a late bid to pick up the leeway. Shortcliffe and Titchener, two strong, fast runners, each scored two tries for Fortress and Sutherland twice converted, while for Air Force, Creswell and Duff scored tries, Hayward converting one and kicking a penalty goal. In the junior grade, Central, superior in both back and forward departments, defeated Air Training Corps by nine points to three. Flavell, Bedlington and Donaldson scored tries for Central, and Drinnan crossed for the cadets. The other junior game went to Hora Hora, which beat School by eight points to six. Edwards scored a try for Hora Hora, McNay converting and kicking a penalty goal, while for School, Cook scored a try and Nisbet kicked a penalty goal. A third grade game was won by Portland from Air Training Corps by six points to five. Whitham scored two tries for Portland, and B. Beasley crossed for the cadets, Rice converting.