RUGBY CHAMPIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 3 June 1930, Page 5

RUGBY CHAMPIONS

ENGLAND'S SUCCESS

FRANCE DEFEATED BY WALES

(From Our Own Correspondent)

LONDON, 24th April. England are the national champions of Rugby through the win which Wales gained in the final match of the season against France. They won two, and drew one, of their four games, the one lost being that with Ireland. Wales, Ireland, and France have similar records, and Scotland hold the wooden' spoon. The meeting of France and Wales created tremendous interest. It was France's red letter day. Never before had they done so well, and they had the highest hopes of winning, and so securing the championship for_ the first time since they were recognised as a first-class football country twenty-two years ago. The Colombes Stadium was crowded until the gates had to be closed. Shortly before the start a Welsh spectator, escaping the vigilance of the police, raced on to the ground, and, climbing a goalpost, placed a leek on the cross : bar and by its side an English rose. His action was prophetic, for Wales were successful by two dropped goals and a try to nil, and, as has been stated, this victory gave England the championship. Excited as were the crowd, the players were even more so, and as a display of international football the game was most disappointTlie referee, a Yorkshireman, had a most unhappy experience. He insisted on the rules being strictly observed, and lie cautioned a man on each side for his uncontrolled actions. But there were many things in the match which reflected unfortunately on the teams, and early in the second half he called the sixteen forwards together and gave them an address, To do this lie had to call to his aid an interpreter. There was no doubt that France lost whatever chance they had of winning by their excitement. The forwards did not pack well, and they rarely heeled cleanly. In fact, the match was little better than a long scramble, and even the Welsh backs seldom got going, lhey were scarcely Lo blame for this, because,, in the style in which the matcn was played, passing advances were most difficult to start and carry out. But from the beginning the superiority of Wales was clearly marked, and at the finish the French crowd accepted the result in the right spirit. Guv Morgan played a great game tor Wales, and, after a try had been scored in a loose rush in the first half, his cleverly dropped goal after the change of ends practically settled the game. A few minutes later Powell, the half back, dropped a second goal, and after that France were overplayed.