WALLABIES' LAST MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20986, 24 September 1931, Page 12

WALLABIES' LAST MATCH.

t COMBINED TEAM BEATEN.

THIRTY POINTS TO TEN.

VISITORS TAKE MANY RISKS

ROSS PLAYS FINE GAME

The Wallabies brought their tour to a successful conclusion yesterday by defeating a combined Waikato-King Country team by 30 points to 10 and scoring their best win. The winners scored e'.ght tries, three of which were converted and the Combined team/s points were scored by two penalty goals and a potted goal. (Conditions were all in favour of fast play and the Wallab.es used them to every advantage.

The winners took all sorts of risks, j throwing the ball about with abandon from any position. They provided plenty of spectacular play, but made se\eral mistakes and the opposition was not capable of turning these to advantage. In the first'spell the Combined team gained more of the ball from the sciums. but the Wallabies obtained possession on almost every , occasion in the second half. Of the visiting forwards Perrin stood out prominently, especially in the loose and line-outs, and he received good support from dudd, Blair and White. The Combined forwards played well with poor support from the backs. Reynolds stood out prominently and Thomas and Meredith were seen to advantage in t lie loose. The Combined inside backs were very weak as an attacking force. Carlson, on the wing, was the outstanding back as he displayed plenty of dash iu the opportunities made by himself. Hook, on the other wing, was weak on defence. The match was plaved before an attendance of about 4000 spectators. .T. /Clark captained the Wallabies and the Combined team was led by Fitzgerald. The teams were as follows: Wallabies.—Fullback. A. W. Ross; three-quarters/ D. L. Cowper, P. Clark, C. H. Towers, W. Hemingway; halves, H. Primrose, O. Bennett; forwards. M. I*. Rla'r, E. Boris, E. Love, M. White, B. Judd, J. Clark. T. Perrin, O. Bridle. Combined.—Fullback. S. Thomas; threeouarters, h. Hook, J. R. 1* it'/gerald, W. H. Carlson: five-eighths, P. Quin, A. V. Hilling; halfback'. W. Riley: forwards, C. Cameron (wins;), J. Leeson. B. 1 hnmas, A. Cameron. J. Reynolds, L. Meredith, D. Elisor, C. Pe'erson. A Fine Goal. The Combined team won the toss and a minute after the kick-off Cowper was penalised for obstruction. Carlson took the kick and landed a fine goal from ten I vards inside halfway. The ball hit the / upright and bounced the right way. Combined, 3; Wallabies, 0. Infusing plenty of dash into their play the Combined forwards kept the visitors penned in their own territory. The advantage was lost, however, through the local bricks passing'poorly and penalties against the pack. Each time the Wallabies backs attempted to open up the game their movements were frustrated by sound tack- v ling. However, once the home team was lucky when Hook intercepted a pass right on his line. On two other occasions Hemingway and Cciwper lost tries through knocking on at the end of passing bouts. Waikato made a brief attack and then the Wallabie's were seen in a fine movement. Towers shone out in making a good opening and eventually the ball came infield to Perrin, who touched down by the posts. Ross easily converted. .Wallabies, 5; Combined, 3. The Wallabies were throwing the ball about in free style and a minute later Towers made an opportunity for Cowper by drawing Thomas. The threequarter made no mistake and touched down behind the posts. Ross again converted. Wallabies. _ 10; Combined, 3. A moment later Gilling ran round the blind side of a scrum and gained considerable. ground. The ball went back to Thomas, who, with plenty of time, set himself and 7 'potted a beautiful goal. 'Wallabies, 10; Combined, 7. Visitors Pressed.

Stirred by this success, the Waikato ran guard gave the visitors some stienuous moments on defence and twice Ross just forced in the nick of time. Still maintaining the advantage, the Combined team had'the Wallabies worried until Cowper beat Thomas badly af'er a bout of passing, but the threequarter was ruled out. The line umpire was a little late in holding up his flag in what seemed a very doubtful decision. Gradually the Wallabies were gaining the upper hand, although the backs lost oppor unities and ground through faulty handling. Then the Combined team took its turn and Jobpassing by the backs spoiled some likely chances. A try was just missed when Reynolds broke clear from a loose scrum. He ran to Ross and although his pass went as*ray, Thomas kicked on and was beaten by a fraction for the touch-down. The Combined team maintained the pressure, only good defence bv Towers and Ross saving a couple of dangerous situations. The open play of the Wallabies was at last rewarded when Cowper dashed down the line after lowers had run him into a nice position. Cowper was well tackled by Thomas a few inches short of his objective, but P. Clark came lip fast, and carried on to score at the corner. The angle was too difficult for Ross and half-time came a minute later with the score: — Wallabies 13 Combined 7

The Lead Increased. On resuming the Wallabies had the advantage of a slight wind which had sprung up, /and .in the first minute Itoss was unsuccessful with a pot. An excellent passing rush in which several players handled "the ball, ended in Psrrin taking a difficult pass at his feet and scoring near the posts. Ross easily con-' verted. W r allabies, 13; Combined, 7. The Wallabies were obtaining possession from the scrums, and although mishandling cost ground, Ross retrieved the position with an excellent line kick. Apm the visiting backs set off, and I. Clark ran through a rather weak defence to score wide out. Ross failed with the kick. Wallabies, 21; Combined, 7. Hook intercepted a pass at liaifway and Riley and Reynolds came into a passing bout, the last-named being tackled a few ■vards short of the line. Play swung •icross the other side of the field, Hook "fooling" tlie opposition and Carlson made a good effort to score. Ine defence, however, was 100 sound. Ihe Waikato forwards made a pre at effort which broke through the deTence as far as Ross Offside plav gave Carlson another chance and he landed a fine goal from well out. Wallabies, 21 ; Combined, 10. The Wallabies were now continually on the attack. From a line-out at halfway, Bennett made a beautiful opening, going right through tlie opposition to Thomas. White came up fast to accept the transfer and s< ore by the posts. Ross TTiishGcl ill f? oasv kirk. W alia talcs. 24 , Combined,/10 Immediately lowers marie a beautiful opening, only to see Cowper miss his pass nnd lose a certain try. However Combined coiild not withstand the attack long and Love was next to score by touching down from a loose rush at the corner. Ross made a good attempt at. goal, his kick just/going wide. Wallabies, Combined, 10 - , The Wallabies were never tumbled in the final stages and 1 emmgway scored a ,nice try after all the backs had handled. Ross failed to convert and the game ended with the scoie.

;s Wallabies Combined . • • • . • 10 . Mr. C. F. Faull, Auckland, was referee,