ISLAND RUGBY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21919, 1 October 1934, Page 12

ISLAND RUGBY

HIGH SCORING CONTEST VICTORY FOR SOUTH TEAM TWENTY-SEVEN POINTS TO 20 SOUTHERN FORWARDS EXCEL [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN. Sunday After leading by 18 points to S at half-time South Island beat the North fry 27 points to 20 yesterday in a game tvhich was played on a dry ground in the presence of 15,000 people. It was one of the fastest and finest displays of bright open football seen in Dunedin for years. South owed its victory to its splendid pack of forwards. After dominating the game in the first spell they eased uff in the second and North Island's .core mounted rapidly until half-way through the second spoil North Island was leading by 20 points to IS. In the fast twenty minutes, however, the southern pack reasserted its mastery .ind, driving North back in a series of brilliant rushes, the forwards paved the way for two brilliant tries by Hart which placed the issue beyond doubt. A fairly strong breer.e was blowing right down the Carisbrnok ground and, playing with this behii:.d it in the first spell, the South Island team ran all over the North, leading by 13 points to nil after twenty minutes' play. Two tries were scored by Mitchell and converted by Nolan, and, on the opposite wing, Hart crossed after a thirty yards run to' score an unconverted try. South's nest try came when Oliver crossed after a good cut through by Gaffanov, Nolan converting. In the last ten minutes of the spell, North, which never previously looked dangerous, opened its score when Reid crossed for an unconverted try. Bush Pots a Goal With the wind behind it in the second half North quickly ran up a score, Bush potting a goal and Clarke, McKenzie- and Stringfellow scoring tries, one of which was converted by Clarke and another by Davies. It looked as if North was going to romp home, but the southern, forward:!, playing a wonderful game, dominated the last twenty minutes of the spell. Nolan gave South a lead once more by kicking a penalty goal from well out and twice within about tan minutes Hart raced down the touch line, going over at the corner on each occasion for an unconverted try. Although the two packs were evenly matched for weight, the South Island forwards packed a better scrum and in the first half North was consistently beaten for tho ball. After running up a lead of 18 points they eased off and in the second spell the fast breaking North Islanders held them in check, securing more of the ball from the set scrums and linking up well in looso rushes which found gaps in South's defence. Toward tue end of the game, which was played at a tremendous pace, the northerners began to fail under solid scrummaging tactics, and it was a woll-beaten northern pack which left the field. j Value ol Possess!,on The game was a striking illustration of the value of possession, and of forwards who would work in the tight. Of the South pack Hore, Adkins, Best and King were always prominent. Leuson, who was a tireless worker, Clarke,, Reid and McKenzie were outstanding iaorthern forwards. Rolls, at the back ol: the Bcrum, was a passenger 1 . Simon overshadowed Nunn and, particularly in the first spell, played a wonderful game. Oliver was brilliant at centre and Gaffaaey aLso played a fins game. When he was hart Smith came on as centre, Oliver going .to tiecond five-eighths, but Smith was a poor substitute. Hart was the only impressive wing, his two last tries being brilliant efforts. Nolan was easily the better fullback, while Griffiths and Stringfellow were the best oif an ttniinsipiririg northern back line. . i : ,