GREAT FORWARD PLAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22191, 19 August 1935, Page 12

GREAT FORWARD PLAY

ADVANTAGE TO SOUTH NORTH BACKS SUPERIOR COOKE'S OUTSTANDING GAME Considering the conditions the match was one of the best yet seen at Cnrlaw Park, the accurate handling and passing of the North Island backs and the excellent loose play of the South Island forwards being outstanding features. The heavy ground was all in favour of the visiting team and the forwards did not fail to take every advantage of the position. North had a definite superiority in the backs, whose combination, penetration and all-round play was much better than that of the opposition. Although the South rearguard defended stubbornly it never looked very dangerous its an attacking force. This was not for the want of opportunities, as the forwards gave the backs plenty of chances. It was noticeable in the second spell that the South forwards kept the play as much as possible to themselves and they met with considerable success through these tactics. Few will readily forget that line of big forwards in the many thrilling loose rushes which made heavy gaps in the defence. Compact Scrum Except in handling and the finer points of the code, the South vanguard was superior to North, while it packed a much more compact scrum. It was no fault of the visiting forward line that the team failed by two points to take away the Courtney Silver Football, donated for inter-island competition. The North Island hacks proved the deciding factor in the match and they Mere always dangerous. The score would have been much higher against the visitors but tor the splendid tackling and covering of their forwards. Just after South took the lead weak tackling by the South five-eighths let Prentice through to give the Cooke the deciding try.

South, however, hnd a great chance of winning the match with only three minutes to go. A penalty was awarded in the North twenty-five well within goal range, but Amos, the South captain, elected to kiclf. Again North was fortunate when Hutt scored a simple try from a poor drop-out by Amos, which cost the side five points! The team work of the North side was more polished than that of the South thirteen and the winners were the better team. The North players showed more understanding and ability to turn quickly to advantage mistakes by the-opposition. An outstanding game for North was played by A. E. Cooke, both his attack' and defence being high-class. In several attacking movements he joined in twice, while his cleverness on defence enahled him to gather the ball from the feet of the opposing forwards and get in wellplaced kicks. • The North Backs All the North backs, with the exception of Campbell, played well. Powell did fine work both on attack and defence, while Prentice, Brown and Mincham were at the top of their form. T'ittleton,' South Auckland, showed promising form. Campbell was not so sound as usual and seemed to be too deliberate in his movements. With the exception of Amos none of the South backs impressed as likely New Zealand players. They were solid, but, lacked the necessary thrust and pace on attack. Beban. on the wine, did not show form worthy of the occasion. In a fine pack of forwards it would be rather unfair to individualise, but Calder, Glynn. Serra and Anderson were always noticeable for splendid play. C. Satherley was the outstanding forward for the North Island. TEAMS ENTERTAINED ' HIGH STANDARD SET The teams were entertained at dinner on Saturday night at the Metropolitan Hotel. Mr. C. A. Snedden, president of the New Zealand Rugbv League, congratulated the North Island team on winning the Courtney silver football, which was presented in 1930 for inter-island competition. He also congratulated the South Island team on its great game, and said that the code had a promising future in the South. The progress of the code in New Zealand depended much upon the team chosen to meet the Australians and he though that the 1935 New Zealand team would uphold the high standard of play seen on Saturday. Mr. E. Stallworthy also paid a tribute to the fine football of the visitors, who included several prominent, players lately associated with the Rugby Union code. In proposing the toast of the North Island team, Mr. C. Hall, selector of the South Island thirteen, said the game revealed a splendid New Zealand team in the making. While the North Island team had won the game, the visitors had done better than he expected. Mr. Hall expressed pleasure at the capable manner in which Mr. M. Wetherill controlled the game. J. Amos and A. E. Cooke, captains of the South and North Island teams respectively, paid a tribute to the players for the clean, sporting spirit in which the match was contested. Both captains praised the standard of refereeing. TRIAL MATCH GOOD BACK PLAY The A and B Rugby League trial was played on a heavy ground as a curtain-raiser to the North-South Island fixture. In spite of the conditions both teams played fast, open football and good back play was a feature of the game. The A team won by 22 points to 19. In the first half the B team had much the better of the game, and led by 13 points to 5. The B team's backs, Brimble, Rhodes and McNeil, were seen in several nice movements, and there was not ft dull moment. The first try came to the B team when Riley broke away and passed to Tetley, who made a nice opening. Four others joined in the attack, and finally Riley scored. There was some splendid goal kicking by Fletcher for the A team and Kerr for the B team. In the second half, A. S. O'Connor, of Wellington, replaced Halloran in the A team, and Hapi replaced Watene who was a reserve for the North Island. O'Connor made a good impression and sent out nice passes. The A team backs were seen to advantage in the second half, and scored several nice tries. Fletcher was the most impressive back for the A team. Dempsey played soundly at fullback, while Loader and Watene got through good work on attack. Shadbolt, Keane and Woods were the best of the forwards. In the B team, Hall and McNeil, on the wings, played with plenty of dash. Rhodes was also prominent. Tetley was the best forward, and was well supported by Lawless and Herring. For the A team tries wore scored by Glover, Woods, Hapi and Fletcher. Fletcher converted four tries and kicked a penalty goal. For the B team, McNeil scored two tries, and Riley, Hall and W. Brimble one each. Kerr converted one try, and kicked a penalty goal. Mr. S. Billmau was referee.