FOOTBALL TRIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 12

FOOTBALL TRIAL

INTER-ISLAND LEAGUE NORTH TEAM SUCCESSFUL MARGIN OF FIVE POINTS A DISAPPOINTING DISPLAY The annual inter-Island Rugby league match played at Carlaw Park on Saturday resulted in a win for North by 21- points to 16. North scored five tries, two converted, and a penalty goal to South's two tries, one converted, and four penalty goals. Conditions were ideal and there was an attendance estimated at 15,000. As a trial for tho forthcoming tour of the English team tho match was disappointing. It took both teams som-3 time to settle down and combination especially in the first spell was sadly lacking. During this period North was badly hampered through South hooking tho ball in the scrums. In spite of the advantage of getting the ball the South rearguard could do little with it and the players disappointed as a combination. Tho forwards wero fairly evenly matched, but honours all round went to the South, which fielded some outstanding players. Only in tho final stages of the game did South reveal team combination and during this period North had some very anxious moments on defence. On ono occasion McKneight got over the line, but was held up. If the South backs could have combined as effectively as the North rearguard was seen to advantage in the special spell, the result would havo been different. Many times some great opportunities wero thrown away through lack of experience. Splendid Tackling

Play to a large degree was kept close owing to splendid tackling. In this department the South forwards shone and it was no fault of the visiting vanguard that the score was not greater in the team's favour. They kept together ■well, but had too much work to carry out owing at times to weakness among the backs.

North was freely and rightly penalised in the first spell. The forwards on losing possession in the scrums were far too anxious to get among the visiting inside backs. There was a noticeablo improvement in the second hnlf, when players gave more weight and team play was seen to much better advantage as a result. The combination of the North backs was upset to some extent through Staples, first five-eighths, attempting too much alone. He repeatedly tried to use his weight in going through, but against sound tackling ho was easily checked. This hampered a fast threequarter line. In the second spoil Staples ■was shifted to tho wing and the combination of the rearguard greatly improved. There was more speed and thrust in the attacks. Brown Outstanding

For the North Island L. Brown, who scored two tries, plaj'ed an outstanding game. His elusive running and speed proved a thorn in the side of the opposition and his keen sense of anticipation allowed him to bo always handy when a scoring movement looked possible. Haslam played well at centre and mado gome nice openings through strong, straight running. Tittleton also played well and was more in the picture in the second spell, when he got the ball on the move. Coman, halfback, delivered beautiful passes and gave his outside men plenty of chances. Pickrang and Tetley were the best forwards. Ritchie, the South Island fullback, was weak and his all-round form was not up to inter-Island standard. Kiel.v, centre,, did well individually, but was hampered through the back line failing as a combination. Vincent, second liveeighths, appeared too slow for the . position. He.was seldom on the move when receiving a pass. McCarthy played a sound game at halfback. Of a fine pack of forwards McKneight and Beban stood out. An Early Goal Early in the game North was penalised and Davison kicked a nice goal. South, 2; North, 0. The North backs combined well and Brown gained •useful ground. The North forwards, with Pickrang prominent, had South defending, and Haslam went close to scoring. South repeatedly won the ball from set scrums, but the backs failed to penetrate. Coutts snapped up a crosskick by Dempsey and passed to Coman and Tetley scored. Anderson failed to convert,- North, 3; South, 2. Then Davison kicked another nice penalty goal. South, 4; North, 3. In a rearguard attack Hendry changed direction and Vincent was just stopped when a try looked possible. North was penalised and Davison added his third penalty goal. South, 6; North, 3. From a passing bout Haslam made a nico opening, but Bright missed the pass and a certain try. Ritchie fielded well and started a promising South passing bout, but Brown tackled Davison soundly. - Play had so far been dull. Dempsey, Tittleton, Haslam and Brown were associated in a passing bout, which Ritchie stopped with a nice tackle. From another. penalty Davison kicked a good goal. South, S; North, 3. From a scrum near halfway McCarthy cut in nicely and passed to Beban, but McKneight held on when a try looked certain. Coman worked the blind side well and Brown raced over. Anderson failed to convert. The score at half-time was:— South Island ,8 North Island 6

Clever Try On resuming the North backs opened frith a nice passing bout and Bright cleverly beat tho defence to score. Anderson converted. North, 11; South, 8. A few minutes later the wholo North hack team raced into combination and Tittlcton scored a good try. Anderson converted with a fine kick. North, 16; South, 8 . Tetley started a passing bout from North's twenty-five and Haslam made a good opening for Brown, who was tackled in South's twenty-five. Vincent and Garrett; raised South's hopes and Kiflv was prominent in a well combined oJloiisivn The North backs, however, were always dangerous. Pick rang broke a way and from a passing bout, Brown scored Anderson just failed to convert. North, 19; South, 8. A rearrangement of tho North backs sharpened up the attack and Tittloton went close to scoring. Tho South backs were beaten in the finer points of the game. Vincent was penalised for not playing tho ball, and Anderson kicked a penalty goal. North, 21; South, 8. In a bright South passing bout Garrett lost the ball on the goal line, but McCarthy made amends and scored for Davison to convert North, 21; South, 13.

The South forwards played with more dash and Calder just missed a try. From tho loose Vincent snapped up and passed to Hendry, who scored. Davison failed to convert and tho game ended with tfte score:— North Island .. ~ .. 21. South Island > . .... 16 Mr. P. Kogers was referee.