HIGH SCORING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22983, 10 March 1938, Page 8

HIGH SCORING

JNTERNATIONAL RUQBY ENGLAND BEATS IRELAND [FROM OUR OWN COURESPONOENTjI LONDON, Feb. 16 Jn 40 minutes England scored more points against Ireland, on February 12, than in all of its international matches last season. Leading by 23 points to 0 at half-time, England finally routed the Irish by 36 points to 14, Last year, in winning the triple crown and championship, the English fifteen scored 19 points only. Jt was a fantastic game, and will be remembered as one ol tho strangest international matches played. With the aid of a high wind in tho first half, England piled up a lead that demoralised the Irish, who "playing like a team of preparatory school boys, could novor recover," to use the words of a critic- lie added: —"All the sense was blown out of tho game." Fifteen of tho 23 points notched in tho first half were scored in the last ten minutes. With tho wind behind them, Ireland drew first blood in the second half, and, owing perhaps to over-con-fidence, England struck a bad patch. Again, in the last ten minutes, there was another orgy of scoring, 14 points being piled up, eight to England and six to .Ireland. Throughout the game the English pack held a vvnip hand, and won 42 set serummages out of 57. Play was not of a. particularly high standard, and bad defensive and offensive play by England in the Becond half marred thoir victory. A critic's comment was: —"I think that we must write this match oil as just one of tho curiosities of Rugby football. It leaves the international championship in a queer tangle, for England, Wales and Ireland have now -all been beaten once."