NORTH TEAM WINS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23044, 23 May 1938, Page 13

NORTH TEAM WINS

SOUTH OUTCLASSED IFIFTY-FIVE POINTS TO TWO SMITH'S OUTSTANDING GAME HERRING SCORES THREE TRIES Outclassing its opponents in all departments of the game, the North Island team defeated the South Island in the Rnghv League match at Car law Park on Saturday by do points to 2. A large crowd gathered to watch the i'iiatch, and it was very disappointed at the display of the southerners. North led at hall-time by 17 points to 2. AYeather and ground conditions were .excellent. \fter the interval, the South team tired . 'llv inj Xorth scored tries at case against " poor defence. .North scored 11 tries Smith converting ten, and also kicking a goal •from a penalty. Most of his kicks, however, «ere from in front of the posts. Herring, a forward scored three tries. Souths only ooints were from a penalty goal. South started well, covering up nicely on defence and smothering all Xorth attacks. "When the North team settled down, however, there was only one team in the picture. Many ■i-lever combined movements were executed and the reverse pass was used to good effect. Speed from the base of the scrum, due to the fine combination of the Brinible brothers, gave •the North backs every opportunity, and deep thrusts were made in the defence. South was .quite nonplussed when the Xorth forwards often joined in passing bouts, and handled as wel' as the backs, besides showing much individual cleverness. Passing with precision and handling accurately seemed to be a lost art among the South pack. It was well beaten in the finer points and in work around the ;scrum. , Fullback Weak Scott the South halfback, got the ball «wav well, but all his good work went for nothing owing to the slowness of the fiveeighths' line. Brown, the South centre, was .starved on attack but did great work on defence. He appealed as the only South Island plaver on the day worthy of Xow Zealand honours. Taylor, the fullback, was very weak ;all round. , IL .. An outstanding game for the North was played bv J. Smith, at fullback. He handled .and kicked well, and was very sound on defence. while he showed much cleverness in running his backs into attacking positions. •laII the other backs played well, and much ipromise was shown by the two wing-three-.quarters. Midgle.v and McXeil. There was no (tetter forward on the ground than Herring, ;;but the remainder of the pack gave him good

.■assistance. _ ~ , The real strength of the North team was (hard to judge on the day owing to the weakness of the opposition. It appealed, however, as a very strong combination, and showed rermarkable teamwork for a thirteen which rplayed together for the first time. South's Only Score Early in the game. South was awarded a free kick and Scott made a good, but unsuccessful, attempt at goal, 'littleton carried the I ball out smartly, but Cootes held on and was ismothered. Scott was successful a minute later and kicked a penalty goal. South, 2; North, iO. , . . Price led the South forwards in a sweeping :attack, but Smith saved well. The North Ibacks showed up, and Chase and McNeil Ipenetrated the defence, but Brown came fast iand saved a certain try. Chase got North out •of a difficult position, and C.ault was brought .down by Brown a foot from South's line. IFrom the resultant scrum South failed to iclear, and Midgley raced over to score. Smith (converted with a fine kick. North, 5; South, 2. Scott jassed smartly along the back line, iand Brown made a nice opening, hut Barnard lniissed the pass and a try was lost. Clever mlay by Wilfred Brimble, halfback, placed .North in a scoring position, but Tetley got loffside. Orman equalised the hooking in the mcrums by getting the ball on four successive loccasions. An infringement by Price gave /North a penalty, and Smith kicked a fine ,K °A -determined South forward rush threatened the North Line, but Smith saved brilIJiantlv. North turned defence into attack. iand Brimble. five-eighths, Tetley, Gault and "Herring were associated in a good passing jbout. A free kick saved South. Chase and [McNeil broke away, and the latter beat Tayjlor badly, but his final pass to Ganlt was ■forward, and a try was lost. Bad handling by jSatherley, who had a clear run in. cost [North another try. Play was fast, and Cootes : ibroke away. Although he held on too long, ■Tetley and Tittleton were in support, and •McNeil raced across between the posts. Smith iconverted. North, 12; South. 2. A few minutes 'later, from a forward scramble, Herring iscored, for -Smith to convert, and half-time icame with the score:— North . . .. .. 17 South .. .. .. 2 Defence Crumbles On resuming, the North backs carried play ito South territory, and Tittleton evaded Brown, but delayed his pass to Chase, who jhad a clear run in. Herring was also an lOffender by holding on after Brimble, halfiback, had beaten the defence. The South in,side backs crumbled under a series of strong (attacks, and Herring, Brimble, five-eighths, s and Brodrick were associated in a passing '.bout, and Satherley scored, for Smith to con•vert. North, 22; South, 2. North was superior in the hacks and Chase iFcored. Smith failed with the kick. North, 25; ;South, 2. The North forwards dominated the jplay, and Cootes sent Gault over for a try, which Smith converted. North, 30; South, 2 ..Clarke was prominent in a South forward rrnsh, but it was only a temporary attack. [McNeil snapped up and Gault passed to ;Herring, who scored, and Smith converted. A few minutes later Brodrick outpaced the and scored, for Smith to convert. [North, 40; South, 2. Poor tackling by Taylor gave Cootes an .easy try. Smith converted. Herring again tfcored and-Smith converted. The Brimble brothers cleverly evaded the defence, and 'Walter Brimble scored for Smith to convert, and the game ended with the score:— North 55 South .. .. .. 2 Mr. P. Rogers was referee.

RESULTS IN OTHER GRADES Senior B Grade.—Point Chevalier. 7 North. 6; Ellerslie, 2S, R.V., 4. Third Grade. —Avondale, 7, R.V.. 0; Mar Ist. 22, Mount Albert, 3; North Shore. 5 Otahnhu, Kllerslie, 10, Manukau. Pon eonby, 8, Glen Ora. 4; I'apakura, 30, City 6, Fourth Grade.—H.V.. 2, Glen Ora, 0; City 13, Papakura, '2; Richmond, 13, Otahubu 7; Mount Albert, *2l. Manukau, O. Fifth Grade.—Northcote, 10, Point Chev alier, 7. Sixth Grade.—Ponsonby, 8, Avondale, 7 Marist. 29, Green Lahe, 0; Richmond, 22 Otahuhu, f>; Papakura, 3, Manukau, 3. Seventh Grade.- —-City, 15, Ellerslie, 3 Richmond, 12, North Shore. 5; Papakura. 3 Manukau, 3. Schoolboys.--Senior grade: Avondale. 1' Otahuhu. 2; Richmond. 40, Glen Ora, Intermediate grade: George Court s. is Balmoral, 0; Richmond, U», Kllerslie, I Junior grade: George Court's, 2«, Balmora 0; Ellerslie, !J. Glen Eden, 0.