SERVICE RUGBY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17576, 18 March 1919, Page 6

SERVICE RUGBY

NEW: ZEALAND DEFEAT AT LLANEIiLT. (FaoM Oob, Own CoEBBBPOKDiirr.) ~ LONDON, January 28. unfortunately, last Saturday was very .wet at Llauelly, when a Rugby match was played between a local side and a fifteen from New Zealand. \ The decision of the Welsh Union to bar all Northern Union men from participating in future games prevented tho inclusion of Evan Davies and Ivor Jones, two former Llanelly , players. Tho New Zealanders had put in some practice on the, ground during the week, and uioy were well represented. Considering tpe state of the field, the teams played good football, the pace being very hot. ,The New Zealand men were the heavier, and made efforts to open out the but tHey found the deadly tackling of the Welshmen too much for them. Rushing tactics by the speedy Welsh forwards proved very effective. .They were frequently on the top of the visiting full back before he could get in his kick.- Williams made a fine, defender, while Rees was frequently y very prominent. The interval came without, score. The second half opened in somewhat sensational style, Islwyn Evans breaking through and sending out to Lavard, who, after a run of 25 yards, shook off a dozen opponents and scored under the goal posts, but the'kick failed. Llanelly had most of the , game to the end, and . played better football than their opponents, who were considered lucky to get off with such a light defeat A DRAW AT PLYMOUTH. ' Some 8000 people were present at Plymouth to see a match between the RJM .Depot and the New Zealand Trench Fifteen. The Bailors had a good team, and the result, despite heavy ground and a greasy ball, was a rousing game, in which honours were even, with nothing scored With the exception of a brief spell towards the close of the first half, the pace was terrific, ' Near the call of time there was a great effort by both sides, and excitement ran high; but the defence prevailed, and the end came with a blank score sheet Forcing the pace at the outset, the Depot had Iho better of matters, and played splendidly behind the scrunv several times looking'like scoring. But the Trench side marked them too closely and tackled keenly. "Ranji" Wilson was prominent in a hartf forward game, while Murray and M'Naught were irreat in the rushes. O'Brien played well at full back; Ford was the nick of the three-quarters, with Murray, M'Naught and Wilson the pick of the others. A groat game is looked for on March 8 between- Yorkshire and New Zealand, to , be,played at Bradford. It will take place on a *newi ground, which has cost about £5000.