RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21032, 22 May 1930, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

BRITISH TEAM’S TOUR. OPENING MATCH AT WANGANUI, VISITORS WIN BY 19 POINTS TO 3. (Peb United Press Association.) WANGANUI, May 21. The first match of the British Rugby "tour was played git Wanganui to-day, the local side going , under by 19 points to 3. Tremendous interest was taken in the first appearance’ of the visitors. The crowd was estimated at 12,000. Allowances must,he .made for two factors —U) It was the first game Britain had had after a' loiig sea' trip, and (2) it was the first time-many of the team had Played together. There was a crudeness about some of their play in consequence. Even so, theygave indication of developing “top notch”,form as the tour progresses. They play orthodox Rugby, using their heavy forwards to give the backs nossession. The ball comes straight from the ecrum, and, piloted away by Sobey’s lightning passes, travels along, the chain of hacks to ■ the wings. That is orthodox enough, . but .it is then that the team seems to have the knack of doing just a little more than is anticipated. The ball does, not stop, at the wing, and he does not attempt to force the position ■when the way is blocked. He next stab kicks across the field, running to change the direction, and reverse passing is reverted to keep _ possession and literally ■wear the opposition down by force of numbers, That possession is nine points of the law in attack is a good motto, and sums up Britain’s outlook on the Rugger

field. The l forwards moved up with'the flight of the ball. Instead of exploiting the cross-kick to the extent that the Dominion does, Britain achieves the same object by quick passing. Sobey was the star back on the 'field ■until he was hurt, and even then he 'ranked high as a player of ability. He -vas injured in the first spell, but, though he did _ not leave the field, he will he incapacitated for two weeks. It is significant that the Springbok half, De Kok, was injured at Wanganui in 1921 in the first game of that tour. Two wing three-quarters of class are Novis and Morley, Novis has pace, tackles well, kicks with judgment, and is never at a loss to know what to do. Morley lias a beautiful side-step and a penchant for using his pace to run infield and change direction, ” the team harmonising with him in this respect. A. Aarvold played well at centre, his speed and handling being., remarkable. : ' ■ Bonder; who played full-back, tackled ‘ gamely, went down to rushes, and kicked strongly. He was hurt, and left the field towards the end of the match. Of a fine pack of forwards, Ivor Jones played a sterling game, his place being wing forward. He has a useful boot when it comes to goal kicking. Rew, Farrell, and Beamish, were a trio of stars, _ Taking the game right through, it would be safe to suggest that Britain) will be ,a_ force to be reckoned with against provincial teams, but that in the test matches they will need cleverer tactics to cope with New Zealand’s, inside men. The Wanganui team never let up throughout the match, but their defence was weak. Heise and Lockett were the beat forwards, and Thompson, at full-back, and Gibbons, the second five-eighth, were the best backs. THE FIRST SPELL. Wanganui lost the toss, and kicked ofl with their eyes to the sun,Britain having the advantage of the wind. Thompson attempted to kick a field goal, but missed, and gave Bonner possession. The Wanganui van were close up, and the British custodian was just able to find the line as he went down. Following tight play, a penalty was given against the home side, and Black attempted to kick a goal, but missed, the ball travelling to the dead area. There was a melee in midfield, and Kobey came into the picture with a quick blind side pass to Morley. The winger fell as he_ took the ball, getting out of his stride ui the soft ground. . Quick as a rash the British tide closed round, and Sobey eent Aarvold off, but Tilley stopped him with a low tackle, „ Britain’s fast passing played a promi--110 P ar .t at this stage, the forwards and backs working together, ’ and the handling was deadly sure. Wanganui were penned down hard on defence. Sobey Knowles, and Novis came away with a passmg rush. Prince getting ■ his man S ° be / Sot the best of things when the ball was thrown in, dodging his way through the forwards! His run was destined to bring a position which enabled the first score of the match to be registered. He was stopped deep in the home twenty-five and kicked tor the corner. _ Welsh followed up fast ana iflompson, in trying to save, kicked over his pwn head, one of the visitors marking within the danger zone. The kick soal failed, but the ball in its clearing flight came back to Ivor Jones. He ran in a little and potted, and the first score of the British team of 1930 went up on the board. Britain . . 4 points Wanganui .. .. Britain showed their weight in the tight, and a penalty came l Wanganui’s way to relieve heavy pressure. Britain were showing a keen understanding of the game, and the forwards kept. Sobey fed as much as possible. He was playing with plenty of life and time and kept his, outside men moving up. Bowcott . seemed a little strange to things at first, but was beginning to settle down. Again the lively Sobey tried to open his reargUiir r an stacking movement, but BowcotF failed to connect in as he should, Ambrose taking advantage of a meke to race down field, but his speed was inadequate to beat Novis, the British winger overhauling him at the halfway flag. RefP 011 " 11 }?. to appeals of their captain, the British forwards used their feet, and they swept along to gain a little territory. Wanganui had been penned down most ? ifr kroe np to now, and Britain was battling to pierce the defence. Their heavy forwards closed in well and got the ball back to Sobey, He was smothered hr a moment, but Ivor Jones was close in support, and he gave the waiting back line the ball. Bowcott and Aarvold raced together, and caught the home team out of position, Aarvold scoring a splendid try, which Ivor Jones converted. , Britain 9 Wanganui Nil. The next stage of the play saw the visiting backs move about the field like lightning. Holding to the motto, “ Possession is nine points of the law,” they passed this way and that, and kept gaining ground. Leahy, Duncan, and Tilley raised Wanganui's hopes a little when they combined in a passing movement. Wanganui lacked decision in their movements, and compared badly in this respect with the visitors. Ivor Jones was hauled down just as he was about to kick, and with the Wanganui forwards coming at him, Bonner failed to mark. Tight play resulted in the British twentylive, the ball eventually finding touch. From the throw-in the home forwards showed a buret of life. They got right

to the defenders' line, an* I the crowd thought there had been a J core, but the referee’s whistle brought Ijheni back to a scrum for a knock on. ; Duncan endeavoured to get through oil his own, the defenders blocking him under the posts. He lost the ball, and Bonner carried it hack, and raced clear to get his kick in. Wanganui seemed to bo tackling a little better than in the early stages. With Beamish and Black in the lead, the British pack asserked itself, giving Sobey possession, only 1o see Walden come down on him from thd blind. Sobey was hurt at this stage, and was more or less a passenger for the resit of the game, holding on to his position by sheer force of will. The British backs treated the public to another burst of speed and passing. Sobey sent them off,’ the ball being handled by Bowcott. AarvoJ d, and Merely. Using his head, the wing sjide-stepped for the centre of the field an^ 1 crossed at an angle. Aarvold and Knowles anticipated the move, and they raced into position to carry out a quick change it) i the direction of the_ attack, taking pasaas in turn, to send Novis over for a go£ at try. Ivor Jones converted. ■ j Britain ...... 1, .. 14 Wanganui .. .. .. .. Nil. Wanganui’s hopes were fading sadly. Britain still kept life in j heir play, and the pack was nearly over Wanganui's line again. Lowry and Loekfpt retaliated a little by a spirited dash, imt up to half time Wanganui were unajilo .to score. THE SECOND SS’ELL. • When play resumed it w| is thought that the wind and the absence of the sun would aid the home team, and so it did for a time; but the visitors seamed to be holding their condition well. The Royal Blue pack wej-e using all they could command . in strength and vim to get the better of • their opponents, and they held | iritain in their own territory for quite time. Prince made a blind pass infield Jind let Aarvold fet away to open up a j dangerous gap. Le kicked across to Welsh, to Martindale, and it appeared as though the last-named player had scored. Wanganui got out of a nasty corner when, following a melee, the ball was forced dut bj' the defending '’ an -. Ambrose started a n love which was destined to end in a try. He got away from behind half way and’reached British territory before he was Overhauled, jjis pass got away to Tilley Rifely, bpt there was a momentary pause' in the attack while the defence tested sL Lockett was up with the fray and divcjd into the ruck He got clear and sent M ‘Lennan off for Wanganui’s only try. T\ie ’touch judges raised their flags and thq public thought it was a goal, and so dhj 1 . the Wanganui team and the press, but,:it wasn’t. The referee (Mr B. McKenzies,’) declared after the match that the kick ;i went astray. Britain j .. .. 44 Wanganui .. .." 3 Bonner came off at this stage with a wound in his head and y/elsh was taken out of the pack to go l ull-back. With 14 men the visitors playejj up solidly and held their lead. There (was some delay while Martindale was attended to by the ambulance men. Wanganui pressed hard again, Sobey relieving wiljh a neat kick to touch. His injury was) troubling him greatly and he was becoming more of a passenger than ever. “Later he was attended to by the iirst aid men but he continued to plaj •. Another not British attack was set lip, Sobey, Boycott, Aarvold, Knowles, Novis handling. Thompson proved «iual to the occasion, and just got his bodt under the ball

in time. Past handling -was the order again as the British attacked, and Ivor Jones was collared on , the line. Black shot the hall out to Sobhy, to Novis, but the pass went astray. , Wanganui won their way to the visitors twenty-five, and Walden flashed through! with the ball in his possession but wasj called back by the whistle for some infringement in the line-out. Wangaiiui weij e attacking hard but could not quite finish off the movements. The ball came ut to Ivor Jones from a scrum and was piissed to Bowcott, to Aarvold, to Knowlea, the last-named knocking on. Seise shov/ed up in a dash, but kicked to WWsh, -wild cleared to the line on Britain's side j of the halfway. Gibbons picked up fronj the toes of the British forwards and f)mnd the line to stem a rush, but it waji all of no avail, for a scoring movements was not far off. The ball was passed ny Ivor Jones to Bowcott, who exploited' the reverse pass and sent the leather. to ? Ivor Jones again. Back it went to Bowcoitt, and he passed to Aarvold, who was Soollarcd, but the ball got away to Morljiy, who ran over for a fine try. Ivor Jones converted. Britain f, 19 Wanganui-.. .. ~■ .. .. .. 3 The match ended without further score. - wing-forwaf|d play. MR VIEWS. (Per United Press * Association.) WANGANUI, May 21. “ I watched this gij me to-day very carefully,” said Mr J. S Baxter, in reply to the toast of the Britij ;h team at dinner here to-night. 11 1 knowi that some gentlemen sitting at this tahjle are hoping for certain events to coma to a head," and one of the best means Jsf arriving at an understanding is to hqve one universal law and to play exacth/ the same game to the best of our all ility. I am not going to criticise to-ni|;ht, but there is one thing I dislike, and jthat is your wingforward play. I am suije that the gentleman who had the misfortune to play there, if he looked in ho his own heart, didn’t like it either. I won't say he is on the border line; hj > is over it, and must be discouraged, (He causes irritation to both sets of forwards. I am not speaking about the man 1 who played there to-day, but tweaking of- a man playing in that position. It is contrary to the spirit of Rugby football.” Mr Baxter’s opinion! was endorsed by Mr Ken Gibbons, captain of the Wanganui team. The wing-torj.vard is a nuisance to the five-eighths, he sjticl. Mr Hqpe Gibbons, an,: old Rugby player, alos supported these srt eakers. Mr Louis Cohen, J n proposing the health of the New Zealand Rugby Union, said that it was higWty desirable that New Zealand, a country where Rugby was the national game, have a voice on the International Bojird if the British Commonwealth of Nations counted for anything. The Inte) -national Board should not take the staj id that one country is unworthy of rq presentation and others worthy of it. j TEST TRIAL ■, MATCH. (Per United Press’ Association.) CHRISTCHIJ JRCH, May 21. The following teams 1 lave been selected for the New Zealand t|’st trial match:— PROBABLES, Full-back, L. Heazlewi tod (Wellington); three-quarters—G. D. Jdackay (Wellington), F. Lucas (Auckland), D. Oliver (Otago); five-eighths, 31. Nicholls (Wellington). H. Lilburne ((Canterbury); halfback, A. Holden (Southland); wing-for-w-ard, D. Solomon (Auckland); hookers, K. Reid (Wairarnpa). "'y V. Irvine (Wairarapa); lock, R. Stecrc' (Hawke's Bay) ; supports, G. Campbell (| Hawke's Bay). A. MWilliams (Waikato)- ■ back row, E. Collett (Otago), R. TV Stewart (Canterbury) . Reserves: Backs, J. M ills (Wairarapa), R. H. M'Kenzie (Wellington); forwards, A. Sim (North Otago), M'Lsan (Taranaki). POSSIBLES. Full-back, G. Nepia (I) ast Coast); threequarters, G. Hart (Canterbury), A. ECooke (Wairarapa), Minns (Auckland) ; five-eighths. G. I). Innes (Canterbury), L. Johnson (VWellington): haltback, M. Corner (Auckland); wing-for-

ward, G. Scrimshaw (Canterbury); hookers, A. J Cotterill (Canterbury), J. Here (Otago); lock, I. Harvey (Wairarapa); supports, J. Fiulayson (North Auckland), W. Hazlett (Southland); back row. G,. Purdue (Southland), W. Batty (Auckland), SOUTH ISLAND TRIAL. (Pick United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 21. The South Island trial match, played at Lancaster Park to-day, resolved itself into a struggle between the Possibles’ forwards and the Probables’ backs, and the Possibles’ forwa/ds held the upper hand so that their side won by 23 points to 12. The game was not impressive. There was dashing work by both packs of .forwards, but the backs seemed incapable of successful combined work. The Possibles’ forwards obtained most of the ball from the scrum and shone in the line out and ’ loose play. Among the backs Holden was in excellent form behind the Possibles’ pack, and was definitely superior to Dailey. With a strong wind behind them the Possibles had a big advantage in the first spell. Their forwards early asserted themselves and first Scrimshaw and then Collett scored. Strang converted one try. Possibles 8, Probables nil. Collett and Scrimshaw had a partnership in the next try, which was eventually scored by Scrimshaw. Strang converted. Possibles 13, Probables nil. The Probables scored from a back movement initiated by Dailey, from which Trotter scored at the corner. Dailey failed to convert. Scrimshaw scored another try for the Possibles almost immediately afterwards,' but the kick failed. Possibles 10. Probables 3. The Probables next score was a goal from a mark, drop-kicked by M’Gregor, After the interval "changes were made in both teams. Strang was replaced by C. Oliver, and E. Holder went to the centre-three-quarter. M'Cabe retired from the forwards, being replaced by A. Ferguson. E. Wilson took Trotter’s place, and E. Sim went on in place of M'Kay. Bird soon left the field, however, so M‘Kay went on again. The Possibles’ forwards 'remained aggressive in the second

half. Holden first scored by a magnificent potted goal from 20 yards out. Fast passing play by the Probables’ backs let Gotterill over, but the try was unconverted. Possible 20, Probables 9. The Possibles countered with another try scored by Stewart a moment later,Lilburne failed with the kick. Towards the close of'the game Hart was given the ball near the corner, and, eluding the opposition, the speedy winger ran over and touched down. Final scores: Possible 23, Probables 12. WAIRARAPA v. BRITISH TEAM. (Peb United Press Association.) MASTERTON, May 21. The following team has been selected to represent Bush-Wairarapa in the match against the British team on May 31. at Masterton;-—Full-backj Roach; threequarters—Harris, Stnngfellow, and Fuller; five-eighths. Jury and Corkill; half. Mill; wing-forward, J. Donald (captain); forwards, Reid, Irvine, Henderson. Harvey, Reside, Mahony, and Gerrard. Reserves:—Backs, Humphries and Denby; forwards, Olliver and M'Gregor. FIRST TEST MATCH. Country patrons are advised that the 200 seats set aside for country patrons have now all been taken up, and no further applications for seats for the first test can be accepted. LIST OF FIXTURES. May 24.—v. Taranaki, at New Plymouth. May 28.—v. Manawhenua, at Palmerston North. May 31.—v. Wairarapa-Bush Districts, at Masterton. June 3.—v. Wellington, at Wellington. June 7.—v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. June 11.—v. Buller-West Coast, at Greymouth. June 14.—v. Otago, at Dunedin. June 21.—v. New Zealand (first test), at Dunedin. s June 25.—v. Southland, at Invercargill. Jobs 28.—v. North Otago-Ashburton-South Canterbury, at. Timaru. July s.—v. New Zealand (second test), at Christchurch. July 9.—v. Maoris, at Wellington. July 12.—v. Hawke’s Bay, at Napier. July 16r—v. East Coast-Poverty Bay-Bay of Plenty, at Gisborne. July 19.—v. Auckland, at Jfcckland. July 26.—v. New Zealand Wird test), at Auckland. July 30.—v. North Auckland, at Whangarei. 2.—v, Waikato-Thames ValleyKing Country, at Hamilton. August 9.—y. New Zealand (fourth test), at Wellington. August 13.—v Nelson-Marlborough-Golden Bay, at Nelson. WAIRARAPA DEFEAT BUSH DISTRICTS. (Peb United Press Association.) PAHIATUA, May 21. , heavy ground Wairarapa played Bush Districts for the purpose of picking a combined team to meet the Englishmen at Masterton on May 31 Wairarapa won by 22 points to 8, thanks to the . bnlhant kicking of Fuller, who notched 13 points. Territorially. Bush Districts had the better of the game the forwards dominating the situation for the most part. Hie Wairarapa backs were superior, though their handling was very indifferent. The referee roused the ire of a section of the spectators by allowing glaring offside infringements which resulted in two tries to Wairarapa in the last quarter and robbed the game of what promised to be an exciting finish. . , wa s outstanding for Wflirjirfips instituting most of the scoring movements. Held showed up in the forwards with Reside and Irvine. The Bush pack was led by J. Galvin. Gerald. Mahoney, and Kendall, and in the rearguard G. Harris wing-three-quarter) and H. Reeves (full-back) played well. For Wairarapa tries were scored by Stnngfellow (2) and lu ’ , conv ’erted two and kicked three difficult penalties. Harris scored two tries for Bush, one of which was converted by . Reeves. ■