DECISIVE WIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26034, 24 December 1945, Page 6

DECISIVE WIN

KIWIS DEFEAT LONDON GOOD BACK COMBINATION DRESS REHEARSAL FOR CARDIFF (N.Z.E.F. Correspondent) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Dec, 22. Completely outclassing the opposition in the second half, the N.Z.E.F. team beat London at the White City Stadium by 30 points to nil, the score being made up of five tries (four converted) , one. field goal, and one penalty goal. Getting more of the ball than usual, the New Zealand backs were a little unlucky in scoring only one try in the first half. In the second spell they carved the defence to pieces with a series of brilliant combined movements. The feature of the day was the magnificent pll-round play of J. C. Kearney at first five-eighths, while J. B. Smith at centre, and W. G. Argus on the left wing, were also outstanding in the best back combination the side has yet fielded. Owing to a training injury to his knee, L. A. Grant was replaced by A W. Blake. The teams were:— N.Z.E.F.: Cook, Sherratt, Smith, Argus. Allen (captain), Kearney, Proctor. Rhind, Haigh, Bond, Blake, Woolley, Johnstone, Arnold, Thornton. London: T. L. T. Lewis, D. L. Marriott, C. Davey, E. K. Scott, p. R. Graham, N. vW. Hall, V. J. Morris, M Shirley, J. R. Tyler, K. H. Chapman (captain), D. B. Vaughan, D. J. B. Johnston, M. Hatton, J. R. Matthews. V. R. Malempre. The game was played before about 20,000 in a heavy mist, which thickened as the afternoon wore on, and the match finished in a very bad light. The ground was wet and heavy, and Proctor, who played an otherwise excellent game at half-back, was unable to handle the greasy ball from the ground and sent out many very bad passes. Except for his service from the scrum, Proctor showed great promise as a half-back.

Early Stages

The Kiwis kicked off, and the London backs were the first to get moving, Cook fielding a kick through and finding the line. The London forwards dribbled to the Kiwi twenty-five, and from a scrum the backs thrust dangerously, Scott kicking to tfie corner and

Thornton scooping up the ball on the line and clearing with a good line kick. From a scrum Proctor passed smartly to Kearney, to Allen, to. Smith, who broke through a tackle, but sent a forward pass to Sherratt. The N.Z.E.F. forwards pressed until Lewis hoisted a magnificent line kick fronTa penalty. Smith gathered'in a long throw in and passed to Argus, whom Marriott downed. Good tackling stopped a London passing rush, and Kearney sent play back with a fine line kick. From a scrum Kearney cleverly retrieved to pass, and the ball travelled along the backs to Argus, infield to Kearney, whose high kick was brilliantly marked by Lewis. Argus made another good run before sending in-field to Kearney, to Allen, to Cook, to Smith, who broke through, but his pass in-field went astray. Allen, Smith and Argus showed up in another good passing rush, the last-named running round Marriott, but being overhauled by that player, who is possibly the fastest winger in the world to-day. Loose play followed, the ball going out to Sherratt, who sent in-field to Smith, who tossed a very long pass to Argus. The winger swerved inside Marriott kicked and caught Lewis in possession. The ball rolled free, and Cook raced up fast to scoop up a speculator and pass? in-field to Smith, who miskicked an attempted pot at goal. The First Try The Kiwi forwards stormed towards the London line in a loose rush, but a penalty against them sent play back. Good tackling by the Londoners stopped two other back movements, and then the Kiwi backs sent the ball jiggling, and Allen raced up outside Sherratt, who elected to try to beat the full-back, and was downed. The London backs tried to break down the centre, but Kearney grassed his man heavily, and the ball popped up into the air and Smith took it and ran to Lewis, before sending Sherratt over unopposed. Cook converted. N.Z.E.F. 5, London 0. Chapman failed with a long penalty kick at goal, and Hall missed a field goal. Then Chapman found the line 10 yards from the corner, and from a line-out the London backs tried a short punt, Cook clearing well. Chapman missed another penalty shot at goal, and Smith fielded the ball, side-stepped two men, and started a passing movement which went to halfway. Proctor made a sudden run from the scrum before sending to Kearney, the ball travelling out to Sherratt, to Allen, racing up outside the winger. But Sherratt’s pass was too low to gather, and half-time came then with the scores unchanged. Swift Scoring

The London forwards rushed play to the Kiwi ouarter from the kick-off, but Blake and Johnstone showed up in a dribbling rush from which Lewis cleared well. The London backs got going, but Kearney intercepted and ran 50 yards before finding the line near the corner. Cook fielded a clearing kick nbar the sideline of the London 25 and kicked an excellent field goal. N.Z.E.F. 9, London 0.

Scrambling play followed. Cook went wide with a penalty shot at goal. Rhind smashed clear from a ruck and Blake carried on to near the London line, where from a scrum, Scott and Graham combined in a clever run for 30 yards. Bond led a smashing dribbling rush back to the London line and from a scrum in the London twenty-five Kearney raced over for a fine try on the blind side, Cook kicking a magnificent goal. N.Z.E.F. 14, London 0. The Kiwis were soon attacking again and from a scrum Proctor passed to Kearney on the blind side. Kearney sent the ball on to Argus who swerved infield, his speed and weight tarrying him over the line when tackled by two men. Cook missed an easy kick. N.Z.E.F. 17. London 0.

Arnold started a great movement down the centre in which forwards and backs took part, and both Graham and Morris were injured in stopping it, the latter retiring. A minute later the N.Z.E.F. backs raced away, the ball going out to Sherratt. who centred and the fast moving forwards completely bustled the defending backs, Haign snapping up the ball and passing to Argus, who raced over at the corner. Cook kicked another great goal. N.Z.E.F. 22, London 0. Kiwis on Top

The Kiwis were now dominating the play, and tossing the ball -around in bewildering style. Cook was wide with a long penalty shot at goal, but a few minutes later he kicked a good penalty goal from 40 yards out. N.Z.E.F. 25, London 0. Allen showed up in two passing movements, and - then from a scrum London worked the blind side and Scott went almost right through with a fine run, but passed forward. The