WIN FOR NORTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26584, 6 October 1947, Page 6

WIN FOR NORTH

Interisland Rugby Match at' Invercargill DISAPPOINTING FORWARD PLAY Special Reporter INVERCARGILL, Oct. 5. In a match characterised by spasmodic flashes of brilliant back play but in which both packs fell below All Black standards, the North Island defeated the South Island at Rugby Park on Saturday by 13 points to 11. The scores consisted of two goals from tries and an unconverted try to a goal from a try, an unconverted try and a goal from a penalty.

A crowd, officially estimated at 10,500, paid £I3BO to see the game, which demonstrated fairly conclusively that many of those taking part were feeling the effects of a long and strenuous season’s football. After rain overnight, the day broke fine and the game- was played in a midsummer temperature and on a ground which, although on the soft side, was in excellent order. Little Help to Selectors Although the North. Island side suffered several defections from its original selection, there were still nine All Blacks included and ei&ht on the South side. Even allowing for staleness on the part of some of the players, the game could scarcely serve as a very heartening guide to the New Zealand selectors in the light of the fairly near approach of the South African tour. The scrummaging was most disappointing, collapsed scrums being altogether too frequent, and neither side revealed the ability in rucking that was displayed in most Ranfurly Shield matches this year. In the circumstances there was some excuse for the lack of freely-flowing back movements, but on the other hand the interest of the crowd was maintained by some dazzling individual efforts, principally by J. B. Smith and F. R. Allen for the North Island and R. R. Elvidge and M. P Goddard for the South.

policy for him to make play for the men in front of him with his side on the attack.

The South did not pack such a wellbalanced scrum as the North and in the circumstances Mcßae accomplished an outstanding performance in breaking practically even with Catley in the set scrums. In other phases of the play, too, the Southlander was prominent. D. Hamilton, the Otago breakaway, enhanced the good reputation he gained in Shield games. He was always.up with the play and his tackling was most effective. K. J. O’Connor was probably the best iall-round forward in the South team playing with dash and vigour. His covering in defence got South out of some troublesome situations. C. Willocks played solidly, and W. Mumm. the Buffer front-ranker, was noticed for vigorous and dashing work in the loose, one piece of dribbling in the second half gaining nearly half the length of the field. The pack as a whqle, however, lacked balance and cohesion, and there was not the quick heeling from the rucks that has characterised the play of most South Island packs this year. Although he was called on to gather the ball at varying heights and angles, Kearney handled in his usual competent manner. His play, however, was hampered somewhat by indifferent 1 service from the scrum, and it was not until the, ball reached Elvidge and Goddard that much penetration was shown. Elvidge further enhanced his reputation as one of the strongest attacking players in the Dominion, and his covering and defensive work generally were also of a high order. Elvidge’s dash, powerful fend, and strength made him a constant danger to the opposing side, and fine play by the South Island captain was directly responsible for the tries scored by Goddard in equally brilliant fashion. Changing Fortunes The game was one of fluctuating fortunes. South opened the scoring two minutes from the kick-off when Kelly kicked a goal from a penalty on the twenty-five. South 3, North nil. Play had been in progress for half an hour before North equalised. The passing reached Allen, who went through the defence in p flash, cutting Pinfold out and sending on to Smith. Elvidge had moved acrosos to cover Cherrington, but when tackled the North winger sent the ball infield to Smith, who gathered it with one hand and went across for a splendid try in Kelly’s arms. O’Callaghan did not convert. North 3, South 3. O’Connor, McNab, Mcßae, and Grant broke through from halfway. Elvidge received and ball and, brushing Pinfold off, he ran Goddard into position, enabling the centre to score an excellent try behind the posts. Kelly converted, and South led by 8 points to 3. South kept up the attack, ' but play shifted quickly when a pass from Parsons went astray. Frazer snapped it up and sent the North backs away, Smith again finishing off brilliantly. O’Callaghan’s kick hit the posts and bounced over. The half time score was: North 8, South 8. Elvidge put South in the lead 17 minutes after the resumption of play when he secured in a passing rush and put in a clever grubber kick to the open gap. Goddard raced through, and kicked ahead, and, gathering the ball, set sail for the line. Although stopped short, he rolled over to s?ore near the corner. Kelly’s kick .was unsuccessful. South *ll, North 8. South did not hold the lead for long. After a brilliant burst by Smith, the ball reached Allen, who swept past Kearney and side-stepped Kelly. The South full-back caught Allen from the side, however, but the North captain passed to Frazer, and the big All Black forward scored at the corner, O’Callaghan converting with a great kick from the side-line. After 20 minutes’ play the score was: North 13, South 11. South had two chances of retrieving

Early in the proceedings M. B. Couch, the North Island first fiveeighths, injured his ankle and had to retire. This brought about a. rearrangement of the back line. Allen moved in to first five-eighths and A. Pinfold, the young Wairarapa player, came on at second five-eighths. F. G. Hobbs, the Canterbury forward, who was vice-captain of the 1937 All Blacks, suffered a recurrence of a knee injury and also retired in the first half, being replaced by J. McNab. Otago. Players Ordered Off Field Both teams finished with 14 men, the All Blacks, J. G. Simpson (North) and L. S. Connolly (South) being ordered off by the referee, Mr J. Frood, in the later stages of the second half. The two men came to grips during a scrum on the half-way line and the referee was seen to move round and speak to them. They continued to “ argue,” however, and, without more ado, the referee gave them their marching orders. As the two former All ‘ Black team-mates walked off the field they shook hands, and, amid a sympathetic cheer from the crowd, disappeared under the stand with their arms about each other’s shoulders.

The forward play was hard and tight but much of it was indecisive. North packed' a heavier scrum than South, having the advantage of about half a stone a man. There was keen interest in the renewal of the duel between the North Island hooker, E. H. Catley, and J. A. Mcßae, both of whom have worn the All Black jersey, and, although North held a Slight advantage in the set scrums, there was very little to choose between the twp men. More than'once, however, after Mcßae had raked the ball Catley sat back and the scrum collapsed. South had considerably the better of the line-out play in the first half, but North did much better in the second. D. L. Christian, the Auckland front-ranker, who was one of the outstanding all-round forwards on - the field, excelled in this branch of play and more than once started passing from line-outs or joined in movements with the backs. H. F. Frazer, the big Hawke’s Bay lock, played solidly in the tight and did effective work in the line-out, his backing up being one of the features of the North Island forward play and enabling him to score the winning try when the way had been paved for him by Allen. G. F. King, the solidly-built Poverty Bay forward, was one of the most impressive members of the North Island pack. He played hard in the tight and was seen in some vigorous bursts .from the line-out. ’lt was King's first appearance in big company, and he stood out as one of the’ most promising

players in the game. P. J. Crowley. (Auckland) was prominent in line-out play. A Brilliant Pair Allen and Smith were the pivots on which the North Island backline ' hinged, and there were occasions when both played sparkling football. The North Island attacks were given extra thrust at the outset by Allen’s speed off the mark and the ability he showed in flashing through the slightest gap X the defence. His play not infrequently reached heights of artistry which even Smith could not surpass. Allen received a hard knock on the ribs when he was stopped in a devastating tackle by D. Hamilton, South’s flanking for-

the position—once after a fine run by Sutherland, when Elvidge handed on to Kearney who lost the ball on the line. and again two minutes from time when Kelly failed to kick a goal from a penalty in a handy position, and North forced, the game ending:— North Island 13 South Island .. .. . 11 Mr J. Frood, of Dunedin, was the referee. The Teams The teams were as follows: — North Island—Full-back: T. R. O’Callaghan (Auckland) 13.7. Threequarters: N. P. Cherrington (North Auckland) 14.0, J. B. Smith (North Auckland) 12.10, J. K. McLean (King Country) 12.3. Five-eighths: F. R. Allen (Auckland) 12.6, captain, M. B. Couch (Wairarapa) 12.5. Half-back: V. D. Bevan (Wellington) 11.5. Front row: D. L. Christian (Auckland) 14.1, E. H. Catley (Waikato) 14.2, J. G. Simpson (Auckland) 14.12. Middle row: P. J. Crowley (Auckland) 15.7, R. M. White (Wellington) 14.10, H. F. Frazer (Hawke’s Bay) 15.2, D. Ancell (Taranaki) 14.5. Back row: G. F. King (Poverty Bay) 15.2. South Island—Full-back: J. W. Kelly (Canterbury) 12.6. Three-quarters: A. G. Sutherland (Southland) 12.2, M. P. Goddard (South Canterbury) 12.5 J. M. Tanner (Otago) 12.7. Five-eighths: R. R. Elvidge Otago) 13.2, captain,' J. C. Kearney (Otago) 12.0. Half-back: D. J. Parsons (South Canterbury) 12.4. Front row: L. S. Connolly (Southland) 15.2, J. A. Mcßae (Southland) 13.9, W. Mumm (Buffer) 13.2. Middle row: D. Hamilton (Otago) 14.2, L. A. Grant (South Canterbury) 14.7, C. Willocks (Otago) 14.7, F. G. Hobbs (Canterbury) 14.7. Back' row: K. J. O Connor Otago) 14.10.

ward, early in the second half, and he had to take a respite at full-back for a short period before he resumed his place at first five-eighths. Pinfold was a fairly effective link between Allan and Smith, though he had lapses in handling and found Elvidge a difficult opponent. Smith reproduced more than glimpses of the form which made him the star of the Kiwi side in Britain. He had a keen tussle with his fellow All Black, M. P. Goddard, and each scored two spectacular tries. There was, however, slightly more polish to Smith’s play and, if anything, he was more successful than Goddard in mak- . ing play for his wings. Once when North was defending desperately on the line Smith gathered the ball in the face of the oncoming South forwards to make a remarkable sa y e ‘ D. Bevan, New Zealand’s second string half-back in Australia this year, undoubtedly had the edge on the South’s half-back, D. J. Parsons. Bevan’s passing was crisper and better directed, and'he varied the attack by skilful play to his forwards N. P. Cherrington, the big North Aucklander, was the most impressive winger in the game; and those who saw him in the Shield game against Otago had their good opinions. confirmed. He is a fast and strong runner, and J. M. Tanner, the young Otago player, found him difficult to cope with. Tanner’s handling was somewhat uncertain, but his play improved in the second half, when he made several good dashes. J. K. McLean, the All Black wing, was also rather uncertain in handling and he was given little latitude by the Southland captain, A. G. Sutherland, who was making his fourth appearance for the South Island. Sutherland has lost some of his pace, but he did a lot of. good work. Faulty Tactics Adopted \ T. R. O’Callaghan, the North full--1 back, was not so impressive as J. W Kelly his" opposite number in •- the • South team. O’Callaghan had difficulty with the rolling ball and he did not always find touch. Kelly’s fielding was surer and he gained long stretches of ground with well-judged line-kick-ing. , Kelly might, however, have adopted less conservative tactics when South was trying so hard to retrieve the position in the dying stages of the game, and it would then have been