SPECTACULAR FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27391, 17 May 1950, Page 8

SPECTACULAR FOOTBALL

British Isles Team Defeats West Coast THIRTY-TWO POINTS TO THREE PA GREYMOUTH, May 16. Revealing a remarkable ability to handle a greasy ball on a wet ground, the British Isles touring team today defeated West Coast by 32 points to 3. The tourists overcame the handicap of bad weather, and gave a display of spectacular football. Some of the back movements, with Kyle as the spearhead of the attack, swept the length of the field. A crowd of about 4000 watched the match, which was played in intermittent drizzle after heavy overnight and morning rain.

The tourists’ forwards, among whom Kininmonth and Budge were prominent throughout, dominated the scrums and the line outs. The figures for possession from decisive scrums were: British Isles 26, West Coast 10. At half back, Willis, who was making his first appearance on the tour, gave efficient service, and Kyle gave a brilliant display. Several times he cut the defence to ribbons with dazzling runs. He scored three tries, two of them with ridiculous ease. Of the other backs, Henderson, also playing his first game, impressed as a powerful speedy centre. Cleaver was sound at full-back, but failed too often to find touch. His performance, however, was equalled by that of Lindbom, who was the only Coast back to stand up to the testing conditions, although Gillan, who came in from centre to second five in the second spell, defended well. The British forwards rucked more strongly than at Westport on Saturday, and except in the loose play dominated the Coast pack. They failed several times, however, to halt fiery foot rushes by going down on the ball. On these occasions the tourists got themselves out of trouble by clever work by the inside backs. The main weakness of the British backs appeared to be lack of pace on the part of Matthews. Several times Henderson, outside him, had to wait for a pass before clapping on the pace.

Two changes were made in the British team. J. Matthews replaced B. Williams at outside centre, and Hayward replaced Nelson as lock forward. The Coast team was unchanged. Both teams, however, finished a man short. Breeze, the Coast centre, left the field late in the first spell. He returned nursing an arm injury and left finally early in the second spell. Henderson, the British centre, suffered a recurrence of his knee injury late in the second spell and also retired. Prompt Start The visitors were five up after only two minutes, Kyle cutting through between the Coast five-eighths from a line out near the corner to score at the posts. Thomas converted. Three minutes later, Lindbom secured the Coast’s only points of the match with a good goal. Kyle again made the British second try, cutting through the Coast backs to give Matthews a clear run‘ in at the posts. Thomas converted. There was no score for over 20 minutes. when the British backs moved away from the Coast twenty-five, Henderson throwing a high pass to Jones, who brushed off a tackier and scored in the corner. Thomas failed to convert. The half-time score was:—British Isles 13, Coast 3. ' Henderson’s Brilliance

A brilliant change of direction by Henderson gave the British team its first try in the second spell and caught the defence on the wrong foot. Henderson sent out to John, to Roberts, who scored. Thomas failed to convert. After 18 minutes, Willis swept the ball out to Kyle just outside the Coast twenty-five, and Kyle cut straight through to score on his own. Thomas again missed. Two minutes later, the Coast was penalised about 35 yards out, and Clifford’s kick bounced off the upright to cross the bar. The next try came from a scrum, in typical fashion, Matthews cutting inside the Coast centre to give the speedy Jones a clear run in. Clifford converted.

Willis made the next try, catching the defence unawares with his first real run from the base of the scrum. He passed to Kyle, who had a clear fun in at the posts. Cleaver converted. The referee, was Mr I. W. Gallaway, of Dunedin.