AUSTRALIANS' FIRST WIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19104, 27 August 1936, Page 7

AUSTRALIANS' FIRST WIN

WANGANUI BEATEN 22—12 HOME SIDE LACKS FINISH QUICK CHANGE OF FORTUNE (Pur Press Association.) WANGANUI, last night. Pace, physical fitness, and an ability to use every means known to liugby to keep the game moving, were features ol the second match played by Hie Australian Rugby Union touring team, which defeated Wanganui to-day bv 22 points to 12. Wanganui played an inspired game in the forwards, and the side was by no means disgraced. Like many another Rugby battle of similar quality, however, finish' was lacking, and there was no speedy winger to be fed like McLean, who 'with Gibbons, the visitors' halfback, shared the honour of being the best backs on the field. Wanganui lost 17 points through weak place -kicking, nine of which would have been certain to a reliable kicker. Australia lost six points in a similar way. The day was dull and cloudy, and the attendance totalled 4000. Pain fell as the teams were taking the field, continued for a time, and then eased off. The ball was greasy, but the sandy ground was not greatly affected. THREE LATE TRIES The visitors were beaten in the forwards until the last 10 minutes, and then, when Wanganui's fitness was beginning to fade, the opposition rattled on three good tries. McLean, the winger, getting two of them. Wanganui scored two tries in the firstspell, and Australia, two. The visitors converted their (wo, and also kicked a penalty, making the half-time score 13 points'to six in their favour. Wanganui bad the better of things early in the second session, and scored another try, and Bullock-Douglas kicked a penalty," the board then reading Australia 13, Wanganui 12. From then on, largely as the result of a quick change of fortune which was capped by McLean, the visitors took the upper hand, and scored three spectacular tries, the game ending 22 points to 12 in Australia's favour.

Tries were scored for Australia by McLaughlin', McLean (3), and Bridle. Rankin converted two. and kicked a penalty. For Wanganui. 1). Thompson. Hutchinson, and Locket t scored tries, and Bullock-Douglas kicked a penalty.