WELL-DESERVED VICTORY

Southland Times, Issue 23922, 14 September 1939, Page 8

WELL-DESERVED VICTORY

New Back Line Not Effective

PLAYERS PUZZLED BY REFEREE’S RULINGS

(From Our Own Reporter)

STRATFORD, September 13.

Southland quickly settled down and in the first quarter it looked as if the forwards were again going to dominate scrums, lineouts and rucks The Taranaki pack soon had the Southland pack’s measure, however, and in the end was playing on top of Southland. Only the magnificent tackling of the Southland backs kept Taranaki from scoring more points. All the backs defended solidly. The new Southland back combination did not play as well as was expected. C. K. Saxton got the ball away smartly enough from the scrums, but uncertainty of handling allied to difficulty the players, particularly M. P. Grace, had in keeping a foot-hold, spoiled much of the god work of the forwards. Grace slipped three times in successive movements.

referee in calling a forward from either side together and ordering them _ to shake hands, apparently for something which happened in the scrum. The game between the packs was hard, but not rough and the referee’s action appeared to be superfluous. At the end of the game the Taranaki supporters gave the team an ovation for a good display. Taranaki on the day had a pack equally as good as Southland in all departments, except rucking, and in the last quarter certainly showed more dash and vigour in the loose. WINNING TRY The winning try was scored in the last quarter, following a line-out close to Southland’s line, Maclean gathering in the ball and diving over at the corner as he was tackled by Calvert. He hit the flag in the process. The referee was not in a position to see the try scored, but there was no doubt about it being a good try. The whole of the Taranaki back line played well. Arnold (half-back) got the ball away well and Brown Killeen and J. Sullivan lost no time in making good use of the ball. J. Killeen made a good link. He did not attempt to cutin at all. J. Sullivan used his great pace to run the wings into position and several times doubled round and took a pass. He only once beat A. G. Sutherland in a straight-out duel. Sutherland, as usual, was a host in himself on defence. He did not get many opportunities on attack. The outstanding player of the match was Johns, the Taranaki full-back, whose saving and kicking in both halves was heart-breaking to the Southland forwards. Johns kicked with length and judgment and frequently drove back Southland 40 and 50 yards. He was not thoroughly tried out as a tackler, but on his showing it is not hard to see that he is in the first rank of full-backs in New Zealand today. He is the best full-back encountered by Southland this year. The Southland inside backs did not mould into an effective combination. Individually, however, practically all played well. Fleming played his best game on the tour, and although he fumbled once or twice he was fairly reliable. His kicking was excellent. < All the forwards of both packs played like champions. McEwan had good success in the first half at raking the ball, but in the second half he was beaten by Fowler, who seemed to have an excellent understanding with his halfWhen the ball was hooked by Taranaki it came out quickly. Saxton, on the other hand, rarely got a quick heel and for a good part of the game he was forced to act quickly to avoid the quick breaking of the Taranaki siderow men. Saxton played one of his best games. Both on attack and defence his work was that of a polished footballer. The teams were:— ' SOUTHLAND.—J. W. Fleming; E. Calvert, A. G. Sutherland, R. G. Mahony; M. P. Grace, W. Stewart; C. K. Saxton; L. George, F. McEwan, C. Soper; R. H. Ward, D. B. Herron, S. E. Purdtie, G. H. Graham; A. Marshall. TARANAKI. —Johns; C. Sullivan, J. Sullivan, Hayman; Killedn, Brown; Arnold; Walker, Fowler, Dobbin; O’Dowda, Coull, Benton, Maclean; Young. . '

Credit must be given to the Taranaki backs, who, when the Southland forwards were getting so much of the ball in the first half, stood well up to the Southland backs and prevented them from getting into top pace. Not once did the Southland backs get through in concerted play. The Taranaki backs, on the other hand, showing great pace in heavy conditions, frequently looked dangerous and had they been able to crown several good movements they would have not left the result in doubt. The Southland pack again played magnificently. Several times early in the second half they carried all before them, but just when play was within a few yards of the Taranaki line, a ruling of the referee went against them and big stretches of ground were lost.

An unfortunate feature of the game was the almost incessant blowing of the whistle by the referee (Mr J. Shepherd), who appeared to allow no advantages in minor breaches. He halted play four and five times every minute. The referee actually spoiled what might have been a great display by stopping play so often. PLAYERS PUZZLED Many of his rulings puzzled the Southland team and frequently players could be seen asking his rulings. Scrums were formed three times on many occasions before he was satisfied that the ball was in properly, and several times he stopped the oacks as they went down and spoke to them. He actually demonstrated on the field how packs should go in.

It was clear that Southland was affected by his rulings and, in .marked contrast to scrum successes of the first half, Southland got the ball only once in three in the second half. The Taranaki back line looked a more likely combination than Southland, and in one excellent rush Hayman .appeared to score a good try, but the referee ruled tackled ball. Southland players say that Hayman scored a fair try. That was a lucky let-off for Southland, but just supports the claim that Taranaki deserved its win.

Many penalties \yere given against Southland and had Johns been successful with his kicking the score must have run into the twenties. Johns missed no fewer than five kicks at goal. Southland had only one shot at goal, a kick by J. W. Fleming in the second half just going outside the posts. A more or less amusing incident in the second half was the action of the