ARMY TEAMS PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 24114, 1 May 1940, Page 10

ARMY TEAMS PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL

That the 2nd Echelon will bring a notable contribution to the Rugby strength of New Zealand’s Army overseas was made apparent by the high standard of football produced in the keenly-awaited match at Lancaster Park (Christchurch) on Saturday between the Trentham and Burnham mobilization camps. Trentham won a well-contested game by 12 points to 9, and the large crowd of about 10,000 obviously gained more pleasure from this match than from the majority of representative fixtures, states The Press. The match was made the occasion of a great demonstration of public pride in the Dominion’s soldiers, and for an appeal to the patriotism of the young manhood of this country. Both objectives were fulfilled, for there was no doubting the spontaneity with which the crowds cheered the units of the 2nd Echelon and the non-commissioned officers of the 3rd Echelon who marched round the park; and the ap-

peal for recruits was answered by many among the spectators. Both teams contained men well known in New Zealand football and several who have been familiar figures in Canterbury Club and representative matches. It was particularly gratifying to the crowd that the latter all took creditable parts in the excellent display. The outstanding back on the field, however, was D. G. Barton, captain of the Trentham team, who played for the North Island in 1937 and 1938 and in the All Black trials last year. He gave thrust to nearly every movement at centre, and invariably made a good attempt to run his wings into position and to give them room in which to work. Barton’s combination with W. Burgess, the young Canterbury player, was a feature of the match. Burgess, as usual, was always on the lookout for openings. Trentham’s second try came from a passing rush in which Burgess veered across-field while Barton came inside and took an in-pass to leave the defence hopelessly on the wrong foot. Inside these two were a workmanlike pair in C. G. Rae, New Zealand University half-back last year, and E. A. Vincent, formerly of Sunnyside. Rae showed great initiative in starting rushes and Vincent made hardly a single

mistake. L. Bradley and F. Richardson were two competent wings in both attack and defence. The full-back was W. K. Greer, a former Sunnyside, Canterbury and Buller representative, and his game was in all respects a polished one. DEFENSIVE PLAY The Burnham backs were handicapped by the inability of their forwards to hook the ball, or, having hooked it, to get it out cleanly and quickly to the back of the scrum. Their role was mainly defensive, and this work they did very efficiently. M. A. Le Compte, F. J. Neighbours (the former Buller player), G. R. Surgenor, and W. Foley all tackled splendidly and prevented most of the Trentham movements from reaching the wings. Surgenor did notable work, too, in cov-er-defence. In attack Le Compet was overshadowed by the brilliant Rae, and the line was seldom given a good start. The Burnham wingers, W. A. Morrison (Southland) and B. V. A. Jones, both made some determined efforts to get through, but they, too, found the Trentham defence sound. J. W. Kinder, the full-back, made some good saves, but was not as,steady as Greer, nor as sound in his positional play. VIGOROUS FORWARD PLAY The forward play of both sides was keen and vigorous, but as is only to be expected in early-season play, cohesion and combination were often lacking. There was no doubt, however, about the individual quality of the packmen. W. A. Hearn, the Canterbury representative player, did a good job for Trentham by hooking the ball regularly, and he showed his old form, too, in the line-outs. F. N. Twigg, A. H. Armour, B. Gillespie and M. Ashman (and P. Donoghue, who replaced him) were usually the leaders of the loose forays, but D. C. Latham, G. Baker (Southland) and V. P. Freeman played notably sound all-round games. The solid rucking of the Burnham forwards has already been mentioned. R. K. King, the former Canterbury Rugby representative and captain of the last New Zealand League team, was a good leader, and in scoring a fine try showed that he has not lost his old skill. He and J. McLean, a Taranaki representative and All Black trialist, were at their best in the loose, but the latter was too frequently offside in his eargerness. G. Mills (South Canterbury) was another excellent forward in the open. N. J. McPhail and P. L. Lynch, well-known Christchurch players, were solid forwards, and with J. W. S. Gardiner (West Coast), T. Graham and W. J. Bowers did great work in the tight rucks.