N.Z.E.F. RUGBY TEAM

Southland Times, Issue 24353, 6 February 1941, Page 11

N.Z.E.F. RUGBY TEAM

THRILLING MATCH AT HOME GREAT RECOVERY BY ALL BLACKS Under the captions “A Great Game at Richmond; All Blacks Just Fail in Titantic Struggle,” The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (London) praises the New Zealand Expeditionary Force Rugby team, for its play in the first game of the season at Home. The game was lost by the soldier All Blacks by 22 points to 20, but their play in the second half, when they scored 20 points to five scored by Rosslyn Park, was of such a standard that if they could have struck form in the first half they might have gained a good win. The game is featured pictorially .by The News, the snapshots showing phases of the play in which leading All Blacks are prominent. E. W. Tindill, C. S. Pepper, H. McLean and R. S. King were in the New Zealand team.

“In the first half the All Blacks were never in Rosslyn Park’s 25; in the second half they were seldom out of it. That in a nutshell is the story of the memorable match at Richmond in which

the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, playing its first representative game of the season, came within an ace of beating Rosslyn Park after being 17-0 down at the change-over,” states The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News. “The scores were: Rosslyn Park 22 points (four tries, three converted and a dropped goal) to 20 points (four converted tries), “There can have been few finer games seen at the Old Deer Park. An early dropped goal by C. M. Squire, followed by a try from S. A. Evans, one of Park's most dependable forwards in recent seasons, gave them the lead of seven points soon after - the start, and then tries by A. Higgins and L. V. Cornish, the former Richmond three-quarter, and conversions by B. J. A. Lowe, the London Welsh forward, further increased Park’s lead.

“Early in the second half R. Crouch, who with Park’s other young recruit, D. S. Brown, was in great form throughout the match, was up to a pass from G. B. Russell and scored a try which Lowe converted. “But that was the end of Park’s success and the beginning of the New Zealanders’ spirited revival. Their forwards, with C. S. Pepper and R. S. King invariably in the van, started to

harry their opponents with those rushes which made the pack of the 1935-36 All Blacks so formidable, while J. R. O’Hearn and C. P. Campbell, their three-quarters, soon showed how dangerous runners they were when the ball came their way.

“Tries by King, Neighbourn and O’Hearn, all converted by Simpson, the full-back, made the scores 22-15, and in a rousing finish Pepper dashed half the length of the field to score a try which Simpson converted to bring the All Blacks only two points behind. Two minutes later the end came with the All Blacks pressing hard.’’ CHAMPION AJAX FOR SALE TO BE OFFERED NEXT MONTH MELBOURNE, February 5. Ajax will be offered for sale next month during the Newmarket. and Australian Cup week. It is anticipated that American breeders will bid for Ajax. TENNIS EASTERN DISTRICT MATCH In an Eastern District match played at Wyndham on Saturday Edendale won by 11 sets, 105 games, to five sets, 84 games. Following are the scores, Wyndham names mentioned first:— Men’s Singles.—Macfarlane lost to Whelan, 3-9; Baird beat Phelan, 9-3; Rout lost to Irvine, 1-9; Heath beat Christianson, 9-5. Men’s Doubles.—Macfarlane and Baird beat Whelan and Phelan, 9-6; Rout and Heath lost to Irvine and Christianson, 8-9. Women’s Singles.—Mrs Macfarlane beat Mrs Irvine, 7-6; Miss Rice lost to Mrs Stirling, 5-7; Mrs Fraser lost to Miss Duncan, 6-7; Miss McLaren lost to Mrs Hall, 0-7. Women’s Doubles.—Mrs Macfarlane and Miss Rice beat Mesdames Irvine and Stirling, 7-3; Mrs Fraser and Miss McLaren lost to Miss Duncan and Mrs Hall, 2-7. Mixed Doubles.—Macfarlane and Mrs Macfarlane lost to Whelan and Mrs Irvine, 5-7; Baird and Miss Rice lost to Phelan and Mrs Stirling, 2-7; Rout and Mrs Fraser lost to Irvine and Miss Duncan, 3-7; Heath and Miss McLaren lost to Christianson and Mrs Hall, 4-7. i