RUGBY LEAGUE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2023, 9 August 1920, Page 2

RUGBY LEAGUE.

SECOND TEST MATCH. ENGLAND BEATS NEW ZEALAND. About 5000 spectators were attracted to Lancaster Park on Saturday, when the English League Rugby team met and defeated New Zealand in the second test match by 19 points to three. The ground was sodden, but, despite this, the English players handled the ball in remarkable fashion, and showed themselves to be a particularly speedy combination. Certainly they were much faster than New Zealand, a fact which gives rise to a natural regret that opportunity was not afforded to witness their display on a dry ground. There is no question but that they were superior in all departments, although they gave the impression that as a team they are brilliant rather than solid. On Saturdaj' they chanced everything, and threw the sodden ball about, at times with remarkable accuracy. In attack they supported one another excellently, but there was no .proper and systematic backing up amongst the backs in defence. But this, of course, may be accounted for by reason of the fact that they held their opponents lightly. The tackling of the New Zealand backs was feeble. Apart from W. J. Mitchell, few of the New Zealand backs consistently went low for their man. To attempt to tackle high such resourceful players as the English backs was to invite disaster. Even the New Zealand forwards were often offenders in this respect. The teams lined out, as follow:

England (White).—Full-back. C. Staccy; three-quarters, W. J. Stone. H. Wagstaff, E, Davies, J. A. Bacon; five-eighths, J. Parkin; half-back. E. Jones; forwards, W. Cunliffe, J. Cartwright, (V. A. Skclhornc, B. Gronow, H. Hilton, and 1). Clark. New Zealand (Black).—Full-back, M. Lovoridgr; three-quarters, W. P. Cuinev, .1. Sanders. C. Woollcv, A. McClymont; fiveeighths, W. J. Mitchell: half-back, J. Poison; forwards, S. C. Walters, W. Somers, W. Stormont, H. Avery, J. Bennett, N. Bass.

Tlio New Zealand star three-quarter, j K. Ifwerson, stood down, having not | yet fullv recovered from a splintered tibia. His place was talcen by W. P.! Guiney, a Christehurch player. Tlie j best play was -witnessed in the first, j half, during which England attacked ' most of the time. At the outset the New Zealand backs attempted to throw j the ball about, but their passing had' not the accuracy of that of the visitors, I and was often'too slow. In addition, j when in-passing, the supporting baeks i wore usually out of position. On the other hand.' the English backs, at. this j stage, were handling the ball as.though on a dry ground. Their passing also | showed plenty of variety, and a long j pass, cutting out several players, was often the means whereby an opportunity was made. Great interest was attached to the play of H. Wagstaff, at centre three-quarter, for strong claims have been made, concerning this player, lie is a big man, fast and resourceful, and his handling of the ball was better than that of his fellows. However, he was not quite so prominent in making openings ns E. Davies, another threequarter. This player lias a remarkable swerve, and is <'tricky." But as a scoring man, it would be hard to beat W. J. who plaved on the left. wing. He has a remarkable turn of speed, and a swerve which gains in effect by the manner in which lie brings his knees up. He scored two tries, both through his sneed. C. Stacey, at fullback, is reliable. The New Zealand full-back. M. Loveridge, was weak. He misjudged several kicks, and was tackled in possession on a number of occasions. In addition, he missed his man two or three times through lack of determination. Guiney's best piece of work was when he scored his try. He took the ball by a series of speculators almost the length of the field, and got over after a scramble. J. Poison, the half-back, had not the cleverness behind the scrum that was possessed by E. Jones, the English halfback. This fact handicapped the New Zealand backs. The Black forwards played with some determination, but their scrum -work was not up to their opponents'. The English forwards got away quicker, and on several occasions screwed the scrums. Still, the Black forwards played relatively better than did the New Zealand backs. The referee, Mr A. E. Hooper, very firmly set himself against the English method of putting the ball in the scrum. The ball was often bounced to the White hookers, and these players on a number of occasions were lifting their feet before the ball was thrown in. A series of penalties against England for these practices was of material assistance in helping New Zealand during a period when the visitors were particularly aggressive. Air Hooper, however, was somewhat, inconsistent in some of his other rulings, ami he allowed several incidents of rough play to pass without, active notice being taken. The first spell ended in the visitors' favour, with the score eight, points to three. Thereafter, play was good in patches only. There was too much line-kicking, and the scrums proved monotonous. Then much time appeared to be deliberately wasted in bringing the ball into play : after a player had been tackled in possession. And players waited offside a lot. N. Bass, who was the best forward in the New Zealand team, hurt j his shoulder, towards the end and had j to retire. ;

TBE PLAY. England returned New Zealand's opening kick to the hitler's twenty-live whence a good return found the touch line at the Englishmen's twenty-live. ,). Poison not the hall from the scrummage and placed New Zealand in an attacking position which promised to yield results, when W. P. Guinev snapped up the hall and trausl erred to S. C. Walters who went over, but Belerce \ V Hooper ruled off -side, and B. C.ronow, the Englishmen's safe kick, returned playto the hall-way Hug. Play hovered ill midfield for a time. ,1. Sanders and C. Woolley participated ill a neat passing bout, the English full back, C. Stacey. being forced nut in the corner. From the scrum <.. Skelhorne obtained possession and kicked well into New Zealand territory. M. Loveridge returning with a good kick to the half-was mark. C.ronow, with a splendid effort, sent the oval to the All Blacks' line where W. J. Mitchell stemmed a dangerous English rush by a timely mark almost under his own goal. Stacey received the kick and in a quick passing movement the hall passed through the hands of the English three-quarter line, E. Davies missing a chance of scoring through holding to the ball instead of passing lo J. A. Bacon, who was without opposition. Sanders, m bis ..\\h !\vcnt\-livc, cleverly snapped up the hall almost from the toe. of an opposing hack and transferred play to England's line, where Mitchell had an Ineffectual shot at goal from an easy position. The English forwards von :i scrummage shortly alterxvaids. anil the hall went to l.overidge whose disinclination lo purl with it ilil perilled his line, hut oil side play by the Englishmen relieved a djmgcrous position. TllF'li. following it series of scrummages, the fast English backs came into aelioo and provided one of Ihe rare glimpses of their true capabilities. K. Jones, at half, sen! on to ,1. Parkin, who nipped ihe ball out to the, redoubtable Wagstaff. who executed a corkscrew run, eluded the ridiculously high collaring of the New Zraianders, and passed to Davies. He sent on to W. J. Stone, the fleet English threequarter crossing the Hue. Gronow failed with the kick.

England 3, New Zealand 0. England immediately returned to the attack but Guiney obtained possession and, running strongly, passed to Sanders who was tackled, the hall going into touch near England's line. The All Black vanguard was standing up well against the English forwards, who gradually forced play hack to the New Zealand line where Ixweridge again selfishly placed his side in jeopardy. \V. Stormont shortly afterwards essayed a long resultless shot at England's goal for an infringement. Once more play swung hack to New Zealand's line, and Loveridge did the wrong thing when overwhelmed, but he shortly afterwards made amends by a clever mark, the kick from which sent the Englishmen hack to their quarter flag. The English forwards then swept over the New Zealand vanguard. A melee on New [Zealand's line a. little later saw H. Hilton emerge and ground the ball, but Gronow's kick failed. j England 6. New Zealand 0,

An interchange of kicks between the two full-backs ended in the Englishman coming up fast and tackling ,1. Poison, whom he pushed along the slushy surface for 15 feet to force down. The kick gave the advantage to the All Blacks who were placed in an attacking position by Guiney. The speedy three-quarter dribbled adroitly down the line from half-way, and kicked well in-(leld, where his supports handled the leather which finally came to Guiney again out on the opposite wing and a short run ended in the registering of New Zealand's only try. Stormont missed an easy chance at goal. England «>. New Zealand .1. Off-side play by the All Blacks allowed Gronow to kick a neat penalty shortly afterwards, England 8. New Zealand 3. The Second Half.

New Zealand forced the play at the opening, and an English player's failure to play the hall in his own quarter gave Mitchell a chance from the field, the ball going under the cross-bar. New Zealand maintained the aggressive, and England was obliged to force. Scrummages ensued at the half-way flag until Gronow bored his way through the ruck with the hall at his feet, and New Zealand was defending. The referee had occasion to caution an English player for rough play at this stage. A scramble almost on the New Zealand line ended in a scrum, from which Parkin dashed over on the outside. Gronow failed with the kick. England 11. New Zealand 3. The New Zealanders were awarded a number of free kicks through the failure or their opponents to put the ball in the serums. Holding the balance in the scrums and the loose, the English forwards set up a sustained attack on New Zealand's citadel. Walters, however, came out of the ruck with the ball and dribbled nearly to half-way. Off-side play by the Englishmen: allowed Mitchell to find touch at the

quarter flag. Hip scrum was won by the Englishmen, Jones sending out to WagstaiVe who lucked down field to Stone, who following up fast, obtained possession. evaded Gulney's flying tackle, side-stepped Loveridgc and scored near the posts, Gronow adding the major points. England Hi. New Zealand 3.

New Zealand came at it again, and by a powerful effort compelled England to force. (Jive and take play followed the kick until the All White forwards surged over the New Zealand line, the ball going into touch-in-goal. The Englishmen again scrambled their way over, New Zealand forcing. The All Blacks had a turn at attack, and some strenuous wallowing in the mud saw Walters emerge, kick to the full-hack, and, following up fast, force the ball out at the corner flag. From the scrum the Englishmen were compelled to force down. Bass repeated the performance of Walters a few minutes later, hut in striving to tackle Stacey he wrenched his leg and retired from the game. England staved off the assault and presently had the New Zealanders penned on their own line. Parkin received from a scrummage and sent on to Wagstaff, the English captain threading his way through the defence and passing to Bacon, who gathered the ball in his stride and had no difficulty in evading two poor attempts at tackling. Gronow's kick went wide. England made one more effort to thrust the attack home but Loveridge kicked into touch-in-goal, and with play at New Zealand's quarter flag, the bell sounded with the final score reading:— England 19. New Zealand 3.

ENGLAND v. WEST COAST. The English team to visit the West Coast to-morrow, playing at Grcymouth on Wednesday, will consist of the following: Fullback, A. E. Wood; three-quarters, S. rfltockwcll, J. Dovle, E. Davics, W. J. Stone; halves, 3. Parkin, E. Jones; forwards, .1. Cartwright, G. Skelhorne, J. Bowers, B. Gronow, W. Reid, D. Clark. SATURDAY'S FIXTURES. The first grade competition will be suspended next Saturday, other fixtures being as follow: — Second Grade—Kaiapoi v. Linwood, at Einwood Park, referee Mr A. E. Hooper; Avon v. Eederal, at St. Albans, Mr T. Kirton ; Woolston and Hornby a bye. Third Grade—Kaiapoi v. Linwood, at Kaiapoi, Mr D. McGregor; Woolston v. Templeton, at Templeton, Mr A. Cox; Hornby v. Sydenham, at Beekenham Park, Mr A. Morris; Avon a bye. Fourth Grade—Linwood v. Addington, at Linwood (1.40), Mr O'Kccfe. Fifth Grade—Sydenham v. Woolston A, at Sydenham Park (1.401, Mrs Stevens; Linwood B v. Woolston B, at Woolston (1.40), Mr G. Geary.