BRITISH VICTOR!

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1930, Page 17

BRITISH VICTOR!

EAST COAST TEAM BEATEN BRILLIANT RUGBY PROVIDED TWENTY-FIVE TO ELEVEN FLUCTUATION OF FORTUNE i

F ) 3y Tfllesraph.—Press Association. Gisborne, Last Night. Brilliant Rugby, with a remarkable contrast in the fortunes of the first anti second spells, delighted a record crowd fit the Oval to-day, when the British touring team met Poverty Bay, East Coast and Bay of Plenty. Victory rested with the tourists by 25 points (four tries, two converted, and three penalty goals) to 11 (three tries, one converted), but the score is far from a true reflection of the play. The home side had as great a share of the game as had Britain, but bad luck and perhaps lack of experience lost it several tries. Better goal-kicking was also a factor in Britain’s win. Prentice accounting foi 13 of the points, whereas the Combined team’s only points in this connection were two for a conversioh. T.wo instances of the home team’s bad'luck are worth emphasis. In one ease Nepia made a brilliant attempt to pot a goal from half-way, the ball, well above the horizontal bar, struck an upright and glanced outside- The second instance occurred when K. "Walters, the home rover, after a brilliant run, was practically over the line and about to ground the ball when he slipped and lost possession. In the first half the Combined team appeared overawed by the reputation of the tourists, and failed to put any determination or sparkle into its work. Britain attacked most of the spell and ran up 22 points, mainly by snappy passing rushes. After the interval, however, Combined rose to great heights, and

practically the only occasion Britain passed half-way was when it notched a try in the last minutes of the game. The home team in the meantime scored 11 points and deserved considerably more. .Both back and forward the tourists were outplayed, the home players tackling like demons and killing every attempted offensive before it had made any progress. The home forwards played a wonderful game in this spell, and the praise for the backs can be little less. For Britain Novis, Bowcott' and Jennings were outstanding backs. Knowles, fly half, gave a good display, and Bassett at full-back was generally sound. Poole, scrum half, gave a fair exhibition, but threw out some wild passes. Of the forwards Ivor Jones was always prominent in open work, joining frequently with the backs, Prentice, Dunne, Rew and Kendrew were the best of the others. For the Combined team Nepia, fullback, performed a good deal of useful work, but was not at his best. Harrison (half) was probably .the best, back. on his side, while Bennett also played very soundly as wing three-quarter, being especially good in defence. E. Howell (five-eighths) made several excellent manoeuvres. Langlands was nursing a damaged shoulder and was not at his best, even his handling suffering, but he showed occasional flashes of true form. Farmer (centre three-quarter) gave a very sound display and scored one beautiful try. Thomas played a great game in ■ the Combined forward division, and McPhail was little behind him, while Leach and Reid also played excellently. K. Walters (wing-forward) was probable the star man on the side. He was up with the play throughout, tackled excellently and made many splendid solo runs and dribbles. NEPIA NARROWLY MISSES. Poverty Bay won the toss and commenced with a good forward rush. A penalty from just outside half-way saw Nepia narrowly miss drop-kicking - a goal. Down swept the home forwards and Britain was hard-pressed on the line when a penalty relieved. Nepia fielded and attempted to pot, but the ball went astray and Novis lined at midfield. Wilkinson intercepted a pass by Bennett and passed to Prentice,' Ivor Jones and Wilkinson, who dropped the pass. Prentice was handy and picked up the ball, sending it on to Novis and Jennings, who scored in a good position for Prentice to goal. Britain 5, Combined 0. Almost immediately Knowles secured the ball from a line-out and sent it to Novis and Bowcott, who ran over near the posts to score. Prentice’s kick was a poster. Britain 8, Combined 0. A penalty 10 yards inside half-way saw Nepia attempt a goal, but he failed. Nepia found touch at the British twenty-five from another penalty. A strong southerly breeze had started, this being to the disadvantage of the home i'-. side. A penalty to Britain close to touch saw Prentice judge the wind well jmd goal. Britain 11, Combined 0. Prentice marked the kick-off aiid lined near the home twenty-five, where a ■ penalty saw him go well back and at- • tempt to goal, the ball going just outside the posts. A period of tight scrummaging followed; then the ball went out to Poverty Bay backs. Jennings secured again, cut through the ruck beautifully :■ and sent on to Dunne, who dashed over ... to score. Prentice converted. Britain 10, Combined 0. i M. Howell made a useful dash and, following snappy passing, Walters

■ . brought the crowd to its feet with n i slashing run, but he was pushed into touch near the British twenty-five. Dazzling in-and-out passing by the British ended in a dropped pass which Walters snapped up, only to be tackled by Bowcott. A penalty wide out and about . half-way between the twenty-five and midfield saw Prentice kick another neat goal. Britain 19, Combined 0. Once again the home backs swung away, but Langlands was well collared. A penalty on the twenty-live line and Nepia’s kick sent the ball outside the

.posts. After a good exhibition of pass- • by the British backs a penalty was i given almost in line with the posts, but close to the half-way. Prentice kicked another fine goal. Britain 22, Combined 0. There was no further score up to half-time, HOME TEAM IMPROVES. The home forwards opened the second spell with a thrilling dash, quickly removing play to the British twenty-five. Walters kicked through the ruck, picked up the ball neatly;-’ sent it to Leech, whose pass was missed. Britain broke

away momentarily, but Nepia lined beautifully at the British twenty-five. Combined hooked the ball am. Harrison sent it to E. Howell, who passed to Thomas, who dived over wide out. Nepia’s kick was a poster. Britain 22, Combined 3. Maintaining their brilliant form, the home forwards, with Thomas, McPhail, Reid and Leech prominent, quickly invaded the visitors’ twenty-five, only to be stopped by a penalty. Nepia, from nearly half-way, potted and had bad luck to see the kick hit an upright and glance behind. It was a great attempt. Bowcott dropped a pass when the British backs swung away, and Farmer picked up the ball and shot away on a great run, swerving past Bassett brilliantly to touch down near the corner. Nepia made a fine conversion. Britain 22, Combined 8.

After good work by the red forwards Harrison secured the ball, and sent it on to E. Howell, who cut through but slipped in side-stepping Bassett. Four line-outs followed in rapid succession within 10 yards of the British line, and then a short kick over the line sent the hall into touch in goal a foot ahead of Bennett’s dive. Once more the home backs went away but Langlands fumbled a pass. Nepia lined near the British line. E. Howell and Langlands bustled the British backs and Harrison once more secured, but Farmer's pass was too low. Crawford made a fine kick along the touch and McPhail snapped up the ball as it bounced away from Bassett, passing to Reid, who dived over at the corner. Nepia’s kick went just outside the posts. Britain 22, Combined 11. Within five minutes of the end, when the home team was hot on the attack, Poole threw a long pass to Bowcott, who cut through half a dozen Combined men and then gave Novis a clean run in by the posts. Prentice missed the kick, and the game ended shortly after with the scores: — Britain 25 Combined 11 Mr. G. A.' Madison, Hastings, was referee.