FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18636, 4 August 1930, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

BRITISH TEAM'S TOUR. SPARKLING DISPLAY AT HAMILTON. BIG SCORE AGAINST COMBINED FIFTEEN. By Telegraph—Press Association HAMILTON, August 2. In a sparkling game, in which the visiting backs dominated play for the major portion of the contest, Britain defeated Combined Waikato, King Country and Thames Valley representatives at Rugby Park by 40 to 16. There was only one team in it in the first spell, when Britain led 24-5, but on resumption the Combined team infused more dash into their work, and up till midway through the second half had Britain defending strongly. The local backs opened out, and with a determined forward pack treated the terraces to some bright exchanges. It was not until a few minutes before time that the fast pace set began to tell, to let the visitors through for a succession of three tries. The crowd was a record on in Hamilton Rugby circles, and was estimated at over 12,000.

Murray was smart behind the British scrum. Spong, while he pleased the crowd with many dazzling runs, was at times erratic in his passing. Bowcott was a reliable man at all times, and probably the best of the Britishers. Aarvold rose to his Test heights on occasions, while Novis and Reeve, the wing men, showed their pace on several occasions. While not a Bassett, Bonner, at full-back, was generally pretty safe. The forwards were a good lot, with O’Neill, Farrell and Beamish always toiling hard, while Ivor Jones was a specialist in the loose. Both he and Black showed their value by goal-kicking.

The Combined side, .while well outclassed in the first spell, played effectively for the greater part of the second half. The passing they attempted invariably lacked penetration. They were an even lot, with Allen and Mitchell the best of them. The forwards, who gave a good account of themselves, especially in the line-outs, were dashing at times, but the speed of the opposition backs bothered them. Story, Hooper and Reynolds were the pick of an even lot. « THE TEAMS. The teams were:— Great Britain. G. Bonner A. L. Novis C. D. Aarvold (capt.) H. M. Bowcott J. S. R. Reeve R. S. Spong T. P. Murray W. B. Welsh G. R. Beamish Ivor Jones B. H. Black J. L. Farrell D. Parker D. A. Kendrew H. O’Neill Waikato. Weo W. H. Carlson J. R. Fitzgerald W. Allen J. Tuck A. St. George W. Mitchell A. Story Hooper Leeson Reynold§ Courtney A. Cameron C. Cameron W. Bonham THE PLAY. The home side kicked off, but the visitors were soon on the offensive, and Murray sent Reeve away, but the winger was soundly tackled. Spong then opened up, and from an infringement in a handy position, Black landed a fine goal within 2h minutes. The visitors kept up the attack, making good use of the line. They had the home side defending solidly. From a scrum a bad pass by Spong allowed St. George to break through, and relieve the position. A pot shot by Bonner went wide to Mitchell, w’ho relieved. The visitors’ rearguard swung into action, and Spong, Bowcott, and Novis handled for the winger to go over in the corner. Britain 8, Combined 0. Play had been in the visitors’ favour up to this stage, the ball anchoring in the home 25. The next points came when Novis flashed down the line to pass infield to Ivor Jones, who went over unopposed. Black added the extra points. Britain 11, Combined 0. The speed of the British rearguard had the defence in trouble. The home forwards broke away several times, but Bonner was on his game, and he let little past him. The visitors were again within striking distance from a smart kick by Aarvold, and from a penalty in the 25 Ivor Jones increased the British tally. Britain 14, Combined 0. The Combined forwards forged down to the visiting line, but the movement lacked penetration. Reeve was next to increase the total, when he finished off a sparkling movement to go over under the posts. Ivor Jones converted. Britain 19, Combined 0. The home team brought the crowd to its feet when the forwards carried all before them from solid play close to the line, and Leeson snapped up to hoist the home side’s first contribution. Allen converted. Britain 19, Combined 5. The home forwards now went into it with greater vim, but the tide was quickly turned when the visiting backs swung into line in characteristic style. Murray, Spong and Novis handled, Spong coming again to gather up a faulty pass to romp home under the sticks. Black added the two points. Half-time came with no alteration. Britain 24 Combined 5 On resumption, the Combined side took the upper hand, and a strong forward attack culminated in Story going across. Story converted. Britain 24. Combined 10. The home side continued their offensive, but from a line-out the visiting backs were fed for Novis to cap a movement with a line run that added a further three points. The kick failed. Britain 27, Combined 10. The local men kept up the pressure, and their efforts were successful when Mitchell dived over. The essay at goal failed narrowly. Britain 27, Combined 13. The Combined men were over again after a torrid spell, but the kick failed. Britain 27. Combined 16. There was only one side in it at the finish. Spong electrified the crowd with a dazzling run that left the home side standing. Hi*s try was converted. Britain 32, Combined 16. Novis was next to go over, and he was followed by Aarvold, who brought the visitors’ tally to 40 within a few minutes of time. The game ended: Britain 40 Combined 16 Mr S. J. Weston, of Whangarei, was referee. DUNEDIN PREMIERSHIP. By Telegraph—Press Association DUNEDIN, August 2. Senior flag games to-day resulted as follows: Kaikorai 9 beat Varsity A 3. Pirates 15 beat Dunedin 6. Southern 8 beat Alhambra 7. Union 7 beat Zingari 0. Varsity B 3 drew with Taieri 3. Alhambra and Kaikorai. with one match to go are equal at the top of the list of championship points.

BERI CUP MATCH. TROPHY WON BY OLD BOYS. Temuka failed by two points to win the Beri Cup on Saturday, Old Boys securing the trophy for the fifth time by defeating the country fifteen by 8 points to 6. The sky was overcast, and the game started in a light mist. Conditions were extremely cold, and a large number of grandstand patrons fortified themselves with rugs. The attendance, considering the conditions, was large. Temuka played much above the form shown by them in the final of the Skinner Cup competition, and with an element of luck should have carried off the cup. Strang had a day off with his goal kicking, piloting only one out of £ix shots between the uprights. Play in the first half, in which Old Boys established a lead of five points, was most uninteresting, but in the second session both sides settled down to play good football. Taken all round, there was very little to choose between the packs, both sets of forwards giving fine exhibitions in the loose. In the first half, Old Boys backs were given few opportunities to show their worth, neither Mahan nor Trotter having one run. More was seen of the Blues in the concluding forty minutes, but the tackling of Temuka was keen. The Black and White rearguard, well served by the j forwards, were prominent in a number of rushes, but the wings were not I speedy enough to complete the work I done by the inside backs. At the conclusion of the game, the president of the Union (Mr H. H. Fraser), congratulated the teams on their display, and thanked Mrs Beri for having donated a trophy which had done much to further the game in the district. The cup was prented to L. Mahan (captain of Old Boys), by Mrs Beri who said that Old Boys fully deserved their victory. Mahan acknowledged the remarks of the president and Mrs Beri, and congratulated Temuka on the good fight they had put up. Cheers were then given for both teams, and for the donor of the trophy. The Play. Old Boys defended the western end, A. Lawson kicking off. Following a series of kicks, play settled at half-way. The Blues secured from a scrum, and the backs went away, Neutze kicking through. The bounce beat Connolly, but he recovered, kicking into Palmer’s hands. The latter endeavoured to get the Blue backline moving, but the effort was not successful. The Temuka forwards broke through from a lineout, Strang opening up nicely for Gaffaney and Kelland to handle, but the last named was grassed in possession. Picking up in the loose, Palmer shot away supported by Stevenson, who beat several men, only to be brought down near the line. Here the Blues infringed, but Strang failed to find touch. Temuka recovered themselves a few minutes later, but Neutze picked up cleanly, and found touch inside Temuka’s 25. Here Mahan claimed a mark, but his kick missed. Connolly failed to gather in cleanly, and Simmers, who had followed through, snapped up to go over by the posts for a gift try. A. Lawson converted. Old Boys 5, Temuka 0. The Blue forwards were worrying Temuka, who were unable to stop their opponents breaking through. Opening up from the loose, Phillips gave to Arnold, to Strang, to Gaffaney, who ran Spillane nicely into position, but the wing was pushed into touch a few yards from the line. The position was relieved for the Blues by Neutze, who, with a fine kick, found touch ten yards past half-way. Blyth then secured and handed to Gaffaney, who made a fine solo run. Elder then headed a good forward rush, all the backs subsequently handling for Spillane to again be pushed out near the corner. Bassett led the Blues in a fine sweeping rush which gained considerable ground, but the Temuka forwards who were now going much better in the loose, forced the Blues back to their 25. The Temuka backs were more in the picture at this stage than the Blues, but their handling was uncertain. Arnold, at first five-eighth, was also a trifle slow in getting rid of the ball, thus hampering the men outside of him. Connolly was glaringly obstructed a few minutes later, right on the half-way line, the Whites being given a kick where the ball landed, but Strang failed to raise the flags. Blyth opened up from a scrum for Arnold to cut right through. He shortpunted to a gap, Fleming knocking-on in endeavouring to field. The Blues heeled from the scrum, Lawson clearing with a good kick. Aitken was penalised for off-side in a line, out, but Strang gained very little ground with the kick. Temuka were playing well up on to the Blue backs, and were giving them few chances of making the J> ar ne open. The Blues stormed the Temuka line, but a force down resulted. The Temuka forwards, led byDuke and Phillips, broke through to Blue territory but off-side spoilt their chances. Simmers then broke right through to Connolly with three or four men in support. He endeavoured to short punt, but Connolly trapped the ball, and cleared beautifully. The Blue backs opened up, but were penalised, Strang again missing with the kick. Blyth set the backs away from the loose, but Gaffaney’s pass to Spillane was a poor one. The White forwards carried on. but were once more penalised for off-side when within striking distance. Play was uninteresting for a period, Temuka holding the Blues well. Temuka then swept down field in a pretty passing rush, following an opening by Arnold. The Blues stopped it temporarily, but were penalised for off-side. Strang *took the kick in an easy position, but for the third time failed to find the uprights. Half-time sounded with the scores: Old Qpys 5 Temuka 0

Temuka carried play to the Blue's 25 on resuming. Blyth opened up well from the loose, but Arnold threw a bad pass to Strang, and the movement broke down. Palmer then opened up for the Blues, cutting through well, he handed on to Neutze, to Lawson, to Trotter, who beat Connolly, and swerved past two other men to reach the line. Here he was tackled hard, and dropped the ball, Temuka forcing. It was the only run Trotter had had during the game, and a good try was lost through the Blue man endeavouring to get round by the posts. The Temuka backs were once more prominent, but Kelland failed to hold his pass. Neute picked up in the loose and went away, but was brought down by a flying tackle by Strang. The Temuka backs and forwards then swept down field in a beautiful rush, which gained fully sixty yards. They came again on the blind side, but Spillane missed Strang’s pass with an open line ahead of him. Strang had another shot from near half-way, but he failed to make the ball rise. A fifth chance came his way a minute later, and this time he landed a beauty, from well out. Old Boys 5, Temuka 3. The Blues now infused some dash into their play, and following a good rush, Black was almost over. He lost possession, however, and another forward snapped up to dive across. Lawson’s kick was well directed, but dropped short. Old Boys 8. Temuka 3. Play was now more interesting than at any other part of the game, both sides throwing ....

the ball about with abandon. First Old Boys got away and then Temuka, play surging up and down at a fast pace. Mahan made a fine solo run down the line, but was forced into touch. Grey put the Blues in a good position following a mark, but P. Columb intercepted nicely and went off down the paddock. He kicked over Fleming’s head, but Mahan got back in time to gather in. He was hauled down when in the act of kicking, and the Temuka forwards gave the backs possession, Arnold being grassed right on the line. Phillips tried to force his way over from a line-out, but missed, as did also an attempt at a field goal by Connolly. Then Strang went round on the blind side, but Kelland failed to accept the transfer. At this stage Trotter retired ■with an injured leg, King going on. The Blues set up a hot attack, but Gaffaney saved nicely. Duke and J. Connolly carried on, play settling in Blue territory. At this stage the game was held up owing to an injury to Stevenson. Pretty play by the Temuka backs had Old Boys defending hard, a force down relieving. Temuka continued to press, but eventually the Blues worked clear. The Temuka backs regained the lost ground, and from a scrum Blyth went away on the blind side for Spillane to score in the corner. Strang’s kick went wide. Old Boys 8, Temuka 6. Temuka now made strenuous efforts to get to the front, but the Blues were equally determined. Old Boys were attacking when the bell sounded, but Blyth kept the ball in play, opening up a rush in which Arnold, Strang. Gaffaney and Kelland participated. The wing made a determined run before being hauled down, but he then lost possession, and the ball rolled into touch to end the game. The final scores were:— Old Boys 8 Temuka 6 Mr W. Direen was referee. WAIRARAPA AND NORTH AUCKLAND DRAW. By Telegraph—Press Association MASTERTON, August 3. North Auckland and Wairarapa played a drawn game, nineteen points each at Masterton on Saturday. For three parts of the game the visitors were in the ascendancy. Tries were secured for the northerners by Wells, Hanson, Barrich, Morrisey and M. Rika, two being converted by Kerr. For Wairarapa, Stringfellow, Le Quesne, Fuller and Mill scored tries, Fuller converting two and kicking a penalty goal. PETONE WIN WELLINGTON CHAMPIONSHIP. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 2. The weather was cold and overcast for the concluding series of matches in the senior A. championship. Results:— Petone 14 beat Eastbourne 6. Marist 11 beat Old Boys 10. Athletic 13 beat Poneke 0. Oriental 16 beat Hutt 14. University 33 beat Berhampore 9. Petone won the senior A. championship by three points from Eastbourne, and Wellington, which won every match during the season, took the senior B. championship by four points from Johnsonville.

N.S.W. DEFEATS QUEENSLAND. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 3, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 2. Playing Rugby Union football. New South Wales defeated Queensland by 19 points to 16. WANGANUI BEAT NORTH OTAGO. By Telegraph—Press AssociationOAMARU, August 2. The Wanganui touring team defeated North Otago by 8 to 6. “TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.” THE BAXTER TOUCH. By Telegraph—Press Asiu»cia.tton HAMILTON, August 3. “While I suppose most of you will agree with your chairman regarding the old rules, our minds are firmly fixed in the Old Country,” said Mr Baxter, manager of the British team, at an official dinner last evening. In reply to Mr A. G. Yardley, chairman of the Waikato Union, who, in the course of his remarks, said that the game with the Combined team that day showed that bright, fast football could still be played under the old rules, Mr Baxter said: “The rules we observe are laid down by the International Board, and in our opinion are good enough for the average young man to play under. We don't intend to alt® them one jot. Those who don’t want to come under our colours can outside.”

CHRISTCHURCH POINTS. By Telegraph—Press Aesoolatlon CHRISTCHURCH, August 2. Albion 11 gained a surprise victory over Old Boys to-day at Rugby. Christchurch 23 beat Linwood 3. Varsity 11 beat Sydenham 5. Merivale 24 beat Technical 3. The position of the leading teams now is:—Christchurch 10 points, Old Boys 9h, Merivale 9£, Albion 8.