RUGBY SERVICES OUTPLAYED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23319, 1 October 1945, Page 2

RUGBY SERVICES OUTPLAYED

New Zealand Win 29-13 (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 29. Before 15,000 spectators, the New Zealand team outplayed the Combined Services by 20-13 at Athletic Park. Conditions were ideal, but it was soon apparent that the packs of both sides were badly balanced. The result was the worst exhibition of scrummaging ever seen in an important match in Wellington. In the early stages some of the tall front row Services men were so slow in getting down that they were frequently left helplessly standing up, and the same thing occasionally happened to the front row men on the New Zealand side. The ball had to be put in two and three times before the referee was satisfied, and when it did go in as often as not a penalty followed. Occasionally scrums screwed round at right angles to the touch line, and not infrequently both packs fell sprawling. Though Services had the advantage of a helpful southerly breeze, NevZealand were early on the attack and Grace, who was playing brightly at second five-eighths, dodged through the defence for a brilliant try. which Callinan failed to convert. The scores were evened a minute later by a splendid penalty goal by Wishnowsky. the Services full-back. The Services rearguard came into action with a bright passing movement in which Colquhoun. Ingram and King figured to send Puke, the winger, over for a try in the corner, which Wishnowsky failed to improve. The Services kept up a hot attack and King coolly potted a neat field goal. Services scored again when Wishnowsky put over his second penalty goal. New' Zealand forwards were now 7 going well. From a scrum near the Services line, J. Haig sent the ball out to Dunn. W'ho had come in from the wing, and the latter scored with a determined dash. Callinan converted. Play fluctuated In exciting fashion till L. Haig made a neat cut in which ended in the most brilliant movement of the day. Barnes, Bowman and Christian all handled in turn to send Barnes over between the posts. Callinan cohverted to make the score 13-all. With the breeze behind them the New Zealand team dominated play in the second spell. A strong dash by Sutherland, the left wing threequarter. started a movement in which L. Haig. Grace and Morrison handled to send the last-named over for a dazzling try. which was unconverted. A little later Morrison placed New Zealand ahead with a good penalty goal. Keeping un the pressure, J. Haig broke round the scrum and sent on to McHugh, who dashed ever for a try, w'hich Callinan converted. A little later, McKenzie. Willocks and Barnes handled well, the last-named going over for his second try, which Callinan converted to make the final score: New Zealand 29. Services 13. DECISIVE DEFEAT (N.Z.P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 29. Wellington beat Canterbury decisively by 23 points to 6 in the final Rugby match of the 1945 season at Lancaster Park. The ground was hard and fast. The attendance exceeded 10.000. The winners scored four tries, one converted, and three penalty goals. Canterbury were first to score with a penalty goal and the last to score with a try. In between they seldom looked like crossing Wellington’s line. Almost from the start Wellington looked the superior team in spite of the fact that their side included only three of the players who met Auckland at Athletic Park last Saturday and won 20-8. The Wellington packmen infused great fire into their work and gave the Canterbury inside backs a harassing afternoon. They broke swiftly from the scrums and just as swiftly through the line-outs as Canterbury adopted the mistaken policy of tapping the ball back. For Wellington tries were scored by Beard (2), Wickham and Roberts. Halverson kicked two penalty goals and converted a try and Beard a penalty goal. For Canterbury Mitchell scored a try and Kelly kicked a penalty goal.