League

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18544, 18 August 1928, Page 5

League

WILLING PLAY IN SECOND TEST GAME.

(Special to the “Star.") DUNEDIN, August 18. The second League test between England and New Zealand was played at the Caledonian Ground in glorious weather. There was an attendnce of 9000. The ground was in excellent order. England won the toss, and had a light breeze at their backs. Twice New Zealand broke away, but kicked too hard. England forced five minutes after the commencement. England were penalised forty yards out and Dufty kicked an excellent goal. New Zealand 2, England 0. For playing a man on the ground Goodall was cautioned. Sullivan had a kick at goal, but the ball fell short. A few minutes later Sloman unfairly tackled a New Zealander and England were penalised, but managed to clear their line. M. O’Brien then started a dash upheld. Goodall crossed the line, but was called back. England next dashed down the field. New Zealand were penalised and Sullivan kicked an easy goal, equalising the scores. New Zealand 2, England 2. The game went up and down the field in a series of fast rushes. The tackling of both sides was very bad. The game was somewhat willing. Foolish dodging about by Weatherill let England away, but they were forced out at the corner. The handling by both teams was good and the players on each side showed a considerable turn of speed. The tackling was very hard. Prentice being cautioned for rough play. Delgrosso was injured and had to be carried off. The New Zealand forwards came through in a determined rush, but Jrrodsham picked up and found the line. Brisbane then picked up cleanly, evaded his opponents and passed to Scott, who, although tackled, rolled over and scored. Dufty’s kick hit the post. New Zealand 5, England 2. New Zealand kept pressing, but a fast run by an Englishman put England in an attacking position. Burgess had a kick at goal in front of the post, but the ball failed to rise sufficiently. The next incident was a brilliant run by Prentice to the line, but he was pushed out at the corner. Immediately, after, just on half-time, Rees picked up on the sideline, sprinted up quickly, and scored. Sullivan converted. The half-time score was: England 7, New Zealand .5.

The second spell opened with a penalty against England for scrum offence. Dufty's kick at goal failed. Many English passing movements, though nippy, went almost straight across the field and seldom gained much ground. New Zealand won the majority of scrums. The backs moved cleverly, but most of the movements were confined to individuals. A dashing run by the Black forward* ended in Goodall getting over, but a scrum was ordered and the scene of action returned to halfway. There Dufty had a shot at goal, bttt it fell short. A spell of even play ensued, but the game wa.s marr d by revera.l unpleasant incidents A violent exhibition between Horton and Wetherill resulted in the former being cautioned, but the intervention of O'Brien saved him from being sent off. England next got away and Fildes dribbled over the line, but several men fell on it. The referee ordered a forcedown. The Englishment were not the only ones not playing the game. Ilcrtotj. had to leave the field, to be followed immediately after by J. O’Brien, who suffered an injury to his nose. Hutt was also hurt, but continued after attention. England then got away. Brough started a passing rush which ended in Ellaby scoring in the corner. Sullivan’s kick failed. England 10. New Zealand 5. The final score was:— ENGLAND 13 NEW ZEALAND 5

SEMI-FINAL OF THACKER SHIELD. Hornby and Marist, the two long* standing Rugby League rivals, met in the semi-final of the Thacker Shield competition this afternoon. The match was played on Monica Park No. I ground. On the Xo. 2 ground Waimairi met Sydenham in the other game of the semi-final. As usual when Hornby and Marist have met this season, there was a good attendance :tt Monica Park. MARIST V. HORNBY. The opening movements wore bright and snappy, with Hornby showing a return to their better form. With Marist winning most of the scrums, the back line, in which Spillane was brilliant, wore able to get to the line just as reinforcements, in the shape of Woodgate and Reid, arrived from the dress-ing-room to resist the attack. The defenders volleyed a broadride to the other end, but Marist got an armistice with a free kick. Davis was nearly across again, and then Spillane corkscrewed through the opposition, bumped off Wilkie, and let out to Pearce, who

gave the speedy Bond a hard run in The scorer failed narrowly with an angular kick. A bounce beat Spillane. and P. Smith ran through, but in a scramble on the line the ball went out of bounds. Pearce turned on the speed to the other end, but the bounce from his kick beat his supporters. Hornby put in some good sorties, but hung on too long in every case. Marist were really unlucky not to score once or twice, when Bond and Spillane were almost over. Scrambling play took Horn- , by into the Marist twenty-five, where

Cliff Wood* let Davis over 1n the cormr. The scorer kicked strongly, but failed to find the posts. Marist 3, Horn-

by 3. Football brains told when Spills ne threw out a long - pa as to Bond, who. unmarked, tore round under th# posts, for Pearce to convert. Hornbjr were on the attack at half-time, when the scores were:— Marist 8, Hornby 3. The Marist backs were always dangerous in the second spell, but Hornby's spotting tactics kept the scoring down. A moment after Pearce had retired with a bump on his head Qillespl© in-passed to Spillane, who let Hobbs have it a yard or two from the line. The big North blander was held up at the posts. Though the game was not needlessly hard up to that stage there were frequent stoppages for Injuries. Many of these were caused by high tackling. From the Marist twenty-five line CIJfC Woods earned Hornby a try with a tricky run. Davis converted, making the more even, ancl the crowd delirious. Woods was striking his old brilliancy at last, but the Marist gymnast. Spil lane, nullified one of the efforts with a great run. at the end of which Bond t\as* held up on the line. Consedine went into the Hornby twenty-five again, but Bond failed to goal from an easy penalty. Pearce, who had returned to the field, made amends by intercepting from the defensive side of half-way. No Hornby sprinter could touch the streak of Green lightning as it flashed to the corner. Bond failed to goal. Marist 11. Hornby 8. Wcodgate scored for‘Hornby after c *2nith. pavis and the scorer had interpassed. Davis put Hornby ahead by goaling. SpiJlane scored the try of the match in a twenty-five yards wriggle. *nd Marist were one point ahead, with two minutes to go. Davia failed with a long penalty, and the game ended:— MARIST 14 HORNBY' 13 Referee, Mr H. King. WAIMAIRI V. SYDENHAM. Sydenham attacked from the kickoff and carried play to the line, but i- force-down resulted. Then from a lorward rush Blazey got across. Heu-c-han failed to convert. From play in their own twenty-five Waimairi opened up with a rush, and after a good exchange of passing Smith ran over unopposed. O'Connor goaled. Sydenham gained the next points, Heuchsn scoring from a forward rush. Davidrun converted. A few minutes later Swarbrick scored. Heuchan converted. Half-time scores:— Sydenham 13, Waimairi 5. Drury broke through the opposition and bad a clear ruu in, but A .Smith raced back and collared him. Waimairi transferred play into thsir opponents' territory, where O'Connor secured and dodged over for a try. Spencer added the major points. Sydenham counter-attacked, and Tonkin scored in a handy position. Fraser converted. The final scores were:— SYDENHAM 18 WAIMAIRI 10 Iteferec: Mr E. Jones.