British Team Hotly Pressed By Combined Fifteen To-day.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19108, 28 June 1930, Page 10

British Team Hotly Pressed By Combined Fifteen To-day.

ONLY WIN AFTER KEEN AND EXCITING STRUGGLE IN MATCH AT TIMARU. (Special to the “ Star.”) * TIMARU. June 28. PLAYING at Timaru to-day, Britain defeated the Combined Team from South Canterbury, Mid-Canterbury and North Otago by 16 points to 9. It was an exciting match. Though Britain did not have their best team in the field, the visiting fifteen were a good one. They met the. best passing encountered in New Zealand at Timaru from a side which was drawn from three separate unions and had not played together before. The ground was in good order. The British pack were about a stone heavier per man in'the scrum. The visiting team included seven who played in the first test. Prentice was captain. Strang, who played half-back, led the combined fifteen. The crowd numbered 10,000. The weather was glorious.

The teams were:— Britain. Full-back —J. Bassett (lost 101 b). Three-quarters—J. Morley (list), A. L. Novis (12st 21b), R. Jennings (13st Sib), T. Jones Davies (list 61b). Halves—H. M. Bowcott (fly) (12st>, N. Poole (scrum) (12st). Front Row—H. Rew (14st 101 b), S. Martindale (14st 21b), H. C. Jones (13st 121 b). Side Row—B. H. Black (14st 41b), J. M’D. Hodgson (14st 101 b). Back Row—lvor Jones (13st 91b), F. D. Prentice (14st 71b), W. B. Welsh (13st 71b). Combined Side. Full-back—L. Connolly (list 21b). Three-quarters B. Trotter (12st 41b), A. Gaffaney (lOst), G. Sumpter (list 41b). Five-eighths—G. Day (lOst 101 b), L. Hollow (list 71b). Half-back—W. A. -Strang (list 81b). Wing Forward—O. Whiting (12st 31b). Front Row—A. *M’Cormack (13st 41b), D. Callanan (13st 41b). Lock—R. Cameron (14st 21b). Supports—A. Sim (13st 21b), H. Coxhead (13st 111 b). Back Row—C. Pawson (12st 41b), G. Giddings (13st 21b). THE PLAT. Britain kicked off with a slight south-westerly wind in their favour, but with the sun more or less in their faces. The Combined forwards retaliated with a rattling rush. Whiting was playing a magnificent game as wingforward. Poole, whom he bustled, held on to him from a penalty. Whiting found the line in the British twentyfive. Ivor Jones got offside and Strang kicked a great goal from ten yards half-way. Combined team 3, Britain 0. Sumpter was going great guns on the Combined wing, travelling all over the field like lightning. He started a beautiful passing rush in which Gaffaney, Giddings and Strang handled. Strang scored at the corner. He failed to goal. Great Passing. Passing among the Combined backs was a thorough object lesson to the New Zealand first test team. The British side were frequently penalised for holding on. After fifteen minutes* play the score was Combined Team 6, Britain 0. The sun apparently troubled Black when taking a penalty after one of the infrequent incursions to the Combined Team’s territory. The ball missed the goal. The Combined Team were truly named, for their combination was surprising and quite as good as that of Britain, though loose forward rushes by the latter were devastating. One of them, which was started by Bowcott, was carried on by Black, Welsh and Prentice. Prentice scored under tlie posts. Black goaled. .Combined Team 6, Britain 5. Strang, a possible test team halfback, was streets ahead of Mill's display at Dunedin. G. Day fielded Strang’s crisp passes well and played a great defensive game. Hard spoiling work by the Combined Team kept the British backs from getting under way. After a penalty from which Strang failed to goal, Martindale was cautioned by the referee. The Combined Team had Britain busily upsetting their wonderful passing bouts in the British twenty-five. Hollow obtained a mark on the .twentyfive line, the referee awarding him a free kick when Martindale rushed. Hollow put the Combined Team four points ahead with a goal. The crowd, who had heard great reports of the visitors’ strength, were thrilled when at half-time the score read:— Combined Team 9 Britain 5

.SECOND SPELL. The combined teams started the second spell as fit as fiddles, Day finding the line near the British goal. The best British passing rush up to then went out to Morley, who stab-kicked in-field but Day, who was übiquitous, saved. Britain, however, obtained a penalty, which Black put over from the twenty-five line. Combined Team 9, Britain 8. The British backs were swinging into action and Morley. with his side step, was dangerous on the wing. After a hectic scrum Black kicked another penalty goal. Britain 11, Combined Team 9. Connolly luckily herd up a British loose rush in which the British team barged into him. The referee cautioned the visitors and a moment later Rew earned a warning from the referee and hoots from the crowd for mixing it in the scrum. After a period of hard defending in keeping out the British backs, Day, who was playing a really solid game, put the Combined Team to the British twenty-five with a line-kick.

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Illegal Tackling. There was much illegal tacking by the British side, who were seldom penalised. Bowcott, Strang and Day were the best backs on the field. Whiting suffered little in comparison with other wing-forwards. Jennings, with two penalty kicks, kept the Combined side from the goal line, but the local men still pressed and stormed the line again. There was a stoppage for attention to Bassett’s ankle, which had been weak all through the tour.

Mr Maxwell, the New Zealand selec-' tor, had much food for'thought* in the fine display by the ~C * übined backs, compared with the third-rate exhibition of the New Zealand rearguard in the first test.

Two Combined men were knocked out in a fierce forward battle, but recovered. Britain were lucky in keeping ahead on points. A breach by Morley led to a scrum on the Combined line, from which the provincial team cleared after a force by Callanan. The Combined Team then smashed their way to the other end, where CalJarran and Bassett both dived for the

ball over the line. The referee ordered a five-yard scrum, from which Jennings, Hodgson and Ivor Jones joined in a loose rush to half-way. Novis gained thirty yards after taking a reverse pass from JonesJDavies. Black failed with an easy penalty kick on the Combined twenty-five line.

Novis made amends a moment later by a centring kick, which Jennings, coming up fast, fielded and scored under the posts. Black converted. Tinal score:— BRITAIN 16 COMBINED TEAM 9 W. IRVINE WILL NOT PLAY IN SECOND TEST. Per Press Association. CARTERTON, June 28. Owing to injuries W. Irvine (Wairarapa) is unable to play in the second test against the British team at Christchurch on Saturday. His place will be taken by J. Hore (Otago).

EXTRA TEST SEATS AT LANCASTER PARK.

PLAN WILL PROBABLY BE OPEN WEDNESDAY.

It is probable that the plan for the booking of the extra seats on the auxiliary stand that has been erected at Lancaster Park for the second test between Great Britain and New Zealand next Saturday will be open next Wednes day or Thursday. No more than two seats will be sold to any one person postal applications for seats will not be accepted. The stand is situated on the grass plot between the old members’ stand and the pavilion, and has been completed except for some ironwork at the back and steps to lead up from the front.

The measuring off for marking the spaces for reserving was in progress to-day, and the actual marking will be done early next week. There will be 350 seats available for the public, and the plan will be at the Canterbury Sports DepoC