SOUTH OVERWHELMED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 471, 4 June 1932, Page 10

SOUTH OVERWHELMED.

Winners Finish with Convincing Margin of 28 to 10. BULLOCK-DOUGLAS SCORES FIVE TRIES. Spectators were Kept on Their Toes with Many Spectacular Rushes. THE NORTH' ISLAND beat the South Island at Lancaster Park to-day by the convincing margin of 28 points to 10. In a fast, exciting game the Northerners had a decided superiority in the forwards, who gave chance after chance to a fast and clever line of backs. Beaten for the ball for the greater part of the game, the South Island backs seemed at a loss when they did gain possession, and dropped passes provided the Northerners with golden opportunities that they snapped up with avidity. Kilhy and Lilburne were at the top of their form behind the North Island scrum and made many opportunities for Pollock and Caughey, tw T o fast and heady runners, who drew their opposite numbers out of position time and time again. The outstanding wing on the ground was Bullock-Douglas, who scored no fewer than five tries. Hart had few opportunities, but played a sterling game, scoring one good try. For the North Island forwards, splendid work was done by M’Lean, Steere, Clarke and Finlayson, while Solomon showed great dash in the loose and combined well with his backs on many occasions. For the South, Max, Purdue, Manchester, Hore, Metcalfe and Cottrell slogged hard all the time.

The one-sidedness of the game robbed it of a lot of interest, but the Northern backs plentifully fed -with the ball kept the spectators on their toes with some flashing movements. The South Islanders were frankly disappointing. Simon, behind the scrum, played a dogged game, but he was a trifle slow in getting hold of the ball and his combination with Day was nil. For two men who played together in club and provincial sides, Day and Oliver showed a lack of understanding which was rather peculiar. Oliver was continually knocking on in his attempts to burst through the Northern line. Holder did not get many chances, but nevertheless his showing was unimpressive. Proctor was starved on the left wing. Connolly, at full-back, was safe rather than brilliant. With the exception of Hart, the South Island backs were a great disappointment, and on the play Hart was the only man likely to catch the eye of the selectors for the trip to AusThe South Island forwards played their part manfully in the second half, Metcalfe, Max, Cottrell and Manchester doing some sterling work. On the whole the North Island pack was superior, and most likely the majority of the forwards for the Australian trip will come from the North Island.

Conditions for the match ‘were good, a moderate wind blowing down field. The playing area was in great trim. The captains were: F. Kilby, North; C. J. Oliver, South. The teanjs were:— South Island. Full-back: L. Connolly (S.C.). Three-quarters: G. F. Hart (C.), E. Holder (B.), A. C. Proctor (O.). Five-eighths: C. J. Oliver (C.), G. Dav <C.). Half-back: H. Simon (O.). Forwards: A. H. Andrews (C.), J. E. Manchester (C.), D. Max (N.), G. Purdue (S.), T. Metcalfe (S.), A. I. Cottrell (C.), W. Lucy (O.), J. Hore (O.). Emergencies: W. M’Neight (B.) and G. D. Innes (C.). North Island. Full-back: A. Collins (T.). Three-quarters: N. Ball (W.), T. Caughey (A.), F. Bullock-Douglas (Wang.). Five-eighths: H. Pollock (W.), H. T. Lilburne (W.). Half-back: F. D. Kilby (W.). Forwards: F. Solomon (A.), H. F. M’Lean (W.), R. Clarke (T.), C. A. Satherley (H. 8.), E. R. Steere (H. 8.), E. A. Jessep (W.), B. Palmer (A.), A. Finjayson (N.A.). Emergencies: R. M’Kenzie (8.P.), E. Barry (W.) The North Island forwards adopted the three-four-one scrum formation at the start of the game, while the South Islanders used the three-two-three. Between twelve and fourteen thousand people were round the Oval when the game started. Kilby and his side were given a good ovation when they took the field, and the cheering was redoubled when Oliver led his whiteclad Southerners after them. , Play Starts. Oliver kicked off. Clarke fielded and punted to the southern twenty-five. The fast Northern pack got to the bounce of the ball and bustled Connolly. The position looked dangerous, but when the ball was whipped out to Bullock-Douglas on the wing he was quickly smothered, and a penalty let the Southerners clear to half-way. The North Island forwards got the ball from the first two scrums, Kilby feeding his backs in snappy style, only to see their efforts pulled up by solid tackling. On the first occasion when the Southern forwards hooked the ball Simon worked the blind side for Hart, who was promptly tackled by Ball. Man for Man. Hart himself then started a bright •ffort, running across to send the line facing down the paddock. The backs showed pace, but the North Island

rearguard downed them man for man, and Proctor ran into a solid tackle. The Southern forwards followed up the advantage with a loose rush which drove right on to the Northern line, and Oliver secured. He sent on to Holder, to Hart, and the winger made a gallant but unsuccessful effort. He bumped past one man but was pushed out when ten yards from the line. An exchange of kicks, in which both full-backs failed to find the line,' ended at the North twenty-five, and once more ‘the South backs went away Oliver over-ran his pass, however, and Pollock cleared. So far both sides had let over-eagerness spoil some of their movements, but the forwards were all playing sterling games and it was apparent that a hectic struggle was to come.

Lilburne worked the blind side with Pollock and Bullock-Douglas, only for the winger to be pushed out by three men. A moment later Kilby saw his chance and whipped the ball out on the blind side again to Lilburne, who sent on to Bullock-Doug-las. The winger was dropped by Connolly a yard from the line, but heaved himself up and fell over the line by the corner for a plucky try. Collins failed with the kick. North 3, . South 0. Up to this stage

the Northern forwards had been the dominating factor, being quicker in the loose and feeding their backs twice to the other side’s once.

Another Fine Try. The North Island kept up the pressure and twice Kiiby sent his backs away. A dropped pass allowed Holder to break through the first rush, but in the second Caughey kicked judiciously and again the South Island side was hard on the defensive. A kick by Lilburne had Connolly in trouble. His kick was charged down and only handy work by Day kept the Northern forwards out. The North Island’s next try was a beauty. Lilburne hurled out a long pass to Caughey, w r ho cut in past Hart and Holder and sent a low pass to Solomon. The big forward gathered it perfectly and went over wide out for

a splendid try. Collins failed with the kick, and the scores were:—North 0, South 0.

Oliver knocked on in an attempt to cut through the Northern backs, and the chance was seized on quickly. Lilburne, Caughey and Bullock-Douglas handled, the winger being well into South Island territory before he was pulled down. Bullock-Douglas staged another swift rush, which found the tackling lamentably weak, and only a fine breakaway by Hart relieved a very dangerous situation. South on Attack. The first time when the South Island looked really dangerous was when the forwards, led by Max, broke clean through the opposition and thudded down on the Northern line. Max was well supported and Metcalfe carried the ball over the line, with Collins clinging to it as well. The referee ruled a scrum five yards out and Day, cutting in from the scrum, missed scoring by a foot. The Southerners kept up the pressure, but a fly kick drove them back, and a few seconds later Lilburne had secured and sent on to Ball. Had the winger accepted the pass a try was almost certain. Again the Northern forwards hooked cleanly. Kilby flicked it out to Lilburne, who drew two men

and passed to Caughey. The centre had only the full-back to beat, but Connolly’s Jackie was sure. Pollock’s knee was hurt, but he only held the" game up for a minute. “ Over In a Plash.” A kick into the Southern twenty-five saw Connolly fail to find the line with his return, and the Northern backs, sent away by Solomon, were across the field in a flash. Pollock and Caughey handled and then BullockDouglas, the right winger, swerved round the full-back to score his second try. The kick, a difficult one, failed. North Island 9, South Island 0. Kilby and Lilburne were working together perfectly, but their next effort was stayed by Connolly, and then Max led the South Island forwards in a bright rush back to neutral territory. Oliver was going too fast for his passes and another knock-on spoiled a chance for the South. South Left Standing. The next Northern effort left the South standing. Kilby fed his backs from the scrum and Pollock left Oliver standing and ran into a good position before sending on to Caughey, who ran to the full back and gave Bullock-Douglas an easy run in for his third try. He grounded beneath the posts and Pollock kicked an easy goal. Half-time came a minute later with the scores:— North Island 14, South Island 0. Second Spell.

The Northerners snapped back to the attack directly after the resumption and results came immediately. Pol-

lock secured in a ruck and ran through a bunch of Southerners before sending on to Steere. Steere had an unopposed ru n in. Pollock's kick tnissed, and the scores were: North 17 - South 0. A judicious kick by Pollock penned South again, but this time the forwards, led by Cot-

From Hawke’s Bay.

trell, Hore and Manchester, broke away to neutral territory. The Southern backs seemed incapable of getting a good rush going, and their first attempt resulted in a gift try for the North. Caughey snapped up a dropped pass and galloped away with M'Lean alongside him. When he came to Connolly he sent a w r ell-timed pass to the big forward, who scored close to the posts. Pollock’s kick missed. North 20, South 0.

The North Island were not doing things by halves and a mistake in the next South Island rush gave Lilburne all the chance he wanted. He beat two men before sending on to Solomon, to Bullock-Douglas, who again showed his heels to the South Island backs and ran round to score behind the posts. M’Lean converted, and the scores were: North 25, South 0. South Score at X^st.

At last it was the South Island’s turn. The ball went out to Oliver with some-

thing: like precision, and he completely beat Pollock and went on to send Hart away. Hart had the heels of Ball, and after a great run threw himself over at the corner. Holder converted with a splendid kick. North Island 25, South Island 5.

Andrews Follows Suit.

Judicious kicking by Hart and Simon sent back another Northern attack. South were awarded a penalty and an up and under kick saw Andrews, Hore and Manchester go crashing through the Northerners for an electric try. Andrews, who scored, was injured and had to leave the field, N’Neight taking his place. Holder goaled, and the score stood: North Island 25, South Island 10.

The South Island forwards were battling with renewed zest, and had the opposition well held in the tight. Kilby was there 'to snap up any opportunities, and he soon set his backs away. Caughey caught Holder out of position and got as far as the fullback, only to send on a pass which Ball could not take. Another Northern rush broke down on solid tackling, and the Southern forwards battled back to half-way. A Try Missed. Still South could not gain possession, and another Northern back rush brought the struggle to the Southern twenty-five again. Proctor made a spectacular break away, but was not fast enough, and then still another Southern rush broke down. M’Lean and Findlayson combined in a pretty rush, which cut right through the Southern side, but one of the passes w r ent forward and M’Lean was denied a try. A good kick by Proctor caught Collins out of position, and for the first time for ten minutes the Southerners hammered at the North Island line. Over-eagerness marred their efforts, and a penalty kick drove them back to the twenty-five. Neither Day nor Oliver were taking their passes well, and another rush was broken through by Caughey, and an infringement gave M’Lean a good chance at goal. His kick missed. Kilby was everywhere, and he, Lilburne, Bullock-Douglas and Solomon drove play back to the South twentyfive with a good blind side rush. Bullock-Douglas Again. Day brought relief with a fine kick which found the line at half-way. Once again the Day and Oliver combination broke down and another rush was spoiled. A clever short kick by Day was not taken advantage of, Pollock sending the Southerners back with a good kick which Lilburne

finished off by finding touch right on the South Island line. Kilby fed his backs and Caughey, drawing his man well, sent a long high pass to BullockDouglas, who cantered over for his fifth try. M’Lean’s kick missed, and the scores were: North 28, South 30. The spectators were streaming from the ground as the issue of the game was clear.

Oliver and Holder made a desperate effort in the right-hand corner, which failed narrowly, but when Hart came

across and kept the backs going his pass went badly astray, and the Northerners fought back to half-way. Collins, the ■ North Island full-back, was sound all the time and kept his side well up the paddock with his accurate kicking. Cottrell, snapping up in a ruck, burst past two (North Full-back). men and showed surprising speed in a dash down the side line, only to have his kick charged down by Collins. A minute later the final whistle went with the scores still NORTH ISLAND 28 SOUTH ISLAND 10 Referee: Mr A. B. Rowlands.

GAMES TO DATE.

Majority of Wins to North Island Team. This afternoon’s inter-island game was the twenty-seventh of the series, and the record now runs:— 1897, at Wellington—North won, 16-3. 1902, at Wellington—South won, 2014. 1903, at Auckland—South won, 12-5. 3 904, at Dunedin—Drawn, 3^3. 1905, at Wellington—North won, 26-0. 1906, at Wellington—North won, 9-5. 1907, at Christchurch—North won, 110. 1908, at Wellington—North won, 12-5. 1909, at Wellington—South won, 19-11. 1910, at Christchurch—South won, 1410. 1911, at Wellington—North won, 19-9. 1912, at Napier—North won, 12-8. 1913, at Christchurch—South won, 250. 1914, at Wellington—South won, 8-0. 1919, at Wellington—North won, 2811. 1920, at Wellington—North won, 12-3. 1921, at Christchurch—North won, 2813. 1922, at Auckland—South won, 9-8. 1923, at Wellington—Drawn, 6-6. 1924, at Wellington—North won, 39-8. 1925, at Invercargill—North won, 165. 1926, at Wellington—North won, 41-9. 1927, at Wellington—South won, 31-30. 1928, at Christchurch—South won, 1514. 1929, at Wellington—North won, 2920. 1931, at Wellington—Drawn, 20-20. 1932, at Christchurch—North won, 2810. Summary—Matches played 27, North won 15, South won 9, drawn 3. Points scored: North 447, South 291.