RUGBY UNION CODE IN BRITAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 66, 19 March 1938, Page 4

RUGBY UNION CODE IN BRITAIN

ENGLAND’S RECORD VICTORY DEFEAT OF IRELAND ■ Li POINTS IN SEVEN MINI TES. 1 In many of its phases England’! ’ match with Ireland in Dublin was ' without parallel in the history of in- ' ternational Rugby football. ' In losing by 36 points to 14, it was the most crushing defeat ever experl- ■ enced by an Irish side in over fifty ' years. During one period of seven ' minutes of the first half England piled on as many as fifteen points i‘ taking their score from eight to twentythree. To all intents and purposes the match was then over. Even with the strong wind in their favour in second half, it was too much to hope ’ that so much leeway could be recovered in an international match. One might be tempted to describe the victory as one achieved by a superlative English team. They played extremely well, especially the forwards, but the weaknesses ot the Irish side were so conspicuous that the value of the performance was doubtful. lam afraid they were one of the poorest team who have ever represented Irelr.nr’ The English forwards were overwhelmingly superior in the scrummages, and they obtained the ball nine times out of ten. J. L. Giles, the scrum half, had the happiest experience, and F. J. Reynolds, the army man at stand-off half, swerving and side-stepping brilliantly, bewildered the opposing backs by the way he opened up the game. England, in fact, swept through the gaping holes in the Irish defence, and brought them to a state ot confusion. They rallied for a short time with the wincj at the beginning of th second half, and actually scored four tries, but even under these conditions they could not keep England out. Their crowning blow came when R. N. Marshall, the Oxfo-d forward, broke away from inside his own half and raced through to the 'ine without a hand being put on him. The match was a triumph for G. W. Parker, the new full-back, who placed as many as seven goals. He converted 4 two tries from near the touch line,-A and also landed a penalty goal from just inside the half-way. Never was the value of place-kicking better emphasised. England's victory now puts them on the same mark as Wales and Scotland, but the latter have only played one match, and they are the only team who have not been beaten. It promises to be a most interestiaca and open championship.