GREAT FOOTBALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 269, 14 November 1945, Page 3

GREAT FOOTBALL

COMMENT ON KIWI’S LATEST MATCH

London, Nov. 12 The improved scrummaging of the Kiwi touring team against Northern Services is commented on by “The Times,” which states that it was a notable feature of the New Zealanders’ play. The forwards got most of the ball in the Jine-out, and as a whole the New Zealand backs were cleverer and faster than their opponents.

T);e '‘Manchester Guardian” says that the New Zealanders showed, especially in the first half, such technical accuracy in pass-timing, speed in launching attacks, and backing up for the final thrust, that, with their advantage in combined meihods, it is difficult to see what necessarily scratch side in the home counties will beat them. It added: "Their solid scrummaging has been suspect, and ceriairfly there were times when the ball ‘hung’ in set scrums (or was perhaps inadvisably held there), but against, this they were expert at the quick heel frofn the loose maul which is, in this age of winging forwards, a more promising cue for a passing attack.'

The "Yorkshire Post” said that during their spell of glory the Kiwis played great foot ball. Their forwards stormed into battle and won possession everywhere. Edwards, at scrum-half, provided swift and accurate service, and Smith, at centre, had only to be offered an inch to take a yard. Before this fury the Northern Services’ defence wavered, faltered, and fell, yielding two decisive tries. The "Daily Mail” says: "Full of faults as well as the virtues of extreme eagerness, the Kiwis were a shade too good and too fit for the highly accomplished Northern Services fifteen. The Kiwis neglected to pass back from line-outs and ofteq tackled too high and kicked ahead too hard instead of controlling the dribble, and sometimes passed blindly when no visible supporter was at hand. The Services, who fielded 11 Rugby League internationals, committed none of these errors, except that of tackling too high, but in spite of theit less faulty play they were well beaten by the sheer verve, thrust, and vigour of the Kiwis. When their remediable faults have been corrected, the Kiwis will get twice the value from their strong and clever backs, and their be~ f is yet, to come.”