KIWIS LUCKY TO WIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 271, 16 November 1945, Page 6

KIWIS LUCKY TO WIN

MATCH WITH ULSTER

ONE POINT MARGIN (Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Belfast, Nov. 14. While ten thousand Belfast enthusiasts went wild with excitement, Ulster put up a great performance in holding the N.Z.E.F. Rugby side to a one-point lead. The visitors were undoubtedly very lucky to walk off the field with a win by 10 points to nine after a fast, hard match in which the home team did most of the attacking, and the visitors were frequently very bustled. Under heavy pressure, fast, hard tackling, and fine defensive covering play, the visiting back line seldom showed its expected form and once again the forwards were unable to obtain possession. The teams were:— N.Z.E.F.—H. F. Cook; W- A. Meates, J. C. Kearney, J. R. Sherratt; I. Proctor, A. N. King; W. S. Edwards; J. Finlay (captain); D. S. Bell, J. G. Simpson, N. J. McPhail, A. W. Blake, L. A. Grant, S. W. Woolley, N. H. Thornton.

Ulster.—A. O’Connor, D. S. Hyndman, H. Greer, J. D. E. Monteith W. H. McKee, J. Kyle, F. Strathdee, H. G. Dudgson, T. Cromey, C. Inca, N. Wauchop, R. D. Edgar, D. McCourt, S. J. Edgar, H. Martin.

The Earl of Granville, Governor of Northern Ireland, and the Premier, Sir Basil Brooke, attended.

Play opened quietly. Finlay started a passing rush from a line-out, but it was smothered. Twice Ulster burst through dangerously with close following up, but Cook, who played a fine game throughout, 'cleared under pressure.

The scrum half, Strathdee, made an excellent solo run until Proctor dropped him; but from the scrum Ulster went into a good passing movement, Monteith kicking for the corner. Hyndman gathered in the bail at. full speed and raced over in the corner, Greer missing the kick. The first score came in five minutes. The Kiwi forwards broke through from a line-out but kicked too nard, O’Connor clearing well. Then from a scrum King cut in, sending on ihe ball which went out to Meates and in again to Kearney before the movement stopped. FINE ULSTER FORWARDS

Fine tackling broke up two more Kiwi passing rushes and then McCourt led a loose rush to Cook, who found the line with a very long kick. McCourt, who was never in the scrum but gave a great exhibition of oldstyle New Zealand wing-forward play, was a continual menace, his covering in both attack and defence being a big factor in Ulster's fine showing. The Ulster forwards were swanking all over the Kiwi pack at this stage. Then came sensational play. The ball went out to Sherratt, who centred but the New Zealand forwards failed to gather it cleanly and suddenly Kyle and Greer broke away, Hyndman coming up fast to receive Greer’s pass and kick ahead; but Kyle knocked on as he tried to pick up the ball on the Kiwi line with nobody in front of him. The Kiwis began throwing the ball around almost frantically, but the Ulstermen were hunting it like terriers after a cat. Blake broke through in a dribbling rush supported by Finlay, and, from loose play following, the ball went to Sherratt. He in-pass-ed to Kearney, who kicked a field goal from 30 yards out, right on half-time, which came with the scores fourthree. Early in the second half, Cook put the Kiwis on the attack with a fine line kick, from where Woolley led a loose rush; but the Ulstermen stormed back. Cook stopping the rush. Kyle •got the ball to McCourt, whom Finlay tackled. From an infringement here Greer put Ulster ahead again with an easy goal.

Finlay, and then McPhail, broke from line-outs, but were unsupported. Then Meates made a fine run, beating one man but being beautifully downed by O’Connor. From a scrum infringement Cook kicked a good goal. The Kiwi forwards made a good loose rush, but a long line kick drove them back. However, they persisted and in a fur* her smashing rush down the touchline Finlay dived over in the corner, to make the score 10—6. Cook missed the kick.

Finlay started a passing rush from the kick-ofl, but it was smothered up and from offside play in the loose Greer kicked a good goal—lo-9. Ulster pressed with dangerous rushes to which the New Zealand backs replied with equally dangerous moves and the game ended without further alteration to the scores. Simpson was injured a little before time and went off.