“KIWIS” EASY WIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 303, 24 December 1945, Page 5

“KIWIS” EASY WIN

DEFEAT OF LONDON GOOD N.Z. BACK LINE MATCH A REHEARSAL FOR THAT AGAINST CARDIFF (Special Correspondent—N Z.P.A.) Recd. 6 p.m. London, Dec. 22. Completely outclassing the oppo- i sition in the second half, the New Zea-1 land Expeditionary Force Rugby team I beat London at White City Stadium j by 30 to nil, the score being made up I of five tries, four converted, one field goal and one penalty goal. Getting' more of the ball than usual, the Nevwj Zetaland backs were a little unlucky in scoring only one try in the first half. | In the second they carved the defence; to pieces with a series of brilliant com-| bined movements. : The highlight of the day was the 5 magnificent, all-round plav oi J. C. I Kearney, at first five-eighth, while J. B. Smith, at centre, and W. G. Argus, | on the left wing, were also outstand-1 ing in the best hack combination the side has yet. fielded. Owing to a training injury to a knee, L. A. Grant was replaced hv A. W. Blake. The teams were:— 2nd. N.Z.E.F. Full-back: H. E. Cook. Three-quarters: J. R. Sherratt, J. B. Smith, W. G. Argus. Five-eighths: F. R. Allen (captain), J C. Kearney. Half-back: J. Proctor. Front row: P. K. Rhind, F. M. Haigh, J. G. Bond. Middle row: A. W. Blake, C. W. Woolley, R. D. Johnstone, K. t,. Arnold. Back row: N. H. Thornton. London Full-back: T. L. T. Lewis. Three-quarters: D. L. Marriott, C.. Davey, E. K Scott, P. R. Graham. Stand-off half: N. W. Hall. Half-back: V. J. Morris. Forwards: M. Shirley, J. R. Tyler, K. H. Chapman (captain). D. B. Vaughan, D. J. B. Johnston, M. Hatton, J. R. Matthew's, V. R. Malempre. The game was played before about 20,000 in a heavy mist, which' thickened as the afternoon wore on and the match finished in a very bad light.

PROCTOR SHOWS PROMISE AT HALF

The ground was wet and heavy and Proctor, who played an otherwise excellent game at half-back, was unable to hanuie tne greasy ball from the ground and sent out many very bad passes. .Except for his seA’ice from lhe scrum, Proctor show ed great promise as a hall-back. The “Kiwis” kicked off and the London backs were first to get moving, Cook fielding a kick through and lining. The London forwards dribbled lo the “Kiwi” twenty-live, and from a scrum the backs thrust dangerously, Scott kicking to a corner and Thornton scooping up the ball on the line and cearing with a good line kick. From a scrum, Proctor passed smartly Lo Kearney, to Allen, to Smith, who broke through a tackle, but sent a forward pass to Sherratt. The N.Z.E.F. forwards pressed until Lewis hoisted a magnificent liner with a penalty kick. Smith gathered in a long throw-in and passed to Argus, whom Marriott downed.

Good tackling popped a London passing rush, and Kearney sent the play back with a line line kick. From a scrum, Kearney cleverly retrieved to pass and the ball travelled along the backs to Argus, infield to Kearney, whose high kick was brilliantly marked by Lewis. Argus made another good run before sending infield to Kearney, to Allen, to Cook, to Smith, who broke through, but his pass infield went astray. Allen, Smith and Argus showed up in another good passing rush, the last-named running round Marriott, but being overhauled oy that player, who is possibly the fastest winger in th? world to-day. Loose play followed, the ball going out to Sherratt, who sent infield to Smith, who tossed a very long pass to Argus, lhe winger swerved inside Marriott, kicked and caught Lewis in possession. The ball rolled free and Cook raced up fast to scoop up, clearing a spectacular pass infield to Smith, who miskicked in an attempted pot at goal. The “Kiwi” forwards stormed toward the London fine in a loose rush, but a penalty against them sent, the play back. Good tackling by the Londoners stopped two other back movements. Then the “Kiwi” backs sent the ball jiggling and Allen raced up outside Sherratt, who elected to try and beat the full-back and was downed. THE FIRST TRY The London backs tried to break down the centre, but Kearney grassed a man heavily, and the ball popped up into the air and Smith took it and ran to Lewis before sending Sherratt over unopposed, Cook converting. Chapman failed with a long penally ; kick at goal, and Hall missed a field goal. Then Chapman lined ten yards from a corner, and from the line-out the London backs tried a short punt, Cook clearing well. Chapman missea another penalty shot at goal, and Smith fielded the ball, side-stepped two men and started a passing movement which went to half-way. Proctor made a sudden run from a scrum before sending to Kearney, the ball travelling out to Sherratt, to Alen, racing up outside the winger, but Sherratt's pass was too low to gather, and half-time came then with the scores at 5 to nil.

The London forwards rushed play to the “Kiwi” quarter from the kick-off, but Blake ad Johnstone showed up in a dribbling rush, from which Lewis reared well. The London backs got going, but Kearney intercepted and ran 50 yards before lining near the corner. Cook fielded a clearing kick near the sideline of the London twenty-five and kicked an excellent field goal. Scrambling play followed. Cook went, close with a penalty shot at goal. Rhind smashed clear from a ruck and Blake carried on to near lhe London line where, from a scrum, Scott and Graham combined in a clever run for 30 yards. Bond led a smashing dribbling rush back to the London line, and from a scrum in th? London twenty-five Kearney raced ocer for a fine blind-side try, Cook kicking a magnificent goal. “KIWIS” ON TOP The “Kiwis” were soon attacking again and, from a scrum, Proctoi nassed to Kearney on the blind side, he sending on to Argus, who swerved infield, his speed and weight carrying him over the line when tackled by two men. Cook missed an easy kick. Arnold started a great movementdown the centre in which th? forwards and hacks took part., and both Graham and Morris were injured stopping it, the latter retiring. A minute later the N.Z.E.F. backs raced away, the ball going out to Sherratt. who centred, and fasti-moving forwards completely hustled the defending backs, Haigh snapping up th? ball and passing to Argus, who raced over in a corner. Cook kicked another great goal. The “Kiwis” were now dominr.itlng ’.he play and tossing the ball around in bewildering fashion. Cook was wide with a long penalty shot at goal, but a few minutes later kicked a good penally goal from 40 yards out. Allen showewd up in two passing move- ; ments. I Thon, from a scrum, London worked the blind side and Scott almost went right through with a fine run, bur passed forward. The London backs