Narrow Victory For British Isles Against Northland

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 July 1950, Page 6

Narrow Victory For British Isles Against Northland

One Of Hardest Games Of Rugby Tour Won By Eight To Six

WHANGAREI, Last Night (P.A.) —The British Isles Rugby team had one of the hardest matches to date to beat Northland by eight points to six under perfect conditions at Rugby Park, Whangarei, today.

Britain scored two tries, one converted, and Northland a try and a penalty. Ten thousand people saw the match and witnessed Northland playing one of the finest games seen here. Territorially there was nothing in it, but the British back combination, Kyle, Matthews and Williams, were always dangerous and brilliant. The Northland defence, however, was solid, and determined tackling kept the British from scoring more. Britain had the best of the scrums. The lineouts were even. In the loose the Northland forwards. particularly in the second spell, had the better of it, but although they were close to scoring more than once, they could not complete movements. The game opened with penalties both ways, and from a lineout the Northland backs secured possession. F. Smith cut through to hand on to J. B. Smith, who went for the posts and was hauled up when 10 yards from the line. Northland attacked hard until Kininmonth cleared with a long kick from a penalty, but from the lineout Eaewai sent the Northland line back to the attack. Kininmonth cleared with another tremendous kick and put the visitors on the Northland 25. Kyle broke through

from a lineout, and reversed passed to McKay, who went over between the posts. Robins converted. From a lineout near the British Isles 10-yard mark, the British backs secured and the ball went to Williams, who changed direction and cut thiough to hand on to Jones, who ran half the field to bring the score to 8 to nil. J. B. Smith put Northland on the British line after kicking through, and on e Northland forward went over, but was called back. McKay and Robins headed a British forward rush up the line and relieved the pressure. Forward play at this stage was hard and vigorous, the Northland pack landing its own. They had the British defending hard towards the end of the first spell, and J. B. Smith actually crossed the line, but was recalled for a knock-on when he took his stab punt. A few minutes later he retired with a dislocated shoulder, but later resumed. The handling of the British backline was not perfect, mainly because Matthews, the centre, injured a hand, but they made ground every time they got the ball. Langdon made a great break and cross-kicked for Cherrington and Cleaver to race for the ball. Cleaver got there, but from the next lineout play moved to the centre of the field, where Northland was awarded a penalty against Matthews in an easy position and Dunn put the score to 8 to 3, with 15 minutes to go. John (back row) made a beautiful run and sold three “dummies," putting the visitors in a handy position, but the Northland forwards carried play back to the visitors’ territory. From a glorious back movement the British rearguard went right through from the half-way mark and the winger, Macdonald, was caught right on the line by Dunn, who was playing a magnificent game for Northland at full-back. Kyle broke through in a spectacular run and nearly scored, but Fraser and McHugh, prominent in the Northland loose rushes, came away with the ball at toe and relieved. Pete Smith then intercepted in his own 25. and with only Cleaver to beat, passed to Cherrngton, the heavy winger, who went over for a fine try. The kick missed and the score was 8 TO 6. The Northland team was still going in great fashion and with five minutes to go was right on the British line. J. P. Smith had a beautiful attempt at a fMd goal but the ball went just outside the uprights. Matthews, with a deceptive run and long kick, put the British Isles out of trouble. In the Hst few moments Britain made sure of every line kick to hold the slended lead. Remaining Matches July 22: v. Auckland, at Auckland. July 29: Fourth Test at Auckland. August 2: v. N.Z. Maoris, at Wellington,