N.S.W. USES SOUTH AFRICAN SCRUM TO BEAT BRITISH ISLES

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 September 1950, Page 6

N.S.W. USES SOUTH AFRICAN SCRUM TO BEAT BRITISH ISLES

Great Forward Leadership In Winning Team; Great Second Spell

SYDNEY, Sept, 3 (Recd. 6 p.m.)—Brilliajit leadership by the forward B. H. (“Jika”) Travers, plus the uV of the South African serum formation, enabled New South Wales at Newcastle to inflict upon the British Isles Rugby Union team its only defeat of the Australian tour. The New South Wales players were fighting to restore confidence to the Australian Rugby Union after a series if humiliating defeats by the visitors. In a sensational second half rally, which started when New South Wales trailed by six points, New South Wales put on II points in 16 minutes

The final score, 17 to 12, was made up of four New South Wales tries, one conversion and one penalty against two tries and two penalties by the British Isles.

From the putset the New South Wales forwards, led by Travers and Shehadie, found the secret of breaking up the British Isles back play by following up quickly through the back line. The bustling tactics were complemented by superiority in lineouts and loose.

An interesting feature of the New South Wales play was the use of the South African scrum, with the hooker, J. Walsh, the Wallaby hooker, W| Dawson and the versatile N. Shehadie all in the front row. This followed the advice of the New Zealand hooker, Cat ley, who told the I selectors that when the South African system was employed lhe hoQker should be assisted by men with hook-

ing experience. It worked splendidly in this matjh, New South Wales outhooking the British Isles 13 to 10.

Lewis Jones was off kicking form, but opened the British Isles score with a penalty after 20 minutes play. Then the New South Wales backs went away from a scrum base for C. Davis to score an unconverted try near the corner. A penalty by Gardner put New South Wales ahead, forcing the British Isles to trail for the first time on the Australian four. The British Isles evened just before half-time, when Black went round the blind side and sent Preece on to score. After the resumption Robins put the British Isles ahead again with a penalty and soon afterwards Williams scored after a brilliant dash from halfway. The New’ South Wales forwards now appeared to hit their stride. Shehadie crashed through and sent Davis in to score. With only 14 minutes of play left, Shehadie went over In the corner, following a combined hack and forward move started by Gardner on his own goal line. A dropped British pass was turned to good account when another rush was started. Again Shehadie was there, and this time Gardner converted the try. Desperate British Isles efforts to score failed and the game ended: New' South Wales 17, British Isles 12.