To-day’s Rugby

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18025, 21 May 1930, Page 8

To-day’s Rugby

BRITISH TEAM. OPENING MATCH OF TOUR. TO-DAY’S PLAY AT WANGANUI. The British team of rugby footballers played the opening game of their tour against Wanganui at Wanganui this afternoon. The teams were:— ■ Britain. Fullback.—G. M. Bonner (England). Three-quarters.—J. G. Morley (Wales),' C. D. Aarvold (England), T. C. Knowles (England), A. L. Novis (England). Halves. —W. H. Sobey (England) captain, H. M. Bowcott (Wales). Forwards. —W. B. Welsh (Scotland), S. A. Martindale (England), D. A: Kendrew (England), J. L. Farrell (Ireland), B. H. Black (England), H. Rew (England), G. R. Beamish (Ireland), Ivor Jones (Wales), Wanganui. Fullback.—Thompson. Three-quarters.—Tilley, Ambrose, and Prince. Five-eighths.—McLennan, Gibbons (captain). Half.-—Duncan. Forwards.—Walden, Leahy, Lockett, Oxley, Stewart, Heise, Lumsden, Lowry. The attendance was estimated at 15,000. The weather was fine and a brisk breeze blew down the field, which was in good condition. England won the toss and elected to play with the breeze. Wanganui lucked off, the ball almost reaching the British line where it rolled into touch. Bonner cleared from subsequent play to his twenty-five line. Tilley gained possession and ran down the line but was pushed out by Sobey ten yards from his objective. A scrum gave the

ball to Wanganui but offside play resulted in the visitors securing, Sobey returning play to half-way with a brilliant kick. A further penalty'wai awarded the Britishers and Black haa an unsuccessful shot at goal. Tilley kicked from the- twenty-five line to Bonner who brought play back to halfway. The English forwards opened a passing rush which caused some apprehension and gained much territory. The ball came out to Bonner near halfway and the English fullback attempted a field goal. The ball fell short. England Opens Scoring. Thompson the local fullback, cleared to the opposing territory. Sobey made a brilliant run from the throw-in but dropped the -,ball. Ivor Jones picked up and running around potted a beautiful goal between the posts. Britain 4 Wanganui 0 A penalty to Wanganui relieved the pressure from the home twenty-five and play moved to midfield. ' Britain had the ball from the scrum but Novis was grassed in possession. Prom another penalty to the Englishmen, Black just missed the posts. Wanganui on Offensive. Tilley returned with a short kick and the home side followed up to carry play to Britain’s twenty-five. Bowcott failed to stop Walden and things looked dangerous for Britain but the ball rolled out of play. .Britain secured the leather from the throw-in and initiated a strong cou,n-ter-attack, which was checked through an infringement. An advantage to Wanganui was spoilt through mishandling among the backs and play returned to half-way. Morley attempted a break-away but was overhauled before he went far. Black was handy but he took his pass off-side. The Lead Increased. Off-side play later by Heise gave the visitors a free kick, Bonner sending the ball to touch. Ivor Jones at this stage gained possession and a brilliant solo effort saw him over the line. He converted his own try, , Britain 9 Wanganui 0. The home side followed up the kick-off but Bonner came up and returned play to midfield. The Wanganui pack opened an attack which caught Britain off their guard and had reached the visiting twenty-five when off-side play turned the tide in Britain’s favour. From the resultant melee in neutral territory further off-side play in the Wanganui ranks saw Britain right on the home twenty-five. Ivor Jones was again prominent in a crossfield run closely supported by Sobey. Home side Unlucky. Strenuous work round the Wanganui goal was witnessed. Tilley made a brilliant brealr when he secured and raced to half-way before he was upended by Sobey. The Wanganui forwards bunched round the ball and a sharp counter-attack resulted in play centring in Britain’s twenty-five. Oxley gained possession and dived over, but the try was not allowed owing to an obstruction. Wanganui kept up the pressure and appeared likely to score until Bonner, with a left-foot kick, eased the pressure. McLennan opened up the play with a high kick, the home forwards charging down the field, with the ball at toe. Britain Scores Again. Ivor Jones got the ball from the back - of the scrum but failed to clear. At this stage Sobey received an injury to his leg which necessitated medical attention. He resumed play. Morley had the ball from a scrum and running around the blind side, cut in prettily and scored a good try which he converted. . Britain 14 Wanganui 0 With the odds heavily against them the home side worked hard to gain territory. Thompson kicked into touch near half-way and a throw-in gave the ball to McLennan, who fumbled. Leahy was handy and he gained territory with a long kick. Half-time came with no change in the score. The Second spell. Leahy provided the first incident of note on the resumption, when he ran through the British pack to be grassed near the twenty-five line. Wanganui hooked the ball, but Duncan passed to the referee. The home side combined

in a strong attack which collapsed within five yards of the visitors’ goalline. Martindale picked up, but was well tackled before going out of touch near his own twenty-five. Off-side play in the visitors’ ranks gave the home team a penalty but little ground was gained. Play see-sawed around midfield'until Ivor Jones kicked into the Wanganui twenty-five, where Sobey, following up, transferred to Bowcott, but the pass went astray.

Wanganui’s Account Opens. Knowles and Sobey were prominent in the following play which was centred about 10 yards from the home goal-line. Ambrose cleared to halfway, where McLennan, supported by Tilley, ran strongly down the line and ■ crossed for a try wide out. Gibbons converted, with, a good kick. Britain 14 Wanganui 5 British Players Hurt. Bonner received a nasty gash on the face and left the held for medical attention. After four stitches had been inserted in the wound '-he continued . play. Britain were attacking strongly in the Wanganui twenty-five where ■play was again suspended owing to an injury to Martindale, who soon recovered. A strong wind had now sprung up and was in Wanganui’s favour. Sobey passed to Knowles, who fed Morley, the movement returning ' play to midfield. Aarvold attempted to break through, but the home pack robbed him of the ball and keping-it at toe reached Britain’s twenty-five. McLennan failed to take a pass and Sobey cut in and kicked into touch. The game was again held up while Sobey received first-aid treatment tb his leg. A penalty to Wanganui was not very advantageous and .Britain adopted offensive tactics which forced the home side to their twenty-five line. •Ivor Jones gained possession and kicked to Ambrose who claimed a mark on his own goal-line. Wanganui were relieved from the kick. Leahy sent McLennan away but he was caught by Sobey, who took charge, well supported by Bowcott. The latter handed to Morley, who made a sparkling run down the line to half-way, where he was forced into touch. A Penalty Missed. Britain were now attacking strongly. A scrum on the twenty-five line gave the ball to Duncan, whose pass to Leahy was intercepted by Ivor Jones. The latter handed out to Novis, who carried Play into Wanganui’s twentyfive, where the attackers were awarded a penalty. Ivor Jones’ kick missed. (Concluded in Stop Press column.)