SERVICES RUGBY

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 43, 4 October 1940, Page 6

SERVICES RUGBY

Win For South Island Team SPECTACULAR SCORING Brilliance Of McAuliffe And Finlay As a fitting climax to a wartime season of Rugby football, teams representing the Services, designated as North Island and South Island, on Saturday provided a crowd -of about 10,000 with one of the most exhilarating displays of Rugby seen • at Athletic Park for many years. Sixty-one points were piled up after some dazzling football, the team designated .as the South Island winning 38-23. Conditions were ideal and from whistle to whistle the match was brimful with incident. The, game was the only one of the season under the auspices of the New Zealand Rugby Union, being a substitute for the annual NorthSouth fixture. At the same time, it

was not strictly an interisland match. The nominations included a great preponderance of North Islanders, some .of whom were placed 'in the South-Island team. f,, -* . ' .The match -was a benefit for the Patriotic Fund. ■ Spectacular scenes were’seen before and during the game.. The teams marched round'the ground headed by the Central Band of the N.Z.R.A.F., under Drum-Major A. V. Brown, which took a prominent place in the, proceedings. Among the guests were the Governor-General Lord Gal-

way, the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, and members of Cabinet. ' ' Enterprising Forwards. South’s victory was largely the result of the superlative play of their forwards, who were vastly more enterprising collectively than their opponents, and received excellent support from’ their backs, of whom .McAuliffe (Canterbury) was one of the outstanding performers on the field, scoring a try and converting seven of his side's eight.tries. Finlay (Manawatu), who has previously demonstrated bis claim to be regarded as one of the best loose forwards in the country, was in magnificent form, being ideally suited by the open game and taking a prominent

part in most of the South’s.scoring movements. Metcalfe, though much more burly than in his palmy clays as a Southland representative and All Black, played no small part in his team’s success, and Canterbury was worthily represented by Rhind and McPhail. Feam (Manawatu) also played well, and McDonald, a former Berhampore and Wellington representative, figured in much clever play. The South five-eighths, Jackson (Taranaki) and Wagstaffe ' (Auckland) were two improvers who did their work efficiently. Donovan was the pick of the three-quarters, most of the breaks coming his way. ", A feature of -the team-work of the South Island was the almost uncanny ability of backs and forwards to link up. A favourite practice in the second spell—launching passing rushes after fielding the kick-off—brought some spectacular results. • ’ , Bowman’s Solid Game. For the North Island Bowman was the

outstanding forward; indeed for allround play .he had no superior on . the field, though for spectacular football the palm would go to Finlay. Barton was the king-pin of the North rearguard, which did not have as many opportunities on attack as their, opponents. The five-eighths, Gibson (North Auckland), who participated in the All Black trials last year, and Sargisson, the former Hutt and Wellington representative, showed plenty of thrust when the chances camo their way. Both scored well-deserved tries... , . The high scoring did not signify weak tackling. Both teams set out with rhe purpose; of" throwing the'ball about, and succeeded admirably. Details of Scoring.’„ North scored first. From a scrum the ball went out to Sargisson, who found a gap and threw out a long pass to McAneney,. who beat Bush to score, Barton converting. Bush was responsible for

putting South on attack, and from a ruck McAuliffe sent to Wagstaffe, who raced through a gap and passed to Donovan, who sent infield to Fulton, who scored, McAuliffe converting. A neat break from a ruck by McAuliffe had the defence rattled. Metcalfe coming up on the inside of him to take a pass and race across, McAuliffe converting. A few moments later McAuliffe scored. His kick missed narrowly. The South backs and forwards then linked up in a great rush, in which Donovan completely beat the defence. McAuliffe converted. Sargisson retaliated for North, racing through a gap to score. Barton converted. Just before half-time Finlay thrilled the crowd by taking a centre-kick magnificently in full stride and scoring under the posts. McAuliffe converted to make the scores 2310.

South scored first in the second spell, Jackson securing a cross-kick which bounced awkwardly for McAneney, and crossing at the corner. McAuliffe converted with a great kick. A fine movement, m which McAneney, Bowman and Guineven were prominent,'saw the last-named score for North, Barton converting. South increased their margin, Rhind and Donovan scoring! McAuliffe converted both tries. Barton and Gibson added tries for 'North, Barton converting one to make the final scores 38-23. The , teams were : — • South Island : Bush; Schubert, Fulton, Donovan; Jackson, Wagstaffe; McAuliffe; McPhail, McDonald, Rhind; Mills, Chalmers. Fearn, Metcalfe; Finlay.

North Island : Donnelly ; McAneney, Barton, Sherratt;. Sargisson, Gibson; Sloane ;* Hansen, Warren, Elliffe; Spence. Fraser-Smith, Bowman, Guineven ; Overton. ' Referee : Mr. H. B. Simmons.