WIN FOR NORTH ISLAND

Chronicle (Levin), 6 October 1947, Page 7

WIN FOR NORTH ISLAND

Prese AssociationJ

PLAYERS ORDERED OFF FIELD IN BATTLE ROYAL

. (P2T

INVERCARGILL, Oet. 5. In oue of the few moderately sinall acoring games of the inter-Island Rugbv series North Island defoated South Island at Rugby Park on Saturday by 13 points to 11. Contrary to expectation the playing eonditions wero ideal, the ground having dried out under a warni wind. North Island scored three tries (two converted) and South Island scored two tries (oue converted) and a. penalty goal. The scorers were: For North Island tries by J. B. Smitli (two) and H. Frazer, and two eonversions by T. R 0 'Callaghan; for South Island, tries by M. P. Goddard (two) and a penalty goal and a conversion by J. W. Kelly. The attendance, cstimated at 10,000, was eoinparatively small for such an important lixture. The gate receipts totalled £1370. Expeetations of a great game between two combinations representing the best Rugby talent in New Zealand did not inateriaiise. The game had lts spectaeular moments nevertheless, and at least ihree of the tries scored gave the spectators something to entliuse about. it also had its iucideijts, including a sensation 1.7 minutes from the enil when two front row forwards, J. G. Simpson (Auckland) and L. S. Connolly (Southlaud) were ordered off by the referee, ilr. J. Frood, of Dunedin. Simpson and Connolly opposed to each other in the set scruins had a battle royal lighting for the loose head. Tliey ca'nie to grips ia the scrum in front of the mai n grandstand when. Connolly 's knee made contact witli Simpson 's torso and Simpson swung his list in retaliation. Connolly swung back and ihe referee intervened and ordered thc players to eut it out. Connolly withdrew, but Simpson adopted a threatening attitude and iillegedly used lauguage. Thereupon the referee ordered the players off. They shook liands ou the way to the grandstand. For the last 15 niinutes of play the scruins were ill-balaneed seven-men serambles. J. McNab, the Otago forward, wlio had replaced F. ti. Hobbs (Canterlni ry) early in the ffrst lialf, went into the frontrow for the Soutn seruni and C. King (Poverty Bay) joined the front row in the North seruni. Frequeut breakdowns in the attaei; by both sets of backs reduced the standard to below that of average interprovincial games. Once North 's pack settled down, however, they ex[doiied an unexpecled weakness in South 's niiddle defence and with F. R. Alleu, the North captain, given yards ot' rooiu in which to work the way was made easv for two of North 's three tries. Allen plaved rtu t'ewer than four roles in the game. In turn he was liveeiglith, lirst five-eighth, full-back and ugain five-eighth. In addition to that he was a good leader as captain of the winning combinatiou. Allen was forced into the lirst live-eighth position earlv in the game when M. B. Couch (Wairarapa; was rijured and was replaced by A. Pinfold (Wairarapa). It was a eood tliing for North because it enabled Allen to out plav his marker (.J. W. Kearney, Otago) and make mueh of the play wij-ieii gave- North the advantage. Allen h&.d lrfctle trOuble with Kearney, The' Otago man has a reputarion for strong defence, but he founri the Aueklander too ihueli of a handful. Allen 's full-back ro'le was played for five mintes in the seeoiul lialf following a crushing tackle Pv D. A. Hamilton, the Otago forward. He proved in t his game that he had what it takes to be au All Blaek

player. The forward struggle was uueven at times, but overall there was not a great lot in North 's favour. The North scrum supported by its greater weight started well, and E. H. Catley (Waikato) woa nine serunis before J. A. McRae. (Southland) heeled once. Thereafter McRae won the honours by six to two, but the lialf ended 11 — (5 in Catley 's favour. In the second lialf McRae fairly won the honours. Likewise in the lineouts the North forwards gained a big lead early only to lose the advantage. "The final figures were: North 28 South 25. Ruggedness more than finesse niarked inost of the forward exchanges. Plentv of good .inaupower was expended aimlessly at times, while at other times • some of the northerners took a rest. On those occasions the iighter South pack could be seen pushing the North forwards back yards in some of tho 'rucks. Outstanding in the packs were P. J. Crowley (Auckland), H'. F Frazer (Hawke's Bay), J. Ct. Simpson and D. L. Christian (Auckland). Crowley won the honours in the lineouts and took part in odd forward foravs which threatened success. H_ wras one of the few who loolced like. a good All Blaclc forward. For South W. J. Mumm, the Buller front row man, improssed as inucli as any other -forward. His work outsidc the scruins shOwed lriin to be a fast forward above the average. lv. O'Conuor (Otago) was auother forward up to standard and McRae and McNab stK» 1 out for good work. All round North had mucli the better pack line. The disappoiiitmenfs were the Otago live-eighths pair, Kearney and R. R. Elvidge. Kearney did some good backing. up, but his de fence was not that of a player who is rated in tlie All Black class. Elvidge broke a tackle which gave M. P. God tlarcl his lirst tr.v and was reasonably sPurid on defence, but there was little punch about his work. It was his la/l game of Rugby. Goddard was the stai of the South baclcline 011 attack aud D Parsons (half-back) and .T. \V. Kelly (full-back) gave good service. Gotldard used his link a'ud pace to ad-; vantago. He scored both the South tries, but his tackling had weaknesses. There were 110 weak links in the North back line. Pinfold inay have been out of his class, but he made 110 serious niistakes. The work of V. Bevan'at lialf was solid witliout being sliowy. He was always dangerous 111 the open play. The three-quarter llno casily shaded tlie South line both for pace and initiative. Smith delighted the crowd with work which gave him two tries. J. K. McLean always had the measure of A. G. Sutherland, and X. P. Cherrington more than held his own with J. M. Tanner. Sutherland gave his admirers 011c rhrill in tlie second lialf when he Ijeat liis marker, but his lack of pace stopped him from getting far. A. R. O 'Callaghan was an excellent substitute for R. W. H. Scott. His long line kicks and sound defensive plav were commendable. J. W. Kelly 'a uverhead ficlding was magnilicent. The score at lialf time was 8-all. There was an excitmg iinish. North were penalised in the last minute, but Kelly 's kic.k failed, the ball going under the cross-bar. The game ended: North 13, South 11.