League Kiwis' Narrow Win In Mud And Rain

Chronicle (Levin), 15 June 1948, Page 6

League Kiwis' Narrow Win In Mud And Rain

Received "Moudav, 8.35 p.m. •: . • , • NEWCASTLEj June -14. • - -The" Ki Wis f/ettt"' CN c-ivTastl'd ' by" ""10 points to 9. a On a niuddy rain-drenched field ' the Iviwis gave a sqilendid. displav. The match was playod in continuous drencliipg rain and was tl^e inost exciting here for- years. ■■■,). (• Nevvcastle lcd 7. — nil at half timo and 9— nii iifteen minutes bcfore the end. The Iviwis then scored two convert«d trip^j within ihe minutes. ■N ewcastle dominated the first half assisted by the wiud, their forwurds outplaying the Iviwis' backs and liand-. ling the wet ball brilliantly, espeeiaily Andrews who sliort kicked to follow on for a good try.

Jn the second half the Kiwis using their heavjer pack persisted with ball on toe through the mud, buttering Ihe Nowcastle defence. The firsf try was by Redmond after Belcham and Andersoii reversed ^ilay in front of the posts. Clarko made a lnagnilicent eonversion from the sideline, the best kiek of the match. Ilurndell tood the ball tlirougli the ru'ck for the second try, Clarke goaling close in. Hookcr Aynsley had a three to oue advautage in the scrums Penalties were 19 to 5 in Newcastle's favour. The home forwards were out.stayed by the Iviwis but gave the tourists tlie hardest match of thc tour The Iviwis were freely penaiised in thc rucks for standing too close. Dribbling tactics paid and brouglit a good for ward try. Newcastle had a big ad vantage in territory until the Kiwis dramatically took the lead. The Kiwi.. forwards averaged a stone per man lieavier and won the garne with per sistent dribbling througli the rueke Ilurndell and Johnson were outstanding and were never away from thc ball. The conditions were so bad in the second half that the players were covered with mud and obscufed by rain, but the game was always moving and tense. Cuuningham and Barchard grubber-kicked for the forwards to follow on but the ground was too heavy to get a run on the ball. Ricli on thc left wing made three great runs of 40 yards. Clarke was safe and was tack ling well protected by the forwards. Clarke 's goal was the higlilight of the match.