BRIGHT RUGBY DELIGHTS CROWD

Chronicle (Levin), 18 August 1949, Page 9

BRIGHT RUGBY DELIGHTS CROWD

TAUMARUNUI, August 17. In the first match of their Dominion tonr today, the Australian Rugby team outclassed King Country in all departments of the ; ! game to win 24 — 6. They gained the ball from thp majority of J scrums and lineouts and their forwards handled like baeks in short i bursts of passing whieh frequently had the King Country defence in j desperate straits. Behind the winning pack Burke had no problems j to solve and he sent Emery, Blomley and Allan away time and j again in scintillating passing movements, many of which were help up by solid tackling by Gotz, Katene and Shaw. The King Country defence, however, eould not stand up for ever to the continuous assaults by both forwards and backs and.before the end of the first spell Australia had estalished a comfortable lead which only a miracle could upset. I

The mateh attracted the largest crowd ever seen in. Taumaruhui, the attendance being estinuited between 700'0 and 8000. The grandstand was paehed by midday and two hours before the game began the ground was almost completely'ringed with speetators. The weather was fine and the ground in perfect condition for fast and open football. King. Country showed sound defence Ln the iirst 20 minutes of the game, the tackling being very telling but tfiereafter it deteriorated and 'the visitors t'ound gaps. King Country forwards did not play with their customary dash in the first speli and appeared very sluggish. They improved vastly in the second spell, however, McGuigan, Marriner, Bryers and Pevreal being proininent. Had they played with the same dash in the first spell, the Australian score might not#have been so large. The King Country backs were quite outclassed but they did not disgraee themselves. They stood up on the Amstralip,n backs in the second spell and thus lcept the scoring down. Kenyon ahd Gotz were particularly eft'ective in this respeet. The elusiveness of Burke, the brilliant straight running, backing up and superb handling of Emery, Blomley and Allan, and the speed of the wingers Garner and Ware, thrilled the crowd. Piper was sound at fullback but did uot outshine Clarlt, the Iving Country custodian. Piper 's f'our goals 'were good kicks but he missed a sitter in front of the posts. Windon, Comforth, Mossop, Cross and Shehadie were grand forwards,. Cornforth in particulai playing a dashing game. Australia thoroughly earned their victory in a display of bright, open football which delighted the crowd. The teams were: — Australia: 13. Piper, A. Ware, T. Allau, R. Garner, J. Blomley, N. Emerv, C. T. Burke, R. Cornforth, C. Windon, Iv. Cross, W. Shehadie, B. Mossop, N. T. Betts, N. Cottrel, J. Baxter. King Country: E. Clark, T. Ivatene, W. E. Gotz, D. J. Shaw, Iv. J. Kenyon, R. Akapita, F. J. McKenzie, J. S. McGuigan, J. H. Marriner, R. F. Bryers, J. Ratima, F. J. Spry, L. J. Tarrant, It. A. Pevreal. Details of Play Early in the first spell froih a ruck after a line-out, Akapita crossed for a good try and drew first blood for King Country. Clark missed tke kick. Australia attacked and Burke passed out to Emery on the blind side of the 25 line. Ivatene, King Country wing had gone across to the five-eighths line to make an extra man ahd Emery was left with an - open field. Piper converted from the sideline.

Australia hoolced and Burke sent to Emery to Blomley who side-stepped and sent on to Allan. Ware took the final pass to score near the corner. Piper missed the ki'ck. A little later Piper kicked a grand penalty goal from ten yards inside half way. Australia were hooking consistenly and their backs bursting through iu fine passing rushes, oue of which Garner capped off by crossing the line but a forward pass was ruled. In. the ruck which followed, however, Cornforth picked up and threw himself over for a great try, and Piper converted from well out. The half time score was: Australia o 16, King Country 3. Iving- Country held . the Australians for some time in the second spell. Then from loose play the visitors' forwards, Cottrell, Cross and Windon, joined with Allan and Garner in chain passing, Windon finally securing the ball and going over for a try. Piper converted from an easy position. Burke was caught in possession and penalised and Pevreal kicked a goal from the 25 line. The final score came , just on time when Cornforth, Mossop and Windon Ied the Australian forwards in a great dribbling rush. Blomley and Allan

then took over and Allan raeed over in a characteristic run near the corner. Piper missed the" kick. The final score was: Australia 24, King Country 6. Mr. J. Nealon was referee.