Inter-Island Rugby Of Very Poor Standard

Chronicle (Levin), 3 October 1949, Page 7

Inter-Island Rugby Of Very Poor Standard

Press Association)

(Per

CHRISTCHURCH, Oet. 2. North Island had tlie easiest of victories over South *in the annual mateli at Lancaster Park on Saturday. Two minutes after the interval South were only three points behind but the final score of 23 to 3 fairly represented the differenee between the teams. In the second spell North backs played bright football but in the first half play would not have done credit to third grade club teams. South 's forwards looked like a collection of elderly gentlemen and the backs, when they did manage to handle the ball safelv, crowded each other aeross the field regularly. North 's forwards were a little better and the backs also looked a little more likely but generally the standard of play was appallingly low for such a fixture. The second half was rather, a different story although South forwards showed more life. The North pack also improved vastly and the backs were far too fast and clever for South rearguards. On the whole it was a disappointing mateh, particularly for South supporters, but it did produce two real stars. Both were North players — R. A. Roper, on the wing, and R. A. White, in the forwards. Roper played a magnifieent game. He seemed to be twice as fast as the South backs and he was extremely quick off the mark. Roper had deterinination as well as speed and frequently beat several opponents in thrilling runs with his quick changes of direction. On this performanee he was an All Black threequarter of the highest class. White was as outstanding in the line-outs as Roper was in the backs. He clearly outjumped all;. the other forwards on innumerable oecasions and usually sent the ball back to Bevan. quickly and cleanly. He did his share in the loose, worked solidly in the tight and gave a fine all-round per formance. North fullback, Harkness, had little to do but did it very well. Poweri'ully built, Harkness tackled solidly, kicked well and sometimes added thrust to the back moyements he joined. Keenan had fewer chances than Roper but looked capable and Smith, at centre, gave a niasterly display. He was very elusive and made several breaks in the second spell. His experience and generalsliip were of infinite value to the side. The five-eighths and half back all played quite well and were usually content to feed the fast threequarter lino as quickly as possible. Of North forwards, Cutler and 0 'Donnell played particularly well with Beard playing a very loose game, a danger to South backs and assistance to North passing rushes. South 's display was too bad to be a true reflection of the standard of South Rugby. Of the backs Orr (fullback) nade very few mistakes but was litth nore than sound. Moore, on the wing, lad few opportunities but looked one )f the best backs and Reeves, at centre. leld Smith well in the lirst spell. Tlu-ive-eighths were poor, Kearney laeked any sort of understanding with the halfback McKenzie and when Kearney was replaced in the second spell by W. H, Taylor (Golden Bav) and Dickson moved in to first five-eighth, a little im provement was seen. McKenzie was worried by North loose forwards and played poorly. The backs generallv handled badly, were patehy on defence and lacked purpose and direction on attaek. The forwards showed very brief glimpses of form but the display overall was very disappointing. Max was perhaps the best oi thein with Budd doing well in the lineouts. South were handicapped by the loss of Kearney in the backs and Wil son (replaced by Bond after the first five minutes of the game) and Budd (replaced by C. Hardie late in the second spell) in the forwards. The first 2 minutes of the game were spent chiefly in aimless play but White scored a good try for North when he took the ball cleanly from a line-out and crashed over the line. Smith made a good break and Beard helped the movement further but Orr saved brilliantly. When Orr joined a passing rush O'Callaghan countered with a centring kick which found the defence out of position. Beatty beat one man and sent on to Roper who beat another to score a splendid try in he corn er. In the first minute of the second speli Reeves kicked a fine penalty goal for South but three minutes later O'Callaghan kicked one for North and two minutes later kicked another to make the score 12 — 3. A weak South clearing kick gave Roper a chance to collect a rolling ball at full speed and run infield to set the backs going. South 's defence for once looked adequate so Smith coolly potted a goal. By this time North backs were play ing really well with the inside men backing up tirelessly. Ten minutes before the end Orr again joined in a back movement but the pass was dropped and Roper was on it like a flash to run over for a try with ludierous ease. O'Callaghan converted. South 's backs and forwards joined m one of the best movements of the day which took play from one end of the field to the other but lack of speed lost the try. .North 's backs, well fed by Bevan, repeatedly made ground and in one rush Smith moved infield with the forwards coming up in support. Smith, by quick thinking, gave North another try. He sent a very long pass aeross field to- the right wing and Roper, tra velling at full speed, took the ball about knee height. Side-stepping.and swerving he beat several defenders to score a very determined try in the corner. The referee was Mr J. G. Eitzpatrick, Wellington. The teams were: — North: Harkness, Roper, Smith, Keenan, 0 'Callaghan, Beatty, Bevan, Grant, Rowley, White, Cutler, Beard,

Rowan, Hughes, O'Donnell. South: Orr, Moore, Reeves, Taylor, Dickson, Kearney, McKenzie, Stuart, Anderson, Budd, Woolley, Stuck, Wilson, Max, Mumm.