INTER-ISLAND RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2179, 18 June 1914, Page 6

INTER-ISLAND RUGBY

B TEAMS AT PLAY FAST & INTERESTING GAME 1 ; I SOUTHERNERS VICTORIOUS. In actual play there was little to choose between the North and South Island B teams in tho Rugby match at Athletic Park yesterday afternoon. After a keen, fast, and interesting game, tho Southerners won by 13 points to 8, the score of the winners including three tries to the one try registered by the .North Island team* \vneu read in this latter form, however, the score is distinctly flattering to the representatives of the South, as their opponents lost more than one try when playing with tho wind in the iirst halt, owing to Stewart (centre three-quarter) tailing to get the ball away to Loveridge on the wing, when tho openings had been made. Tho ground was' in good order for tho match, but, although the weather was tine, the spectators, who mustered in good number for an otf day, found the atmosphere bleak and cold. It was not by any moans a great game, but interest was maintained because the pace was on tho wholo time, and the defects in tho teams' football seemed to bo due mainly to lack of combination. It must be said, however, that with lew exceptions the players did not show anything liko the best inter-island form. In the first spell, assisted by a fairly strong northerly wind, the North Island team did most of the attacking, but their forwards . wero consistently befiten in tho scrum, and tho two five-eighths and the centre three-quarter were not a happy trio. Kaipara and Loveridge were practically starved on the wings, whereas had the latter been fed Jio might have turned tho game. In tho second spell, the South island men continued to get the ball in tho scrum, alid quickly wiped off a deficit .of 8 points. Then tho Northe/n forwards put extra vim into their efforts, and the game continued even right up till the last few moments, when the Southerners gained an additional 5 points, anl so secured tho victory. 1 On the side of tho winners, Cockroft (centre three-quarter) stood out as the best man on the' field, while Green, though hot the Green of old, was smart behind the''scrum. Tho forwards' wero an even lot of hard- workers. Of. the North Island backs, O'Brien and Nuhn showed to most advantage,-, the former's, only mistake being aii error of judgment in carrying tho ball- over bis own lino to force- down, towards tho close of the match, arid thus causing tho scrum from which tho winning points wero scored. The forwards shone in the loose, but failed to hold their own in the scrums. Thus at tho last critical stage of tho game, when a scrum was formed in front of tho North '•Island goal, tho ball came out splendidly to the attacking half, and tho South Island team gained tho winning try. This incident practically sums up tho situation —the superiority of tho winners lay in their ability to get tho ball from the scrum. The Teams. 'The teams wero as follow. — South Island: Full-back, Martin (Southland); three-quarters, ' Spillane (South Canterbury), Cockroft (South Canterbury), Withers (Otago); fiveeigths, Watson (Canterbury), Atkinson (Duller); lialf, Green (Buller); forwards, Hasscll (Canterbury), Best (Ncltwn), Whittaker (Southland). Cunimings (Canterbury), Maxwell (Canterbury), Oban (Marlborough), Watson (Nelson), and Gallaghan (Buller). North Islan-1: . Full-back, O'Brien (Auckland); three-quarters, Kaipara (Poverty Bay), Stowart (Auckland), i/ovcridge (Taranaki); five-eighths, P. J. Ryan (Wellington), Collier (Wangnniii); half-back, Nunn (Wellington); forwards, Carroll (South Auckland), T. Leahy, (Wanganui), M'Kenzie (Wairarapa),"Board (Wellington), Harkness (Wanganui), Barrett ' (Auckland), Francis (Wellington), and Young (Taranaki). '

Carroll was captain of tho North Island team,'and Cockroft of tho South Island team. Mr. H. Fordyco was referee. - The Play. North Island won the toss, and elected to defend the northern goal with tho wind behind them. After play had been in progress for about "fivo minutes, . Watson led a South Island attack, but his pass went astray. Cockroft, however, dashed afterthe ball, and was almost over the line when brought down by O'Brien. The North lino was cleared, and Beard, and Leahy led a rush to tho Southerners' twenty-fives, where passing among tho North backs was lacking in finish. A dashing effort by CocWoft carried play back to tho North territory again and Green and Hassell almost pressed homo the attack. North saved immediate trouble by an infringement, but Cockroft's shot at goal was carried wide by the wind. From this stage, tho NoJth Island team kept up a long attack, but, though Nunn repeatedly sot his backs going, 1 tho passing was weak. Eventually, after several scrums on tlie South Island line, Carroll (wing-forward) got the ball away.' He gave an erratic pass, but Nunn secured possession, and transferred to Loveridge. Tho latter passed to V. J. Ryan, who beat several men, and scored at the corner-hag after the game had been in progress thirty minutes. M'Kenzio's kick at goal struck the cross-bar, and toppled over. North Island ; 5 South Island 0 Soon after tho kick-out, M'Keuzie had two shots at goal—one from a penalty and oiio from a mark —but both were failures. Just before half-time, however, Nunn marked a knock-on by Cockroft in front of the South Island goal, and M'lienzie safely piloted the ball over the bar, the spell ending with the scores reading:— North Island 8 South Island 0 Parker (Pctouo) now replaced Francis on the North Island side. Immediately on resuming, the South Island forwards assumed the aggressive, and worked play down towards their opponents' goal. With-only a couple of minutes gone, "Watson (five-eighths) secured the ball in the loose, and, making a neat opening, passed to Hassell. The latter was tackled near the line, but rolled over, and scored in good position. Cockroft converted. North Island '8 South Island 5 This score was followed by some fast I play up and down held, and then, with I'a combined effort, tho whole South Island team charged down on the North line. Loveridge, finding his side in trouble, essayed a kick to touch, but the ball was fielded by Spillane on the right-wing. A sure pass iulield to Cockroft enabled the South Island captain to score at the comer, but be was unable to add the major points. South Island 8 North Island 8 Following the drop-out, a bout of passing, between Watson, Cockroft, and Withers, threatened danger to the North line, but the situation was saved by a force down. Tlie half-way flag was I hen tho scene of operations for sonio minutes, the South Island team having slightly the best of matters. Play then became exceedingly fast, first cue side and Ihen another being within an ace ol scoring. Moth packs were doing remarkably well at this stage', but tho I play_ of, either rearguard .ivbs .very er«

vatic, and the attack of the North Island team, though spirited, was wanting in method. 'After having experienced some anxious moments on defence, the South Island team cleared tlio danger zone in the last few minutes, and, with a sweeping movement, carried play right to tho North Island goal. Mere O'Brien successfully took the ball from tho feet of tho attackers, but rati over his own line and touched down. A. ■scrum was ordered, and from this the ball camo to Green, who ran inside an opponent and made- a clear opening for Atkinson. The latter lmd ovily to fall over the lino to score. Coekroft converted and tho final scores re-ad: South Island ~ 13 North Island 8 INTER-ISLAND TEAMS. THE PERSONNEL FOR SATURDAY. The following are the revised teams in the representative match North island v. South Island A Teams, to b : o played at the Athletic Park w&i Saturday :— North Island.—J. Ryan (Full-hack) ; Stewart, R. Roberts, and gtohr (tltreeViarters); J. M'KcOzio and Weston (live-eifiliths); 1. Roberts (half): Taylor (wing-forward); Cain, Francis, Bruce, Smith, Downey, A. Wilson, and Cotter (forwards). Emergencies— Voung, T. Leahy, and O'Briwi. South Island.—Scett (full-back); JPyle, Cockroft, and Lynch (three-quar-ters) ; Black and Orawshaw (fiveeighths) ;H. Tajtor (half); Williams, Lindsay, Irvine, Fisher, M'Neeqe, Graham, Langford, aiid Murray (forwards). Emergencies—Hassell and 'Watson. After tho match tho selectors will chose the representative team for Australia. The selection will he made on the evening after the match. Tho team for Australia, will leave on July SELECTION METHODS DISAPPROVED. (By Toleerath.—Press A'sweitfionji ~ Napier, June U. A.meeting of the Haiske's Bay Rugby Union to-night passed tlio following resolution: ""That- this union disapproves of the method of seleetiojs of tho North Island teams, no steps having been taken by tlio selectors to ascertain the capabilities' of players outside their three unions,.and further, that the New Zealand tmi-Bii bo written to pointing out that although this union'invited' the selectors to attend the Hawke's Bay v. WiJlfSfrapa ntatfh on Juno.3, and ofltofic}' to defray ih© ; expenses, tho' .invitstiou'of the -uaioii was totally ignored.!' ■" -.'"":