WALES WELL BEATEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 49, 13 March 1937, Page 14

WALES WELL BEATEN

VICTORY FOR SC0TLAND LOSING TEAHfS BACKS FAILED "" o GRAND GAME TO WATCH, Wales, narrowly bep,teo by England at Twickenhm, were soundly defeated by Scotland at Swansea by two goals and a try to two tries, reports the London Herald. After the Twickenham match, when the Welsh forwards gave their backs few chances, the Welsh selectors imade wholesale changes, ' both forward and in the back division. This time the forwards got the ball in three out of four set scrums — and the hacks failed. What will the Welsh selectors do now? In any case, Wales have lost all hope of keeping the championship. It was a grand game to watch, with plenty of open play, fine forward work in the ioose and a Scottish back division which gave every promise of becoming one of the best of any country for many years. In Ross and Macrae Scotland have made two great "discoveries." Both wore new caps, yet never showed signs of nervousness, and fitted in with the experienced Logan and Dick as if they had been their club-mates. It was largely Dick's match. He scored two grand tries, and was ever a menace to Wales. Macrae is of similar build to Dick, with the same elusive swerve, and, like Ross, was never afraid to beat an opponent before passing the ball. Little went Johnston's way, but he looked after Clement most effectively, while R. W. Shaw, opposed tp the new and speedy winger, Hopkin, never had any trouble in the latter's speed, tackling him with certainty. Logan Plays a Oaptain*s Part. Logan played a captain's part. His forwards were well beaten in the tight scruxnmages, but this ' stockily built half-back was magnificent in defence, and on the few occasions his forwards did heel quickly and cleanly he had the ball away in a flash. He had a better match than Tanner, whose passes were as accurate as ever, but whose individual hursts were absent. I think Scotland may decide that a little more weight for their full-back is needed, although Kerr made few mistakes and kicked moderately well. Their forwards were fast but outshoved in the scrums and out-heeled by W. Travers, the new Welsh hooker, who was defiiiitely a success. Young Shaw and Inglis took my eye among the Scottish forwards. But to win the championship those brilliant backs must be given more of the ball. The Welsh team was a curious. mixture. In the first quarter of an hour a decisive victory for the home team looked certain, but despite the heroic efforts of the forwards the backs went on making mistake after mistake. The weak link was Morris, who defended well and sometimes made spirited individual bursts, but failed to be the smooth link between the scrum and the three-quarters. Wilfred Wooller scored both the Welsh tries — characteristic da&hes without a Scottish defender laying a finger on him, At the same time he did not have a good match. Hi& handling was uncertain, his passing strangely erratic, and judging by the manner in which Macrae and Dick found gaps in the centre to break through his defence was not beyond criticism, Idwal Rees tried desperately to 1 open up the play, but too often we saw the Welsh backs bunched to- ' gether so that they got in each other's way. Neither winger had much ' chanoe, and James was moderately sound at full-back. I am confident : that the Welsh selectors will recall Jenkins. t t Welsh Forwards Played WelL No blame can be attached to the r Welsh forwards for their side's defeat. They did well in the tight scrums, . were as good as their opponents in the loose, and only slightly inferior in

All the credit for the thrilling Welsh opening attack must be given to the forwards, but the Scots remained oool under trying pressure. After 12 minfues the Scottish threequarters broke away, but a pass struck a player and the ball bounced into Wooller's hands. He had a clear opening, and he ran beautifully to seore wide on the left of the goal. James failed with his kiek. Scotland gradually settled down, and we saw Dick, Ross and Macrae all threaten danger. G. D, Shaw had a chance with a penalty kick, but the wind was too strong for him. In the twenty-fifth minute came the first Scottish try, and it was a heauty. Logan passed to Macrae, who beat Wooller and then sent Dick sweeping by James. to ground the ball between the posts. Although the charge was disallowed, G. D. Shaw failed to eon- 1 vert, It was well into tlie second half before the next score came. Again a concerted Scottish movement finished with the ball going to Dick via Macrae, Inglis and Waters. Again Dick scored in an easy position, for G. D. Shaw to eonvert. Scotland went further ahead, when a defensive kick by Morris was taken by Kerr, who ran up to send R. W. Shaw over, and G. D. Shaw, with a magnificent kick from the touph-line, converted. Wales tried desperately to stage a comeback, and Wooller should have scored before he actually did, when it was too near the end to make any difference to the result. He took a pass from Odwal Rees to outpaoe the opposition. Wales. — T. O. James (Aberavon), W. H. Hopkin (Newport), J. Idwal Rees (Swansea and Edinburgh Wanderers), (captain), Wilfred Wooller Cardiff), W. H. Clement Llanelly), R. W. Morris (Swansea and Bristol), H. Tanner (Swansea), W. J. Travers I^Hlyport), T .Williaros Cross Keys),