RUGBY AT HOME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 77, 17 April 1937, Page 14

RUGBY AT HOME

ENGLAND BEATS IRELAND GREAT FORWARD BATTLE Ohe of the finest international Bugby matches seen for many yeates resulted from the meeting of England and Ireland at Twickeiiham. The last lft minutes of a ^plenifid match were almost too exciting for' even the most seaaoned watchers. Here was Bugby as it should be played — strong running, clever manoeuvres, fearless tackling, and a Homeric struggle between two remarkably weU-armed packs. The special commentator of The Morning Post writes about the match: "The first half, although. it had its moments, was nothing out of the ordinary, both sets of backs being prone to adopt kieking tactics. rather than to attempt to break through each other's munaeulate midfield defence. But, ail the same, it acted as just the right kind of a ourtain-raiser for the seeond, surely one of the most nerveracking and hectic periods ever produced in an international fixture. A well-qualified critxc remarked that it reminded him of the corresponding half of the Wales v. New 2fealand fixture last season, which is praise indeecL Grim BatHe. "There was a. grim battle between the rival packs. It became obvious from the start that th& Englishmen were determined to tire out their opponents by repeated serummagimg. In rush and counter-rush and loose maui there was little in it, just lft splendid forwards going at it hammer and tongs, never flinching or hesitating in gOing down to tackle or save, and deariy proving that the modern frontrankman, given a fair chance, is every bit as good as his renowned brethren of the past. Their spirit was personified by I»awlor, who, with a nasty cut. over his left eye, had positively to be forced to the touch line for medical attention. Campbell, Weston and Huskisson were the pick of the Englishmen, but really it is quite unfair to single them out. The same remark applies to Busstll, Siggins and Deering pf Ireland. "The comparisan was easier to draw in the backs, for the Irishmen were a much smoother working and more coheslve lot in their hahdling and passlng movements, with a magnificent general and mainspring in Moran at scrum half, had a remarkably dangerous three-quarters of tremendous speed, Severt Try. "Sever's try, which gave England victory, will go down in the annals of Bugby football. The scpre was then 8— ft in Ireland's favour, with Ireland pressing, and 1Q minutes to go, A sudren break by the English centres, SJld there was Sever, about half-way. Ahnqst you could see him PUB himgelf together' to set off for the line over one of the heaviest patches on the grqund. Morgan came across at him, to fiounder apd §lip, and now he was up to the twenty-fiye, with Boyle and Bafiey and Malpolmson racing across to cut him off. Boyle met him two yards put, but Sever's impetus carried him on, and just as Bailey and Malcolmson dived at him, he managed to ground the ball in the very corner before being hurled into the corner flag and touch in goal."