A WELSH WIN.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1926, Page 4

A WELSH WIN.

LONDON. .March 16. Wales by defeating Ireland by 11 to 8 have at last won a Rugby international against one of the older partners in the Rugby fellowship. They defeated Ireland at Swansea on Saturday by a placed goal land 2 tries ( llpt.x) to a placed goal and a penalty goal (Spts). Tbe victory was unexpected but well deserved. Everything pointed to another success for Ire-and, hut Wales won on their merits, mainly through the. remarkably line play of the 1 9-yenrs-ohl outside half, Windsor Lewis. This product of Welsh schoolboy and London Welsh Rugby revealed football qualities of the highest, character, and the victory of Wales was duo more to his coolness, cleverness, and judgment than to any other factor. The greatness of his immediate partner, W. C. Powell, who at inside

half paved the wav for victory, 'was alway- in evidence, and the value of the defence revealed by the forwards and backs wlicn the Welsh line was most in dtmgor must not be underrated. Hut when every credit is given elsewhere it remains true that V indsnr Lewis did more than anyone else to prevent the Irish victory which was so much desired.

Ihe play in this Homeric contest wav thrilling in its quality aim desperate in its vigour. The defence on the "hole, though the lines were four times crossed, was better than the attack. WELSH SfPKKIOIUTY.

Wale-; were superior forward and greatly superior at half, but the play ol the three-quarters did not reach a very high level. On each side the wings were better than the centres. W.E. Crawford was perhaps the Lest man on the Irish side, hut W. K. Browne, .1. W. Clinch, A. .1. Hanraban and S. d. Cagney, especially the two first named, were very difficult to tackle and used their feet cleverly. Wales started unexpectedly well and bad had the better ol the play when a penalty kick' enabled G. Y. Stephenson to place a beautiful goal. Great play by Powell and Lewis then led up to a good try by T. Hopkins which Guardsman Rees converted, but the Welsh full-hack was in part to blame lor a try scored by Hanraban and conceded by Stephenson which enabled Ireland to cross over with a lead cf 3 points.

Wales dominated the play for the greater part of the second- half and Ireland were seldom, at any rate, for the iirst 30 minutes, out of their own half. Resolute and ceaseless pressure led to unconverted tries for Wales by R. C. Herrera and Rowe Harding. Rees’s line kicking saved the Welsh forwards greatiy.

Towards the end Ireland rallied finely. R: A. Cornish was injured, and Air U. IS. C'umberlege, the referee, also hurt liis knee. Desperate tackling kept out D. .1. Cuseen, while Stpelienson just missed a dropped goal, so freland failed at the last critical moment.