RUGBY.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1926, Page 1

RUGBY.

*♦«- NARROW VI CTO BY FOB WALES. PARIS, April 6. After a hard-lough game, Wales beat Fi.'.uice in the last of this season's international matches at the Static do t'olombs, Paris, this alLernooii by a dropped goal and a try if pts.) to a placed goal (opts.). The result na.s a fair reflection oi a ding-dong game, but if Jaurregny, Franco’s crack three-quarter, had not been badly out of form and had shown some of his usual brilliance it is likely that France would have done better. The Welshmen’s chief fault, as in their previous games this season, was tho tendency of their backs to hold on to the ball too long. Their forwards secured the ball in tho scrum and heeled out times without number, but on each occasion the three-quarters failed to make those short passes that mc’.iii speed in attack. EXPERTS CONFOUNDED.

Franco’s team confounded the experts, who without exception had predicted an easy win for Wales. Hie French forwards, for the greater part of the game, were stronger in the serum and quicker in the line-out than their opponents. Another mistaken idea here, beforehand, wtis that the Frenchmen would not last out to t! e end.

Guardsman Bees, the Welsh lullback, and R. A. Cornish, centre threequarter, worked splendidly throughout the match.

France won the toss and started off with a rush, but Jaurreguy failed to gather tho ball, and play was quickly transferred to the other eiul of the field.

Play was fairly even for '25 minutes when Besson gave the ball to Ribiere, the French forward, about 20. yards from the goal line. Ribiere made a spectacular run. with Pees on his heels, but the Welshman was not fast enough and Itibeirc crossed the line amid wild enthusiasm. They try. was converted by Gomnet. and half-time came with France leading by o points to 0. Wales made valiant efforts in the second half to score on the left wing, and twice they crossed the line btit failed to touch down. CLEVER DROPPED GOAL. E. Finch (Llanelly), their left wing threequarter, was at this point playing strongly. He held on to the ball too long, however, and this robbed him of success. Then came a temporary lull with the play in mid-field, France now and again pressing on the left wing. It was just after a scrum about 20 yards from the French goalposts that R. AT Cornish dropped a clever goal. This success eithouraged the Welshmen. who set up a strong attack, and ' scored again ten minutes later, when after some pretty passing, E. Watkins, one of their forwards, dashed over the line on the right and put his side ahead. France were not beaten morally,

—I however, and they pressed first on the left wing and then on the right. The ’final whistle saw France dangerously near the Welsh goal line.