WARATAHS DEFEATED

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 4, 27 August 1931, Page 5

WARATAHS DEFEATED

SOUTHL.AND TOO GOOD MAROONS PRESERVE RECORD AGAINST AUSTRALIAN VISITORS. , INVERCARGILL, Wednesday. No Rugby combination from Australia has yet beaten Southland and this record was maintained to-day when Southland defeated Australia by 14 points to 8. . The match was played in bright sunshine and a -very large crowd was treated to some attractive football. The ground was heavy after the rain yesterday. Malcolm got far more of the ball than the Southland pack, but although ; he gave clean passes, he did not get adequate support from his inside backs. Later in the second spell the Southlanders-- staged attack after attack and succeeded in scoring twice. Fit and virile the Southland pack played a great game but were beaten for the ball in the set scrums. Although given plenty of opportunities, the Australian backs seldom looked dangerous on attack, faulty handling being mainly responsible. Australia won the toss and played with the sun at their backs. The visitors were the first to attack and a short punt found a gap, but the ball went across the line and the maroons forced. Cerrutti had to leave the field owing to an injured leg and was replaced by Boris. The Australians were attempting to open up the play, but the bustling tactics of the home side always held them in check. The visitors rapidly changed defence into attack, and ; Tolhurst smartly gathered in the ball, I but a bounce allowed touch to be j found near the southern line. : Faulty Handling. Metcalfe headed the home attack j in a great rush at the other end. Malcolm was sending plenty of ball to his supporters, but they were unable | to make any headway with the opposing backs, who were closing in quickly. Mistakes in handling were also contributing to the Australians' fallure to break through. A well directed kick by Porter found the touch line in the Australians' territory, where the visitors were called upon to defend strongly. A* free kick rel'eved the pressure, but only momentarily, for the maroons came away and Townsend touchad near the post. Niven converted. Southland 5, Australia nil. A passi'ng rush in which all the Australian backs participated ended in a short punt by Tolhurst which Porter missed. Play then settled in Soutbland's 25, but the defenders forced after a penalty kick by Ross had failed to find the goal post and the spell ended, Southlan 5, Australia nil.

Second Spell. * Townsend was the first to gain an attacking position and keeping in field, gave Porter a chance on the line right on the quarter flag. A clear kick was marked by Porter, who failed to goal from a handy position. From the lineout, the ball went to Niven who cut through the defence before passing to Crosbie, and the latter raced across to touch down. No goal resulted. Southland 8, Australia nil. After a sp!ell of defence ,the Australians worked .their way up-field. Although the backs were coming into action they were still falling into errors. Geddes brpke away from his own twenty-five and ran past half way, but the support;ng playsr failed. Geddes got away again and this time bounded over the line, but although he beat his opponent to the ball, it rolled into touch in goal. ^ Southland Again. Southland's next score came when Metcalfe picked up and passed to Crosbie who transferred to Geddes. The winger just cut across. No goal resulted. Southland 11, Australia nil. Southland were having all the better of the game at this stage and were over again within a few minutes of the last try. Crosbie touehed down near the posts but an easy kick was missed. Southland 14, Australia ml. Visitors Score. Eventually the visitors gained a favourable position, but simply could not find a gap in the sound defence of the maroons. They broke through at last after several attacking movements, Judd battling over between the posts. Cerrutti converted. Southland 11, Austraba 5. Bright passing movements on the part of the Australian backs had Southland bustled, and one of them nearly ended in a try. These tactics were ' persevered with and finally resulted in a try on the corner by Toihurst after Malcolm had worked the blind side. No goal resulted. Time was called immediately afterwards, the final score being Southland. 14, Australia 8.