SERVICE TEAMS AT PLAY

Southland Times, Issue 24244, 30 September 1940, Page 9

SERVICE TEAMS AT PLAY

BRILLIANT RUGBY IN WELLINGTON SOUTH BEATS NORTH BY 38 TO 23 (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 28. As a fitting climax to a war-time season of Rugby football teams representing the fighting services designated as North Island and South Island entertained a crowd of 12,000 persons with one of the most exhilarating displays of Rugby seen at Athletic Park for many years today. Sixty-one points were piled up after some dazzling football, the team designated as South Island winning by 38 points to 23. ' Tlie conditions were ideal and from whistle to whistle the match was brimful of incident. The game was arranged as a benefit for the Patriotic Fund.

Spectacular scenes were witnessed, before and during the game. The teams marched round the ground headed by the Central Band of the New Zealand Royal Air Force which took a prominent place in the proceedings. Among the guests were the GovernorGeneral, Lord Galway, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, and members of the Cabinet.

South’s victory was largely due to the superlative play of the forwards who were vastly more enterprising collectively than their opponents and re-

ceived excellent support from their backs of whom J. J. McAuliffe (Canterbury) was one of the outstanding performers on the field, scoring a try and converting seven of his side’s eight tries.

L. Finlay (Manawatu), who has previously demonstrated his claim to be regarded as one of the best loose forwards in the country, was in magnificent form, being ideally suited by the open game and taking a prominent part in most of the South’s scoring movements.

T. C. Metcalfe, though much more burly than in his palmy days as a Southland representative and an All Black forward, played no small part in his team’s success, and Canterbury was worthily represented by P. K. Rhind and N. D. McPhail. For the North Island A. W. Bowman was the outstanding forward; indeed for all round play he had no superioion the field though for spectacular football the palm would go to Finlay. D. G. Barton was the king-pin in the North rearguard which did not have as many opportunities on attack as its opponents whose backs and forwards seemed to link up from almost anywhere with uncanny precision. The high scoring does not signify weak tackling. Both teams set out with the purpose of throwing the ball about and succeeded admirably. South led by 23 to 10 at half-time. Tries were scored for South by Fulton, Metcalfe, McAuliffe, Donovan and Finlay, McAuliffe converting four; for North, McAneney and Sargisson scored, Barton converting both. In the second half Jackson, Rhind, and Donovan scored fBr South, McAuliffe converting all three tries. Quiniven, Barton and Gibson scored for the North, Barton converting two tries.

UNIVERSITY WINS AT CHRISTCHURCH

(United Pre.' r Association) CHRISTCHURCH, September 28. Saturday’s Rugby resulted:— Air Force 6, Christchurch 0. Technical 11, Albion 7. Sunnyside 14, Merivale 12. Athletic 11, New Brighton 3. Army 18, Old Boys 8. University 22, Linwood 12. University has won the senior - championship; Linwood and Technical tied fox - second place. WIN FOR BULLER TEAM (United Press Association) WESTPORT, September 28. After one of t the finest and most spectacular - games of the season Buller defeated Wigram Air Force this afternoon by 8 points to 6. Two tries were scored for the Air Force by Scriven and two fox - Buller by W. Weenink after spectacular - runs, A. Dunn converting one try. The' field was heavy aftex - record rain, but both sides threw the Ball about in great style.

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP TO TAKAPUNA

AUCKLAND, September 29

Creating a surprise Takapuna defeated Marist, last season’s champions, by 13-8 to win the Auckland Rugby Union championship. The winning team was capably led by former All Blacks in M. N. Corner and W. E. Hadley. Other results were: Training College 11, Ponsonby 6. Otahuhu 19, North Shore 16. Suburbs 0, Technical 0,8. 0. Grafton 9, University 8.