N.Z. AIRMEN BEAT WELSH GUARDS

Southland Times, Issue 24891, 3 November 1942, Page 5

N.Z. AIRMEN BEAT WELSH GUARDS

GOOD GAME PLAYED BY A. SUTHERLAND

LONDON, November 1. “Remember 1905,” the New Zealand High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) called out to the Royal New Zealand Air Force team as it ran out on to the field to play the Welsh Guards. Previously in the dressing-room Mr Cecil Wray, the 74-year-old New Zealand Rugby Union representative in Britain, had led the New Zealanders in practising the haka. The New Zealanders gave the haka immediately before the kick-off, delighting the crowd, and then proceeded to beat the Guards by eight points to six, playing most of the second half with only 14 men. But it must be admitted that in the first 20 minutes the New Zealanders did not look like winning; in fact, many feared that they would have a cricket score piled up against them. GUARDS OPEN SCORING The Guards began at a cracking pace. They were hard and fit and soon scored two unconverted tries through fast passing movements aided by the New Zealanders’ poor handling and tackling. Then the airmen seemed to settle down and find their stride and play took a different trend. The New Zealanders began to tackle ruthlessly and a grand passing rush started by their captain, Eric Grant, of Gisborne, who was recently promoted flying officer, and Sergeant B. Heffernan, of Auckland, ended with the forwards hemming down the guardsmen on their line, giving promise of what was to come. Leading Aircraftman J. H. Macdonald, of Marlborough (who has been asked to play for England) was a marked man, five guardsmen at once pouncing on him. Then later he was hurled into touch, taking the cornel' flag for company after Cadet Ratings D. S. Hart and J. E. Lewin, of Palmerston North, had made a grand rush. A scrum followed on the Welsh baseline and the half-back, Sergeant C. Saundercock, of Canterbury, started his backs going. Then when a low pass was dropped he picked up the ball, made a fine dash, and scored, Macdonald converting immediately before the half-time whistle. The Guards’ band struck up and the New Zealanders’ hopes soared with the score at six points to five. Then followed a second half full of hard, willing play and exciting passing rushes. The New Zealand backs nearly scored twice, Sergeant T. Moynihan, of Westport, being tackled heavily and knocked out when in full flight for the line. Things looked graver for the airmen with a man short, but they did not let up. They broke up rush after rush by the Guards’ fast backs and the forwards’ fine dribbling. SUTHERLAND SCORES Grant and Sergeant A. Sutherland, of Invercargill, combined particularly well. Then the ball went out to Macdonald, who made a good run. He gave a quick in-throw and Sutherland dived over the line. Macdonald missed the • kick, but the New Zealanders led by eight to six and, although the Welshmen made rush after rush, the New Zealanders broke them up, smothering grandly. It was a game full of thrills in which all the New Zealanders played well. The Times forecast the match as “one of the first big games of this season,” which the play justified. The following was the full Royal New Zealand Air Force team:—Backs: Fullback, F. Tate; three-quarters, Macdonald, Grant and Heffernan; five-eighths, Sutherland (Southland) and N. Lawrence; half-back, Saundercock (Hawera). Forwards: F. Bowling, K. Smith (Auckland), L. Dustin, Lewin, Hart (Palmerston North), A. Matheson (Carterton), G. Stevens (Rata), Moynihan.