RUGBY IN EGYPT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 December 1941, Page 5

RUGBY IN EGYPT

NEW ZEALAND DEFEATS COMBINED SERVICES MATCH WELL CONTESTED. TWO MEMBERS OF LOSING TEAM INJURED. (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) CAIRO, December 23. In a Rugby football match, New Zealand defeated by 34 points to 5 a team representing the Combined Services. The match was watched by a crowd of close on 5,000. The fighting services predominated, but there was also a large sprinkling of civilians. The red tabs of generals, the gold braid of ad-

mirals and the winged caps of air chiefs merged in the colourful enclosure. Before the match, Admiral Cunningham and Major-General Freyberg shook hands with the teams. There was rapid scoring by the New

Zealand team in the early stages. Perriam kicked a penalty goal. Wells scored two tries, one of which was converted. With the score at New Zealand 11-0, a forward attack led by Ross, Wallace and Sharpe swept to the New Zealand line. A dazzling burst of speed by Bowen, the Services’ centre, found a gap in the New Zealand defence and a try for Services seemed likely, but Bowen had not the support which he urgently needed and a move that should have won success collapsed. Back to the attack swept the New Zealanders and a perfectly orthodox movement brought about their next try. Parsons sent away the backs and the ball travelled along the line with unerring accuracy until it reached McAneny, whose pace was too much for both the opposite wing and the Services’ full-back. Perriam’s kick missed.— New Zealand, 14-0. Once again the Services’ forwards made a telling thrust, but resolute tackling stopped a dangerous move. Before half-time, New Zealand, taking advantage of a high wind, swarmed forward to another devastating attack. From a dummy that bewildered the defenders, Welch went over and converted his own try. Half-time came with the score —New Zealand 19-0.

Passes were flung from backs to forwards and back again when the second spell opened and it was only magnificent tackling by Services’ backs that stopped a complete rout. In a flash, Services had turned the tables. Away went the forwards in a loose rush and they drove the New Zealanders back to a defensive role. From the loose, Rayment shot the ball to the next back, English. A clever short punt saw the Services’ captain, Wallace, collect the ball and go over for a try that won the applause from the crowd which it deserved. Fiske converted with a great kick. New Zealand, 19; Combined Services, 5.

Combined Services spent an intensive period on attack. Their forwards displayed enterprise, with Gardiner and Mahoney leading a dangerous attack. Lack of cohesion among the pack and a complete lack of method among the backs lost them the chance of scoring. Then a real misfortune overtook them —their captain, Wallace, who was also their best forward, went off with a splintered collar-bone. A minute later Morgan had an elbow damaged. With the two mainstays of the Services team out of action, the New Zealanders scored two tries in quick succession. Parsons, still doing brilliant work, darted round the blind side to send the ball to Finlay, but the latter was not supported and a certain try went begging. It was nearing the end when the New Zealand backs went away again and again. When the ball reached McHugh, he made a burst which took him over’ for Perriam to convert. A movement which was almost identical ended with McAneny, on the other wing, racing down the touchline to carry on and score under the posts. Perriam converted. One last desperate effort was made by the Services side, but it failed. One more telling drive by the New Zealand backs saw McHugh go over again. Perriam converted. The final score was:—New Zealand, 34; Combined Services, 5.

One of the features of the match was a duel between the two rival scrum half-backs, Rayment and Parsons. The Combined Services scrum half played a grand game under difficulties. He made a gallant effort to feed his backs from all sorts of impossible positions. The teams were: —

New Zealand: J. Fleming, .A. McAneny, R. Machoney, W. McHugh, W. Perriam; K. Welch (captain), D. Parsons, Hegglan, A. Lambourne, J. W. Ells, Second Lieutenant Finlay, G. Clevely, J. J. Best, A. Mahoney, L. R. Pye.

Combined Services: Lieutenant Buckley (R.N.), -Hamlin (R.A.F.), Bowen (R.A.F.), Morgan (R.N.), Olsen (R.A.F.), Lieutenant Wallace (R.N.), Mahoney (R.A.F.), Lieutenant Ross (R.N.), Sharpe (R.N.), Musson (R.N.), English (R.A.F.), Rayment (Army), Second Lieutenant Fiske (Army), Gardiner (R.A.F.), Lieutenant Lindsay (Army). The referee was- Captain de Villiers, of the Union of South Africa Defence Forces.