SOUTH AGAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20918, 25 September 1939, Page 10

SOUTH AGAIN

INTER-ISLAND GAME VERY EXCITING MATCH (Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Saturday In one of the most exciting in-ter-island games ever seen, South defeated North Island by 25 points to 19. The scoring was opened after about 15 minutes’ play, when A. G. Sutherland made no mistake with a penalty kick for South Island, making the score South 3, North 0. Shortly after this W. J. Phillips was injured and was replaced by A. J. McAneney. Once again the North Island team was pressed back and Sutherland took possession to score in a handy position. A. W. Wesney converted. From here on a fairly fast pace prevailed and the play swung from end to end rapidly. The North ] Island scoring account was opened in rather spectacular fashion when L. Schubert went away on his own and made a splendid solo run down the side line. When close to scoring, however, he was forced out, but managed to transfer to McKenzie, j who went over in the corner. The kick at goal failed. South 8, North 3. Further Ahead Sharp retaliation by the southern visitors forced North Island on to the defence and the pressure was maintained for some time. An offside infringement decided matters for the attackers, for Wesney made no mistake with the kick at goal, making the score after 32 minutes: South 11, North 3. . Shortly before half-time North ; went away in fine style when Tindill | snatched the ball out of the ruck I and handed on to Pearman, who I overran the ball. However, coming j through with a fine turn of speed, Sullivan snapped up the ball and j went over in the corner. The kick , missed. South 11, North 6. i

Although South attacked solidly at the start of the second spell, Psarman broke away quickly and turned the tables. However, the North team could not hold the advantage and before long a thrilling sequence was witnessed when Schubert was forced to run round behind his own goal line before he could relieve the position. Sutherland gave chase, but Schubert managed to gain a good deal of ground before he was caught. South On The Attack With almost monotonous regularity, however, the southerners took command of the game again and penned the opposition up in its own territory- From a scrum near the goal line, Saxton whipped the ball out to Sutherland, who went over unopposed. The kick missed. South 14, North 6. Shortly after Sutherland gained possession once again in a handy position and, evading Dyer smartly, he went over for another fairly easy try. Wesney’s kick missed. South 17, North 6. A penalty goal shortly after decreased North’s deficit, but it was only a matter of time before South took up the running again and Sutherland received the ball from King to go over 12 yards from the post. Wesney made no mistake with the kick. South 22, North 9. For practically the remainder of the half the play swung back and forward without material advantage to either side. Going way in a fast attack Reid kicked the ball high over Eastman, who missed his footing when he raced for it near the line, for Reid to gain an easw score. The kick was successful. South 22, North 14. North Creeps Up Following a period of tight play in the midfield, Carson went away in a thrilling run and reached South’s twenty-five before handing out to P. J. Reid who dived over the line. Pearman’s kick at goal was successful. South 22, North 19. With only five minutes to go both teams were maintaining a terrific pace and the crowd was kept wildly excited. North went close shortly after but a good scoring chance was lost when P. J. Reid knocked on close to the line and the game went out of danger. With the sudden swing of play to the other end South made several desperate efforts before Sutherland managed to force his way over the line. Wesney’s kick missed. Play finished shortly after with the score. South Island 25 North Island 19

CATLEY’S SUCCESS

FIRST ALL BLACK TRIAL FINE HOOKING PERFORMANCE WARRENDER A CLASS FORWARD (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sunday The first All Black trial match which preceded the North-South game provided some bright football, but it was not up to the standard of the main game. It. served chiefly to show that Taylor is still the best fullback in New Zealand, that North Auckland is likely to supply at least one future All Black in Cunningham, a wing-threequarter of promise, that Catley, of Waikato, is a capable hooker, and that Todd, the big Wellington forward, has few superiors in line-out play in the Dominion. Taylor was coolness personified and there was hardly a flaw in his display. His kicking generally was superior to that of Hare, of Auckland, who nevertheless gained big stretches of ground, but did not find the mark as consistently as Taylor. It was Hare’s failure to find the line from a penalty kick in front of the goal-posts that enabled Taylor to drop-kick a magnificent field goal. Hare tried for too much distance and Taylor fielded the ball near halfway, poised and added four points with one of the greatest field goals seen at Athletic Park. Cunningham’s Game A feature of Cunningham’s game was that he repeatedly straightened up attacks. There was a marked tendency among the inside backs of both sides to bore across field. Quick to appreciate that he could easily be pushed into touch if he attempted to go round an opponent after many back rushes, Cunningham always looked for a chance to go infield. His pace off the mark helped him and he scored one excellent try, as well as paving the way for another. Catley was supported by a better scrum than McKenzie, of Ashburton, and he won the ball on 22 occasions to 9. In addition he did his share in the loose. Todd was the outstanding line-out forward and is one of the few players who took the ball cleanly. He repeatedly passed it back to Codling or put it at his feet for a quick heel. The value of Todd’s game was shown mainly in the scoring. His team saw much less of the ball in the set scrums and had to make its opportunities from rucks and line-outs. He was ably supported by Davidson, of Wanganui, and Herman, of Canterbury, both of whom were associated in some clever dribbling rushes, and by McLean, of Taranaki. Warrender Impresses In the opposing pack Mason, Buller, impressed as a, front-ranker likely to attain higher honours. McPhail, Canterbury, Warrender, Waikato, and Mills, South Canterbury, were also a first-class trio. Backs who impressed were Gibson, North Auckland, and Murray, Otago. The former was opposed by Crossman, King Country, who commenced brilliantly and generally played a serviceable game, but Gibson was more incisive. Both halves, Moss, Hawke’s Bay, and Codling, North Auckland, operfed up play smartly, but could hardly be described as in the class of Tindill or Saxton. The result of the match was a win by the Black team, led by D. G. Barton, Wanganui, by 20 points to 11, from the White team, led by Crossman. For the Blacks, Gibson scored three tries. Taylor converted one, potted a goal and kicked a penalty goal. For Whites, Crossman, Cunningham and Mills scored, Hare converting one try. Two further trials will be played on Wednesday and the final two on Saturday.